On Thursday December 14, 2006  an earlier morning fire destroyed a single-family dwelling in Ponderosa Basin.  Owner, Chris Hogue and her daughter were home at the time. 

Ms. Hogue was awakened just before 6 a.m. by her alarm clock upon awakening she discovered that there was smoke in the house. She called to her daughter to wake up and leave the house because there was a fire. 

Neighbors called 911 and took Ms. Hogue’s dogs into their home for safe keeping.  When fire personnel arrived on the scene, the side of the house by the hot water heater and the roof were engulfed in flames.  Fire personnel entered the burning structure to rescue Ms. Hogue’s daughter’s reptile pet from the living room.

Fire Department personnel extinguished the flames, but not before there was extensive damage to the home.  Firefighters stored Ms. Hogue’s belongings in the garage, which had minimal damage, and covered them up.  The Red Cross was notified of the family’s loss.

Units and personnel responding to the scene included Mariposa County Fire Department, MPUD, and the California Fire Department.  The fire appears to have been caused by a malfunction of the hot water heater and is still under investigation.