Two escape Livingston house fire

Two people escaped a house fire Friday in Livingston, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Merced County.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jeremy Rahn said flames sparked about 1:30 p.m. in the living room of a home in the 300 block of Tashima Drive in Livingston.

Two people, whose names were not available, were inside a back bedroom in the home when smoke alarms alerted them to the danger. Both escaped, but one of them, a 14-year-old girl, was examined at the scene by paramedics after showing symptoms of possible smoke inhalation. She was turned over to her parents, Rahn said.

The fire caused about $60,000 in damage, but firefighters managed to save about $200,000 in property, Rahn said.

Firefighters also saved three cats and a dog that live in the home. Rahn said the homeowner requested two of the cats be turned over to Merced County Animal Control.

Rahn said the incident was a reminder about the importance of functioning smoke alarms in homes.

Nine firefighters responded to the fire and used three engines to extinguish it. The cause and origin of the blaze remained under investigation Friday evening.

This story was originally published March 13, 2015 at 5:35 PM with the headline "Two escape Livingston house fire."