Mary Roper took this smartphone picture of the Scott house aflame this afternoon before firefighters arrived.
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by Timothy Rutt
A Christmas afternoon fire engulfed the home of Jack Scott, California Community Colleges chancellor and former state senator, and his wife Lacreta. The Scotts and their family members who lived in the house were returning from a Christmas Day church service, so no one was home at the time. Los Angeles County Fire is not speculating on a cause or offering a damage estimate yet, although damage is extensive.
Pictured: Jack Scott looks at a neighbor's smartphone video of the housefire.
Los Angeles County Fire Battalion Chief Bill Reimer said that a call came in at 12:02 PM about a fire at Scott's home at 1085 E. Rubio St. in Altadena, at the corner of Rubio and Maiden Lane.
Mary Roper, who was visiting family members living next door to the Scotts, said that they noticed black smoke pouring out of the attic and called 911. Her husband Matt Roper said that they noticed the smoke coming out of the house and saw flames through the windows. Roper said that he ran to the front door and pounded on it and screamed to see if anyone was in the house, finally opening the door, which was unlocked.
Roper said that smoke poured out of the door and there was "literally a tornado of fire" in the kitchen, causing him to withdraw.
Rosdom Armouchian, who lived in the house next door, said that several neighbors stretched their hoses to the Scott home, "watering the house just to get it cooled down" until fire trucks arrived.
Jack and Lacreta Scott still own the house, although he spends most of his time in Sacramento. Lacreta Scott said that a married granddaughter and her husband and a single granddaughter are living in the house now.
Will Heard, 18, Scott's grandson, said that the family was returning from a Christmas Day church service when they saw the smoke coming from the neighborhood. Heard said that they told him that the floor had burned down to the basement, although he hadn't set foot in the house yet.
Lacreta Scott said that the family had an artificial tree, artificial greens, and electric artificial candles, so she was unsure as to what could have caused the fire. She said that the family considered themselves fortunate, as, despite the destruction, no one was hurt. The Scotts' adult son Adam died in a firearms accident 18 years ago, and Lacreta Scott said that, compared to that loss, "this was nothing. We haven't lost anyone today."
Pictured: flames burned through the attic roof at the Scott residence. More pictures after the jump.
Altadena Fire Station 11 responded to the fire on Rubio Street.
Firefighters brought a smoldering chair out of the house.
Battallion Chief Bill Reimer confers with Jack and Lacreta Scott
Lacreta Scott, in red, is comforted by a friend at the scene of the fire.
