Firefighters investigate cause of fire that spread to multiple structures in San Jose – NBC Bay Area

San Jose firefighters are trying to find out what started a fire that spread to four homes and several sheds over the weekend.

In the aftermath, neighbors are trying to bring order to this chaotic scene that has left many people scrambling to prevent the fire from spreading to their homes.

It started around 5 p.m. Sunday when two San Jose homes caught fire.

But then gusts of wind carried embers a few blocks south, igniting a palm tree and then other nearby homes and sheds.

“I came out and as soon as I got to the sidewalk here, I turned around and I was immediately hit by the embers from the tree,” said Sam Montez of San Jose.

He saw the embers flying into his garden and that of his neighbor – one of them even burned his neck.

But he went up to the roof to spray what he could with a garden hose.

“I’m just glad no one was hurt,” he said. “My main concern was just to protect as many people as possible.”

Gilbert Aguirre lives next door and says he's glad the efforts saved his house — but the two sheds and back fence he built years ago with his own hands — weren't spared.

“It’s so disappointing. I was shocked. I’m still a little in shock about what happened,” Aguirre said.

The house behind their house was also charred.

In total, four houses were damaged or destroyed and three sheds were destroyed.

“This was a very difficult fire attack for our firefighters. We are very relieved that they escaped without injury,” said San Jose Fire Chief Robert Sapien. “They worked hard to enter every home and make sure residents were evacuated.”

No one was seriously injured.

Firefighters know the fire started in the garage of one of the two homes that initially burned, but they are still investigating the cause of the fire.