Watch CBS News

Investigation Underway After Mystery San Rafael Fire On Day Of Tenants' Eviction

SAN RAFAEL (KPIX 5) - The very morning that tenants of a San Rafael luxury home were due to be evicted, firefighters were alerted that it was completely engulfed in flames.

The fire lit up the sky early Tuesday morning on Sea View Drive. It took nearly 30 firefighters to extinguish the blaze inside the nearly 4,000 square foot home, according to a Marin Independent Journal Report.

Initially the tenants couldn't be found, but the couple was found hours later at a resort outside of Marin County.

They told investigators that almost everything had already been moved out.

The owner of the home had sued to evict the couple for allegedly not meeting the terms of the lease, resulting in a jury trial that was resolved in the owner's favor last week.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing with assistance from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Fire damage is estimated at $650,000.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.