GLENDALE, Ariz. — Glendale firefighters said three people were injured in a fire at a strip mall near 66th Avenue and Camelback Road Thursday night.
Officials said around 6:15 p.m., people near the strip mall said they heard a loud explosion and saw black smoke coming from the area. Firefighters said additional calls started coming in from people inside the businesses saying they heard a large bang and saw fire and black smoke.
“It was scary, I mean they were really shooting out,” Ruth Mendes, an employee at a shop in the strip mall said.
Firefighters said that when Glendale and Phoenix fire crews arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames fueled by windy weather.
Fire crews evacuated the building while firefighters worked to put out the blaze.
Refugio Casa de Dios Pastor Daniel Gomez was at his church when he heard what sounded like a car crash outside. When he stepped outside, Gomez said he saw one of the buildings was already on fire.
His church of more than ten years is one of the places damaged. The church’s windows were blown out, and pieces of the roof came down onto chairs that appeared to have been arranged for a church service.
“Everything got lost,” Gomez said.
With things gone, Gomez is still grateful he and others are okay.
“But we’re good,” Gomez said. “We’re alive, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Crews said at some point, the fire sled vented through the roof of one of the buildings, and electrical lines fell to the ground injuring three people.
“Fire starts coming through the roof, which is never a good thing – it self-vented and then We had partial roof collapse, and then at the same time – wires from the power poles have also fallen down – so now we’re fighting other things as well as the actual fire,” Glendale Fire Engineer Chris James said.
Officials said two females and one adult male were treated for lacerations from the store windows when they broke. One of the females was taken to the hospital, and the other two refused transport, officials said. No firefighters were injured.
Firefighters said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Stay with 12 News for updates on this developing story.
Home Fire Prevention:
The Arizona Fire & Medical Authority has released tips on how to prevent fires from starting in your home.
“More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and approximately 25,000 are injured,” the authority said on its website. “An overwhelming number of fires occur in the home.”
First off, the authority says that every house needs to have at least one working smoke alarm. Every level of the home and every sleeping area should have a working smoke alarm inside of it to offer the best protection.
Appliances should also be used in a way that manufacturers recommend, since overheating, shorts and sparks can all lead to a fire breaking out.
Lastly, families should have an escape plan from every room of the house.
“Caution everyone to stay low to the floor when escaping from fire and never to open doors that are hot,” the authority said. “Select a location where everyone can meet after escaping the house. Get out then call for help.”
The authority offers free home safety inspections. Schedule one with them by calling 623-544-5400.
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