Early Thursday morning, San Bernardino fire crews were dispatched to extinguish a blaze at a historic building in downtown San Bernardino, located at 300 N E Street. The Harris Building, which has stood for a century and was once a thriving department store, has become a residence for the unhoused after it fell into disuse. According to a CBS News report, there were concerns that about five people might have been inside when the fire started shortly after midnight.
The building in question is situated across from San Bernardino City Hall and was formerly connected to the Carousel Mall, which shut down in 2017 and was later demolished due to safety issues. San Bernardino County Fire's response included a total of 70 personnel, and firefighters were able to quickly locate and safely escort one adult female from the basement. In a statement obtained by San Bernardino County Fire's Facebook post, it was mentioned that no other individuals were found during the search.
Evidence of the building's historical significance extends to its original amenities which included a basement, a mezzanine level, and a once-celebrated roof garden, detailed by CBS News. Despite Mayor Helen Tran's aspirations to revive the venerable structure acknowledged in July, such plans are pegged by setbacks and an undetermined magnitude of necessary repairs.
Officials are now grappling with the aftermath of the fire, which was exacerbated by prior structural damage – including compromised stairwells – that made rescue efforts more treacherous. Southbound E Street was closed to assist in overhaul operations but was expected to reopen later that afternoon. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by County Fire’s Office of the Fire Marshal. And amidst the physical ruin, one can scarcely ignore the words of Billy Biecken, a homeless witness, who told CBS News, "It's bad, and it's not going to get any better." He alludes to a deeper tragedy within the embers, one that is not solely about a charred edifice but also speaks to the plight of the city's unhoused population.
