Stove Catches Fire In Rohnert Park Apartment

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A neighbor was credited with discovering and reporting a fire Saturday in a Rohnert Park apartment, the city's Department of Public Safety said.

Dispatchers received a 911 call at 5:56 p.m. Saturday about a possible apartment fire in the 400 block of Santa Alicia Drive, and an officer who is dual trained as a firefighter was on scene within 2 minutes, Rohnert Park DPS Sgt. Matt Snodgrass said.

The officer saw smoke coming from the apartment and opened the door to find that a cooking pot was left unattended on the stove and caught fire.

The officer removed the pan from the apartment.

An engine crew Rancho Adobe Fire District ngine crew then arrived and worked to clear a large amount of smoke from the apartment.

When the resident got home she said she was cooking before she left but forgot to turn off the stove, Snodgrass said.

Police and fire personnel later determined a next-door neighbor heard the smoke detector go off, then found the apartment filled with smoke and called 911.

The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety said the fire served as a reminder for residents to check the batteries in their smoke alarm and to turn off their stove before leaving.