Fire Department Press Release – 1 Las Gallinas Ave 03-02-2026

San Rafael Fire Department - PRESS RELEASE

Abraham Roman, Fire Chief

• Incident Commander: Paul Bernard, Battalion Chief.
• Date of Incident: Monday, March 2, 2026.
• Location of Incident: 1 Las Gallinas Ave, San Rafael, CA.
• Time of Dispatch: 10:47 a.m.
• Type of Incident: Appliance Fire.
• Occupancy Type: Three story assisted living facility
• Suspected Fire Cause: Undetermined.
• Damage Estimate: Not determined at this time.
• Injuries: None.
• Resources Assigned: 4 chief officers, 4 engines, 2 ladder trucks, 1 paramedic ambulance, & SRPD. Mutual aid was provided by Novato Fire District.

Firefighters were initially dispatched to a fire alarm activation at the three-story assisted living facility. The response was quickly upgraded to a full structure fire assignment after staff reported a fire on the second floor.
Upon arrival, crews were directed to a second-floor laundry room, where linens inside a large commercial dryer had ignited. A quick-thinking staff member deployed a portable dry chemical fire extinguisher, successfully slowing the fire's progression and helping to confine it to the appliance. Firefighters completed extinguishment and confirmed the fire was fully out. There was no damage to the laundry room itself, and damage was limited to the dryer. Staff and firefighters worked together to ensure the safety of all second-floor residents. Some residents sheltered safely in place while others were temporarily relocated to other areas of the building as a precaution.

The primary focus for crews following extinguishment was removal of smoke and dry chemical extinguisher residue to ensure the environment was safe for residents and staff to reoccupy the second floor. This process took approximately one hour. Fire personnel attempted to determine the cause of the fire but were unable to identify a definitive source. It remains unclear whether the incident was the result of a mechanical malfunction or combustible materials inadvertently mixed with the linens.

We would like to thank the staff of The Vincent Assisted Living Facility for their quick thinking and decisive actions. Their prompt notification to the fire department, immediate direction to the fire location, and effective use of a portable fire extinguisher played a key role in minimizing damage and ensuring resident safety.

Contact:

Deputy Fire - Chief Robert Sinnott, [email protected]
415-485-5067 office, 415-261-7333 cell
For press release details, visit: https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/srfdpress/

Press Release - 1 Las Gallinas Ave 03-02-2026