San Diego

A three-alarm fire roared through an electronics repair business in the downtown Gaslamp Quarter on Monday, causing nearly $700,000 in damages and forcing the evacuation of about 40 people from a neighboring residential hotel. About 100 people who live in the hotel were not allowed to return to their rooms until electrical repairs could be made.

The blaze, which is under investigation by the Metro Arson Strike Team, gutted the two-story warehouse home of Video Electronics at 8th and Island avenues and caused superficial damage to the Coast Hotel.

Three firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. The fire erupted about 4:45 p.m. and was under control 90 minutes later.

Fire spokesman Lary Stewart said 75 firefighters battled the blaze, which apparently was fueled by the explosion of television picture tubes stored at the business. He said the brick building, which had a wood-beam interior and is believed to be more than 60 years old, was “already lost” by the time firefighters arrived.

Although most residents of the Coast Hotel, a three-story structure with 54 rooms, left the building willingly, one woman re-entered the hotel and locked herself in her room. She was handcuffed and forcibly removed by San Diego police. A police spokesman said the woman was detained shortly “for her own protection” and would not be cited.

The building’s owner, Otto Duenne, said Video Electronics repairs picture tubes and other television parts. Duenne, a retired El Cajon resident, owns the building but sold the 20-year-old business last year. Fire officials estimated damage to the warehouse at $650,000. Damage to the hotel was about $40,000.