Petaluma Structure Fire Displaces 2

PETALUMA, CA — A house fire in Petaluma displaced two people Thursday.

The Petaluma Fire Department was dispatched to the blaze at 11:50 a.m. when residents of Graylawn Avenue—off Payran Street—called 911 to report their neighbors' residence was on fire, Petaluma Fire Department Battalion Chief Kevin Weaver said.

An engine and a ladder truck arrived within five minutes and saw an active fire on the exterior of a structure.

Additional units from Petaluma and Rancho Adobe Fire District were requested, and crews knocked down the fire within four minutes of the firefighters' arrival.

The city's Building Department and PG&E evaluated the house. It was deemed unsafe and red-tagged, displacing two residents who received assistance from the American Red Cross.

The cause of the fire was under investigation by the Petaluma Fire Prevention Bureau.

The Petaluma Fire Department thanked Rancho Adobe and Sonoma Valley fire districts for providing station coverage for emergencies that did occur during the structure fire. Weaver also expressed gratitude to the neighbors who reported the fire.

"We applaud the neighbors' quick action of calling 911 and alerting the residents," he said. "Doing so helped evacuate the residents safely and helped crews respond promptly."

Community safety takes a team approach, Weaver said.

"We are happy to work with our community members to ensure the highest protection," he said. "To ensure safety, we encourage every resident to know two ways out of the home in case of emergency and to practice exit drills monthly."