INDIO: Two-alarm strip mall fire destroys martial arts studio, damages three others businesses

Firefighters survey damage caused by a fire that gutted the Shadow Hills MMA studio and damaged three other adjacent businesses.

KMIR News photo

INDIO — Officials are investigating after a two-alarm commercial structure fire destroyed one business and damaged three others, Monday, Nov. 27. Fire officials estimated the early morning fire caused about $1 million in damage; however their efforts saved about $3 million in property and merchandise.

The destructive fire happened at the Indio Fashion Mall on the 82000 block of Highway 111, between Monroe and Rubidoux Streets, in Indio. The strip mall is home to a number of businesses, including a Dollar Tree, several restaurants, a market and newspaper.

Firefighters, police officers and other emergency responders were dispatched to the fire just before 2 a.m., after an employee at a nearby business reportedly noticed the smell of smoke and found parts of the strip mall on fire.

About forty firefighters from ten engine companies and two truck companies responded to the fire, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer Jody Hagemann explained in an incident report. They were assisted by two paramedic squads, a breathing support unit and Imperial Irrigation District employees.

The first arriving engine company reported finding a well-established fire at Shadow Hills MMA, a mixed martial arts studio in the strip mall.

Firefighters began an immediate and aggressive attack on the blaze and could be seen fighting the fire from the ground as well as from above, after they cut through the roof of the strip mall to access the fire.

Firefighters spent about one hour extinguishing the blaze and the fire was contained about 3 a.m., according to Hagemann.

To ensure the safety of firefighters battling the fire, Southern California Gas Company employees were summoned to the scene to shut off gas to the strip mall.

The mixed martial arts studio, which was completely gutted and destroyed by the intense  blaze was considered a total loss. After the fire was extinguished, officials “red-tagged” the studio and deemed it unsafe to occupy and the studio is now closed indefinitely.

The Spanish-language newspaper “El Informador del Valle” and Alizaih’s Mane Cuts, which sit on either side of the martial arts studio sustained smoke and water damage. No information about the other business damaged by the blaze was immediately available.

“One person was evaluated for minor injuries, however not transported,” said Hagemann. No other injuries were reported.

After the fire was extinguished firefighters and other resources remained on scene for several hours conducting extensive overhaul and mop-up operations.

As firefighters were conducting overhaul operations, business owners could be seen sifting through their damaged businesses.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this fire and investigation is encouraged to contact Cal Fire officials at (951) 940-6985. Callers can refer to incident file number CA-RRU-146226 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.