Man suffers burns in Santa Rosa house fire

A Santa Rosa man escaped a house fire with second-degree burns Tuesday night.

Multiple 911 callers reported the fire and sounds of explosions off Sonoma Highway near Acacia Lane around 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Redcom dispatcher.

Santa Rosa firefighters arrived at the scene and found a single-family home where flames spread to the attic and living room.

Nineteen firefighters with four engines and a ladder truck responded to the blaze, which was under control within 20 minutes.

The fire appears to be “electrical in nature” but the exact cause is under investigation, according to the Fire Department.

Paramedics took the man to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for burns to his upper body. The burns are not life threatening.

Medical staff had planned to transfer him to a burn center outside of Sonoma County.

A cat also escaped from the burning home but was not injured.

There was about $300,000 in damage to the building.

Investigators said they ruled out explosions and suspect the sound may have come from crackling flames.

Firefighters and investigators were on scene early Wednesday and Pacific Gas & Electric Company officials were called in to secure the building’s power, authorities said.

The Santa Rosa Police Department was also present.

You can reach Staff Writer Alana Minkler at 707-526-8511 or alana.minkler@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @alana_minkler.