Bodega Man Dies In House Fire

BODEGA, CA — A man who died in a house fire late Sunday night in west Sonoma County was identified as 77-year-old Bodega resident William Fink, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office. Fink's wife and two friends were reportedly able to escape the blaze which broke out around 11:50 p.m. at a single-story house on Salmon Creek Road near Bodega Highway in Bodega.

Reports on Twitter indicated Fink was trapped inside the home, which was fully involved in flames when fire crews arrived — so much so that firefighters were not able to safely enter the residence.

Fink was found dead near a front door of the single-story home, Gold Ridge Fire Protection District Chief Shepley Schroth-Cary said.

“We don’t have a time of death established yet, just that he died on the scene, in the 800 block of Salmon Creek Road in Bodega,” Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office Spokeswoman Misti Wood said.

The Gold Ridge Fire Protection District was assisted by firefighters from several west Sonoma County agencies, including Bodega, Bodega Bay, Graton, Valley Ford, Occidental and Monte Rio.
What caused the fire to ignite and where exactly in the home it started were not yet determined Monday.

There was nothing to immediately indicate the fire was suspicious, Schroth-Cary said.

Patch was not able to reach Gold Ridge Fire Protection District Monday afternoon for further information about the fatal fire.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.