PHOTOS: 5-alarm fire in Santa Clara destroys several businesses
One business owner called the charred buildings remnants of the American dream -- to own a small business, to build it and then to watch it burn.
ABC7 News was the first news crew on the scene and captured much of the destruction.
Along row of businesses went up in flames Wednesday morning. The fire appears to have begun in the front of shopping center and then worked back through one small business after another, burning eight of them.
Surin Virma owned Kumar Jewlers, a store that had been there for 35 years. "Is all I can take it minute by minute. Whatever it's going to be," Virma said.
Business were kept out of the area by yellow tape.
5 alarm strip mall fire in Santa Clara officially contained at 7:30am. pic.twitter.com/URHnjCXvuT
— Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) May 25, 2016
Donna Marouka owns a dance studio on the fringe of the burnscape. She's likely to have smoke and water damage.
"I have costumes in there, sets, music. My first priority is to get out so that we can work and still have our show in a couple of weeks," Marouka said.
For much of Wednesday, the scene remained too hot for fire investigators to get close in search of a cause. But they're keying on an Indian restaurant. That's where Deuk Lee first spotted smoke and called 911.
Though for business owners, the how and why matter less than what comes next. In this shopping mall that felt connected, organic, and employed 60 people, what next is everything.
Water still being put on Santa Clara strip mall 7+ hrs after 1st call. Started inside Radhe Chaat restaurant. pic.twitter.com/RXKOcS9Ony
— Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) May 25, 2016
Santa Clara Fire Chief hopeful for containment at 7:30am.
— Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) May 25, 2016
Several businesses destroyed. pic.twitter.com/VEMRGzpHyC
Santa Clara firefighters send up drone to get better view of strip mall fire from above.
— Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) May 25, 2016
Containment expected soon. pic.twitter.com/r43RJPg3BX
Latest on 5 alarm fire in Santa Clara on El Camino Real.https://t.co/a8XNka1eSD pic.twitter.com/f9KMDJ2SVj
— Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) May 25, 2016
Huge 4 alarm fire at Rancho Shopping Center on El Camino in Santa Clara. Several businesses destroyed. pic.twitter.com/lHc0vAzRBQ
— Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) May 25, 2016
Flames still coming off strip mall in Santa Clara two hours after first call came in.
— Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) May 25, 2016
Several businesses destroyed. pic.twitter.com/6qbc1UGxbg