Santa Rosa Warehouse Fire Linked To Homeless Encampment, Officials Say

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- A fire Thursday morning at a warehouse behind an Oriental rug and furniture cleaner business in Santa Rosa caused an estimated $450,000 in damage and was apparently caused by a nearby homeless encampment, fire officials said. Firefighters responded at 6:24 a.m. to 1320 Petaluma Hill Road and found a warehouse on fire to the rear of Santa Rosa Oriental Rug/Master Cleaners.

The business had not yet opened for the day so firefighters had to force entry through multiple doors and walls to access the building. Crews eventually extinguished the blaze within 30 minutes, fire officials said.

The fire caused significant damage to the building and its contents, which consisted of many items of furniture from clients who had brought them in for repair, cleaning or reupholstering. Several vehicles,
tools and equipment were also damaged or destroyed, fire officials said.

Fire investigators determined the point of origin of the blaze was a homeless encampment against the building along the Newhall bike path.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation by Santa Rosa police and fire officials.

By Bay City News Service

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