Santa Rosa firefighters douse duplex fire

<p>Fire broke out in an eastside Santa Rosa home early Monday, possibly started by a heating blanket in a tortoise pen, said Santa Rosa fire officials.</p><p>The fire was quickly extinguished but had gotten into the attic of the Shepard Court duplex and was extensive enough to displace the woman living there, Battalion Chief Andy Pforsich said.</p><p>The woman, Judy Truskett, two large tortoises, more than two feet in diameter, and a small turtle all got out safely.</p><p>Fire initially broke out at about 1 a.m. in a tortoise pen and was extinguished by the woman, Pforsich said.</p><p>But at about 7 a.m., firefighters were called to the home for an attic fire. Pforsich said it’s possible the initial fire wasn’t completedly extinguished or something from it had travelled up into the attic that she wasn’t aware of.</p><p>Firefighters were called just after 7 a.m. to the fire, in the small court off of Hoen Avenue. Police officers were called to help direct traffic on busy Hoen Avenue, due to the firefighting activity and the nearby morning commute.</p><p>Investigators Monday were looking for the cause. But it may have started in a four-foot cubed home for one of the huge tortoises.</p><p>“That appears to be the cause, we’re looking more into that,” Pforsich said.</p><p>The tortoise’s home was up against the back of the duplex. It had hay inside and a heating blanket for the animal, Pforsich said.</p><p>The fire started in that area and worked its way up the back of the home and into the attic.</p><p>Firefighters covered and saved most of the woman’s belongings and stopped the fire from spreading to the adjoining duplex. </p><p>There was smoke damage, however in the second residence.</p><p>The resident, a renter, was expected to receive help from the local chapter of the American Red Cross.</p><p>Pforsich estimated damage at $80,000 to the structure and $10,000 to the contents.</p>