A two-alarm fire deep in the hills destroyed portions of a Kent Woodlands home yesterday, but the flames were kept in check before they could spread to dry grass nearby. No one was hurt in the incident, which was reported at 2:30 p.m. at 321 Crown Road. No one was home at the time, fire officials said. Eighteen firefighters and command personnel from Kentfield, Ross, Ross Valley, Corte Madera and Larkspur brought the fire under control about a half hour later, Kentfield fire officials said.

The first firefighters to arrive on the scene found thick black smoke pouring out of the multi-story home tucked up in the hills off Woodland Avenue, Kentfield Fire Protection District Chief Paul Smith said. Flames were seen pouring from the roof, he said. At one point a massive column of black smoke was visible for miles, and could be seen from Highway 101 as far north as San Rafael. Yesterday's warm, dry weather and the area's dense foliage prompted fire officials to call for backup. Three fire engines - two from Marin County Fire and one from Larkspur - responded as reserves if the fire spread to the thick dry grass flanking the home, fire officials said. A damage estimate was not available. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but does not appear suspicious, Smith said