Warehouse fire destroys Rescue Mission goods
Union-Tribune
July 9, 2008
SAN DIEGO: A two-alarm accidental fire in City Heights yesterday heavily
damaged a warehouse filled with items donated to the San Diego Rescue
Mission.
Furniture, appliances, bedding and other goods valued at $100,000 were
destroyed by fire, smoke and water, said Maurice Luque, San Diego Fire-Rescue
Department spokesman.
Investigators believe the fire was ignited by an overloaded electrical power strip, Luque said.
Several people in the area reported seeing smoke and some flames coming from the windowless metal building on 52nd Street at University Avenue about 7:15 p.m.
Firefighters opened the doors and found half the 20,000-square foot, two-story building engulfed in flames. A concrete wall separated the other half of the building and helped keep the blaze from spreading, Luque said. Damage to the structure was estimated at $750,000.
About 70 firefighters doused the flames in 30 minutes, with help from Copter 1 hovering over the building and guiding some firefighting operations. One firefighter was taken to a hospital for treatment of a minor burn. San Diego police closed University Avenue so motorists wouldn't drive over fire hoses. –P.R.