1 Person Dies In Petaluma House Fire

PETALUMA, CA — One person died when a house caught fire Sunday morning in Petaluma.

The fire was reported at 4:31 a.m. Sunday in the 100 block of Saratoga Court and firefighters arrived within seven minutes, a Petaluma Fire Department official said.

The first crew on scene found smoke coming from an open front door and out of a second-story window, Battalion Chief Mike Medeiros said.

"Working alongside firefighters from Rancho Adobe Fire, crews worked quickly and had the fire knocked down in under 15 minutes of the initial call," Medeiros said.

Two adult residents were able to escape the fire but told firefighters that there was still one person inside.

Crews searched the home and found the person who did not survive. The person's identity will be released by the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office.

No firefighters reported any injuries.

The cause of the fire was not immediately determined. The Petaluma Police Department and Sonoma County Fire Prevention Task Force were assisting with the investigation.

The Petaluma Building Department "red-tagged" the home, as it was deemed unsafe to occupy.

The Red Cross was assisting the residents with options for housing.

"The Petaluma Fire Department would like to take this moment to remind residents that fire alarms and smoke detectors alert residents of fire, often before it is noticed, allowing residents time to escape," Medeiros said. "In addition, residents should always know two ways out of the home, in case of an emergency."