Faulty wiring cited in Higgins blaze

A county fire inspector and independent insurance investigator both suspect the blaze that destroyed 90 percent of a Higgins Avenue home likely stemmed from faulty electrical wiring and may have sparked in the attic.

Although arson is unlikely, said owner Barrett McGrath, it has not been absolutely ruled out.

McGrath said he and his family have been overwhelmed by community support since the fire ripped through their home May 18.

The family is currently staying at the Los Altos Marriot Residence Inn and it could be a year before they are able to rebuild their home, said McGrath. They are looking to rent a property in Los Altos until the home is rebuilt.

No one was injured in the blaze. A painter, working at a neighbor’s home across the street on Almond Avenue, rushed into the burning building and freed the family’s dog, before checking other rooms for trapped victims. The family’s 13-year-old cat died in the fire.

Hills’ robbery suspect still at large

A suspect who robbed a Los Altos Hills couple at gunpoint May 23 is still at large, said Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputy Dean Baker, who is heading the investigation. Police are pursuing leads but cannot disclose how close they are to catching the suspect, who is described as a white male in his early to mid-20s with a heavy European accent.