GOLD RIVER – A home in the Gold River community of Rancho Cordova was destroyed in a fire Thursday night, leaving residents homeless. The fire, which broke out shortly after 10 p.m., required a quick response from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department.

Emergency crews were dispatched to the 11900 block of Silver Cliff Way following reports of an exterior deck fire that quickly spread to the two-story home. A resident who was sleeping upstairs when the fire started was awakened by the sound of working smoke alarms. The alarms likely saved his life by alerting him to the danger in time for him to escape.

Upon arrival, firefighters aggressively entered the home to locate and extinguish the fire. During the firefight, part of the home’s tile roof collapsed, forcing firefighters to temporarily evacuate and reassess their operations. The fire was eventually contained to the home where it started and was extinguished shortly thereafter.

The resident was unable to escape through the smoke-filled home and was evacuated to the roof, according to the Sac Metro Fire Department. A neighbor quickly responded and helped him to safety using a ladder. A firefighter was evaluated for injuries related to the partial roof collapse. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department is urging residents to check their smoke detectors and practice home fire escape plans, stressing the critical role that working detectors played in preventing a potentially deadly incident.