Heat From Stove Pipe Ignites Fire in House

Heat from a wood stove pipe was blamed for a Friday morning house fire off Rattlesnake Road, according to the Nevada County Consolidated Fire Protection District.

A neighbor who walked by Jeff and Michelle Sharman's house at 21332 Leslie Drive reported at 6:52 a.m. seeing smoke coming from beneath the building.

Fire crews arrived and made "a really quick stop" of the flames, Consolidated Chief Tim Fike said. The fire damaged the attic, trusses and rear wall, said Fike, who estimated the damage at $50,000.

The fire started less than a day after the couple had their chimney cleaned. They lit a fire in their stove Thursday, but there was no sign of trouble when they left for work around 5 a.m. Friday, Fike said.

Fike said the fire started apparently from a nail connecting a wooden part of the house to the stove flue, and the nail served as a heat conductor.

"This is a common theme in Nevada County," he said.

Fike said the Sharmans won't be able to stay at the house, but they have several family members nearby to help out.

Crews cleared the scene at about 9 a.m. Also responding were the Grass Valley Fire Department and Ophir Hill Fire Protection District.

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