Petaluma House Fire Sends Dog To The Hospital

PETALUMA - A house fire early Sunday morning in Petaluma sent a dog to an animal hospital and caused about $35,000 in damage to a home, fire officials said.

Firefighters responded at 12:03 a.m. to a structure fire at 512 Murray Drive where they found smoke coming from around the front door of a one-story home, according to fire officials.

An occupant of the home told firefighters a dog was inside. One fire crew found a large, elderly dog in the master bedroom as another crew was extinguishing a fire in the kitchen, fire officials said.

A fire crew used a tarp to remove the dog from the bedroom and a family friend took the animal to an animal hospital. Fire officials said the dog did not appear to be doing well.

The fire appears to have started on the stove. No one was at home during the fire.

The owners were out of town and the house sitter returned just before midnight.

She called 911 after opening the front door and seeing the home full of smoke, fire officials said.

The house sitter told firefighters the dog may have inadvertently turned on the stove while it was eating.

No one was injured, according to fire officials.

-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock