Dec. 07--A good Samaritan on Tuesday morning stopped a small fire from spreading by acting in a "timely manner," Vallejo firefighters said.
At about 7:30 a.m., the fire department received numerous reports of smoke seen from a home in the 100 block of Thomas Avenue.
Neighbors heard honking and yelling from someone who was driving by and saw that there was smoke coming from the home, Battalion Chief Kathryn Harpold said.
Upon arrival, firefighters found that the residents of the home had extinguished most of the fire with a garden hose. The fire damaged the exterior of the detached garage of the single-dwelling home, Harpold said. The fire also melted a plastic box inside the garage.
"If the person hadn't stopped and started honking, it would have been catastrophic because the location (of the fire) was difficult to access," Harpold said.
The good Samaritan had left the area by the time firefighters arrived, she added.
No injuries were reported and Harpold estimated the damage at about $5,000.
The fire started from an improperly discarded cigarette butt, Harpold said.
