Just after 4:00 a.m. on July 30 the Santa Clara, Calif. Fire Department began to receive 9-1-1 calls reporting smoke coming from the China Way restaurant at 3475 El Camino Real on the city's west side.
Engine Company 7 arrived to find a large column of smoke showing from the structure. An interior attack was mounted, but quickly called off after the crew confronted a rapidly weakening roof and a well-advanced fire throughout the restaurant.
All companies were advised to commence with a defensive attack, including the deployment of two master streams from Santa Clara truck2 and truck 8. Multiple hand lines were placed into operation to protect exposures, including an adjacent Econo Lodge, which was briefly evacuated.
Within minutes, the fire was through the roof and mutual aid units from Sunnyvale and the County of Santa Clara arrived to assist in quelling the blaze. Firefighters successfully prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent units and the neighboring motel.
The blaze was knocked down in approximately 30 minutes and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
