SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — A predawn fire gutted a commercial building in a strip mall near Interstate 8 and state Route 67 Wednesday, causing an estimated $2 million worth of damage, authorities said.
The non-injury blaze in the 400 block of Broadway in El Cajon broke out for unknown reasons at about 3 a.m., Heartland Fire & Rescue spokesman Andy McKellar said.
Due to the intensity of the flames, firefighters had to remain outside the building while battling the inferno, which eventually led to a major roof collapse, McKellar said.
It took crews from six San Diego-area emergency services agencies about two hours to fully subdue the fire.
The blaze left the structure, which had housed a restaurant, a barbershop and a smoke shop, a complete loss, McKellar said.
Crews were expected to remain at the scene into the evening.
"It's still smoldering," the spokesman said in the early afternoon. "It's too hot to clear the debris (yet)."
According to authorities on scene, the fire may have started in the restaurant, however the investigation is ongoing.
"We encountered a large body of fire that had been burning for quite some time before it got reported. We did request a third alarm just because of the work that was required. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters and we're just in the salvage an overhaul stage at this time," the fire official said.