A blaze erupted early this morning in a vacant downtown San Diego building, drawing a response from over a hundred firefighters and resulting in road closures. According to City News Service, the fire was first reported around 4:10 a.m. at the address 1323 Sixth Ave. in the Cortez Hill neighborhood, near the intersection of A Street.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department dispatched crews who aggressively attacked the flames from a second-floor window and through interior stairwells. Despite the building's "abandoned" status, FOX 5 San Diego reported that individuals were seen exiting the structure during the conflagration, suggesting potential unauthorized occupancy.
The operation involved six trucks, four medics, and 13 engines, officially knocking down the fire in about an hour, with no injuries reported. The effort saw assistance from National City and Coronado personnel, as was detailed by City News Service. The areas of Sixth Avenue, from Ash to B Street, and A Street between Fifth and Eighth avenues have been closed to traffic as authorities work to secure the now-charred scene and investigate the causes of the inferno.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Brian Raines expressed concerns about the structure's safety, noting, "This building has a complicated layout, very dangerous building for firefighters," in a statement obtained by FOX 5 San Diego. "The building is compromised. There’s holes in the floor, so we had to use caution while still attempting to search all three floors." The Fire Marshal is also involved, reportedly coordinating with the city to secure the property, given that this incident marks the second fire within the past two years at that location.
