By Bay City News Service
The cause of a three-alarm vegetation fire that burned 20 acres west of Petaluma on Monday afternoon is still under investigation today, Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District Chief Frank Treanor said.
The fire burned vegetation near Thompson Lane and Magnolia Avenue, and the suspected point of origin is an area along Thompson Lane, fire officials said.
There were no reports of livestock deaths, but four outbuildings -- three of them old chicken barns -- were destroyed, Treanor said.
"A woman said someone might have thrown a cigarette from a passing car. It's possible. People don't think. The problem is the evidence is destroyed in the fire," Treanor said. Some homes in the area sustained minor smoke damage, fire officials said. The fire was reported at 3:23 p.m. and was controlled by 5 p.m.
Firefighters from Cal Fire, Petaluma and Marin County also responded to the wind-whipped blaze, Treanor said.
The blaze is not considered suspicious, he said.
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