Full Notification

Novato, CA- On November 28th at 4:47 p.m., Novato Fire District responded to a report of a structure fire located in the 700 block of Cherry Street.

The 2nd alarm fire called for a total of 35 fire personnel from Novato, San Rafael and Marinwood fire agencies.

Novato Police Department and PG&E were also on scene as well as a fire investigator from the Marin County Fire Investigation Team.

Timeline of events; An owner of a 1972 Nova was working on his vehicle in a detached garage, he stated that he was sitting inside his vehicle when he started the vehicle and smelled a chemical odor and shut his vehicle off. When he started it again, the engine compartment exploded and caught fire. He was able to escape out of the vehicle and run down the long steep driveway while directing concerned neighbors to call 9 1 1.

Fortunately for the vehicle owner, one of his neighbors, a 9 1 1 caller, was Novato Firefighter/Paramedic Tommy Gaulke. He felt his house shake from the blast and went outside immediately to see what happened. He was able to give detailed information to the dispatcher and responding units of the specific location, type of fire and occupant update to better expedite the response from the crews.

The first due Engine was able to contain the fire to the detached garage and hold the fire to the outside of the home that was located two feet from the garage. The house fire spread to the adjacent hillside. The vegetation fire that started on the hillside behind the garage was contained to ½ acre. The fires were under control at 5:12 p.m. with an estimated damage of approximately $ 100,000. The two vehicles; 1972 Chevy Nova and the 1966 Nova Station Wagon were valued at approximately $ 60,000.

No other structures were threatened and the vehicle owner did not need medical attention.