STOCKTON -- A fire at a dry-cleaning business caused more than $1 million in damage Thursday afternoon and shuttered surrounding businesses for the rest of the day.
The Stockton Fire Department is investigating what caused the blaze at Country Club Cleaners, 1901 Country Club Blvd., which started around 3 p.m. and quickly spread to the attic and at least one neighboring business.
The lightweight construction of the roof and chemicals used in dry cleaning were a major concern for firefighters as they prepared to battle the fire, said Capt. Robert Tuitavuki, a spokesman for the Stockton Fire Department.
"Some chemicals are toxic and others are flammable, and they can intensify the fire or hurt us," he said.
As firefighters scurried about the scene pulling hoses and shoveling debris, burned ties, pants and other clothes lay on the ground. The inside walls of the cleaners turned black from the smoke.
Jeff Kitto, the owner of Country Club Cleaners, said he was inside the business with four employees when he looked toward the boiler room and saw flames. Kitto has owned the store for a year and was in the process of remodeling.
"It's a big interruption," he said, adding the business would try to salvage as many of the clothes as possible and compensate customers for those that are damaged. "We'll have to close up for a while and do repairs."
No injuries were reported.
