CITY OF SANTA ROSA
FIRE DEPARTMENT
M E D I A R E L E A S E
DATE: December 26, 2011
TIME OF ALARM: 18:29 December 24, 2011, 20:33 December 24, 2011, 06:41 December 25, 2011
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Structure Fires
LOCATION: 3415 Sonoma Avenue, 2450 Dutton Avenue, 2844 Elk Lane
RESPONSE: 3415 Sonoma Avenue, 3 Engine Companies, 1 Truck Company, 1 Chief Officer
2450 Dutton Avenue, 4 Engine Companies, 1 Truck Company, 1 Chief Officer
2844 Elk Lane, 4 Engine Companies, 1 Truck Company, 2 Chief Officer’s, 1 Light/Air Unit
ASSISTING AGENCIES: Santa Rosa Police Department, Central Fire, American Medical Response
TOTAL FIRE PERSONNEL AT SCENE: 3415 Sonoma Avenue 14, 2450 Dutton Avenue 17, 2844 Elk Lane 21
FIRE INFORMATION: The Santa Rosa Fire Department responded to three structure fires within a 12 hour period beginning the evening of December 24, 2011 through the morning of December 25, 2011.
3415 Sonoma Avenue
The first fire department unit arrived on scene within four minutes and reported light smoke showing from a one story single family residence. Firefighters forced entry into the structure and found a fire burning in the living area of the residence and the residence filled with smoke. Firefighters extinguished a small fire involving Christmas ornaments and checked for fire extension in the living area and attic. There was a female subject inside the residence at the time of the fire and she escaped unharmed prior to the arrival of the first fire unit. The fire was under control within ten minutes of arrival. The quick response of the first due fire units limited the fire spread from the area of origin to the rest of the structure. Damage is estimated at $5,000 and the cause is accidental at this time.
2450 Dutton Avenue
Fire units were initially dispatched to a reported fire in a care home facility at 857 Hearn Avenue. The first fire department unit arrived on scene within five minutes and reported no smoke or fire at 857 Hearn Avenue. The first arriving fire unit then reported smoke and fire showing from a one story single family residence at 2450 Dutton Avenue after checking the area. Fire units were then redirected to that address and found a fire burning in an exterior laundry room that had been attached to the residence.
The fire was under control within eleven minutes of arrival. The fire also extended to an exterior wall and the attic requiring overhaul of those areas and the breaching of the wall to check for fire extension. The fire was kept from entering the living area of the structure by an aggressive fire attack from the first due fire units. The residence was occupied at the time of the fire by three female subjects and one male subject who were outside the residence upon our arrival. Damage is estimated at $20,000 and the cause is accidental at this time. At the time of the fire a natural gas fueled clothes dryer and hot water heater were operating.
The Santa Rosa Police Department assisted with traffic control in the area, and American Medical Response dispatched two Advanced Life Support Ambulances and an Emergency Medical Supervisor to the incident as a precaution from the initial dispatch.
2844 Elk Lane
The first fire department unit arrived on scene within six minutes and reported heavy fire showing from the side yard of a two story single family residence with fire showing from the exterior wall of the residence to the roof. Fire units began an aggressive fire attack and pulled hose lines into the residence to protect the interior living spaces while another fire crew attacked the main body of fire from the exterior. An additional crew was sent to the roof for vertical ventilation and to check for fire extension. The alarm assignment was upgraded to a Working Fire Assignment bringing an additional Engine Company, Chief Officer, and Light/Air unit to the scene.
The fire was brought under control within twenty minutes. The residence sustained broken windows from the heat of the fire and fire crews limited the interior spread of the fire to the window casings and a small area in the attic. The fire was fueled by a storage shed, wooden fence, and combustible material stored in the side yard. The residence was occupied at the time by the homeowner’s family and pets that all exited the residence and were unharmed. Damage is estimated at $40,000 and the cause is determined to be an overloaded extension cord that was supplying electricity for exterior lights and a light in the shed for medicinal marijuana.
The Santa Rosa Police Department assisted with traffic control in the area.