2 Dogs die, family displaced in apartment fire

SAN RAFAEL (BCN) — A fire caused extensive damage to a ground-floor apartment in a five-unit Victorian house and killed two dogs Tuesday afternoon, a San Rafael Fire Department official said.

The fire at 109 Ross St. in the Gerstle Cove area was reported around 3 p.m., Deputy Chief Bob Sinnott said.

The ground-floor tenants came home to find their kitchen on fire and nearly put it out with a fire extinguisher. The origin of the fire was on or near the stove, but the cause is still under investigation, Sinnott said.

Firefighters tore down sheetrock from the walls and ceiling to make sure the fire had not spread to the second floor and attic where smoke was seen, Sinnott said.

The American Red Cross responded to the displaced first-floor apartment tenants. The other residents were able to reoccupy the other four apartments. The two dogs died in the fire but no other injuries were reported, Sinnott said.

Damage is estimated at $100,000, Sinnott said.