Early Wednesday morning, a commercial fire erupted in the 1900 block of Mesquite Avenue, with smoke first spotted by a neighboring business. The incident, which occurred just before 8:30 A.M., was initially thought to stem from an air conditioning unit gone awry. The City's official statement detailed that the first fire crew on the scene encountered flames in the attic space of the building.
A total of four engine companies along with a Battalion Chief arrived to tackle the blaze. In attempts to quell the fire, an employee, who was found wielding a fire extinguisher in the attic before firefighters took over, discharged it but with little success. It took 35 minutes for the first responders to bring the fire under control, with all employees of the affected business having evacuated safely and, fortunately, without injury.
Following the containment of the fire, crews dedicated an additional hour to salvage operations. During this time, they meticulously worked through the building, ensuring that no residual flames threatened to reignite the blaze. Although it has been several days since the incident, the cause of the fire is still under active investigation, with updates expected as new information comes to light.
For further specifics on the incident or ongoing investigation, the on-duty Battalion Chief or Fire Administration can be contacted for up-to-date information.
