Petaluma: Firefighters Respond To Two Structure Fires Thursday

Bay City News

The Petaluma Fire Department responded to two structure fires within hours of each other Thursday evening.

The first was an acute rehabilitation facility in the 1100 block of B Street. Staff called in a faint smell of smoke to 911. After arriving at the scene, firefighters detected an odor but did not see any visible signs of smoke.

Crews continued to investigate the building and discovered a smoldering area in the attic above the kitchen, where a fire, approximately 5 feet in size, was burning in insulation and ceiling joints. The fire, believed to be an electrical fire, was quickly contained. No evacuations were ordered, nor injuries reported, according to the Fire Department.

A few hours later, 911 received a call from an alarm company about a water flow alarm at a movie theater in the 200 block of C Street in downtown Petaluma.

Petaluma police arrived on the scene and investigated the theater, informing arriving fire crews of smoke on the second floor.

Upon investigation, fire crews found water gushing from the second floor due to two sprinkler heads being activated by the smoke.

The smoke was coming from electrical equipment associated with a neon sign. The sprinklers had extinguished the fire in a 5-foot area. Damage to the theater was minimal, according to the Fire Department.

Both fires are being investigated by the Petaluma Fire Prevention Bureau.

The Fire Department encourages residents and businesses to practice fire drills monthly to ensure the highest level of protection in case of a fire.

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