3 Displaced By Explosion, Fire At Santa Rosa Home

SANTA ROSA, CA — A family of three was displaced by a fire that caused an explosion Tuesday night at their Santa Rosa home.

Several 911 calls were received at 5:52 p.m. regarding the fire inside the garage of a home in the 2400 block of Quail Hollow Drive. Callers reported hearing an explosion and seeing a large fire burning in the garage, according to Santa Rosa Fire Department Battalion Chief Matthew Gloeckner.

The first engine crew was on the scene within 5 minutes and found a two-story, single-family house with heavy fire coming from the front of the garage. The blaze extended up into the walls and attic of the home and was impinging on a neighbor's house to the west.

A second alarm for backup was requested as firefighters began an aggressive interior and exterior attack on the fire and ventilated the roof to release smoke and heat.

Crews searched the first and second floors of the home and found no one inside.

"Quick, aggressive actions by the first-due firefighters saved the home to the west that was threatened," Gloeckner said.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 45 minutes and saved many of the belongings inside the home.

The residents were home when the fire broke out and reported hearing an explosion, then opening the door from the house into the garage to find a well-developed fire burning in the garage. They evacuated and called 911 while trying to extinguish the fire from an exterior door.

Two adults and their adult son were displaced by the fire and were staying with family.

The garage, roof and second floor of the home suffered major fire damage, with total damage estimated at $450,000, officials said.

Crews remained on the scene for several hours to mop up hot spots and investigate the fire.

The cause appeared accidental but remained under investigation, Gloeckner said.