PHOTOS: Dove Canyon House Fire a 'High-Dollar Loss'

Originally posted at6:59 a.m. April 24, 2014. Edited to add photos.

Firefighters early this morning knocked down a stubborn fire that caused extensive damage to a house in an exclusive gated community in Rancho Santa Margarita, authorities said.

Two vehicles, a garage and two bedrooms were destroyed in the fire, which was reported around 11:05 p.m. Wednesday and extinguished early today by 50 firefighters after an operation lasting an hour and 45 minutes, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

A man, his wife and their two children were evacuated from the five- bedroom 5,000-square-foot home on Indian-Pipe in the gated community of Dove Canyon, Concialdi said.

The fire started in the garage, destroying a Mercedes Benz and a pickup truck, then spread to two bedrooms above the garage, Concialdi said.

"It's going to be a high-dollar loss," he said.   

No injuries were reported from the fire, which could have been avoided, Concialdi said.

"If this home had a smoke alarm in the garage, they would have heard it," Concialdi said. "(Then) they could either call 911 sooner, or put the fire out with an extinguisher."

--City News Service