STOCKTON, Calif. — Business owners along the northern stretch of Stockton's Miracle Mile have been feeling anxious this winter and waking up earlier, to make sure their business haven't burned down.
"It's always on the back of my mind: Is my building going to burn down, is it going to be next?" said Dr. Karen Sanchez, owner of the Pacific Resiliency Center for Psychology, Wellness, and the Arts. "It's really scary and disheartening."
Sanchez, who first moved her business to the Miracle Mile portion of Pacific Avenue more than three years ago, has walked up to the back entrance of her office and discovered charred debris from overnight fires inches away from wooden steps four times in the past three months
"There have been burnt pieces of branches from local trees, cardboard. I have seen them try to burn food and flowers," said Sanchez. "The supply is infinite as far as things they can burn with trees and cardboard. I don’t think it’s going to end any time soon."
Sanchez's concerns about the future of her building are made worse when she looks at the fenced-off empty lot next door.
In November 2021, flames destroyed the structure that once filled the lot, Persimmon Community Acupuncture.
"It was really scary to see that building on fire knowing that I had been there and I know the landlord," said Sanchez. "I felt so bad for her."
Two other fires in 2021 and 2022 burned buildings on the southern end of the shopping district.
Sanchez fears with no action, her business could meet the same fate. She's calling for more police or security patrols in the areas behind businesses before flames destroy any more of Stockton's Miracle Mile.
"I just think, 'gosh will this ever end?'" said Sanchez. "I love being on the Mile but it's kind of scary being here right now knowing there's a chance your building can burn down."
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