A two-story guest house in Paradise Valley caught fire last night, causing extensive damage to the multi-million dollar property. The blaze, which was first reported around 6:30 p.m. near Foothills Drive, was later described by neighbors as a massive conflagration that produced smoke visible for miles. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the fire started on Mummy Mountain near Mockingbird Lane and Invergordon Road.
SkyFOX footage captured at 7 p.m. showed the home engulfed in flames, but by 7:20 p.m., the fire had been largely contained. Firefighters from multiple agencies worked to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading to the surrounding brush and other homes. Capt. Rob McDade of the Phoenix Fire Department said in an statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix that firefighters laid "multiple supply lines in order to prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding brush and homes." In a strategy aimed at preserving the neighborhood, McDade noted, "At this time, crews are continuing to put out hotspots, but have declared the fire under control."
The owner of the property told AZFamily that it was the guest house adjacent to a larger mansion that was affected. He said, "Our main focus is they have to contain the fire to that footprint, and that was our tactics," in line with Capt. McDade's earlier statements, efforts continue to prevent the spread of the fire.
Despite the intensity of the fire, no injuries were reported. Crews worked through the night to extinguish any remaining hotspots, and the guest house was ultimately deemed a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials do not believe it was intentional.
