A plume of dark smoke signaling a structure fire drew the Santa Rosa Fire Department to Country Manor Drive yesterday afternoon. According to the Santa Rosa Fire Department, the fire broke out behind the Rayleys shopping center, necessitating a strong initial response. Firefighters were dispatched at 2:56 p.m., and the first unit reached the scene within four minutes, witnessing a vehicle engulfed in flames in a driveway, with the fire spreading to an adjacent garage.
The team acted quickly to contain the blaze, attacking the vehicle fire and preventing it from invading the home's interior further. One resident, found inside the house, was escorted to safety by fire personnel. To ensure control of the situation, a ladder company was brought in to cut through the roof to ventilate the smoke and heat. "Due to the quick response of fire crews, their aggressive fire attack and the intact fire resistive construction of the garage the fire was confined to the garage area and did not effect the interior living space of the residence", the Santa Rosa Fire Department recounted.
Despite the rapid response, one individual suffered smoke inhalation and minor burns while attempting to put out the fire before the fire department's arrival. An ambulance was subsequently called to provide assessment and transport the resident for further care. The fire was declared under control approximately 20 minutes following the arrival of fire crews.
The response to the incident included four engines, a squad, one ladder truck, one air unit, one ambulance, a Battalion Chief, and two fire investigators. These investigators began immediately to determine the cause of the fire, which remains undetermined as of now.
