$100,000 estimated damage due to fire at auto repair shop on Fourth Street

 

The only auto repair shop in that vicinity is Courthouse Union Inc located on 803 4th St behind the Humboldt County Courthouse. Eureka Police Department responded to assist.

There are hardly any cars in this lot, door is boarded up and you can see damage in the enclosure by the Pepsi vending machine. 

Humboldt Bay Fire just responded to "a commercial structure fire that occurred at an automotive repair shop this morning. One person suffered minor smoke inhalation. There were no injuries to fire personnel. Damages are estimated at $100,000."

"Humboldt Bay Fire officials investigated the cause of the fire. It was determined that the fire was caused by a subject using a candle while camping in a vehicle."

Humboldt Bay Fire Battalion Chief Chris Emmons said at this point in the investigation, "the fire appears to be accidental."

Press Release:

 At 1:29 A.M. a single Humboldt Bay Fire unit was dispatched to a reported vehicle fire to the rear of an automotive repair shop on the 800 Block of Fourth Street. 

Within a minute of the initial dispatch, Humboldt Bay Fire Dispatchers received additional information indicating that the burning vehicle was in close proximity to the building. 

The Humboldt Bay Fire Dispatchers upgraded the response to a full structure fire response. Three additional units and a duty officer also responded.  The first arriving unit found a fully involved vehicle to the rear of the structure with fire spreading to other nearby vehicles and the automotive repair business. Fire had broken through the windows of the shop and was burning in the interior automotive bays of the repair shop.  

The first unit attacked the fire and slowed its progress in the structure and prevented it from spreading to other nearby uninvolved vehicles. Additional HBF units entered the shop and controlled the fire within 15 minutes. Personnel confirmed that nobody was inside the business.      

A second alarm was requested and the mutual aid resources responded to assist with any additional calls within the Humboldt Bay Fire jurisdiction.   

Humboldt Bay Fire officials investigated the cause of the fire. It was determined that the fire was caused by a subject using a candle while camping in a vehicle. The subject fell asleep and the candle ignited the interior of the car. The fire engulfed the car and spread to the other nearby vehicles and the structure. Although the subject had minor smoke inhalation, medical treatment was declined.  Damage was estimated at $100,000. There were no injuries to fire personnel.  

Humboldt Bay Fire would like to thank its allied partners for their assistance with coverage during this incident. Arcata Fire Protection District and Samoa Fire District helped to ensure the safety of the HBF community while our resources were committed.