NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. — The doors were locked Sunday at the O'Reilly Auto Parts store on Watt Avenue near Don Julio Boulevard in North Highlands. Instead of an open sign, a cardboard sign greeted customers telling them to visit another nearby store.
"We had a report of a fire next to an auto parts store," said Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Battalion Chief Chris Vestal. "This was started from a homeless encampment that was on the side of the building; they were using it as a warming fire."
The blaze was reported to firefighters just after 4 a.m. Sunday, when the National Weather Service said the temperature in the area was around 57 degrees.
"It quickly spread up the building, into the attic and ceiling space, and then spread throughout," Vestal said. "There was also a building next door that housed a tire shop. They'll be closed for a little bit, but just due to restoring the utilities, which should happen in a day or two."
The tire shop managers said their doors were also damaged as crews tried to fight the fire. Meanwhile, at the auto part store, workers said only a minimal amount of products were damaged and that the main damage was from water. Some of the employees will relocate to nearby locations while the damage is repaired.
Despite the damage, the store said it is still offering delivery of parts to some customers. Employees said they plan to reopen but don't yet know when.
With no injuries or serious damage reported, it was a lucky outcome this time, but fire officials said Sunday morning's fire may not be the last.
"Homeless fires are like some of the things that change — just like the seasons do," Vestal said, adding that during dry, summer months the biggest threat is homeless fires igniting vegetation. "In the colder winter months, a lot of times they go next to buildings. Buildings are warm, and unfortunately, they still have these warming fires or cooking fires, and it's extremely dangerous as well because those can ignite buildings just as this one did overnight."
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