WAREHOUSE BLAZE BACKS UP TRAFFIC

A fire burned a vacant warehouse in Santa Rosa on Monday and the

firefighting effort caused a traffic snarl on College Avenue during the

morning commute.

Santa Rosa Fire Department crews were called to the fire on West College

Avenue between Cleveland and Dutton avenues at 7:45 a.m. Six engines and two

ladder trucks were used to contain the fire.

A wall and parts of the roof and floor were burned. The fire caused about

$5,000 damage to the 25,000-square-foot warehouse that once was used to store

furniture.

The fire apparently was started by a campfire set by transients living next

to the warehouse. There were no injuries.

Traffic was diverted off West College onto Cleveland and Dutton avenues for

about 90 minutes while firefighters worked on the fire.

-- Michael Coit