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Firefighters battle simultaneous blazes

 

Valley firefighters found themselves fighting multiple fires late Wednesday afternoon - first at a house on Cavedale Road and then at Maxwell Farms Regional Park.

At around 3:20 p.m., a fire was reported at a house on Cavedale Road just east of Highway 12.

Units from Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority were first on the scene and found a home almost fully involved, said Capt. Ted Hassler.

Hassler said the firefighters had problems since there are no hydrants on Cavedale Road, and the first units had to pump water that they carried in the fire trucks. Water tenders then showed up and pumped water through the engines.

Firefighters also had to deal with downed power lines at the house.

Hassler said the fire personnel saved part of the house, but the contents in that part of the house were heavily damaged by smoke and water.

Neighbors told investigators that they first saw flames in the kitchen which spread to the front deck and back deck. Hassler said while authorities know where the fire started, they're not sure what started it.

One of the inhabitants of the house was treated for smoke inhalation and released after she went into the residence to rescue two dogs that were in the house. The dogs escaped injury.

In addition to Sonoma Valley, firefighters from Glen Ellen, Cal Fire, Kenwood, Schell-Vista and Mayacamayas responded.

Cal Fire personnel handled the spot fires in the grass that popped up from drifting ash.

Sean Jerry, an engineer with Cal Fire's Glen Ellen station, said that the agency started a full wildland response including five engines, two dozers, two air tankers and a helicopter, and two inmate crews, but most of the units were called off before they arrived.

The helicopter was diverted to a brush fire at Maxwell Farms Regional Park some time before 4 p.m.

An estimated two-acres of grass and brush to the west of the Boys & Girls Club burned.

Since Sonoma was tied up at the Cavedale fire, personnel from other fire departments responded to the Maxwell Park fire.