10 Displaced By Duplex Fire In Santa Rosa

SANTA ROSA, CA — A fire early Tuesday at a Santa Rosa duplex displaced 10 people but all residents were accounted for and no injuries were reported, a captain with the Santa Rosa Fire Department said. The Roseland-area residential structure fire was reported at 12:54 a.m. Tuesday by several callers who said multiple buildings were on fire, SRFD Capt. Scott Bristow said.

Within eight minutes, the first engine arrived on scene at 1682 James Court and found one unit heavily involved in fire.

"Access was hampered due to a narrow driveway and residents attempting to evacuate in their vehicles," Bristow said.

Other residents were using garden hoses to battle flames that had spread to an outbuilding, a fence and some trees.

"Firefighters extended hose lines to the outbuilding and the fence in order to prevent further fire spread to other structures," Bristow said. "Simultaneously, additional hose lines were extended inside the building to extinguish the interior fire."

Using power tools, crews cut holes in the roof to prevent the fire from spreading to the second unit — 1680 James Court— through the shared attic space.

The fire was under control within 15 minutes.

"There were no injuries related to the fire," Bristow said. "Ten residents were displaced from the two units. They advised that they would be able to stay with local family members at this time."

Two pets escaped the fire but one pet remained unaccounted for, the captain said.

Damage was estimated at $200,000. The first unit had significant fire and smoke damage; the second unit sustained moderate smoke damage, according to SRFD.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Tuesday.

A total of 30 fire personnel responded: six engine crews, two ladder truck crews, two chief officers and one fire investigator.

Additional first responders from Sonoma County Fire, Santa Rosa Police Department, PG&E and the Red Cross assisted SRFD with the incident.