UPDATE: The Bakersfield Fire Department says the fire that destroyed the Fallas Discount Store on White Lane in south Bakersfield started on the store’s loading dock.
“Our crews have been here several times in the last several weeks for the exact same thing, exterior fires on the loading dock,” said BFD Battalion Chief Brian Bowman.
The fire department says that crews had been able to contain past fires that happened near the store, but that was not the case this time.
“This one did make it into the structure itself and then spread to the west and consumed the other two structures involved,” said Bowman.
The other two businesses affected by this fire are American Freight, an appliance and furniture store, and Planet Fitness. BFD says each of the three businesses had sprinkler systems installed but could not confirm if they were working at the time of the fire.
BFD asks anyone with information about this fire to call them at 326-3691.
A fire broke out in South Bakersfield on Friday morning in the area of White and Hughes lanes, completely taking out the Fallas Discount Store.
The blaze was reported before 7 a.m. and also hit American Freight, an appliance, furniture and mattress business.
Bakersfield Fire Department is working to prevent the fire from spreading to Planet Fitness which is nearby where the blaze started.
There's no word yet on what caused the fire.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
