Thanks to a LoCO reader Ryan Shepherd for providing the photos.

Thanks to the passerby and to the firefighters!

Humboldt Bay Fire Press Release:

At 11:23 pm on 12-3-2013, Humboldt Bay Fire was dispatched to a residential structure fire at 2807 R Street.  Humboldt Bay responded with three engines, one ladder truck, and two Chief Officers.

The first arriving Battalion Chief reported a single story residence with fire showing from the garage. Fire crew initiated fire attack from the interior of the structure and discovered that the fire had extended into the attic of the structure. The attic had significant fire involvement due to an access hatch in the garage being open allowing the fire in the garage to extend unimpeded into the attic. The attic also contained a significant fire load which hampered the firefighting efforts.

The fire itself took approximately one hour to control, while overhaul of the fire took another two and a half hours.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

One elderly male occupant was home at the time of the fire. He suffered smoke inhalation and was transported by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he was treated and released. The occupant was rescued by a passerby on his way to work who initially saw the smoke and located the fire. After alerting neighbors, the passerby entered the uninvolved, but smoky, portion of the residence and led the occupant to safety prior to arrival of fire units.