Backyard Structure Destroyed by Fire on Hill Road

A backyard playhouse converted into living quarters burned to the ground early Tuesday morning on Hill Road not far from downtown Novato, a fire official said.

The single-alarm blaze was reported at 2:24 a.m. by renters at 1643 Hill Road as well as neighbors and declared controlled by 2:35 a.m., said Captain Alex Bowlds. Nobody was injured, but it was a close call with one bystander, a renter on the property, who was taking video with a cell phone, Bowlds said.

“He stood right in front of us and we had to hit the siren to get him to move,” he said. “We have no issue with people filming what we do, but in the critical moments of getting our operation going, he got in our way. It got to the point where police officers had to threaten to arrest him.”

Bowlds said there’s a simple rule bystanders can follow. “If it’s an engulfed structure fire, we own it. It’s no longer yours,” he said. “When we tell you it’s time to get out of the way, we’re telling you that because it’s a dangerous place to be and you’re putting yourself and firefighters at risk.”

The detached garage behind the home had burned five or six years ago, Bowlds said, and this time an adjacent structure just 2 feet from the garage went up in flames. What might have been a shed or children’s playhouse was being used as living quarters for a person who had moved in earlier that day, according to what the home renters told fire officials. Fire officials said they weren’t sure it was a legal unit on the property.

“Somebody had just moved in yesterday, but he was not there at the time,” Bowlds said. “There was an electric guitar in there (that was burned) and not that much else.”

In addition to the structure, estimated at 6 feet wide, 12 feet long and 10 feet high, one tree was damaged, Bowlds said.

Novato Fire District’s response included four engines, an ambulance, a truck company and a battalion chief. Bowlds said the crew finished at the scene at 4:52 a.m.

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