A busy day continued for firefighters and Folsom Police as multiple units responded to a residential structure fire in a neighborhood near Folsom Lake College early Thursday evening. 

Just before 6:00 p.m., multiple units from both the Folsom Fire Department El Dorado Hills Fire Department, were dispatched to the 1500 block of Latherton Way near the intersection of Scholar Way. The original 911 call came in as a possible commercial structure fire as the home is near the college campus, originally prompting a significant response of resources. 

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As firefighters approached the incident, smoke was visible. Upon arrival they found an active fire involving much of the garage of the home and beginning to extend into the living area of the home. According to the radio traffic from units on the scene, firefighters quickly entered to the home to perform a search for possible occupants while crews secured a water supply to make an initial attack on the active fire. 

By 6:24 p.m. firefighters reported they had knocked down the active fire, containing most of the damage to the garage of the home. After the fast knock down of the active fire, firefighters transitioned into “property recovery” mode, which is the process to recover contents from the home.  
A pet dog ran away from the home, escaping the hiding home as firefighters made their way inside. The dog was later reunited with its owner when they arrived home to the scene.

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As it was still an active incident at the time of this report, the cause of the fire was still under investigation. The original dispatch for the incident included a total of six units between both Folsom and El Dorado Hills, plus an additional medic unit to be on scene and once battalion chief.  Folsom Fire Department had a busy afternoon Thursday that included a vehicle versus a pedestrian on Blue Ravine Road where a child was injured. 

Additionally, a large gas line was struck by a tractor on Orange Grove Way in Folsom, forcing lengthy closure of a section of Bidwell Street to insure the scene was secure and safe for repair and restoration of services to the area. 

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Firefighters quickly knocked down an active fire on Latherton Way Thursday evening, saving much of the home from severe damage.
Folsom Times photos by Bryan Greenwalt.