House Fire Caused By Cigarette Smoking, Petaluma FD Says

PETALUMA, CA — The Petaluma Fire Department determined that a fire Saturday night at a northwest Petaluma home that left a firefighter injured was sparked by a cigarette. Firefighters were dispatched at 8:15 p.m. Sept. 7 to the 300 block of Pleasant Street and arrived to find a two-story residence with smoke and flames coming from the roof of the house, Petaluma fire Battalion Chief Mike Medeiros said in a news release.

"Both the resident and her two cats were able to escape uninjured [from] the home and were outside when firefighters arrived," Medeiros said.

Additional engine crews as well as a ladder-truck crew were requested; with the ladder truck, firefighters were able to access the roof and attic space to extinguish the fire near Bodega Avenue and Howard Street.

One firefighter was taken to a local hospital for treatment of heat-related injuries, fire officials said.

Fire investigators determined the woman was smoking on a second-story balcony, and that "inattention" while smoking caused the fire, Medeiros said.

"The resident stated she remembers putting out her cigarette against the low-level gutter," Medeiros said. "It appeared ash caught leaf litter in the gutter and with a moderate wind the wooden shake shingle roof covering quickly caught fire and spread throughout the roof extending into the attic space of the home."

The woman quickly called 911, which gave the fire department time to limit the fire damage to the roof assembly of the house, fire officials said.

Displaced by the fire, the woman and her two pet cats were reportedly staying with family members, Medeiros said.

The injured firefighter is expected to have a full recovery, according to the Petaluma Fire Department.

While Petaluma FD resources where committed to the incident, other calls in the city were handled by other professional fire departments as well as volunteer fire companies. Agencies that assisted were Rancho Adobe Fire, Cal Fire, Sonoma Valley Fire, North Bay Fire and AMR Ambulance.

"One ambulance was not available at the time of the fire limiting our suppression resources," Medeiros said. "The other ambulance was committed to the suppression efforts limiting the cities EMS resources during the fire. The duty battalion chief requested an ambulance to move into the city from the Santa Rosa area to assist with calls."

The Petaluma Fire Department shared the following tips from FEMA about preventing fires caused by cigarettes:

• Smoke outside. Many things in your home can catch on fire if they touch something hot like a cigarette or ashes. It is always safer to smoke outside.
• Put cigarettes out all the way. Do this every time. Don’t walk away from lit cigarettes and other smoking materials. Put water on the ashes and butts to make sure they are really out before you put them in the trash.
• Be alert. Do not smoke after taking medicine that makes you tired. You may not be able to prevent or escape from a fire if you are sleepy or have taken medicine that makes you tired.
• Never smoke around medical oxygen. Medical oxygen can explode if a flame or spark is near. Even if the oxygen is turned off, it can still catch on fire.
• Never smoke in bed. Mattresses and bedding can catch on fire easily. Do not smoke in bed because you might fall asleep with a lit cigarette.
• Put your cigarette out in an ashtray or bucket with sand. Use ashtrays with a wide base so they won’t tip over and start a fire.