FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fresno Fire continues its investigation following a massive warehouse fire on “L” and Hamilton just after 3 Thursday afternoon in southeast Fresno.
More than three dozen firefighters attacked the large flames from above and on the ground.
“This warehouse was fully involved,” said Josh Sellers with Fresno Fire.
The giant plume of smoke grew and could be seen across the downtown Fresno skyline as fire crews responded.
“While en route, there was already a large column of smoke that was visible,” said Sellers.
The high temperatures, coupled with overhead power lines, made the firefight uniquely challenging for crews.
Fresno Fire confirmed that PG&E shut off the power in the area of the flames for safety reasons as fire crews knocked out the flames.
Fresno Fire rotated its crews to avoid heat exhaustion.
Smoldering ash was all that remained of the building after the flames, which took crews about an hour to control.
Carly Ankney is the landlord of the now-burned Fresno Freight building.
“It’s something you can’t get back. They’re our brothers. We love them with all of our hearts,” said Dennis Lucas, a retired 22-year member of the motorcycle club.
“It’s beyond insurance and a building now. They lost everything,” said Ankney.
“All my belongings, all my goods, everything gone,” said Club Treasurer Jose Cisneros.
He lived in a portion of the clubhouse and learned about the devastating fire by phone while at work.
Thursday’s fire brought renewed focus on the motorcycle club whose president, 39-year-old Thomas Qualls, was indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the arson of one of Bobby Salazar’s restaurants.
“There’s one guy, not the whole club,” said Lucas.
Last August, prosecutors alleged Mexican Restaurateur Bobby Salazar paid Qualls and another person to set fire to his Blackstone Avenue location.
Qualls has pleaded not guilty.
“Just because one person did something stupid, you can’t go after the whole people,” said Ackney.
No injuries were reported in the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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