Too much damage from Petaluma barn fire to determine cause

A fire that burned a converted Petaluma chicken coop filled with antiques and a small recording studio started near a wood stove but investigators could make no further determination as to the cause because of the extent of the damage.

Saturday morning’s fire on Marshall Avenue, northwest of Petaluma, was deemed accidental as there was no evidence found that it could stem from something else, a Rancho Adobe fire official said.

The fire caused a loss of about $120,000, mainly to the collectible antiques lost and equipment for a sound studio.

Investigators were able to see the fire’s origin was at the location of the coop’s wood stove, but whether the stove was involved couldn’t be determined.

On Saturday, multiple people called 911 starting at 8:39 a.m. to report a large shop on fire. A Cal Fire engine arrived first, at 8:47 a.m., according to emergency fire dispatch records.

Firefighters found the 120-foot-long barn ablaze and the roof starting to collapse. Seven fire agencies responded.

Marshall Avenue is just west of Petaluma Boulevard North, near Skillman Lane.