Crews investigate Sunday evening house fire in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Santa Barbara Firefighters put out a house fire on Sunday evening.

It started around 5:30 p.m. on the 800 block of Orange Ave.

Neighbors at a party heard an explosion and soon a boy started warning people by knocking on doors.

Some neighbors jumped into action and used water hoses on the home until the fire trucks arrived.

They also called the owner who was reportedly vacationing in Santa Maria.

Black smoke could be seen from our Your News Station in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara City Fire crews doused the home with water after putting the fire out.

Santa Barbara Police conducted traffic control.

"A neighbor from across the street was having a birthday party and a kid riding a bike heard an explosion coming from the house," said Nicole Rios. "So they came and ran and called the fire department. They came and knocked on everybody's door and I just opened it -- and I was like oh no way,"

Rios said she thought she would have to evacuate.

"I heard that the whole house burned down -- almost. It's really bad."

The boys name who alerted everyone was Jordany.

Fire crews managed to save a turtle from the flames and pull out a pair of prescription glasses.

Neighbors told Your News Channel they suspect that a lithium electric bike battery may have caused the explosion and the fire.

But for now, the fire remains under investigation.

There were unconfirmed reports that a firefighter was injured, but no one was taken away by an ambulance crew waiting nearby.

Your News Channel will have more information as soon as it becomes available.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family affected by the fire and donations can be made online.