FIRE CAUSES HEAVY DAMAGE TO AN ABANDONED HOME

March 18, 2012 (El Cajon) -- At 7:43 p.m. March 15, Heartland Fire & Rescue in El Cajon, with assistance from the San Miguel Fire Protection District, responded to reports of a structure fire in the 500 block of East Madison Avenue in El Cajon. As crews arrived on scene heavy smoke was seen coming from a single-story home at 593 East Madison Avenue. Quick action by firefighters had the fire knocked down in less than 15 minutes. According to Monica Zech of Heartland Fire & Rescue, the home was reportedly abandoned, with windows boarded up, but was full of household items and debris. There were no injuries reported.

Damage to the structure is estimated at $200,000. The cause of the fire is said to be undetermined and remains under investigation.