Los Gatos Home Under Construction Destroyed in 2-Alarm Blaze

LOS GATOS (CBS SF) -- A home under construction in unincorporated Los Gatos was destroyed by fire Sunday morning, Santa Clara County Fire Department officials said.

The house, on Golf Links Drive at Clara Street, was on fire when crews arrived shortly before 7 a.m., according to Fire Capt. Bill Murphy.

The one-story, 3,000-square-foot home was unoccupied, Murphy said.

"I walk out my backdoor, I just see the back of the house engulfed in flames. And I go, 'Oh crap!' — run inside and grab my phone and call 911," said

Jennifer Johnson, who lives nearby.

The home had features like vaulted ceilings covered in tongue and groove wood paneling that contributed to the fire's spread, fire officials said.

Investigators said the fire likely smoldered for hours undetected inside the house, which was under construction at the time. By the time neighbors noticed, it was already too late.

The blaze did not spread to any other buildings and no injuries were reported.

Hours after the fire was largely out, firefighters worked in a cold, drizzling rain to make sure that a few stubborn hotspots didn't flare back up.

The fire was contained shortly before 9 a.m. The cause is under investigation, fire officials said.

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