By Bay City News Service:
Two people escaped a fire in a detached garage that caused damage to the bedroom of their home in Novato early Wednesday morning, a fire spokeswoman said.
The house in the 1400 block of Chase Street had no fire sprinklers and a smoke detector was inoperable, Novato Fire Protection District spokeswoman Sandy Wargo said.
Firefighters responded around 3:15 a.m. after a neighbor who lived down a hill behind the house reported the fire in the garage, which was being used as a machine shop and not a vehicle garage, Wargo said.
A man, who lived in the house with a woman, tried to put out the fire with a garden hose, Wargo said.
The blaze destroyed the garage and caused significant heat and smoke damage and some fire damage to the bedroom, she said. The house is among other older homes located just outside of the Novato business district, Wargo said.
"It was identified as a hoarder's house. It had a lot of furniture, clothing and boxes," Wargo said.
Heat from the garage fire also damaged a neighbor's car that was parked on the cul-de-sac, she said. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Wargo said.
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