PIONEERTOWN FIRE CAUSED BY RODENT REPELLENT

An electrical device plugged in to scare away rodents in a garage did just that in Pioneertown yesterday—by burning down the garage. About 10:50 Sunday morning, firefighters were called to a home in the 2600 block of Orchard Avenue where they found the two-car detached garage fully involved with flames and heavy smoke. Due to the windy conditions, the fire spread to the nearby home’s attic and surrounding vegetation. When firefighters entered the home, they found and rescued a small, elderly Chihuahua from a back bedroom; the homeowner was not present at the time of the fire. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to contain the fire, and they were on scene for more than two hours making sure the fire was completely out and trying to help salvage the owner’s belongings. No injuries were reported. The homeowner was displaced but will be staying with family. The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical; the only electrical device the homeowner could recall in the garage was an electronic rodent repeller, which worked perhaps a little too well.