The fire was reported at about 1:25 a.m. at 1466 Rusch Court, according to the Santa Rosa Fire Department.
An occupant in the house reported hearing popping and crackling in the wall behind the fireplace, and arriving firefighters found fire in a wooden chimney chase at ground level that extended up to the second floor and into the attic of the home.
A second alarm was requested, and despite the widespread reach of the fire and its threat to an adjacent home, a total of 32 firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze prior to it spreading throughout the attic and into the living space.
The cause of the fire was apparently heat from a fire in the fireplace spreading from the flue to the chimney's wood framing, according to fire officials, who estimated the damage was about $75,000 to the structure of the home and $8,000 to its contents.
The American Red Cross responded to the scene and provided temporary residence for four adults, a child, and four dogs. No injuries were reported at the scene, fire officials said.
