ENCINITAS
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A house was destroyed and three men were injured yesterday when a fire apparently caused by smoking ripped through their home.
The single-story house, at the corner of Crest and Birmingham drives, was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived just after midnight, said Encinitas Fire Division Chief Scott Henry.
A 48-year-old man who lives in the home told authorities that just before he went to bed, he and his 91-year-old father had been smoking in the den. He couldn't sleep and returned to the room, finding it in flames.
The third man, said to be in his late 40s to early 50s, was asleep in his bedroom and awoke to screams, Henry said.
He and the 48-year-old man escaped, but they went back into the house when they realized the 91-year-old was still inside, Henry said.
They pulled him out as the house quickly filled with smoke and flames, Henry said.
All three were hospitalized. The father and son suffered from smoke inhalation and the third man received first-and second-degree burns, Henry said. No one else was hurt.
About 15 firefighters extinguished the blaze by 2:05 a.m., Henry said.
The heat from the fire was so intense that it shattered a windshield on one of the fire engines and melted the turn-signal lenses. An SUV parked in the driveway was also damaged, Henry said.
Electricity to five other homes was cut off after the power lines to the house burned and fell on other lines, Henry said.
Damage was estimated at $500,000 to the 2200-square-foot structure and $20,000 to its contents. No other homes were damaged.
Henry said fire investigators believe discarded smoking materials started the fire.
Debbi Baker: (619) 293-1710; debbi.baker@uniontrib.com
