Fire damages Monte Rio business

Fire late Tuesday night caused substantial damage to a River Road therapy business in Monte Rio.

Fire officials Wednesday morning were looking into the cause of the fire, which apparently started in a hallway so the Russian River Counselors building, Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman said.

Baxman said a group of people left the building at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, with nothing apparently amiss. He said the fire had been burning for some time prior to a neighbor calling just before 10 p.m. to report smoke coming from the building.

Monte Rio, Russian River and Cal Fire firefighters were dispatched. Baxman arrived first to the fire within about three minutes and found smoke pouring from windows and doors.

The first fire engine arrived within about nine minutes, according to dispatch records. Firefighters broke through a door and found flames burning a hallway and spreading into adjoining rooms.

Baxman said the firefighters did a good job in quickly stopping the fire, but the mop-up phase took awhile as flames had spread into spaces behind walls and in between floors of the two-story structure.

The fire gutted a few rooms and caused smoke and heat damage to other areas. Baxman estimated it would cost about $300,000 to repair the 2,500-square-foot building.

Firefighters were able to save much of the building’s contents, including computers and records.

The chief said the fire didn’t appear to be suspicious. Investigators early Wednesday were looking at whether an electrical issue could be at fault.

The building is across River Road-Highway 116 from the Northwood Golf Course.