Jenna Bordelon
TROPICO -- Fire officials are searching for the cause of a fire that
consumed two businesses early Monday morning.
The fire appears to be of suspicious origin, officials said.
A full battalion of three engines, two trucks and two ambulances were
called in at 5:40 a.m. Monday to the 300 block of Mira Loma Avenue, after
smoke was seen drifting from the warehouse-like structure.
Firefighters opened holes in the roof to ventilate the building, which
officials estimate reached between 1,200 and 2,000 degrees at its hottest
point.
Firefighters were able to save the offices, but were unable to
preserve the main rooms, where row upon row of blackened sewing machines
lined the floor.
No one was injured in the blaze.
Officials were unable to comment on the names of the two businesses
that occupied the same building, but did determine that they were
involved in garment manufacturing.
Battalion Chief Corey Creasey was concerned about the human impact of
the fire.
"By the look of the number of sewing machines," he said, "I'd say
there were 30 to 60 employees."
He said the fire is still under investigation.
"I don't exactly know what the investigators have," he said, "but it
is suspicious."
