Rohnert Park condominium fire displaces 2 families; ashes left on balcony likely cause

Fireplace ashes left on a balcony likely caused a Rohnert Park condominium fire that displaced two families Thursday afternoon, investigators said.

The fire was reported about 2:30 p.m. in the 300 block of Enterprise Drive, near State Farm Drive.

Firefighters found flames coming from a second-story balcony and moving toward the attic.

Eight units comprised the building; four on each of the two floors. There were no fire breaks between units, officials said.

“If more time passed, the fire would have extended to more of the residential units,” Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Deputy Chief Aaron Johnson wrote in a Nixle alert.

Firefighters removed Sheetrock, a brand of drywall, to reach the fire through the ceiling.

Crews saved “almost all” the wrapped Christmas gifts under a tree and for two children in the main unit on fire, according to the Department of Public Safety.

The fire was under control within 20 minutes. Two units were uninhabitable due to Sheetrock and water damage and total damage was estimated at $100,000.

The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced families. No injuries were reported.

The Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District, Sonoma County Fire District, Petaluma Fire Department and the Sebastopol Fire Department assisted at the scene.

You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @colin_atagi