Police alert Ukiah man his home was on fire

An elderly Ukiah man, home with his dog, was making coffee and watching television when a police officer came to his front door and told him his house was on fire, a Ukiah Valley Fire official said Tuesday.

The officer was driving on Clara Avenue at about 10:45 a.m. Monday when he noticed smoke coming from behind the home, Ukiah Valley Fire Capt. Peter Bushby said.

The smoke turned out to be from flames burning the back porch of the older house and the officer went to the front door to alert the resident to get outside, Bushby said.

About 10 paid and volunteer Ukiah Valley firefighters arrived and put out the small blaze, which was stopped before it got to the roof and into the home, Bushby said.

The cause couldn’t be determined but fire investigators had looked at whether discarded briquettes from a family barbecue the previous night or discarded cigarettes could have been involved.

Damage was estimated at $25,000. The home, near North State Street, had been in the family since the 1940s, according to a report on the fire.

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