Press release from the Arcata Fire District:

On May 3, 2026, at 2:10 a.m., units from the Arcata Fire District, Humboldt Bay Fire, Blue Lake Fire, and CAL FIRE (Trinidad) were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 1200 block of Sunset Avenue in Arcata.

The first-arriving Arcata Fire units found a single-family residence with heavy fire coming from the rear of the structure. The fire had spread to a fence and a detached shed on the property. A neighboring residence had sustained significant heat damage and was beginning to ignite.

Arcata firefighters initiated an exterior attack, stopping the fire’s spread to the neighboring home. Additional Arcata Fire personnel arrived on scene, began fire attack on the primary residence, and conducted a search for occupants. No victims were located inside the residence. Personnel from Humboldt Bay Fire, CAL FIRE, and Blue Lake Fire arrived shortly thereafter and assisted with fire control in the exterior shed area. The fire was brought under control in approximately 30 minutes.

Firefighters remained on scene for an additional two hours extinguishing hot spots within the structures. During the Sunset Avenue incident, a separate, fully involved structure fire was reported in Blue Lake. A Blue Lake Fire engine and an Arcata Fire engine were released from the Sunset Avenue incident and responded to assist. For information regarding that incident, please contact Blue Lake Fire.

Following extinguishment of the Sunset Avenue fire, Arcata Fire personnel conducted an origin and cause investigation. The fire was determined to have originated in an exterior carport area; however, the cause remains undetermined and is under investigation at this time.

The main residence sustained an estimated $250,000 in damage. The detached shed sustained approximately $25,000 in damage, and the neighboring residence sustained approximately $50,000 in damage.

The Arcata Fire District would like to thank its allied fire partners and the Arcata Police Department for their assistance during the incident. There were no reported injuries to civilians or fire personnel.

Anyone with information regarding this fire is encouraged to contact the Arcata Fire District at (707) 825-2000.