Victorian on fire on 8th and I

Reader said  "smoke smells horrible." Saw a huge column of smoke. It is a two story Victorian.

PG & E and Humboldt Bay Fire on scene.  Address is 916 8th Street, according to Sebastian Morgan. It was on his mail routeand vacant for many years. It is next to a property owned by Floyd Squires, he said. According to   him, next to a "well known drug house."



Humboldt Bay Fire Press Release:

A large column of black smoke plumed into the air on the corner of 9th St. and H St. where an abandoned building was ablaze around 6:15pm on October 30th, 2019.   H

umboldt Bay Fire crews arrived to find a working fire. The incident was quickly upgraded to a 2nd and then 3rd alarm, pulling in Fire resources from several local jurisdictions, detailed below.

Early reports indicate that this building was vacant and boarded up, but that illegal squatter activity may have been an ongoing issue on the premises.

Neighbors reportedly saw two people flee the sign as the first signs of fire presented.   After the fire was controlled and extinguished, it became clear that the damage of the fire was great and that structural integrity of the building was compromised.

Command staff along with Public Works made the decision to demolish the building, which was unable to be saved.   Luckily, no civilians, firefighters, or animals were harmed in this fire. 

We will continue to update with information as well have it. At this time, there has not been an established damage assessment or cause of fire determined.

Humboldt Bay Fire would like to thank Arcata Fire District, Samoa Peninsula Fire District, Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department, Loleta Volunteer Fire Department, City Ambulance, PG&E, Public Works, Code Enforcement, the Excivation Crew, and HBF Fire Support & Volunteers for their response.