Investigators are still at work in the aftermath of the Christmas day fire that decimated a large commercial building in Los Altos, with demolition set to begin Wednesday, Jan. 10.
“Fire investigators continue to work in collaboration with the city of Los Altos building division and several private insurance agencies to complete a thorough fire investigation that meets the needs of all parties,” according to a Tuesday (Jan. 9) statement from the Santa Clara County Fire Department. “Due to fire damage, the building has been declared unsafe and at risk of collapse. As a result, eastbound El Camino Real between San Antonio Road and Sherwood Avenue has remained closed and fire investigators have not been able to access the interior of the building to safely complete the investigative process.”
Fire officials said the city has approved the partial demolition of the front part of the building nearest El Camino Real to proceed.
“This will allow the fire investigation to continue and provide for the safe reopening of the closed segment of El Camino Real,” according to the department. “The demolition process will be completed systematically to preserve the integrity of the site as much as possible as the investigative process continues.”
A portion, if not all the closed section of El Camino Real, could reopen as early as Thursday (Jan. 11), according to fire personnel.
The three-alarm fire at 4600 El Camino Real resulted in a roof cave-in and total destruction of the 20,000-square-foot building. More than a dozen small businesses operated out of the building.
