Fire Chief Gillespie says that fire on 216 3rd street "suspicious" but cannot say accidental or arson yet

Floyd Squires who who owns the building was at other end of town when he got the call. He is at the scene.

EPD Officer Cory Crinch left around 11.

Fire Chief Bill Gillespie said the fire was coming out through the wall at the top of the stairwell. No utilities in the wall.

Fire Department knows the area, they do not know cause yet.

Gas has been turned off. Tenants just allowed in but through back end of the building.

A tenant thanked Chief Bill Gillespie.

Press Release:

On July 29th at approximately 9:52 AM Humboldt Bay Fire responded to a
residential structure fire at 216 Third Street. The fire was originally reported to be
in the stairwell of the building.
First arriving fire resources located the fire burning in a wall near the top of the
stairwell on the Third Street side of the building. Fire crews stretched a fire hose
to the top of the stairs and began extinguishing visible fire while another crew cut
open the wall to expose fire within. Additional fire personnel searched the two
story apartment building to be sure all occupants were outside, and secured
utilities. Eureka Police Department was requested to the scene due to
uncooperative tenants in the alley to the rear of the apartment building. The fire
was extinguished quickly, and crews remained on scene checking the wall
space, apartment and area below the stairwell, and the attic and roof area above
the fire location to confirm that fire had not spread into those locations. Fire
personnel were on scene for a little over an hour.
Two engines, one ladder truck, one squad, and two chief officers responded to
the fire as our normal first alarm structure fire response. The remaining fire
engine provided coverage to the balance of the community from Harris and L, a
central coverage location. Arcata Fire assisted with coverage from the Bracut
area of Highway 101.
The fire cause is under investigation, but at this time the cause is undetermined.

Damage to the structure and its contents is estimated at $10,000.