SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In the early hours of Friday, just before 5 a.m., Sacramento firefighters responded swiftly to a significant fire in a commercial building located in the 1200 block of 8St., effectively preventing a potential disaster.
The fire, first sighted by crews from the adjacent Fire Station 2, was raging on the exterior of a two-story commercial structure and had begun to spread to an adjoining three-story Victorian building. The quick escalation prompted an immediate second alarm, calling for additional personnel and equipment.
Despite the complexity of the situation, firefighters launched an aggressive assault on both buildings. They deployed aerial apparatus to access the roof of the Victorian, successfully containing the fire in a remarkably short time. The operation has since shifted to salvage and overhaul, with no reported injuries so far.
Captain Justin Sylvia, Public Information Officer for the Sacramento Fire Department, provided detailed insights into the incident. According to Sylvia, the fire started externally on the commercial building, which has been vacant for an extended period, and quickly spread to the Victorian, mainly causing smoke damage. The Victorian's unique 'balloon framing' construction, lacking internal fire stops, presented a significant risk of the fire spreading rapidly vertically, which necessitated the second alarm.
Fortunately, both buildings were unoccupied at the time of the incident. The Victorian, with office spaces on the top two floors and potential residential space on the ground floor, suffered heavy smoke damage but minimal fire involvement, thanks to the firefighters' prompt response. The commercial building sustained mainly external damage.
Sylvia emphasized the fortuitous proximity of Fire Station 2, which allowed for a rapid response and effective management of the situation. Crews will remain on-site to ensure all hot spots are extinguished and to conduct thorough checks for any lingering fire threats.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and authorities are working to determine the full extent of the damage.
