Fire damages two homes in El Centro, power outage affects 100 residents

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) - A devastating house fire fueled by high winds destroyed two properties and displaced a local family in an El Centro neighborhood Thursday evening.

Just after 6:00 p.m., the El Centro Fire Department responded to reports of a structure fire near Sixth Street and Hamilton Avenue, located close to Harding Elementary School. Due to the intensity of the flames, crew members received mutual aid from the Imperial County and Holtville fire departments.

High winds in the area quickly pushed the fire across the property lines. While firefighters were able to contain the blaze, the fire completely destroyed two properties and left one family displaced.

The fast-moving flames quickly engulfed the primary structure, forcing crews to shift their strategy to protecting neighboring homes.

The fire also impacted nearby power lines, triggering a temporary electrical outage for residents in the immediate area. The Imperial Irrigation District responded to the scene and restored electrical services shortly after the fire was contained.

No injuries to residents or firefighters were reported. However, arriving crews learned that a household dog tragically perished inside the fully engulfed home.

Fire investigators state that it could take up to two weeks to determine the exact cause and origin of the blaze.

A GoFundMe page has been established to help the displaced family recover from the devastating loss. Community members looking to support the victims can visit https://gofund.me/040fc27c3.