San Jose strip mall fire damages businesses
SAN JOSE, Calif. - A third-alarm fire broke out early Thursday morning at a San Jose strip mall, firefighters said.
Five businesses were damaged, and three others remained closed because the power was shut down to the entire shopping center at the 2600 block of Alum Rock Avenue.
They include 8-Ball Billiards, Botanica Santa Clara, CC Repair, Maharani Fashion and the El Cielo Bar& Grill.
The fire broke out at about 3:45 a.m.
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Maggie Contreras, owner of 8-Ball Billiards got a text from a friend, letting her know about the early morning fire.
A single mother of four, Contreras had worked at the billiard club and restaurant for five years and had finally saved enough money to buy it in March.
She shared cell phone video of the damage inside after the fire. Most of the items were untouched by the flames, but had significant water damage. She said her business was her livelihood and her community.
"It's a place for people to come and hang out right after work," she told KTVU. "I have all my regular customers. I would cook home-cooked meals for them, and they would come and eat here. It wasn't just about them playing pool."
No one was injured in the fire.
Firefighters said the fire was difficult to fight because the older building had a metal roof which "trapped" the flames beneath it. Firefighters had to use saws and heavy equipment to cut the roof apart. At one point, there were 60 firefighters and emergency responders and seven engines at the scene.
San Jose Fire Battalion Chief Robert Culbertson said sprinklers did not go off inside the building, but a fire wall separating some of the businesses kept the fire from spreading. He said without it, the damage would have been much worse.
Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.