Fire Investigation delayed at Lassen’s Natural Foods in Santa Maria
Jarrod Zinn
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – A popular health food store in Santa Maria caught fire a couple weeks ago, and the investigation into the cause is experiencing some delays.
Just before midnight on April 15th, the Santa Maria Fire Department responded to a call at Lassen’s Natural Foods store on Broadway.
“When fire crews first arrived, we had active fire, a significant amount of flame coming out of the roof and attic area of the building,” says Jim Austin, Santa Maria Fire Marshal.
When crews arrived, the building looked like it was in danger of collapsing, so they had to work with an abundance of caution.
“They saw signs of the building losing integrity. And so they backed out and went to what we call a defensive attack,” says Austin.
The investigation is taking awhile because of damaged equipment on the interior and the possible presence of asbestos.
“There is a security camera system inside the building. It’s my understanding that the data is stored offsite. So we’re trying to coordinate and get that information,” says Austin.
The fire marshal says they’re coordinating with the business owners and various insurance entities to bring cranes and similar equipment out to clear the hazards and investigate the potentials of asbestos exposure before continuing the investigation.
“We are going to stabilize it as best we can. And like I said, layer by layer, remove components from the top and then when we are done with the investigation, based on my past experience and the damage to the building, it will most likely be completely torn down in the demolition phase,” says Fire Marshal Austin.
Lassen’s Natural Foods has been a popular store in Santa Maria for many years, and locals hope the company will reopen the store at a nearby location.