Two Dogs and a Bird Killed in House Fire

A two-alarm fire engulfed a three-story house near Eastwood Park on the eastern edge of Mount Tamalpais State Park Tuesday night, with three residents and one dog escaping unharmed but killing two dogs and a pet bird.

The call came into Southern Marin Fire Protection District at 10:38 p.m. and Battalion Chief Matt Barnes said the first engine arrived at 626 Laguna Road by 10:43pm. All three residents – a husband and wife and their daughter - were outside the home when fire crews arrived and were uninjured, but all four pets were still inside, Barnes said.

Firefighters were able to rescue one dog but not the other pets.

Firefighters found all three stories of the home on fire when they arrived, but were able to keep the fire contained to the house and had it under control by 11:10pm.

The house sustained $300,000 in damage and the residents lost approximately $100,000 in valuables. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it is believed to have originated in a downstairs bathroom.

Barnes said the residents reported that they did not hear their smoke detectors go off.

"It's a good reminder for everyone to check their smoke detectors," he said.

Seven engines responded to the fire. Southern Marin was assisted by the Marin County, Tiburon, Mill Valley and Corte Madera fire departments.