Flames tore through a Fontana strip mall early Wednesday morning, as firefighters battled a blaze that threatened multiple businesses. According to the San Bernardino County Fire Department's release, which was picked up by local media, the inferno began in the 9800 block of Sierra Ave, leaving a restaurant heavily damaged. Emergency calls about smoke pouring out were the early heralds of what would to rapidly escalate into a two-alarm fire.
First responders moved swiftly to suppress the flames, which were billowing from a central unit when they arrived. Firefighters had to quickly assert themselves both inside the building and on the rooftop, contending with intense heat and smoke. In a statement obtained by San Bernardino County Fire Department's website, authorities detailed how truck crews found the fire had spread to a common attic space, prompting a second alarm to be struck for additional help.
The fire department's efforts centered on a multi-pronged approach: attacking the fire, searching for occupants, checking for further fire spread, and creating ventilation points. Their coordinated response, executed within a crucial 28-minute window from their arrival, managed to confine the fire to just one unit and the adjacent attic area. This swift action saved multiple businesses and the majority of the structure, with all building searches turning up negative and no injuries reported.
With local fire resources tied up at the scene, several “Move-up Engines” were called in to ensure Fontana maintained uninterrupted fire and EMS coverage. This regionalized backup protocol proved essential in allowing crews to fully commit to the incident while not leaving the surrounding community bereft of emergency services. The blaze was definitively brought under control thanks to these strategies and the additional manpower of eight engines, two truck companies, and various support units, as noted by the fire department's report.
Despite the quick control of the fire, its origins remained a subject of investigation. San Bernardino County Fire Investigators are looking into the cause, while Fontana PD provided necessary traffic control during the ordeal.
