$2.25-Million Fire Destroys 6 Businesses in Anaheim

Dozens of firefighters from three cities battled a blaze at an Anaheim shopping center that gutted six businesses and caused an estimated $2.25 million in damage, authorities said Sunday.

Anaheim Fire Capt. Dennis Hambleton said the fire erupted at 11:45 p.m. Saturday at the shopping center in the 2100 block of East Lincoln Avenue.

About 70 firefighters from the Anaheim, Garden Grove and Fullerton departments took about an hour to control the greater-alarm blaze, according to Rich Toro, a dispatch supervisor for the departments’ communication network.

No injuries were reported.

Although investigators still had not pinpointed a cause by late Sunday, Hambleton said it appeared that an electric short in an attic at the recently refurbished shopping center might have contributed to the blaze.

‘Nothing Definite’

“There is nothing definite yet, but that’s what appears to be the cause,” he said.

Fire officials said the fire burned through a 300-by-75-foot area. In addition to the six businesses that were destroyed, three other shops sustained partial damage. Hambleton said the shopping center was formerly known as Anaheim Plaza East, but the name was dropped after it was refurbished and new businesses added.

All the stores were closed at the time of the fire, but police had to evacuate a few customers from a nearby Ralphs market, Sheri Erlewine, public information officer for the City of Anaheim, said.

She added the blaze was first spotted by two police officers on routine patrol in the area.

She said an ice cream parlor, bagel shop, bakery, beauty shop, beauty supply store and athletic shoe store were heavily damaged. Structural damage was estimated at $1 million and damage to contents of the businesses was put at another $1.25 million, she said. The Ralphs market was not damaged.