Rodent bomb torches East Nicolaus house

A smoke bomb placed under an East Nicolaus house to drive out rodents ignited the home, according to a Sutter County Fire Department report.

The fire, reported at 6 p.m. Tuesday, heavily damaged the single-family home in the 1900 block of Berry Road, leaving it uninhabitable. Only the owner, who was not named, was home and he was not injured, said fire Capt. Dan Root.

The rodent bomb apparently ignited insulation under the home. The fire then spread to the floor and walls, Root said.

An estimate of the damage in dollars was not immediately available.

The Pleasant Grove, Linda and Oswald-Tudor fire departments assisted the East Nicolaus Fire Department.