Richmond firefighters battle large fire at Public Storage facility

RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) — Richmond firefighters spent most the day Wednesday trying to put out a fire at a Public Storage Facility on Carlson Boulevard, which broke out just after midnight.

The fire was full contained Wednesday morning, but fire crews still had to tackle deep-seated hot spots.

“It is common to have a difficult time to get in the last bit of the fire because we just have so much building material that has collapsed on top of the flame that is on the first floor,” says Chief Aaron Osorio with the Richmond Fire Department.

The cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage is still unknown, says Captain Osorio. He says the second story collapsed onto the first floor, causing major damage to multiple units.

The fire broke out during the peak of Tuesday night’s storm. Osorio says the strong winds contributed to the fire spreading.

“The wind definitely contributed to the spread of the fire throughout the building. It just made firefighting operations extremely difficult for our crews,” explains Osorio. “Especially our truck companies, on the roofs, trying to get ahead of the fire. And encountering strong winds and rain. And low visibility. It just made an already challenging operation that much more difficult.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen now,” says Anthony Cooper, who rents a storage unit on second floor that collapsed.

Cooper says the company didn’t notify him of what happened, so he came to check things out himself. He says his unit is insured.

“I do scrap metal. So have a lot of recycled stuff that is in there that I pick up off and on,” says Cooper.

The on-site manager lived here with her three children, according to relatives. Her niece, 13-year-old Harmony was babysitting, while her aunt was preparing for a special Christmas Eve dinner.

“We were okay. She was gift-wrapping. I was sitting in the living room with the baby while the baby was asleep,” says Harmony.

Harmony’s mother, Latonia Roberts, picked her daughter up around 10 p.m. Just two hours before the fire broke out. Roberts says her cousin’s family got out safely and are staying at a hotel. But that her cousin likely lost everything in the fire.

“I’m devastated. It’s hard for me to believe. I pray everything works out,” says Roberts.

Public Storage’s corporate office did not return a request for comment.

One firefighter was suffered cuts to his hand. He was treated at the hospital and then released.

Fire officials say there are no report of any hazardous materials that burned in the fire.

Once the fire is out, a building inspector from the city will have to assess the structural integrity of the building.