Fire Breaks Out Inside Petaluma Salon

PETALUMA, CA — A working fire sprinkler system was instrumental in keeping a fire at a Petaluma business from growing any larger, the Petaluma Fire Department said.

The blaze broke out around 5:30 a.m. Monday inside a salon in the 900 block of Lakeville Street. Authorities were alerted to the fire by a water flow alarm at the business, Petaluma FD Fire Inspector Joe Garcia said.

"The first arriving engine found heavy smoke inside the building and requested an upgrade to a full structure response," Garcia said. "When additional resources arrived, crews made entry and were successful in keeping the fire from spreading into the adjacent businesses."

After putting out the fire, crews found that a working sprinkler system helped keep the blaze contained to where it started which was at a workstation in the middle of the business.

"This incident is a reminder of how important it is to have a functioning sprinkler system, not only in the home but in businesses, as well," Garcia said. "Having a functioning system can mean the difference in minimal versus extensive damage to a structure, but it can also allow more time for people to escape in case of a fire."

The City of Petaluma Building Department and PG&E evaluated the affected businesses for safety and red-tagged the business where the fire started, restricting the use of the building.

The Petaluma Fire Prevention Bureau was still investigating the cause of the fire, Garcia said.

"The Petaluma Fire Department is happy to report there were no injuries to firefighters, and no patrons or employees were on site at the time of the incident," Garcia said. "Additionally, we want to thank our surrounding partners for their assistance during the incident and for providing station coverage to protect the city."