Fire tears through Santa Rosa garage, residents escape with pets

The pop and crackle of spreading flames awoke a Santa Rosa couple early Saturday, leading them to discover their attached garage was engulfed in fire, officials said.

The residents escaped with a cat and dog from the single-story house on Natalino Court off West Third Street as 20-foot flames burned through the garage roof, Santa Rosa Fire Battalion Chief Matt Dahl said. A neighbor up early to go fishing saw the flames and called 911 about 4:35 a.m.

Fire spread to two vehicles parked in the driveway and shrubs close to the neighboring house.

Crews stopped the fire before it spread to the next-door house and contained the fire within about 20 minutes, halting its spread through the eaves and attic, Dahl said.

The fire caused an estimated $75,000 in damage. Its cause and point of origin were still under investigation, Dahl said.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 707-521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.