Unplugged TV starts garage fire in northwest Santa Rosa

<p>A fire apparently caused by an unplugged, discarded television burned a garage in northwest Santa Rosa on Friday morning and sent one man to the hospital, officials said.</p><p>The fire at 2464 Dayton St. left the home's resident, Vincent Phipps, suffering from smoke inhalation, Santa Rose Fire Battalion Chief Jack Piccinini said. </p><p>Phipps, whose age was not immediately available, was taken to the hospital for treatment.</p><p>The fire was apparently caused by “a very unusual, hard-to-believe set of circumstances,” Piccinini said.</p><p>He said Phipps had purchased a new television and placed his old one outside, against the wall of his garage. </p><p>“It apparently acted as a magnifying glass,” Piccinini said. </p><p>Flames crawled up the back wall of the garage and into the eaves, he said. </p><p>“It rolled across the underside of the roof” and ignited items stored in the eaves, he said.</p><p>Phipps was alerted by neighbors to the fire and tried to extinguish it with a garden hose. Medics treated him and recommended he go to hospital for further care, Piccinini said.</p><p>The 9 a.m. fire was under control in 20 minutes. No other structures were threatened.</p><p>Damage was estimated at about $10,000.</p>