The man, identified as resident Dan Theodore by his neighbors, is the only casualty and no one else was injured in the blaze.
Officials have not yet released Theodore’s cause of death and continue to investigate the cause and origin of the fire.
Neighbors of the home in the 700 block of Lola Lane called emergency services at approximately 3 a.m. to report a single-family home fire.
Husband and wife Eric and Rachel Chamness said they heard a popping noise – the sound of flames devouring the yew tree on the other side of the fence separating their home from Theodore’s.
“We looked out our bedroom window, and it was just completely orange,” Rachel Chamness said.
Rachel Chamness, Eric Chamness and neighbor Gary MacLeod attempted to save Theodore but flames and smoke made entry into the house impossible.
MacLeod knew the location of Theodore’s bedroom and broke a window to retrieve his friend. He said a huge plume of smoke escaped from the room, and he recalls throwing up his hands in defeat because he knew there was nothing he could do.
Firefighters arriving at the scene discovered ammunition inside the home exploding due to the flames, said Jaime Garrett said, Mountain View Fire Department public information officer. They extinguished the fire by 4 a.m.
A back room of Theodore’s house, where he kept electrical and computer equipment and often worked, was completely eaten away by flames, and firefighters used shovels Thursday afternoon to clear the charred debris.
The fire also brought down a power line behind the house.
Neighbors said Theodore, in his early 60s, was a renter who lived in the home for about 20 years. He earned a PhD in electrical engineering and worked as a consultant in the semi-conductor industry, but his passion was long-range rifle competitions. He was known as a premiere bullet maker, and the exploding ammunition likely included bullets he made himself. He enjoyed reading, cycling, surfing and swimming and was always kind to the neighborhood kids.
“He was hard to get to know, but once you got to know him, he was a wonderful guy,” MacLeod said. “And I was proud to call him my friend.”
ABOVE PHOTO: Officials believe the deadly fire started in the back yard, shown here. Photo by Gary MacLeod
