3 Alarm Structure Fire in Pacifica

On February 12, 2016 at approximately 2:30 P.M., 16 Fire Companies, 1 Breathing Support Unit, 5 Chief Officers, 1 Information Officer, 1 Fire Investigator,1 EMS Supervisor and 1 ALS Transport Unit responded to a structure fire at 1070 Palmetto Avenue in the City of Pacifica.

The first arriving fire company found a building structure, which was fully involved in fire and was threatening to extend into a nearby commercial strip of businesses. Additional resources were requested and fire companies made an aggressive fire attack to knock down the fire and not allow flames to reach the adjacent businesses. Firefighters were hampered by falling power lines and the fact that the building was on a bluff and cliff, which was deteriorating above the ocean and had been deemed uninhabitable.

Firefighters held the fire to the building of origin and no other property of structures were damaged.  There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. Most of the fire companies remained on scene for over 4 hours completing overhaul operations and ensuring the fire was mitigated.  A small number of fire companies will remain at scene overnight monitoring the structure to make sure there are no flare ups or hot spots that become active fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the North County Fire Prevention Services Bureau. However, the investigation will be limited due to the fact that the building had been deemed structurally unsafe, which will not allow for fire investigators to get inside to conduct an extensive investigation to determine the point of origin and cause.

The North County Fire Authority, as always reminds businesses and residences to install and maintain operating smoke detectors and fire protection systems.