Home / Disasters and Accidents / Arcata Burns: Explosions Rattle City Center
Arcata Burns: Explosions Rattle City Center
3 Jan
Summary
- Four two-story buildings were engulfed in flames.
- Residents were ordered to evacuate nearby apartments.
- At least one business reported as a 'total loss'.
Firefighters responded to a large commercial structure fire in Arcata, California, which rapidly escalated to involve four two-story buildings. The intense blaze produced explosions, prompting immediate traffic shutdowns and mandatory evacuations for residents in adjacent apartments. Mutual-aid from neighboring departments was requested to assist local crews in their suppression efforts.
The situation deteriorated quickly, leading to the activation of the Red Cross to provide support for those displaced by the fire. Witness accounts described towering flames and significant destruction, with reports indicating that at least one business, Dandar's Boardgames and Books, was a complete loss.
Arcata, a city located in Humboldt County along the Pacific coast, experienced this significant event impacting its commercial district. The cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage are currently under investigation, with utility companies also looking into potential power outages in the vicinity.




