A fire broke out in a Mountain View commercial building yesterday, causing significant damage before firefighters could extinguish the blaze. The City of Mountain View Fire Department reported that the fire started in a single-story office building at the 2600 block of W. El Camino Real. According to their social media post, a 9-1-1 call came in at 6:53 AM and fire units responded immediately, arriving within five minutes.
The City of Mountain View Fire Department's statement detailed that upon arrival, the firefighters encountered an active fire that had broken through the roof of the building, which was unoccupied at the time of the incident. The fire was rapidly extinguished through an "aggressive fire attack," which prevented the flames from spreading. In the firefighting process, the crews completed an extensive overhaul to cut open the walls and roof to ensure the fire was completely out. They employed thermal imaging cameras as part of their protocol to check for any hidden hotspots.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire. The Mountain View Police Department assisted in managing traffic around the area for two hours while the firefighting efforts were underway. The fire's origin, as determined by the officials, was at the exterior of the office building, and it spread through the bottom of the east wall. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Substantial damage was inflicted by the fire, with estimated costs reaching upwards of $500,000 for the contents and structure. Once the fire department deemed the situation safe, control was returned to building management.
