A half-dozen neighbors pitched in to douse a burning trash can in the early morning hours of Monday, July 1, but it was too little, too late: by the time the Healdsburg Fire Department arrived shortly before 1 a.m., the fire on Reed Court near the Rec Park had spread to the roof and attic, and extensive flame and smoke damage resulted.
The owner of the house, who asked not to be identified, told Patch he had been refinishing furniture and wrapped the oily rags in a plastic bag, then put them into the trash can. Sometime around midnight the rags caught fire and erupted into open flame. A number of neighbors noticed the flames and put out the trash can fire, but not before shooting flames had ignited the roof line.
The house was temporarily occupied by a visitor from out of town who was wakened by the neighbors. The home’s owner was staying away from the house while a friend from out of town stayed in the house at 546 Reed Ct.
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Fire units from Healdsburg, Windsor, Geyerville, Cloverdale, and Cal Fire responded. The owner arrived while the fire response was still on the scene.
The owner said the air conditioning system sucked up the smoke from the attic and distributed it throughout the house, causing wide-spread smoke taint. The insulation materials in the attic also caught fire and had to be doused, so extensive water damage also resulted. Initial estimates place damage at $100,000 but an insurance appraiser is expected tomorrow.
