Photo: Andrew Goff.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Early Morning Fire Consumes Several Businesses in Downtown Eureka

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From Humboldt Bay Fire:

On Tuesday at 2:21 A.M. Humboldt Bay Fire was dispatched to a reported dumpster on fire at Fourth and A Streets. While responding, the Humboldt Bay Fire Dispatch Center received additional 911 calls and upgraded the dispatch to a full structure fire response. The first arriving unit found a large commercial occupancy at 26 West Fourth Street with heavy fire within the building and through the roof.

The first unit immediately requested a Commercial 2nd Alarm be dispatched, triggering additional units from Arcata Fire Protection District to respond. The first arriving Chief Officer arrived on scene and requested a 3rd Alarm, requesting a recall of off-duty Humboldt Bay Fire personnel and additional allied fire agencies.

On scene units set up for defensive operations in an attempt to stop the fire from spreading to adjoining structures. Crews were hindered by downed power lines near the structure, keeping resources from accessing the main body of fire. Prevailing north winds also increased the fire behavior, causing it to spread to the neighboring occupancy spaces.

At the height of the incident, there were three aerial ladder trucks flowing water on the fire, with multiple fire engines also flowing large hose streams. Additional mutual aid units were utilized to check the area for additional fires on nearby roof tops as large embers were falling several blocks downwind from the incident.

Four business occupancies were heavily damaged or destroyed by the fire, with two additional businesses sustaining smoke and water damage. Preliminary estimated losses may exceed one million dollars.
Humboldt Bay Fire continues to remain on scene throughout today to extinguish hot spots and for investigative purposes. The cause is under investigation at the time of this release. Anyone that has information to the cause of this fire is encouraged to contact Humboldt Bay Fire at (707) 441-4000.

Humboldt Bay Fire wants to thank its allied partners, Arcata Fire Protection District, Samoa Fire District, Fortuna Fire Department, Loleta Fire Department, the Eureka Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, Pacific Gas and Electric, Cal Trans, and the City of Eureka Public Works Department for their prompt response to assist in this major incident.