Fire Breaks Out at Paseo Miramar Home, Family Seeks Missing Dog

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

A fire broke out at a one-story, single-family hillside home in Pacific Palisades early Thursday morning, July 8.

The fire was first reported at 766 N Paseo Miramar at 3:49 a.m., according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Margaret Stewart.

Firefighters arrived to “heavy fire[s],” and were limited in their ability to undertake all sides of the fire due to the instability and hillside location of the home, Stewart reported. A partial collapse of the structure prevented firefighters from getting on top of and inside the home, she said flames were also dangerously close to surrounding vegetation.

Firefighters took defensive positions outside the house, and were able to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring structures and vegetation. The blaze took 78 firefighters nearly two hours to contain, with a knockdown called at 5:32 a.m.

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and LAFD Search and Rescue were then called to determine the stability of the remaining structure.

The cause of the fire was officially undetermined after investigation; they weren’t able to determine a cause, Stewart said to the Palisadian-Post.

No injuries were reported and all occupants were able to flee the house—now the family is left searching for their dog Chloe, who went missing the night of the fire.

Mariah Morris, whose partner’s parents are the owners of the home, said she was on site approximately one hour after the fire was out to pick them up and while there, learned Chloe was missing.

Morris said it isn’t known if Chloe made it out or not, but the family isn’t assuming the worst.

“On the day of the fire, after speaking to the LA Fire Department, we considered the possibility that some time between when the fire started and when the family escaped, Chloe had run out into the canyon,” Morris said to the Post. “The house’s patio is right against a very steep drop into the canyon, and sometimes she liked to venture down there on a rope to fetch her toys and to do her business.

“We think it’s possible if she did get out, she would have gone that way since the blaze was on the other side of the patio.”

Morris said Chloe is a 10-year-old miniature golden labradoodle with a pink heart tag with her name on it. She said her fur is light brown/blonde and curly, and looks like an “oversized teddy bear” when it is grown out.

“If possible, we’d like to encourage neighbors along Paseo Miramar and any houses around the canyon to leave out a bowl of water in case she wanders back,” Morris said. “Aside from that, we’d like everyone to keep their eye out for her, and pray for her and for the family while they grieve.”

Morris said the family has utilized PawBoost, Nextdoor and Twitter to spread the word and reach people in the area. Anybody with information can reach her at findchloethedog@gmail.com.