Fire damages Poker Flat home

Fire erupted in the garage of a three-story, 4,000-square-foot home on the shores of Lake Tulloch Saturday morning.

The fire, on the 900 block of Foothill Road, was reported about 8:30 a.m. It is believed to have started in the garage, where two vehicles were destroyed. Also destroyed was a 24-foot pontoon boat stored beside the garage, said homeowner Donald VonRaesfeld, who lives nearby.

VonRaesfeld said he owns the house, but it is in a life estate for his nine children and is often occupied as a vacation home by one or more of them and their families and friends. A daughter-in-law and friends were at the house when the fire broke out, he said. She called him, saying there was a fire in the garage, and he looked outside and called 911.

While watching firefighters knock down the flames, VonRaesfeld said it looked like the upper part of the house was heavily damaged. 

Copperopolis Fire Department responded to the fire with assistance from Altaville Melones Fire Department and the San Andreas Fire Department, Calfire Captain Andy Archer said.  He said there was one minor injury of a civilian at the scene, but the person was checked by first responders and released.

Archer said the garage was destroyed in the fire, and at least one interior room was damaged. Cause of the fire had not yet been determined Saturday morning.