Strong winds fanned a house fire in Blackhawk on Saturday night after an ember from the fireplace caught the roof on fire. Due to severe winds, the fire spread quickly and consumed the roof, attic area and damaged several rooms on the second floor.

The residents were home in the 600 block of Blue Spruce Drive, burning wood in their fireplace, when they noticed a wind-like sound coming from inside the fireplace, according to Fire District reports. They hurried outside and saw flying embers floating from the top of the chimney and landing on their wood shake roof.

They immediately called 911 and were able to safely escape the home, said firefighters.

The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District responded to the second-alarm structure fire at 8:41 p.m. A total of six engines, two trucks, one paramedic ambulance, two Chief Officers, one breathing support unit and one Fire Investigator were dispatched to the scene.

Crews from Station 34, 35 and 36 arrived to find the roof heavily involved with fire. Firefighters immediately began an aggressive fire suppression operation and, due to the extreme wind conditions, initiated measures to protect adjacent homes. Fire crews were able to contain the fire within an hour.

"The structure sustained an estimated $500,000 in damage and $200,000 in content loss," said Fire Investigator Natalie Kurtz. "Fire crews performed extreme salvage and overhaul and were able to recover many important personal family mementos."

Fire District officials remind residents to use caution when burning wood in their fireplaces. Chimneys, fireplaces and stovepipes should be checked and cleaned once a year by a professional chimney company. Creosote is a chemical substance that forms and accumulates in a chimney when wood burns, and can cause a chimney fire if not removed.

When using the fireplace, open the flue for adequate ventilation, always use a fire screen, and burn only appropriate materials. Never burn trash or paper in a fireplace. Burning paper is lightweight and can float up chimneys and onto roofs and cause a fire.

Also, firefighters caution, remember to remove ashes from the fireplace in a metal container and soak them in water for several days prior to disposal. For more information, visit www.firedepartment.org www.firedepartment.org.

— Dolores Fox Ciardelli

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