Two-story condo catches fire in Santa Rosa

The cause of a blaze that broke out shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday at a two-story Santa Rosa condominium was accidental, according to Santa Rosa Fire Battalion Chief Matthew Gloeckner..

Multiple neighbors tried to use fire extinguishers to put the fire out inside the apartment complex at 1477 Guerneville Road before fire personnel arrived, he said, adding that one injured his hand on broken glass from a window in the process.

The two residents of the unit that caught fire, who were home at the time it began, made it out along with several dogs. They both suffered injuries, as they were “exposed to significant smoke and fire,” he said.

They were taken to Memorial Hospital, and one has been transferred to a burn unit, Gloeckner added.

The fire caused $50,000 worth of damage to the condo and left it uninhabitable, officials said.

It was initially reported by multiple callers as a house fire, according to Santa Rosa Division Chief Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal.

“We arrived and found it was a two-story apartment (now known as condominium) complex with smoke coming from it,” Lowenthal said. “We ended up requesting a code 3 ambulance for an injury.”

Four engines responded, along with a water truck, a battalion chief and two fire investigators. Santa Rosa police assisted with traffic control on Guerneville Road, he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Kathleen Coates at kathleen.coates@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5209.