(BCN) — Two people were displaced by a fire that gutted a Santa Rosa home and produced a tall column of black smoke on Thursday afternoon, fire officials said.
At about 12:05 p.m., 911 callers reported smoke and explosions coming from a house at 1709 Brandee Lane in the Coffee Park neighborhood.
Firefighters arrived in minutes and found heavy flames coming from under the garage door. A car parked in the driveway was also on fire and heavy smoke was coming from the roof and front door of the single-story house.
Crews attacked the garage fire from outside while other firefighters went into the home to extinguish flames there. They searched through dense smoke for people and pets, but the only person who had been home at the time had already escaped with a pet.
The resident was alerted to the fire when they heard noises in the garage, and found that it was already well-established, the Santa Rosa Fire Department said in a news release.
“The occupant retrieved their dog, exited the house, and took shelter on a neighbor’s lawn across the street,” fire officials said.
While fighting the fire, a ladder-truck crew cut holes in the roof to let out super-heated toxic gases and smoke. The fire was under control in about 30 minutes.
The blaze produced a tall column of smoke visible around the Santa Rosa Valley. Firefighters remained at the scene for three hours mopping up.
The cause is believed to be accidental but is still under investigation, fire officials said.
The house was left uninhabitable and damage is estimated at $200,000, with damage to contents estimated at $100,000, fire officials said.
The residents will seek temporary shelter in the area while they look for long-term housing.
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