Fire destroys Cloverdale home

A rural Cloverdale house was destroyed by fire Monday morning, leaving two longtime Cloverdale brothers without a home.

Jake, 71, and Fred Wagner, 68, had gone to breakfast Monday morning and returned to find the house burning and firefighters at work, Cloverdale fire officials said.

Firefighters were alerted when a vineyard worker called at 10:43 a.m. to report seeing smoke in the area of River Road and Gibson Lane.

Cloverdale firefighters found the house ablaze and called for further help.

The first engine was at the fire at 10:52 a.m., and the fire was contained at 11:36 a.m., according to Cal Fire dispatch records.

Ten Cloverdale and four Geyserville firefighters responded to the call in the rural area east of Cloverdale.

The Wagner brothers had lived in the family home for decades.

Cloverdale Fire Chief Jason Jenkins said the 1,000-square-foot home was destroyed. He estimated the loss at about $100,000.

Firefighters were attempting to help the brothers recover personal items from the charred remains. Local Red Cross volunteers were helping provide them temporary housing and other immediate needs.

The Wagners declined to be interviewed.

Fire investigators Monday afternoon were attempting to determine what sparked the blaze. Cloverdale Battalion Chief Rick Blackmon said the fire appeared to have started in or near a water-heater closet, which also housed an electrical panel.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.