UPDATE, 5:46 p.m.: The Sun Sets on Northtown Books

Here was the scene on H Street as the sun set.

This is an unimaginable loss to the community. All these businesses were cool. Dandar’s was just getting going, and it already had young, hardcore fans.

But Northtown Books, especially, has stood in that spot since before I moved to town, nearly 40 years ago. It was an immensely important cultural institution in the city and the county. I don’t know how it can be replaced.

I do know I speak for a whole lot of people when I say that tonight my thoughts are with Dante, Monica, Jay, Jon and everyone else who made it what it was. Thank you so much for your devotion to that store.

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 5:28 p.m.:

It’s hard to tell exactly what’s happening on the I Street side of the fire, but this photo — just snapped — would seem to indicate that the Hensel’s Hardware main building, at least, may have made it through. The paint store, the kitchen store and the candy store are not likely to have been as lucky.

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 5:15 p.m.: Buildings Coming Down

Emergency personnel have a backhoe on scene and are starting to bring down buildings.

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 4:53 p.m.:

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 4:36 p.m.: No Known Injuries; Cause of Fire Still a Mystery

Dave White of Arcata Fire just spoke to the Outpost’s Ryan Burns and other reporters on scene. Some key points:

• Firefighters are still uncertain what caused the blaze.
• There are no known injuries associated with the fire, either among civilians or emergency personnel.
• Firefighters expect to be actively, “defensively” fighting the fire into the night. There are still interior parts of the fire that they can’t reach.

White said the fire was originally spotted by one of the department’s own engines, which happened to be passing by. 

Here’s audio of their conversation, which is pretty hard to make out due to the nearby jackhammering:

Dave White of Arcata Fire

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 4:19 p.m.:

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“They are still hitting the fire from all sides and from above,” says our reporter. “Northtown and Dandar’s look like a total loss. A PG&E sledgehammer on treads is here digging into the asphalt.”

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 4:09 p.m.:

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 3:48 p.m.:

Burns says “They’re hitting it with everything they’ve got and it’s still flaming.”

Dante DiGenova, owner of Northtown Books, tells Burns that the fire seems to have started in the apartments above Tenth Street:

Dante from Northtown

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 3:35 p.m.:

The city of Arcata’s mandatory evacuation notice:

If you are in the area of the structure fire in the area of 10th/H st in downtown Arcata, there is a Mandatory Evacuation in effect for the surrounding residences and businesses. Please follow all orders from Police and Fire personnel. Arcata Police Department

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 3:30 p.m.:

The owner of Dandar’s Boardgames and Books tells Ryan Burns that his business is a “total loss”:

Dandar’s Interview

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 3:26 p.m.:

Videos below by the Outpost’s Ryan Burns:

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 3:25 p.m.:

They’re requesting Red Cross respond to the scene, as apartments have been evacuated.

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 3:23 p.m.:

Scanner traffic says four buildings are involved — most of them two-story — and two of those have collapsed.

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 3:15 p.m.:

The Outpost’s Ryan Burns, on the scene, confirms that it is the Hensel’s building on fire. Traffic is closed one block in every direction from 9th and I streets. 

Below is video taken from Wildberries by reader Josh Buck.

— Hank Sims

UPDATE, 3:11 p.m.:

Scanner traffic is indicating mandatory evacuations in the area. Fire departments are being called in from around the region, from as far south as Rio Dell, to help provide coverage.

The address being given over the radio is that of Hensel’s Hardware.

— Hank Sims