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House Burns After Man Calls 911, Says He Shot Wife

SANTEE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a San Diego County house was badly damaged in a fire after a man called 911 saying he had just shot his wife and was going to burn his house down.

Sheriff's Lt. Jim Duffy says the unidentified man in Santee placed the call just after 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Responding crews found the house and a tree in flames and a plume of smoke in the air visible for miles. Some surrounding residents were evacuated and one adjacent house was singed before the fire was put out.

It is not yet clear if anyone was inside.

Neighbor Ruth Taloza tells the San Diego Union-Tribune that just before the fire started the man told her his wife had cancer and they were being evicted from the home.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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