San Diego, CA- 2nd Alarm 12-30-07

[RescueKujo 130]

Fire Engulfs Downtown Warehouse

Downtown Warehouse Erupts In Flames

Fire Causes Estimated $2 Million In Damage

POSTED: 7:54 am PST December 31, 2007

UPDATED: 1:58 pm PST December 31, 2007

SAN DIEGO -- A downtown warehouse fire that firefighters thought they had controlled Sunday night, flared up again Monday morning.

At least two businesses were destroyed in the blaze which first began Sunday night before 9 p.m. and reignited Monday, shortly after 4 a.m., according to fire officials. The fire burned the warehouse, which was home to six businesses, including a limousine company, on the corner of 16th Street and Broadway.

Firefighters were able to save eight to 10 limos from the limo business. Fire crews personally drove the cars out themselves, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Maurice Luque.

"It may never be really known as to what caused the fire," Luque said, due to the extent of the damage.

The original blaze started around 9 p.m. Sunday night. Some employees were evacuated as a result.

"Because the building was compromised by the fire -- it was cracking and crumbling inside -- it was just not safe for the firefighters to get inside and continue attacking the fire. We fully anticipated there was this potential for the fire to continue to smolder on the second floor and burn through, and that's exactly what happened about 4 a.m.," Luque said.

Several streets downtown were closed Monday as a result of the fire, including Broadway between 15th and 17th streets and 16th Street between E and C streets.

Luque said the warehouse housed an electronics store and recycling center, a moving and storage company, a classic car business with storage, a restaurant supply company, a discount store and a limo business. The building was once the warehouse for Jerome's furniture, NBC 7/39 reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The damage is estimated at more than $2 million. No one was injured in the fire.

This was originally a 2nd Alarm, and was thought to be under control. With the exception of mopup companies, many had been released. The fire rekindled approximately 4 a.m. this morning, and went to a 3rd alarm. The building is destroyed, with only a couple of walls still standing.