San Diego

A family of three escaped Tuesday from their burning house in Mission Beach after a rupture in a nearby natural-gas line, a Fire Department spokesman said.

John McDonald said firefighters were called about 9:20 a.m. to the 800 block of San Jose Place, where demolition crews were clearing a lot next door after tearing down a building.

A tractor snagged a buried 3/4-inch gas line and tore it from the meter. Gas from the high-pressure line was ignited by a nearby water heater, and flames shot onto the family’s house, McDonald said.

Bill McGurrin; his wife, Colleen, and their 4-month-old daughter, Heather, were sleeping when construction worker Randy Ceiplis woke them and told them to get out, authorities said.

Firefighters estimated damage to the kitchen and dining area at $30,000.