STOCKTON, Calif. — A former YMCA in Stockton is a total loss after a fire started at the vacant building Wednesday.
The Stockton Fire Department said the fire started around 3:50 a.m. along North Center Street and East Park Street. A spokesperson for the fire department said the best strategy for crews responding to the fire was to let the building burn.
"This has been vacant for quite a long time. There have been several attempts to rehab it but it's been boarded up and secured for a good five, six years, at least, since the previous fire," Deputy Chief for the Stockton Fire Department, Brandon Doolan, said.
Since there was a fire previously at the building, Doolan said the structure was unstable and based on the size of the building, a large firefight wasn't a good strategy. Crews instead focused on the defensive aimed to protect a library nearby and other buildings to the east.
Doolan said there was no electricity or gas in the building since it was vacant. No one was in the building at the time and no injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Police said the building will be demolished due to safety concerns. Road closures will be put into place on North Center Street at Flora Street southbound until Oak Street. Another closure will be on Park Street from North El Dorado westbound until North Commerce Street.
Police said the roads will be closed off until further notice for demolition.
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