Crime & Safety
Christmas Fire Destroys Building In Los Altos
Santa Clara County firefighters worked throughout Christmas Day to fight a three-alarm blaze at a commercial building in Los Altos.

LOS ALTOS, CA — Santa Clara County firefighters had a busy Christmas after a three-alarm blaze erupted in a commercial building on El Camino Real.
Fire officials said flames ripped through the two-story, 20,000 square-foot structure before 6 a.m., bringing a large-scale response to the scene with additional units from Mountain View and Palo Alto Fire Departments aiding in the effort.
The fire department said the flames were next not expected to move beyond the building and switched to a defensive strategy. Crews declared the fire under control shortly after 4 p.m. but said units would remain at the scene through Christmas night to watch out for hot spots.
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Officials said the building sustained enough damage to require demolition and cautioned eastbound lanes of El Camino would remain closed until demolition work was completed.
An investigation into the fire's cause is underway.
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