$6,000 damage estimate for fire caused by newspaper and kindling placed too close to stove

Shortly after midnight on December 25th Humboldt Bay Fire was dispatched to an
investigation of a house fire which the owner believed to be extinguished but
needed verification that the fire was out. The initial dispatch included a squad
and an engine (five firefighters) to investigate and remove smoke from the
residence. Upon arrival the officer from Squad 8174 observed moderate smoke
and fire coming from a window and heavy smoke throughout the residence.
Based upon conditions the response was upgraded to a first alarm assignment.
First arriving crews quickly knocked down the fire and removed smoke from the
residence.

The fire was caused by newspaper and kindling being placed too close to an
operating wood burning stove. Heat from the stove ignited the newspaper and
started the fire, spreading to walls and surrounding combustibles. The owner
said she woke up with her dog, which ordinarily sleeps in the living room near the
wood stove, in her bedroom barking. After realizing her home was on fire she
attempted to extinguish it with a garden hose before calling 911. There were no
working smoke detectors inside the residence. The owner and dog were
uninjured, but unfortunately a pet bird and frog died due to smoke exposure.
Property damage is estimated at $6,000.