FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ/KFSN) — A massive fire tore down a decades-old building in Fresno’s China Alley on Sunday.
Nearly 50 firefighters were seen battling the blaze at a location they’ve become accustomed to. “We have responded here numerous times for fires. So, the building was compromised and unsafe, therefore, we went with a defensive approach,” says Fresno Fire Battalion Chief Keola Park.
In a social media post by the CHP, investigators say the occupants were inside the building illegally, which added to the seriousness and danger of the situation. This location has seen frequent trespassing calls, and the cause of the fire is now under investigation by Fresno Fire’s Arson Unit.
“To see the Asian hotel go up in flames is kinda sad. I remember it from when I was a kid. It’s the, I don’t know. It’s just a sad thing,” says Joseph Perez.
Locals say trespassing has caused problems there before.
Paul Pearson, owner of Chef Paul’s Cafe, says, “There’s been numerous fires back there. Some of the homeless individuals choose to break into the building at least a couple of times a week. And when it’s cold, they think they can set a small fire in there. And it just doesn’t work.”
But officials did not say whether a warming fire caused Sunday’s flames. What they could say was that multiple people inside illegally had to evacuate, with one man injured, after jumping from a second-story window and breaking his leg.
