A two-story residence in the Kneeland area went up in flames Wednesday morning. Firefighters spent almost three hours on the scene before finally reporting a knockdown on the fire.
Kneeland residents on the app Nextdoor reported being awoken by a “window rattling boom” that “shook houses like an Earthquake” a bit before 7:00 AM. Initial speculations from neighbors blamed either thunder or a fallen tree.
“It was our neighbor’s house,” Nextdoor user M.R. wrote. “They made it out. I’m still shaking. My husband went up the hill shortly after the explosion and found them in the yard and they were okay.”
Jacob Briggs is an Arcata High senior who lives near the exploded house.
“They got out safe,” Briggs confirmed. “[The explosion] was like lightning that was louder and it resonated for a few seconds. It shook my house, too.”
One Nextdoor user K.N. reported hearing it all the way in Fickle Hill, which is about seven miles from the initial explosion site.
The cause of the fire is still currently unknown.
