According to the Santa Rosa Fire Department, a two-alarm fire broke out in an apartment complex on Hoen Avenue yesterday morning. The first units arrived at the scene within four minutes after the initial 11:19 a.m. call and found an upstairs apartment engulfed in flames. Despite the complexity of the situation, marked by a high occupancy density within the 24-unit complex, firefighting teams conducted a rapid and aggressive response, successfully bringing the fire under control in about half an hour.
While battling the blaze, firefighters executed a coordinated approach consisting of multiple hose lines and rooftop ventilation to prevent the lateral spread of the fire. An initial concern was the potential entrapment of an elderly couple. The search revealed that they and other residents on the first and second floors were already safely outside. Efforts were also made to minimize property damage, as crews covered residents’ belongings with heavy tarps to shield them from water and smoke.
The fire directly impacted two apartments, with additional water damage to two units on the first floor. One resident of the affected apartments suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to a local hospital. The status of their condition has not been updated. During the response, a firefighter sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for evaluation. They are reported to be stable and were released later in the day, as updated by the Santa Rosa Fire Department Facebook page.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Santa Rosa Fire Department investigators. The closure of Hoen Avenue between Yulupa Avenue and Tahoe Drive has disrupted normalcy for those in the vicinity.
