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Blaze displaces family of four

 

A family of four was forced from their Park Tree Lane home Saturday evening by a multi-alarm fire.

One person was injured - a neighbor who suffered smoke inhalation was taken to Sonoma Valley Hospital and treated.

As of Monday afternoon, fire officials from the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority still don't know how the blaze started. They don't believe it's suspicious, but still haven't nailed down a cause.

An engine crew and a division chief spent most of Sunday at the site sifting through the remains looking for a cause.

The fire, at 18769 Park Tree Lane, was first reported at 6:27 p.m. Saturday and, after initial units arrived on scene, it went to a second alarm.

The fire apparently started to the rear of the duplex and spread into the garage and into the eaves and second floor attic. Just as it appeared that the fire was under control, flames shot out from the attic.

Firefighters kept the blaze from reaching a house in back of the duplex that was nonetheless singed on the siding and the roof.

While the fire heavily damaged one part of the duplex, the other residence only suffered smoke damage and its three occupants were reportedly back in their half Monday.

Division Chief John Franceschi said that firefighters were on scene for more than 3-1/2 hours.

In addition to Sonoma Valley, mutual-aid calls went out to Schell-Vista, Glen Ellen and Kenwood. Schell-Vista and Kenwood supplied station coverage as 43 firefighters and 13 pieces of equipment responded to the blaze.

Franceschi estimated the damage to be more than $100,000.

The family living in the damaged unit, two adults and two children, received help Saturday evening from the Red Cross as did the occupants of the second unit.

Ellen Maremont Silver, director of marketing and communications for the Red Cross, said the families received three nights in a motel as well as a debit card to purchase food and clothing. She said that the Red Cross will also re-evaluate people's condition to determine of more assistance is needed.