Firefighters Save Christmas For Families Displaced By Fire

ROHNERT PARK, CA — Firefighters' quick response and teamwork saved the holidays for two Rohnert Park families.

The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Dispatch Center received multiple 911 calls around 2:30 p.m. Thursday about a structure fire in the area of 400 Enterprise Drive. First responders arrived within minutes and saw flames coming from a second-story balcony and progressing into the attic.

"Firefighters entered through the front door and began an aggressive attack on the fire by removing sheetrock from the ceiling to access the fire that was spreading through the attic," Deputy Chief Aaron Johnson said.

The condominium building is comprised of four attached units upstairs and four units downstairs, Johnson said. Based on the year it was built, there were no fire breaks in the attic between the units (known as a common attic); therefore, if more time passed, the fire would have extended to more of the residential units, he said.

Additional firefighters quickly gathered and saved almost all the already-wrapped Christmas presents from under the tree in the unit where the fire originated.

"Those gifts were there for two small children living in one of the units," Johnson said.

Firefighters from the Petaluma and Sebastopol fire departments and the Sonoma County and Rancho Adobe fire districts responded to help, and the fire was brought under control within 20 minutes.

Enterprise Drive was closed to traffic for nearly two hours as fire crews helped salvage as much property as possible.

"Millions of dollars were saved in this fire because of a quick response, aggressive fire attack, and coordination with allied agencies," Johnson said.

Two of the condos were deemed uninhabitable because of sheetrock and water damage.

The preliminary estimate of damages was around $100,000.

The two families who lived in the condos were displaced and received aid from the American Red Cross.

Preliminary investigations suggested the fire was accidental and was likely ignited by hot fireplace ashes left on the balcony, Johnson said.

The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety thanked the Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District, the Sonoma County Fire District, the Petaluma Fire Department and the Sebastopol Fire Department for their help.

"We remind residents to exercise caution with potential fire hazards, especially during the holiday season."