ANTELOPE, Calif. — A home in Antelope is a total loss after a Wednesday morning fire, but what caused it is still unclear.
It happened on Country Run Way around 10 a.m. The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District says it started in the garage, took over the house and then spread to a neighboring home, displacing both homeowners. It's now being investigated as arson.
Fire officials described what they arrived to as a challenging situation because there was a fight, and Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies detained two people in front of the house.
“There were at least eight or nine people that ran out when the fire started,” said neighbor Wayne Hodgson.
Hodgson has lived in the neighborhood for 15 years. He and other neighbors say squatters have lived in the house for almost two years.
The homeowner’s son also told ABC10 they’ve been dealing with squatters and were taking legal action to get them removed.
“It is a nice neighborhood, or I mean it was. Police have been out here constantly for the last month. I’d say at least once a day,” said Hodgson.
Conrad Robinson – who’s lived in the neighborhood for 22 years – lives behind the property. He has a front row view to mounds of trash brought in by shopping cart. He told ABC10 people jump over his fence, scaring his wife and injuring his dog.
It’s not the first fire either. Robinson and other neighbors acted when the rental home was struck by lightning, putting out a fire at their neighbor’s property before too much damage was done.
“My kids can’t even come outside because they are afraid there is going to be some fight or drug addict,” said Moore.
Neighbors say they understand law enforcement’s hands are tied and removing squatters must go through the courts.
ABC10 spoke with the son of the homeowner, who said they’ve been taking legal action against the squatter, but his father did not want to speak about the property.
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