Glen Ellen fire kills 2 dogs, owner suffers burns

Sonoma Valley fire officials Tuesday continued investigating a midnight Arnold Drive fire that destroyed a garage and killed two dogs.

The property owner tried to save his dogs, which were housed in the garage, and suffered burns to his hands, Sonoma Valley Fire Battalion Chief Spencer Andreis said Tuesday. Paramedics treated the owner at the scene.

Firefighters at the Glen Ellen station on Arnold Drive were awakened after midnight Monday by someone pounding on the door to report the blaze across the road in a detached garage and shop about 15 feet from a home. The firefighters kept the flames from spreading to the home, Andreis said.

The building held two antique Willys pickups, which also were destroyed.

Andreis estimated the overall loss at $150,000.

Investigators Tuesday continued investigating a cause.

The Glen Ellen fire station recently began being staffed at night through a contract between Glen Ellen and Sonoma Valley fire districts.

-Randi Rossmann