CAL FIRE - Morgan Hill home fire - Electric blanket suspected

West Morgan Hill home totally destroyed by fire

Jan 15, 2009
By Michael Moore

Just days after a fire burned five townhomes in north Morgan Hill, a two-story home in rural west Morgan Hill burned to the ground.



Fire crews responded to the three-alarm blaze at 7:26 a.m. Thursday, according to CalFire battalion chief Ken McGeever. When the first crew arrived the house was fully involved, with 30-foot flames rolling out the front door and windows, McGeever said.



By 9 a.m. the house was "totally destroyed," and firefighters were on the scene until mid afternoon.

Willie Wilkinson emerged from the burning home at 16500 Oak Glen Road with his hair singed and wearing only one shoe, but was uninjured.

Although Wilkinson, the home's only occupant, was visibly shaken and said he inhaled some smoke, he refused medical treatment. No other injuries were reported, and Wilkinson saved his dog.

He suspected a malfunction with his electric blanket or an electric heating pad in his bedroom started the fire, which he said started while he was on the phone with his daughter.

"I opened the (bedroom) door and it blew me out," said Wilkinson. "The black smoke hit me and I got down on the ground."

He said he lost everything he owns in the fire. He lived in the 1,200-square-foot house, which he rented, for 13 years. For the foreseeable future he plans to live with his daughter, Adrian Wilkinson, who lives close by and grew up in the Oak Glen home.

McGeever agreed the fire appeared to have started in the bedroom, as that area showed the most damage.

Crews from Cal Fire, Santa Clara County Fire Dept., and Gilroy FD responded to the fire, which was still smoldering in the early afternoon.

Source: morganhilltimes.com - Link