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UPDATE 4:25 P.M.:

Press release from Humboldt Bay Fire:

On 7/19/2024 at approximately 1:13p.m. Humboldt Bay Fire responded to the report of a vegetation fire at the 400 block of V Street in the brush between Fourth and Fifth Streets. One Engine initially responded but while approaching the scene the Engine reported a large amount of smoke and flames visible with possible exposures to near-by structures. The response was upgraded to a structure fire at that time. This added two additional engines as well as the ladder truck and Battalion Chief to the response.

Units arrived on scene to find an unoccupied transient encampment on fire that had spread into surrounding vegetation. Humboldt Bay Fire had the fire knocked down within 20 minutes of the first arriving unit.

Humboldt Bay Fire crews remained on scene for approximately two additional hours to ensure extinguishment. Additionally, one Humboldt Bay Fire Support Volunteer provided traffic control for the duration of the incident. The fire was investigated by an HBF Fire Investigator and the cause of the fire was undetermined. There were no civilian or Firefighter injuries. Eureka Police Department was also on scene to assist with traffic control.

Humboldt Bay Fire would like to thank City Ambulance, EPD, and Cal Fire for their standby services and assistance during this incident.

Humboldt Bay Fire would also like to remind the public that we are now in the hot and dry season. It is never a good idea to leave a fire unattended and to make sure all smoking materials are dead out. There is currently a state-wide burn ban which means Smoke Alarms Save Lives. burning is prohibited. Brush fires can move quickly in the dry weather and cause larger wild fires. If you see someone burning or you see smoke please call 9-1-1 immediately.

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Original Post:

A fire broke out this afternoon following an explosion at the north end of Eureka, in a greenbelt between Sushi Spot and Siam Orchid Thai. Emergency responders have closed down V Street at the intersection of Fifth. 

California Highway Patrol is currently on scene managing traffic.

Eureka Police Department spokesperson Laura Montagna tells the Outpost’s Andrew Goff, on the scene, that people were seen leaving the premises after the fire started. She added that the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Guillermo Sandoval, the owner of the property, says he was aware that people had been camping and building structures in this area and had contacted the city about helping to remove them but nothing was done.

One reader reports that she was inside Kiskanu, a cannabis dispensary on Fourth Street, when she heard explosions outside. She emerged to see a black plume of smoke, which was visible across Eureka and even into Humboldt Bay. One reader snapped photos from aboard the Madaket:

Here’s a photo submitted to the Outpost by Fourth District Humboldt County Supervisor Natalie Arroyo: