WESTMINSTER : Print Shop Ruined in $250,000 Blaze

Fire started by an electrical short caused $250,000 worth of damage Tuesday to a printing store in the Little Saigon business district, fire officials said.

The 2:30 a.m. blaze destroyed printing equipment and countless books and magazines, some not yet assembled or bound, at Typico Printing at 14865 Dillow St.

Friends of store owner Thuan Nguyen were still arriving Tuesday afternoon to look at the ashes and charred books, and to comment with sadness about the loss of the printing business. Nguyen could not be reached for comment.

The blaze destroyed the printing structure and about $100,000 in contents. Publications printed by the Vietnamese-owned shop include Vietnamese magazines, brochures and prayer books.

Firefighters responded to reports of light smoke at the shop, but when they arrived the store was already fully engulfed, said Capt. Craig Campbell. Firefighters called a second alarm before getting the blaze under control in half an hour.

Two stores next to the printing shop had only minor smoke and water damage.

Campbell said a heavy security system at the business, which included numerous locks and bars, made access to the fire difficult.

“In order to make entry, we had to cut through those steel bars and go through the locks,” Campbell said. “It was time consuming even with the equipment.”