A fire ripped through a building in Oceanside early Saturday morning, displacing two residents and leaving more than $1 million worth of damage in its wake.
According to the Oceanside Fire Department, the blaze began just after 2:30 a.m. at a commercial building at 1119 South Cleveland St. When fire crews arrived, heavy, menacing flames could be seen shooting from the building.
Neighbors told firefighters the owner of the business lived in an attached residential unit upstairs. A search and rescue effort began for anyone inside the building.
Officials said two people living in the upstairs unit were able to safely exit the building. They were not injured.
Working together, 40 firefighters from Oceanside, Carlsbad and Vista departments tackled the blaze and were able to gain the upper-hand in just over 45 minutes. Crews stayed on scene for several hours to fully knock out the fire and clean up hot spots.
Officials said the fire ripped through the roof of the commercial portion of the building and burned the majority of the contents inside, which included motor repair equipment. However, firefighters were able to salvage office equipment and important records.
As for the residential portion, crews were able to save the home from burning down. One adjoining business was damaged when the fire tore through walls, fire officials said.
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In the end, the destructive blaze caused more than $1 million in damage to both the structure and its contents. The two residents were displaced, but were able to find a place to stay with family members, officials said.
The Oceanside Fire Department said eight engines, two trucks, two ambulances and three battalion chiefs pitched in on the operation. One firefighter sustained non-life threatening injuries while attacking the fire. He was treated at a local hospital and released.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
