Golf Cart Catches Fire Inside Garage Of Petaluma Apartment Home

PETALUMA, CA — A golf cart caught fire Wednesday night inside the garage of a three-story apartment home in Petaluma.

The Petaluma Fire Department was dispatched at 9:21 p.m. Wednesday to the fire at Azure Apartment Homes on Technology Lane.

The first fire crew on the scene found smoke coming from the first-floor garage. When firefighters made access, they found the fire sprinkler system was activated and was suppressing the fire.

The residents told firefighters they were upstairs and heard a loud pop. They went downstairs to investigate and found the golf cart on fire and called 911.

Firefighters brought the fire fully under control within 5 minutes.

Fire damage was kept within the golf cart but there was water damage to the garage.

"It was determined that the utilities could stay on, and the residents could inhabit the home due to minimal damage from smoke and heat," Petaluma FD Battalion Chief Mike Medeiros said.

The Petaluma Fire Prevention Bureau responded was still investigating the cause of the fire Thursday morning, Medeiros said.

"The Petaluma Fire Department is happy to report there were no injuries to firefighters or residents," Medeiros said. "Additionally, we want to thank our surrounding partners for their assistance during the incident and for providing station coverage to protect the city."

Medeiros said the incident was a reminder of the importance of a functioning smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector.

"Furthermore, installing a fire sprinkler system and ensuring it is working properly, could mean the difference not only between minor and major damage to a structure but also in the safe escape of residents during a fire."

It was the second fire in as many days where a properly working fire sprinkler system kept the damage to a minimum. Read more here about the first fire.