Smoke Alarms Save Family, Fire Claims Beloved Cat

PETALUMA, CA — An early morning house fire in Petaluma displaced four people, killed a family cat, and caused nearly half a million dollars in damage.

The Petaluma Fire Department responded at about 1:54 a.m. to a reported residential structure fire in the 1100 block of Santa Clara Lane.

When fire crews arrived, they found an already heavy fire burning in the two-story home, according to a news release prepared by Petaluma Fire Department Marshal Amy Segui.

Firefighters contained the fire in about 15 minutes, preventing flames from spreading to a neighboring residence, according to Segui.

Working smoke alarms alerted the occupants while they were sleeping, allowing three adults and one minor to evacuate safely. Two residents were evaluated by emergency personnel at the scene.

One family dog survived and was reunited with its owners. Firefighters removed a cat from the home and attempted lifesaving measures, but the animal did not survive.

The American Red Cross assisted the displaced residents with emergency housing and other immediate needs.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Petaluma Fire Prevention Bureau, according to Segui.

Officials red-tagged the home because of extensive fire, smoke, water, and structural damage, including a large sag in the roof, making it temporarily uninhabitable.

The department estimated the fire caused approximately $478,000 in damage. Officials said about $522,000 of the home was preserved, and the neighboring residence, valued at approximately $849,000, was not damaged, bringing the estimated property protected during the incident to about $1.37 million, according to Segui.

No firefighters were injured.