20,000 dollars of preliminary damage estimated in E street fire

At approximately 0412 hours this morning, Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) was dispatched to a structure fire on the 2800 block of E St.  HBF responded with three fire engines, one ladder truck, and two Chief Officers.  While enroute, dispatch relayed information that the occupant was out of the residence, but stated his brother was unaccounted for and was possibly still inside.

The first arriving HBF engine reported a single story wood framed stucco residence with smoke showing with the heaviest smoke showing from the rear.  The engine passed command and began setting up for fire attack and search of the residence.  Fire crews arriving on scene aggressively attacked the fire and searched the entire residence based on the information that there were unaccounted for residents.  Crews quickly confirmed that there was indeed no one inside.  The fire was quickly controlled within 10 minutes of arrival.  All damage was confined to the building of origin.  Preliminary damage estimate is $15,000 to $20,000.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.