A fire erupted late Thursday night at the historic Strachan Fruit Co. building, now operating as Gilmore’s Truck Accessories, located at the intersection of Commerce St. and 5th St. in downtown Riverside. The blaze, which began around 11:12 p.m., quickly consumed the building, resulting in a total loss.
The Riverside Fire Department responded promptly, but by the time they arrived, the structure was already fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters are currently working to extinguish the fire and have requested additional engines to assist in the effort. The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, and arson investigators are on-site to examine the incident.
During the operation, one firefighter sustained injuries and was transported to a local hospital. According to radio traffic from the Battalion Chief, the firefighter’s injuries are described as minor to moderate, though specific details have not been released. Video footage shows the injured firefighter being taken to the hospital.
Despite the efforts of the fire department, the building—an active auto shop and not abandoned—has been completely destroyed. Firefighters estimate that the commitment time to fully control and extinguish the fire will be around six hours.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.