Petaluma firefighters investigate grass fire near downtown

Witnesses reported seeing two people leaving the scene of a half-acre grass fire in Petaluma on Friday afternoon, spurring an investigation into whether the blaze was human-caused, Petaluma Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Schach said.

Firefighters from the Lakeville Volunteer Fire Department visiting Petaluma reported the fire at about 12:39 p.m. near the Petaluma River, close to Hopper Street. Additional people dialed 911 to report the blaze, including two people on Petaluma Boulevard South.

“They noticed the fire starting and when they looked across the river, they saw the smoke,” Schach said. “They didn’t see anyone start the fire, but they did witness two adult men run from the area after the fire started.”

Petaluma firefighters, along with volunteer crews from the Lakeville and Wilmar fire departments, responded, locating the blaze at the McNear Peninsula, past Steamer Landing Park. The fire grew to about a half-acre before it was extinguished, posing no threat to nearby buildings.

A search of the area found no obvious signs of what may have started the blaze, Schach said. An investigation into the fire’s cause is ongoing.