Here’s why fire spread swiftly in two-alarm blaze that decimated Florin Road shopping center

A two-alarm fire ripped through a strip mall in south Sacramento’s Parkway neighborhood early Friday morning; Sacramento Fire Department officials and one of the owners called it a total loss.

Crews were called to the 3800 block of Florin Road just before 4:30 a.m. and found the blaze had significantly spread through Southgate Plaza, said Capt. Justin Sylvia, a spokesman for the Fire Department. He added in certain spots the roof had collapsed as firefighters fought flames from ladders for more than four hours.

The building lacked “fire stops” in the attic, which means flames burned quickly through the entire structure, Sylvia said. Flames could have sparked well before crews were alerted of the fire because it was early in the morning, he said.

Typically, firefighters will have control over the flames after 30 minutes or so, Sylvia said. But flames in this strip mall still raged when he got to the scene within 30 minutes of the initial report.

“This one was still escalating,” Sylvia said.

One of the owners who was at the scene but declined to comment in detail said he expected the fire would leave the complex “in ruins.” He said 18 tenants occupied the 27-unit complex including a pharmacy, a salon and a dentist, among other small businesses. When asked if he and his partners would rebuild the complex, he said he wasn’t sure.

The location, across the street from FoodMaxx, is next to an AT&T central office, which was not damaged, and vacant lots that once housed a Paul Blanco car lot. The fire blocked traffic on Florin Road between Luther Drive and Franklin Boulevard for several hours, and crews were expected to be at the site most of Friday ensuring to tamp prevent any hot spots from flaring up, Sylvia said.

Investigators were also expected to remain on scene to piece together what sparked the blaze, Sylvia said.

This story was originally published December 8, 2023 at 9:53 AM.