Residential Fire in the 200 Block of Santa Rosa Avenue

On Friday, July 10, at 3:00 p.m., a 9-1-1 call was received reporting smoke coming from a single-family residence in the 200 block of Santa Rosa Avenue.

Fire units were dispatched at 3:00 p.m. and arrived on the scene at 3:02 p.m. Units arrived to find an active fire in the detached structure used as a garage and living space to the rear of a single-story home. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames with a preconnected 1¾-inch fire attack hose line, preventing the fire from spreading into the residence or neighboring homes.

The fire was extinguished with no injuries. The Mountain View Police Department provided traffic control for 90 minutes while fire units and equipment were on the scene.

An extension cord on the floor in the garage was determined to be the fire's area of origin. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental due to the improper use of extension cords. The cords were found to be under piles of combustibles. The estimated damage to the contents and structure is $50,000. The building was turned over to the homeowner before fire crews left the scene.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, extension cords are strictly for temporary use and should never serve as a substitute for permanent wiring. Never plug a space heater, air conditioner, or major appliance into an extension cord. Always plug cords directly into an approved wall outlet, and never daisy-chain them together.

Photographs
Individual images can be found at Flickr.com/photos/MVpublicsafety.
Please credit the images: Courtesy of the City of Mountain View Fire Department.

Media Contact
Robert Maitland, Fire Department PIO
650-903-6825 or [email protected]