The Santa Clara Fire Department (SCFD) is investigating two separate fires in the span of a week.
On Jan. 28, firefighters arrived at Santa Clara’s Elks Lodge on the corner of Martin Ave. and Richard Ave. around 5 p.m. When crews arrived, they found “significant flames and smoke” coming out of the building.
“Two personnel who had been inside the building received medical treatment at the scene and one person was transported to the hospital and released the following day,” read the SCFD press release.
No firefighters were injured. Crews on the scene managed to keep the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
NBC Bay Area reported there were 300 people in the building next door that had to be evacuated.
At the time of the fire, the people inside were reportedly getting ready for the Elks’ monthly fish fry.
So far, there is no official cause for the fire.
Wheels and Deals Fire
Santa Clara fire investigators are also trying to determine the cause of a fire on Jan. 25 at the old Wheels and Deals lot on El Camino Real.
A spokesperson for SCFD says it was a single-alarm fire and no one was injured or displaced.
The Wheels and Deals closed in 2019. A developer purchased the lot and filed with the City for redevelopment. At the time of the fire, the building was vacant.
The building is supposed to be demolished to make way for a four-building, 48-unit condominium development.
The Weekly spoke to the developer who filed the initial plans with the City. He says that while he is not connected with the project now, he does not believe the fire will delay future development plans.
The City’s Planning Commission approved the plans for redevelopment in Oct. 2019. The City Council approved the plans in Dec. 2019. The Architectural Committee approved the project in Jan. 2020.