Yesterday at Hassett Ace Hardware in Redwood City turned into a full-on emergency after a car crashed through the storefront at Woodside Plaza and sparked a fire that drew a two-alarm response. Fire crews quickly converged on the shopping center, blocking off the area as they attacked the flames. Officials reported that no one was injured, though the store was damaged, and the vehicle was pulled out of the building later that night. Authorities have opened an investigation into what led to the crash.
Witnesses describe crash and fire
Alexey Karetski told The Almanac he was just about to walk into the hardware store when a car suddenly barreled through the left-side windows and into shelving. A few seconds later, he said, flames appeared and he heard a “big boom.” Photos from the scene showed the vehicle still lodged inside the storefront as firefighters worked their way through smoke and lingering hot spots. Staff writer Jennifer Yoshikoshi and contributing staff reported from the scene, documenting the aftermath.
Fire response and scene management
The first 911 calls came in around 5:13 PM, according to The Almanac, bringing units from the Redwood City Fire Department, the Woodside Fire Protection District and the Menlo Park Fire District. Crews cordoned off the section of Woodside Plaza around Hassett Ace while they knocked down the two-alarm structure fire and checked the compromised building for any additional hazards. A tow truck later extracted the vehicle from inside the store, and the scene was then turned over to investigators.
About Hassett Ace in Redwood City
According to the company’s website, Hassett Hardware lists its Redwood City store in Woodside Plaza next to Lucky’s, serving the surrounding neighborhood with hardware, garden supplies and other home-improvement staples. Customers looking for status updates or service information following the crash are being directed to check Hassett Hardware online or call the store directly. Nearby businesses in the plaza experienced temporary disruption while emergency crews worked the scene.
Investigation and next steps
Fire and city investigators are now working to determine what caused the driver to slam into the building and whether vehicle condition, driver error or some other factor played a role. Damage assessments and any required inspections of the structure will help decide when the store can safely reopen. This remains a developing story and will be updated as officials release additional information.
