A fire near Peterson's Corner resulted in a "total loss" for an elderly couple who had recently bought a house and were remodeling it, Fire Chief Boyd Johnson of the North San Juan Fire Protection District said Monday.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, and the loss probably exceeds $200,000, Johnson said.

The couple have relatives in the area and are staying with them, Johnson added.

The building, on the 27000 block of Highway 49 about a half-mile north of Peterson's Corner, was a modular house that had additional rooms and roofing. Neighbors living across the street heard what they described as an explosion at about 6:18 p.m. Sunday and went outside to see the house in flames, Johnson said.

The fire appeared to have started in the area of the kitchen or laundry room, Johnson said. By the time firefighters arrived several minutes later, the house and recreational vehicle next to it were "completely engaged," Johnson said.

"Both the house and the RV were total losses," he said.

The couple was living in the RV, but were not at home at the time the fire started, Johnson said.

An engine each from Nevada County Consolidated Fire Protection District, Nevada City Fire Department and Camptonville Volunteer Fire Department assisted 12 volunteer firefighters from North San Juan, Johnson said.

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To contact City Editor Trina Kleist, e-mail tkleist@theunion.com or call 477-4230.