House Fire Puts CA Firefighter in Hospital with Back Injury

A two-alarm fire in Mill Valley severely damaged a 115-year-old home early Sunday and injured two firefighters, one of whom was hospitalized.

The fire was reported at 12:24 a.m. at 17 Coronet Ave., a three-bedroom residence in the Blithedale Canyon area, said Battalion Chief Matt Barnes of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District. The resident left the house before firefighters arrived and was not injured.

Firefighters hauled equipment up 100 stairs between the street and the home, Barnes said.

"It was an arduous operation to get the lines up the hill and into the structure," he said.

About three dozen firefighters worked on the fire and spent about 90 minutes to get it under control. Barnes said the fire "significantly damaged" the home and left it uninhabitable.

The fire spread into the vegetation, but crews blocked the flames from reaching other homes.

Barry Bram, who lives next door, said he heard crackling electrical lines and saw "huge flames" at the house. He credited firefighters for reaching the fire in time to keep it from spreading to other homes on the slope.

"It's quite a climb from the street," said Bram, whose home was built in 1902. "They knew they couldn't let it go beyond the house or they'd be in trouble."

Barnes said one firefighter suffered minor injuries and the other moderate injuries. The latter remained in the hospital Sunday with a back injury. Neither firefighter was burned.

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire but do not suspect arson, Barnes said.

Aside from the Southern Marin and Mill Valley fire agencies, the Marin County, Central Marin and Tiburon fire departments also sent crews to the site.

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