San Rafael Fire Department – PRESS RELEASE
Abraham Roman, Fire Chief
• Incident Commander: Paul Bernard, Battalion Chief
• Date of Incident: Monday, May 19, 2025
• Time of Dispatch: 9:22 p.m.
• Type of Incident: Structure Fire.
• Location of Incident: 720 Francisco Bl W, San Rafael.
• Occupancy Type: Auto Dealership – Marin Audi – Volkswagen.
• Duration of Incident: Four hours.
• Fire Origin: Exterior wall. See red arrows on site photos below.
• Fire Cause: Under investigation.
• Damage Estimate: Unknown currently.
• Injuries: None.
• Units/Resources Assigned: Three battalion chiefs, five engines, two ladder trucks, one fire-paramedic ambulance, Kentfield Fire District aerial ladder truck, San Rafael Police, PG&E, and the Marin County Fire Investigation Team (MCFIT).
INCIDENT SUMMARY
Firefighters arrived to find a fire burning on an exterior wall of the auto dealership. Flames were extending up the wall to the roof. Additionally, the fire had extended through the wall into a utility room area.
The fire was fought on multiple fronts. Crews worked to extinguish the fire that was consuming the aluminum siding, a second crew entered the building to fight the fire in the utility room, and additional companies using the San Rafael and Kentfield aerial ladder trucks went to the roof to extinguish the fire that had extended from the siding and ignited roofing materials.
MCFIT investigators arrived on scene last night and have returned to the site this morning to continue the investigation. San Rafael Building Division staff will also be on site today to evaluate the damage.
