Blaze Destroys Historic Building, Businesses in California

May 11--Downtown Mariposa was enveloped in a thick cloud of smoke Friday night, as a large blaze destroyed a pizza restaurant and several neighboring businesses.

Firefighters responded to the scene around 8:30 p.m. after someone called 911 about smoke coming from the Mariposa Pizza Factory's attic at Highway 140 and 5th Street. Around 40 people were inside the business when the fire erupted, although no one was hurt, according to CalFire Battalion Chief Chris Christopherson.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Christopherson said.

The flames spread quickly throughout the historic building, which housed a variety of small businesses like the Pony Expresso Coffee House & Trading Post, Tracy's Yarns, Larry's Coins, Grace Notes Chimes, Mariposa County Arts Council and a bookstore.

None of the businesses were spared in the fire, although firefighters were able to save the nearby Mariposa Christian Fellowship Center.

The fire was contained to the pizza restaurant section of the building around midnight, although Christopherson said firefighters might be at the scene until Sunday.

Firefighters closed the area to traffic and moved a crowd of onlookers away from the scene. Christopherson said the fire spread so quickly because of the aging building's construction. For example, businesses inside the building shared a common attic, and there were multiple layers of roofing, which made it difficult for firefighters to access the flames. "With the loss of these businesses, it's going to be a big blow (to downtown Mariposa)," Christopherson said.

Luke Willey, co-owner of Mariposa Pizza Factory, said he doesn't know what caused the fire, adding he's thankful no one was hurt. "We saw smoke, we tore a little bit of the wall off that was smoking and smoldering and we tried to get to it as fast as (we) could, but the building is about 150 years old," Willey said. "It just went up like match sticks."

Willey said his business does have insurance, and he expects the restaurant to eventually return. About eight years ago a wall fell down at the business, due to a rainstorm. "And the community got behind us then," Willey recalled. "We were shut down for about a year and a half. And we had the biggest grand opening we ever had. We're going to rebuild this, and we're going to have another grand reopening."

Katy Harrison, 52, who's lived in Mariposa for about 30 years, watched from across the street late Friday night, as firefighters attacked the blaze with several water hoses. Harrison said she knows some of the owners who lost their shops. "It's devastating to this town. Absolutely devastating," Harrison said.

Christopherson said he didn't have an specific dollar amount for the fire damage, although it's at least $ 1 million.

About 75 firefighters responded to the scene from Mariposa, Madera and Merced counties.

City Editor Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or [email protected].

-- Video from the California Highway Patrol.

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Copyright 2012 - Merced Sun-Star, Calif.