'Suspicious' Early Morning Fire Damages Cycle Gear Shop in Santa Rosa

A suspected arson fire damaged a motorcycle gear shop in Santa Rosa early this morning, a fire battalion chief said.

Crews were dispatched around 1:45 a.m. to an alarm sounding and reports of a dumpster fire behind the Cycle Gear shop in a strip mall at 3011 Santa Rosa Ave., according to Santa Rosa fire Battalion Chief Michael Jones.

Firefighters arriving on the scene learned that a sprinkler system inside the shop had also activated and saw that the fire had spread from the dumpster to the outside and inside of the building, Jones said.

Crews quickly extinguished the fire in the dumpster and exterior of the building and found a small fire burning inside the main part of the store and in the building's mezzanine area.

Smoke from the fire spread to a next-door business, Shutterbug Camera, and to a vacant neighboring business, according to the battalion chief.

Firefighters were able to quickly douse the blaze and then remained on scene for another hour to remove smoke from the Cycle Gear shop and neighboring businesses.

Jones said the cause of the fire is believed to be suspicious and is under investigation by fire investigators and Santa Rosa police.

The blaze caused an estimated $40,000 in damage to the building and its contents, he said. No injuries were reported.

-- Bay City News