According to the City of Mountain View Fire Department, a 9-1-1 call reported an electrical fire in a commercial building at 2081 Stierlin Court yesterday at 5:18 p.m. the first engine company arrived merely five minutes post dispatch. The cause of the fire, which occurred in an office's electrical room, resulted from an overheated electrical component, according to the City's official statement.
Before the arrival of the fire crews, approximately 25 employees had already self-evacuated, a move that potentially kept their day from taking a smokier turn. The first responders found the building's sprinkler system working, with water flowing and smoke sieving out of a computer lab. Acting quickly, firefighters stopped the water and removed what was left of a charred office chair, a signpost of the fire's power.
The salvaging techniques the fire department's crew employed carefully extracted water and smoke from the ravaged lab, protecting other necessary but sensitive electronics. An overhaul of the site further ensured the fire's complete extinguishment. Meanwhile, the Mountain View Police Department managed the surrounding area, keeping the parking lot organized as the firefighters and their equipment operated.
The loss from the fire is pegged at about $200,000. After replacing the sprinkler head and recharging the system, firefighters turned the site to the building's management, ready for restoration. Traffic control from the police department remained on-site for an hour to navigate the coming and going of the responding units, shared by the Mountain View Fire Department.
