Two dogs died in a fire that destroyed a Yucca Valley home Thursday morning. Firefighters from Yucca Valley, Yucca Mesa, and Joshua Tree were called to the 7000 block of Palomar Avenue at 11:15 a.m. Smoke was pouring from attic vents in the home when fire fighters arrived. Flames were too intense inside the home, and so firefighters were forced to attack the blaze by cutting through the roof and the garage door. A neighbor said when he noticed the fire, he had opened the door and yelled inside, but there was no response. The dogs were home alone inside the home at the time of the fire, but firefighters were not able to enter the home due to the intense heat, which could be felt by bystanders 50 feet away. One dog was found in the hallway; the other was found under a bed in a bedroom. County Fire Captain Zack Taylor said the fire started in the kitchen in the back corner of the house, but the exact cause is still under investigation. Taylor added that anyone who comes across a fire before firefighters arrive should NOT break out windows or leave doors open, as that causes the fire to intensify much more rapidly and is detrimental to fighting fires.
