Petaluma Apartment Complex Fire Displaces 15, Destroys 5 Cars

PETALUMA, CA — Five cars were destroyed and 15 people were displaced in a fire late Thursday at a Petaluma apartment complex.

The Petaluma Fire Department was dispatched at 11:36 p.m. Thursday to a report of a fire in the 100 block of Graylawn Ave. — off Payran Street — and found heavy fire coming from the carport of a two-story apartment complex, Petaluma FD Battalion Chief Kevin Weaver said.

The first crew, which was on the scene within 3 minutes, found five vehicles on fire with flames extending to the exterior of the building and to apartments on the second floor.

"Crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire, evacuate exposed second-floor apartments, and search for anyone trapped inside," Weaver said. "Luckily no occupants were trapped, and no resident or firefighter injuries were reported."

Petaluma police officers helped with the evacuations, and the Red Cross and a property manager helped the 15 displaced residents with short-term housing.

PG&E shut down power and gas to the apartment complex, while a Petaluma City building representative assessed the structural damage and red-tagged the complex as uninhabitable.

The Petaluma Fire Prevention Bureau and a fire investigator for Sonoma County responded and launched an investigation.

"Estimated damages are near $500,000, with millions of dollars of valued assets saved with the quick extinguishment of the fire," Weaver said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Friday.

"The City of Petaluma Fire Department wishes to thank Rancho Adobe Fire District, Sonoma Valley Fire Department and Northbay Fire district for their assistance during this event," Weaver said.