The piercing tone of a smoke alarm startled Marci Castro in her south Fayette

home Thursday afternoon.

She wasn't cooking, and she searched the house for where the smoke

was coming from. The culprit was spotted in her garage as she saw the engine

compartment of the family SUV in flames.

She called 911 and left the house, but she briefly entertained a quick run

back inside to grab one of her daughter's soccer bags... and decided

against it. The two daughters were at school when the fire broke out.

"I literally watched my house go up in smoke," Castro said as

she received support from neighbors who offered to do anything to help. "Everybody

has been so nice."

"She did the right thing," said Capt. Pete Nelms of the Fayette

County Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

The source of the fire at 135 Young Circle in the Rebecca Lakes subdivision

was believed to be the 2000 Ford Expedition, fire officials said. When firefighters

arrived, one-third of the house was already involved in flames.

An early estimate of the damage to the house was $225,000.

As the afternoon wore on, firefighters battled to put out hot spots that

developed between the stucco exterior and the home's insulation. They

also struggled to cool off in the hot weather, decked out in turnout gear

designed to protect them from heat ... which also happens to trap a fair

amount of heat as well.

Over 20 firefighters from the Fayette County and Fayetteville fire departments

battled the fire, and local neighbors killed them with kindness, bringing

coolers full of cold drinks and snacks.

"It is much appreciated," Nelms said.