Flames damage home outside Merced

A woman was displaced Monday after the back bedroom caught fire in her house just outside Merced.

No injuries were reported to fire officials, who responded around 11:30 a.m. Monday to a house in the 200 block of P Street, according to state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Merced County.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation, according to Battalion Chief Mark Pimentel, but he said it does not appear suspicious.

The woman told firefighters she smelled smoke and called a friend before the flames began to rise up out of the house. Crews were able to contain the fire within about 30 minutes.

Three engines and a water tender responded from Calfire, and one Merced City Fire engine arrived to the scene. In all, about a dozen firefighters were involved in squashing the flames.

The blaze caused between $10,000 and $20,000 in damages to the home, officials said. The woman was displaced and is staying with friends.

Crews also removed a Pacific, Gas & Electric meter from the home to try to prevent any further fires because of exposed wires.

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Flames damage home outside Merced."