San Rafael officials on Sept. 2 described the city’s response to the Aug. 25 Canal neighborhood apartment fire that killed two residents and left about 55 people displaced.

City Manager (title used in meeting) and Mayor Kate thanked first responders and city staff for search, rescue, shelter and recovery operations. “We are heartbroken by the loss of two beloved members of our community,” the city manager said during the meeting, and later identified broad community support from the Red Cross, Canal Alliance and Marin Community Foundation.

Fire Chief Roman described the initial response and on‑scene tactics. “At approximately 05:37 a.m., San Rafael Fire and police were dispatched to reports of a structure fire with residents trapped inside,” Chief Roman said. He said the initial response included four engines, two ladder trucks, an ambulance and two battalion chiefs; because of call volume and conditions the incident was upgraded to a second alarm and additional resources were requested. Crews encountered heavy fire on the second and third floors and transitioned from an interior attack to a defensive strategy as structural integrity deteriorated, Chief Roman said.

Police Chief Dave Spiller described coordinated investigative and support actions. “We established unified command to coordinate the incident,” Spiller said, noting ATF and county investigative resources assisted in the investigation. Spiller said the investigation is ongoing and that investigators are pursuing all leads to determine cause.

City officials described sheltering and human services operations to help displaced residents. Deputy Director Quinn Gardner led shelter operations at the Albemarle Center community center, where residents received meals, showers, clothing and case management, city staff said. The city activated mutual aid: 10 fire departments and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office assisted on scene, and the Marin County Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue task force provided 20 personnel for shoring, debris removal and recovery.

Officials said community partners and neighbors provided donations and immediate support. The city highlighted that three search dogs—one from the Oakland Fire Department and two from the Menlo Park Fire District—assisted recovery efforts. Assistant City Manager Angela Robinson Pinon received special recognition from the city manager for her role managing the incident during the city manager’s brief medical leave.

Officials asked the public to direct financial donations for displaced residents to the Marin Community Foundation and Canal Alliance; QR codes and links were displayed during the meeting.

Nut graf: The council received a detailed operational briefing from fire and police chiefs and accepted city staff’s description of the rescue, shelter and recovery response, which combined local resources, mutual aid and nonprofit partners. Officials said the investigation into the cause is ongoing and the city will continue support to displaced households.

What officials said: Chief Roman described rescue efforts and operational hazards, including residents who jumped from upper‑story windows; Chief Spiller emphasized the time‑consuming nature of evidence collection and interviews in the criminal and fire investigations. “Our investigation continues to determine the cause of the incident,” Spiller said.

Numbers and immediate impacts: City officials reported two confirmed deaths, approximately 55 displaced people, a multi‑alarm fire response with dozens of engines and support units plus a 20‑person USAR team for building shoring and recovery, and three certified search dogs on the scene. The city manager said the Red Cross, Canal Alliance and Marin Community Foundation mobilized quickly and that the city established an incident command post and a shelter within hours.

Public comments at the meeting raised questions about evacuation planning and whether landlords file emergency plans with the fire department for vulnerable tenants. A commenter said one displaced resident with disabilities became trapped and asked whether a registered evacuation plan might have changed outcomes; city staff acknowledged the community questions and noted the investigation is ongoing.

What’s next: Officials said the investigative work will continue and that a recovery process is ahead for displaced residents. City staff will continue to coordinate donations and case management and will report back as additional details from the investigation or the city’s recovery needs are available.

Ending: The council did not take legislative action on the fire at the Sept. 2 meeting; it heard operational reports and accepted staff updates. City leaders repeatedly thanked first responders, volunteers and partner organizations for immediate response and sheltering work.