Fire investigation continues at site of Carson City blaze
Carson City fire investigators have not yet determined what started a fire late this morning that nearly destroyed a building that housed a mattress supply business and a hair salon.
The investigation shows the fire began at around 11:45 this morning on the east exterior of the building, said Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi. The two businesses, Mattress King and High Desert Hair, won't be able to operate anytime soon, Giomi said.
"We are looking at between 60 to 75 percent of the contents in the building lost, plus extensive heat and smoke damage to the interior of the building," Giomi said. A dollar figure has not yet been assessed.
No one was hurt in the blaze, which sent plumes of smoke every which way the wind seemed to blow. Three engines, plus a ladder engine from Douglas County responded to the fire, which was knocked down at around 12:30 p.m.
A crew remains at the site late this afternoon, cleaning up and protecting the area from hot spots behind the walls.
According to witnesses across the street on Fairview, there was some kind explosion at around the time of the fire.
"There was a loud pop," said Shasta Mathews, who works at Dog Eared Books, across the street from the fire. Dozens of people surrounded the building as smoke consumed the block around Fairview.
"This is upsetting considering that both of these stores are brand new to the area," she said. "It's a shame because these people just started jobs there. Now they won't have work for awhile."
Meanwhile, Giomi confirmed that a fire hydrant at the corner of Idaho and Industrial streets malfunctioned and the city's water department has been contacted.
The model of the malfunctioned hydrant is among the oldest in the city, which has nearly 4,000 hydrants. Another hydrant was located at Fairview and Idaho, and along with the three engines that responded provided enough water to get the fire under control.
"I think if there was a delay, it may have been what caused the door on the west side to blow out," Giomi said.