Fire Damages Santa Rosa Auto Shop Early Friday

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- As a fire began to tear through a Santa Rosa auto repair shop very early Friday, destroying parts of the long-established business, crews arrived quickly and were able to prevent the flames from spreading to several vehicles as well as a living area above the shop, a fire official said.

Firefighters were dispatched at 12:24 a.m. to the fire at Mike's Auto Repair in the 500 block of Santa Rosa Avenue, according to Santa Rosa Fire Department Battalion Chief Mark Basque.

Three engine crews and one ladder truck responded; the first unit arrived within four minutes and found fire showing from the office windows and a mid-level mezzanine of the one- and two-story structure, Basque said.

The auto repair business occupies the first floor, while the second floor of the building is a single apartment.

Basque said two adults and two children who live in the apartment were alerted by smoke filling the stairwell and the sound of arriving firefighters.

The residents and their two pets were safely escorted from the building, and the fire was brought under control within 20 minutes, according to the battalion chief.

"[The fire caused] heavy damage to the business office and storage mezzanine directly above," Basque said. "Firefighters prevented the fire from extending to the shop area of the structure which contained 10-12 vehicles in for repair, associated tools and equipment and the living area above."

Damage to the business was estimated at $30,000.

Santa Rosa fire officials said Friday the cause of the fire appears to be accidental -- likely caused by an electrical short circuit in the office.

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