Firefighters successfully knocked out a large house fire that erupted near Mount Soledad around 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 31. But officials said although most of the home was saved, owners still suffered about $4.5 million in damages. A man was working on a classic car in the garage of his two-story home at 1195 Van Nuys, when wandering gasoline vapors flowed over to a gas-fueled water heater. The pilot light of the heater, which was not properly elevated off the floor, ignited the vapors — starting a blaze that took over both the garage and upstairs bedroom, officials said. Building-code specifications require such heaters to be elevated off the floor. The man was able to escape without injury, and witnesses said he evacuated the house with a dog, who was also unharmed. Some children nearby said they heard the explosion. Dozens lined up outside the home to observe the incident. The fire began migrating throughout the home quickly, but San Diego firefighters were able to extinguish it within about 15 minutes, officials said. The fire, which officials have deemed an accident, caused an estimated $3 million in structural damages and $1.4 million in damages to contents. The entire home was affected by smoke damage.