Fire destroys 8,000-square-foot home near Hessel

Gold Ridge fire and Sonoma County sheriff’s arson investigators Tuesday searched for signs of what started a suspicious fire that destroyed an 8,000-square-foot home.

An investigation team was at 4700 Gravenstein Highway South home Tuesday and was expected to return Wednesday for further review of the burned scene, said Dan George, assistant fire chief for Gold Ridge.

The huge two-story home, which had been for sale, caught fire early Sunday. The huge home is visible from the rural highway, near the community of Hessel, south of Sebastopol.

A passer-by saw the fire and called for help at about 4 a.m.

Arriving firefighters found flames and smoke to the exterior of the south end of the home.

Added help on the two-alarm effort came from Rancho Adobe, Rincon Valley, Sebastopol and Graton firefighters, George said.

He said the fire is being considered suspicious because there was no permanent power to the vacant home.

He said the home is a total loss because the roof and the second story were destroyed by flames. A rough estimate of the financial loss was $300,000, George said.

The name of the homeowner wasn’t available.