San Jose crews extinguish 4-alarm fire that spread to auto parts store

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Firefighters extinguished a four-alarm fire that started in vegetation and spread to an auto parts store in San Jose this afternoon, a fire captain said.

The fire was reported at 1:27 p.m. in grass and shrubs behind the O'Reilly Auto Parts store at 1064 S. White Road and had spread to the eaves of the store itself as firefighters arrived, San Jose Fire Capt. Christopher Salcido said.

The blaze initially prompted a three-alarm response by arriving firefighters but a fourth alarm was quickly called because of the risk posed by potential hazardous materials like oil and other automobile fluids inside the store, Salcido said.

Fire crews eventually extinguished the fire as of 2:22 p.m., he said.

Everyone inside the auto parts store had gotten out safely by the time firefighters arrived and no fire crews were injured while battling the blaze, Salcido said.

A vehicle also caught fire less than 40 feet from the store but Salcido said he didn't know if the car fire was somehow related to the larger blaze.

Crews remained at the scene as of shortly after 3 p.m. to look for any hot spots.

No other information about the fire was immediately available.