This morning, a fire erupted in Belmont, severely affecting an auto repair shop between a car dealership and the shop itself. The San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department reported that Engine 14 arrived at the vehicle fire scene at Ruth Avenue and S. El Camino around 3:30 AM, only to discover that the situation escalated to include multiple vehicles and a structure. The San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department, in a social media post, stated that the blaze prompted a temporary shutdown of the Caltrain service, though it has since resumed.
The Belmont Police Department, on their end, informed the public via social media that El Camino Real faced closures but reassured that the road was partially reopened, maintaining one lane in each direction. Commuters were advised to expect significant delays throughout the morning hours and to consider alternative routes. Despite the size of the fire, no injuries were reported.
The fire greatly impacted an auto repair shop, with its storage office burning. The owner of the repair shop, Mark Sutherland, was reportedly inside the building doing bookwork when he noticed the flames. "It was too late," Sutherland told KTVU. "It was just a blaze." The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Firefighting units from San Mateo County quickly responded to manage the situation and successfully extinguished the fire. As a precautionary measure, Caltrain crews inspected the nearby tracks to ensure their safety. No electric vehicles were implicated in the inferno, which allowed for a more straightforward containment of the situation. In the blaze's aftermath, thorough investigations are underway to determine its origin.
