Fire At Santa Rosa Home Caused By Barbecue: SRFD

SANTA ROSA, CA — A fire that burned a deck, a fence and part of a home Wednesday night in the Monroe area of Santa Rosa was caused by a barbecue, the Santa Rosa Fire Department said.

The fire was reported at 9 p.m. Wednesday as a possible illegal fire burning in the backyard of a home in the 2500 block of Hershey Court, SRFD Battalion Chief Matthew Gloeckner said.

One engine was dispatched but as the crew turned onto Hershey Court from Marlow Road, firefighters saw a large fire threatening multiple homes at the end of the court, with one home possibly already on fire, so they requested additional resources.

The first crew was on scene in under five minutes where they aggressively worked to put out the fire that was burning the deck and fence of a single-family home on fire.

Inside the home, firefighters saw that the fire also heavily damaged the left rear corner of the home. Flames also made it into the attic, Gloeckner said.

Crews confirmed the family who lived at home evacuated prior to the fire department's arrival.

Firefighters covered the family's belongings inside the home with tarps, then removed sheetrock from the ceiling to put out the attic fire. Meanwhile, other firefighters cut a hole in the roof to remove fire and smoke from the attic.

A home to the north of where the fire started was not damaged, Gloeckner said.

Eighteen fire personnel, including four engine crews, responded to the blaze.

A fire investigator also responded and determined a barbecue on the deck on the left side of the house was used just prior to the fire. It appeared hot embers from the barbecue started the deck fire that spread to the house and fence, Gloeckner said.

Damage was estimated to be $40,000.

"The home was left temporarily uninhabitable and the residents are staying with family locally," Gloeckner said.