Richmond firefighters had their hands full as they tackled a fire at the vacant Mira Flores property, with efforts ramping up during the start of Memorial Day weekend. According to a social media post from Richmond Firefighters Local 188, the blaze broke out around 11 AM last Friday at the site near S.45th St and Florida Ave. Despite the buildings being vacant and boarded up, firefighting crews encountered significant challenges gaining access and dealing with the fire's spread through the structure's many hidden voids. The fire was reportedly extinguished within about an hour, and thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Meanwhile, a community-driven cleanup effort occurred in the adjacent Greenbelt Park as the fire unfolded. Running from the property while it was on fire, volunteers and witnesses were a testament to the ongoing struggles with individuals trespassing on the premises. "Today, when we were out there doing volunteer work to clean up the park, and people were reportedly running out of the property while it was on fire," District 3 City Councilmember Doria Robinson said, as per Grandview Independent. Efforts by police and CORE teams to clear the building of occupants have often been short-lived, with those removed frequently returning.
Once home to the historic Sakai and Oishi nurseries, which date back to Japanese immigrants in the early 1900s, the property has seen its share of controversy. The development site has faced numerous delays and complications, including financial setbacks that brought the original plans for a mixed-use development to a standstill. After the redevelopment agency acquired the property in 2016, city officials set in motion plans for affordable senior housing, a park, and the restoration of the nursery buildings.
A new owner has recently stepped in to try and steer the Mira Flores project back on course. They have collaborated with the city to enhance security with fence repairs and other protective measures, signifying progress despite the property's troubled past. "If you’ve been following Mira Flores, you’d know I’ve been pushing hard to get the project on the right track, and we’ve made tremendous progress with a new property owner, the park moving forward," Robinson told Grandview Independent. In the wake of the fire, the Red Cross stepped in to offer on-site assistance, with the degree of damage to the historic buildings still pending evaluation.
