Fire damages Sebastopol home

Flames destroyed a north Sebastopol home early Wednesday and the resident escaped with minor burns after trying to put out the fire.

The 54-year-old man told firefighters he awoke to find a fire in his living room, couldn’t contain the flames and so grabbed a jacket and got out.

Firefighters arriving after the 7:22 a.m. call found flames coming out the front and back doors of the 1,200-square-foot, single-story home, said Schepley Schroth-Cary, the Gold Ridge battalion chief who ran the response on Norlee Street.

About 20 Sebastopol, Graton and Gold Ridge firefighters with seven engines attempted to save some of the home. The fire was knocked down soon after crews arrived but the damage to the living room, kitchen and attic likely make it a total loss, Schroth-Cary said.

Damage was estimated at more than $350,000.

Little was saved from the home, but firefighters were happy to find a World War I medal given to the resident’s grandfather, who’d fought in France.

The Red Cross was called to help the man with temporary aid. An investigation into the fire’s cause is ongoing.

Norlee Street runs parallel to Highway 116 and behind the Lucky grocery store shopping center.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.