Photos/video: Andrew Goff

UPDATE, 2:06 p.m.: Several witnesses at the scene tell the Outpost’s Andrew Goff that the fire was preceded by an explosion of some kind. “Our entire building shook like crazy,” said one neighbor.

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Just a few minutes ago, an outbuilding attached to a Second Street duplex just a couple of blocks from the library went up in flames.

The first call came into Humboldt Bay Fire’s dispatch center at about 1:45 p.m. Witnesses reported seeing flames and black smoke coming from the building, between I and J streets. Dispatch ordered a large response.

The first units at the scene discovered that the fire was an an outbuilding attached to the rear of the duplex. Firefighters are attacking the blaze now. Arcata Fire is responding to cover calls for Humboldt Bay while the local agency is tied up at the scene.

Second Street and J street are both closed at that intersection. We’ll update.