Altogether 8 businesses destroyed at strip mall.
AB Wire
Indian vegetarian restaurant Radhe Chaat and a jewelry shop Kumar Jewelers were among several businesses that burnt down in a devastating fire at the Rancho Shopping Center on El Camino Real, in Santa Clara, California, today.
The owner of the restaurant Prakash Patel watched his 4-year-old restaurant go up in flames, reported Mercury News.
Patel, who has been in the restaurant business for almost 20 years, said he plans to open again.
“That’s life, right,” he said.
Several owners were visibly distraught by the fire and broke into tears.
ABC News reported the 5-alarm fire destroyed eight businesses – including Spring Foot Spa, Seoul Rice Cake, and Kumar Jewelers.
The strip mall is located on El Camino Real between Pomeroy Avenue and Lawrence Expressway and was the home of about a dozen businesses, including a salon, jewelry store, spa and restaurants, reported Mercury News.
The fire was reported at 2:50 a.m. and required mutual aid from the San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara County fire departments, according to Santa Clara Fire Chief Bill Kelly. Fire officials believe the flames quickly spread through the attic of the 50-year-old center, reported Mercury News. Only five businesses escaped the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters made sure there was no one inside, then they got out just in time, ABC News reported.
“If there’s a rescue inside, we’ll risk our lives to go save somebody inside. Once it’s clear there’s nobody inside, we evaluate that risk, we determine it’s time to back out and go to the defensive exterior firefighting here,” SCFD Chief Bill Kelly said.