At 6:51 AM, the Kern County Fire Department received a call for a house fire in the 1500 block of Griffith Ave.

A reinforced structure response was started by dispatchers. The first arriving crew encountered a fully involved garage fire that had extended into the adjoining house.

All occupants had evacuated prior to firefighter arrival and crews were able to extinguish the fire in 20 minutes. The fire caused an estimated $40,000 in damage and KCFD Fire Investigators are looking into the cause.

Four adults have been displaced and they are arranging their own accommodations. It is undetermined if there was a working smoke alarm within the home.

KCFD reminds residents to have a working smoke alarm. Test the smoke alarm monthly and change the batteries twice a year.

Residents may also consider the switch to a newer model of smoke alarm with a lithium-ion power source that lasts 10 years.