CA Firefighter, Civilian Injured in Fatal Structure Fire

SANTA CRUZ, CA—A fatal fire broke out early Wednesday at 265 Water St., killing one person and injuring two more.

The structure was previously used as a recovery center, County Spokesman Jason Hoppin said. However, at the time of the fire, the building was boarded up. The facility had been unused since the start of the pandemic.

The building is also a part of the Santa Cruz County Jail, according to the City of Santa Cruz official twitter page.

Several people were inside the building, according to Hoppin, which led to the fatality and injuries. The two injured people were a citizen and a firefighter. County officials have not released information on the deceased person and do not plan to do so until they identify the next of kin.

The fire was reported to Santa Cruz Police Department and the Santa Cruz Fire Department at around 2:30 a.m., according to Hoppin. When first responders arrived on the scene, the structure was engulfed in flames.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, Hoppin said. However, they are exercising caution as the event is still considered an active fire as of 10:25 a.m. Wednesday. Smoke can still be seen coming from the building.

"Safety is an issue. They can't just run into the building, right now," Hoppin said. "It's still considered an active fire and the damage is pretty extensive, so they're going to have to be cautious before entering the building."

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