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Abandoned Sacramento House Catches Fire Overnight

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Police officers were called out to an abandoned Sacramento home as recently as Wednesday to remove squatters. Thursday, fire crews answered the alarm and went into immediate emergency mode.

"Of concern were heavy fire and smoke," Sacramento Fire Battalion Chief Chris Ortiz said. "When we have heavy fire and smoke, we're worried about a flashover when we have people inside."

Flashovers occur when temperatures inside the home reach about 1,000 degrees, igniting everything at one time.

Fortunately, firefighters were able to avoid that. "We got it ventilated pretty quick," Ortiz said, "and all the heat and smoke went out."

Crews stopped the fire from engulfing the Oak Park home in the 3300 block of 42nd Street or spreading to other houses after neighbor Crystal LeBlanc made the emergency call around 4 a.m.

This wasn't the first time LeBlanc called authorities about the troubled property.

"There's been a lady living in it," she said. "I've called the cops on her multiple times. Yesterday she did get kicked out."

Crews continued to monitor the home for hot spots. They are calling this fire suspicious but have no suspects in the case.

The house was boarded up more than two years ago after catching fire and that's when neighbors say problems with squatters began.

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