Santa Rosa house fire seriously injures 3

Two of the residents are in critical condition, while a third suffered moderate injuries in the weekend blaze. Two cats perished in the fire.|
MADISON SMALSTIG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Three people were hospitalized Saturday night and two cats are dead after a fire in a southeast Santa Rosa home, authorities said.

About 9:40 p.m., Santa Rosa firefighters found an unresponsive woman inside a single-story house in the 800 block of Aston Avenue after receiving multiple reports about the fire and people trapped inside, Santa Rosa Fire Capt. David Kim said in a news release.

Another female resident left the house on her own and bystanders pulled the third occupant from the flames before crews arrived to find smoke and flames coming from several windows and the attic.

As Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Fire District crews fought the blaze, which created thick smoke and high heat, they searched the residence and found three cats, Kim said. One was revived.

*Structure Fire with Rescues - Aston Ave* On Saturday, Feb. 9 at 9:36 p.m., the Santa Rosa Fire Department received multiple reports of a house on fire with additional callers reporting that people were trapped inside the home. Firefighters arrived to find a single-story house with smoke and fire showing from several windows and the attic. Firefighters immediately entered the home to begin a search and rescue of a victim. One unresponsive, female occupant was found in the structure and was successfully rescued and brought outside to Santa Rosa Fire Department paramedics where she was treated for smoke inhalation. Prior to the fire department’s arrival, one occupant had exited the residence on her own and one occupant was pulled from the residence by good samaritans. Both were treated at scene by Santa Rosa Fire paramedics for smoke inhalation and burns. All three victims were transported to the local trauma center. Two were transferred to a burn center. Firefighters continued to search the house for any additional occupants, but none were found. During the search, three cats were found and removed from the house. One cat was resuscitated by firefighters but unfortunately two perished. Search efforts were hampered by thick smoke and high heat conditions. The fire was brought under control in 20minutes. Fire crews remained on scene for an additional three hours to extinguish hot spots and burning debris. The damage to the structure and contents is estimated to be $300,000. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. 4 Engines, 1 Ladder Truck, 2 Chief Officers and 2 Fire Investigators were assigned to the incident.

Posted by City of Santa Rosa Fire Department on Monday, February 12, 2024

The fire was contained in about 20 minutes and crews remained on scene for about three more hours late Saturday to clean up the site and put out hot spots.

All three residents were treated for smoke inhalation and the two who got out before firefighters were on scene received medical attention for burns.

They were taken to a local trauma center where two were in critical condition, while the third’s injuries were considered moderate.

Officials are investigating the cause of the fire, which did about $300,000 in damage to the house, Kim said.

You can reach Staff Writer Madison Smalstig at madison.smalstig@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @madi.smals.

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