By Colin Atagi
The Press Democrat
CALISTOGA, Calif. — An off-duty Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy is being praised for helping to rescue a woman from a Calistoga house fire over the weekend, the Sheriff’s Office announced Monday night.
The deputy, who was identified in an 8 p.m. post on the Sheriff’s Office’s official Facebook page only as Deputy Aviña, helped the woman and others evacuate early Saturday after two homes on Urbani Place caught fire.
“This is the culture of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office: Saving lives because it’s the right thing to do, even when you’re not working,” Sheriff Eddie Engram said in the post. “I’m proud of Deputy Aviña for acting quickly and saving this woman’s life.”
Cal Fire reported one home was destroyed and the fire was contained to the second home’s attic.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Aviña was in the area at about 5:40 a.m. when he heard cries for help and saw a home on fire.
He was speaking to a resident when he saw flames spreading to a neighboring home and began waking residents to get them evacuated from the buildings.
Aviña learned a woman was in the first home, which was engulfed in flames. He broke down a side-yard gate to find a way in, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
He spotted the woman’s head and hand, which were sticking out from a pet entrance built into a door leading to the garage.
Aviña and a Calistoga police officer kicked down the door and pulled the woman to safety, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Cal Fire reported two people were taken to a Napa hospital for treatment and a dog was rescued from a nearby backyard. A second dog died in the fire.
The woman was treated for smoke inhalation and released, according to Cal Fire.
A man was taken to a burn center for his injuries, officials said.
A spokesperson for the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to a request for comment Monday night.
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