Fire destroys much of home on Paseo Drive

Robert Velazquez and three other family members awoke to his
home’s smoke alarm blaring shortly before 1 a.m. today. With smoke
throughout the house, he checked from room to room before coming to
the garage.
”
When I opened the door, I saw a huge flame,
”
said Velazquez, whose family has lived in the Paseo Drive home
for five years.
Robert Velazquez and three other family members awoke to his home’s smoke alarm blaring shortly before 1 a.m. today. With smoke throughout the house, he checked from room to room before coming to the garage.

“When I opened the door, I saw a huge flame,” said Velazquez, whose family has lived in the Paseo Drive home for five years.

He felt the immense heat and let the door close before telling the family to get out immediately.

“There was no time to look for shoes or jackets or nothing,” he said.

Late this morning, Velazquez stood outside the taped-off remains of the house and examined the largely gutted structure. Much of it was destroyed by the fire that started in the garage, with an unknown cause to this point. Velazquez and his family made it to safety without anyone getting injured but they did lose their pet Chihuahua.

Firefighters first received the report at 12:53 a.m., Chief Fred Cheshire said. By the time they had arrived, however, “the fire was very well-seeded,” he said. Even with 16 firefighters assigned, it took crews until about 7 a.m. this morning to have the blaze completely contained because the fire had “gone into so many nooks and crannies” and smoldered into the insulation, the chief said.

“The smoke detector saved four lives last night, beyond the shadow of a doubt,” Cheshire said.

The origination is clear, the garage area, while Cheshire also noted how the fire passed to the remainder of the house through that door. Investigators suspect the doorway became wedged or propped open by items that fell – it is designed to close on its own – allowing the fire through. The cause wasn’t quite as obvious.

Velazquez pointed out he didn’t keep any combustible or chemical items in the garage and he thought it might have been an electrical short. Cheshire said it appears accidental, but investigators did not find any indications it may have been an electrical issue.

Regardless, the fire did major damage to the structure. Velazquez summed up the destruction as a loss of “everything.” Cheshire said a “huge portion” of the home was destroyed, including the roof, but that some walls inside might be salvageable.

In the short term, the Santa Cruz American Red Cross chapter has helped the family – two adults and two children – by providing food, emergency lodging and clothing, according to a press release from the organization. 

Velazquez also noted how some neighbors had reached out by offering jackets, shoes, blankets and coffee. From here, he said he will speak with the insurance company about coverage.