The Petaluma nursing home and the movie theater catch fire hours apart, unrelated

Petaluma firefighters responded to two small, unrelated fires Thursday evening at a nursing home and a movie theater, officials said.

According to a press release from the Petaluma Fire Department, the first fire was reported around 9:04 p.m. when Petaluma Post-Acute Rehab staff smelled a faint odor of smoke.

Firefighters arrived at the nursing home on B Street near West El Rose Drive and found a small smoldering spot in the attic above the kitchen. They said the cause was probably an electrical problem.

According to the press release, crews removed rock slabs and opened the roof to give air to the fire. The fire was quickly contained and only damaged a 1.5 meter high ceiling beam and blew out the insulation.

No residents had to be evacuated and no one was injured, officials said.

The second fire was reported by an alarm company when the sprinkler system went off at the Boulevard 14 Cinema. 200 C St., just a few hours later, Friday, 12:14 a.m.

When firefighters arrived, they discovered that the sprinkler system on the second floor was soaked and was likely started by a fire involving electrical equipment used to power neon signs.

The sprinkler systems helped extinguish the fire and contain it to a 5-foot area, the release said. Nobody was injured.

Although the building suffered water damage, there was minimal damage from fire and smoke.

The fire protection office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Reach Staff Writer Alana Minkler at 707-526-8531 or [email protected]. On X (Twitter,) @alana_minkler.