Cigarette sparks apartment fire in Santa Rosa

A cigarette thrown into a bathroom trash can sparked a fire causing around $25,000 in damage Monday evening at an apartment in Santa Rosa, according to the Santa Rosa Fire Department

Firefighters responded to the call around 6:16 p.m. on the 800 block of Russell Avenue and found smoke coming from the roof of the one-story apartment building, said Matt Dahl, battalion chief with the department.

Fire crews entered the smoke-filled unit and quickly put out flames that were limited to the bathroom, Dahl said. There was heat and smoke damage throughout the apartment.

The resident who disposed of the cigarette was not home at the time of the fire but returned while firefighters were still on the scene, Dahl said.

The American Red Cross provided the resident housing assistance.

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203 or nick.rahaim@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nrahaim.