Los Altos Fire's Cause Still Unknown; Road Remains Closed

LOS ALTOS, CA — Officials continue to investigate what caused the massive fire that gutted a commercial building on Christmas Day in Los Altos.

The size of the blaze quickly triggered a three-alarm response on Christmas morning, drawing dozens of first responders to the scene along El Camino Real. With support from Mountain View and Palo Alto firefighters, county fire crews worked to prevent the fire from spreading to other structures and switched to a defensive strategy after the flames spread to the roof, threatening its collapse.

In an update shared this week, the Santa Clara County Fire Department said an eastbound stretch of the road would remain closed until further notice, pending the investigation and the building's demolition.

"County Fire is working with the City of Los Altos, building owner, tenants, and insurance companies to ensure a safe and thorough investigation," the department wrote Tuesday. "Our team is working diligently to determine the cause of the fire while prioritizing public safety and the coordination necessary with external partners for the safe and expeditious reopening of eastbound El Camino Real."