A late-night fire at a Rohnert Park strip mall has damaged two businesses significantly and impacted three others with smoke damage. The blaze, reported on Monday at approximately 10:15 PM, initiated a response from multiple fire departments and was contained within an hour, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.
Initial calls to the Rohnert Park DPS Dispatch were for a burglary alarm activation, only to be quickly followed by a fire alarm at 5700 Commerce Blvd. Arriving officers found, under a partially opened roll-up door, a fiery scene as a work van was fully engulfed in flames. The fire, which was attacking the ceiling and roof structures, threatened to involve five separate businesses operating within the strip mall.
In a coordinated effort, units from Rohnert Park DPS, along with Rancho Adobe Fire, Gold Ridge Fire, and Santa Rosa Table officers, worked vigorously to corral the fire. Their rapid and aggressive measures kept the flames from ravaging beyond the initially affected properties. While two businesses suffered extensive fire damage, nearby establishments only contended with the smoke.
The Department estimates the damage caused by the fire at $1 million. Despite the inferno, the night drew to a close without any injuries reported to either the public or fire personnel. The precise cause behind this destruction remains elusive under ongoing investigations. The department is appealing to the public: anyone with potential insights into the fire's origin is encouraged to come forward and assist in the inquiry.
