By Mike Kinney
Firefighters quickly doused a debris fire behind a mini strip mall in Richmond before it could extend into the commercial building this afternoon, a fire official said.
The blaze was reported at about 4:18 p.m. at 3103 Cutting Blvd. on Union Pacific Railroad property, according to Richmond Fire Battalion Chief Noah Brownlow.
A pile of debris that included furniture, old clothing and other material caught fire near the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks property, Brownlow said. Staff at Richmond City Hall said they could see the blaze from their office windows. Community advocate Antwon Cloird was at the scene and said he could see smoke impacting the rear of a commercial building.
Brownlow praised the firefighters’ quick response to prevent its spread. They had the blaze out by 4:35 p.m.
Richmond Fire Stations 61, 62, 64, 66 and 67 responded along with firefighters from the El Cerrito Fire Department, totaling 24 firefighters with one truck and four engines.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, Brownlow said.
