UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A quick response by firefighters early Tuesday morning is credited with preventing an office fire from destroying an entire building.
The fire was first reported shortly before 1 a.m. at a commercial plaza located at 375 E. Highway 20 in Upper Lake.
The complex houses the Habematolel Pomo tribal offices, Village Antiques and Country Barn Antiques next to Judy's Junction restaurant.
Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said firefighters responding to the report of a fire alarm found a small fire burning in the tribal offices, which are at the back of the complex.
Had firefighters not gotten on scene so quickly and found the fire in its early stages, Beristianos said the incident could have been much worse.
Along with Northshore Fire, Cal Fire and Lakeport Fire responded, Beristianos said.
The fire was contained shortly before 1:30 a.m., with firefighters continuing mop up and investigation for another two hours, according to radio reports.
Beristianos said the fire was contained to one room in the tribal offices, but smoke traveled through the rest of the building – which is laid out in a near square around a courtyard – reaching Village Antiques, which faces Highway 20.
After firefighters opened up the store's front door – triggering the alarms system – smoke poured out of the building and also came from openings on the roof as firefighters worked to make sure the fire hadn't spread.
Power was shut off to the plaza and Pacific Gas and Electric responded to address the power issues.
Beristianos said the cause is under investigation.
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