SANTA ROSA (KRON) — A smoker apparently caused a Santa Rosa house fire early Saturday when the lit material set a mattress ablaze, according to fire officials.
Fire crews were alerted of a residence fire in the 500 block of Alderbrook Drive at 1:26 a.m. Saturday, according to Santa Rosa Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Jones. Upon arrival, fire crews found a single-story residence with heavy fire showing from the front of the residence, and the residence next door threatened by fire, Jones said. The fire was brought under control within approximately 20 minutes.
Two male subjects were in the residence at the time of the fire and made it out safely prior to our arrival, Jones said. One male subject admitted to dropping smoking materials onto a mattress in the living room of the residence and starting the fire, he said.
The male subjects attempted to extinguish the fire and re-entered the structure prior to calling 911, he added. The delay, Jones explained, allowed the fire to grow out of control prior to the fire department’s arrival. The interior of the residence was destroyed, Jones said, and damage is estimated at $100,000 to the structure and $20,000 in contents.