Fire destroys shed on I Street

A shed behind a house at 714 I St. caught fire Thursday morning, destroying the small building and contents inside.

“That moved so fast,” said a shaken-up Angela Manning. “I called 911.”

Manning, who serves as a caregiver for the property owner, Tammy Bernhardt, said a resident of the property was outside when he saw the fire and yelled to Maåçnning to call 911.

“There was so much smoke,” she said.

Manning said she immediately moved cars in front of the property so there would be room for the fire engines and some neighbors pitched in to help as they needed to get Bernhardt, who is disabled, out of the house.

Ramona Fire Department received the report of the structure fire at 8:27 a.m. and arrived to find the 20-by-20-foot shed engulfed with fire also in the backyard of the main house, said Ramona/Cal Fire Capt. Robert Ramirez. Firefighters had the fire out by 8:42 a.m., said Ramirez.

The fire did not spread to the house but did burn some items sitting outside the shed.

As charred items and wood smoldered and firefighters cleaned up hot spots, a large flame shot up in the rear of the shed. Firefighters said it appeared that a propane tank exploded.

Among items that had been in the shed, Manning said, were a motorcycle, tools and bicycle parts.

No one was injured, and the cause of the fire was being investigated. Damage estimate is $5,000, reported the fire department.

Fire Station 81 in San Diego Country Estates responded because Fire Station 80 in town had responded to another call.