
By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–Firefighters contained a commercial structure fire early Wednesday morning at the American Tire Depot in downtown Oceanside.
The Oceanside Fire Department received a call at 1:03 a.m. reporting smoke emerging from the building’s roof. The first fire engine arrived within three minutes and confirmed that smoke and flames were visible from the tire shop’s roof.
Firefighters entered the building through a side door with a hose line to search for trapped occupants. A ladder truck crew assessed the roof and identified ventilation points. Crews cut a hole in the roof directly above the fire, allowing smoke and heat to escape and improving conditions to battle the flames inside.
Shortly after the ventilation hole was created, the fire captain stationed on the ladder truck noticed that an HVAC unit was beginning to sag into the roof. The incident commander immediately ordered crews to evacuate the building and re-deploy hose lines from a safer position. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the lobby area of the tire shop and confirmed that no occupants were inside the unburned portion of the building.
Fire investigators determined that the fire originated on the roof. While a possible electrical wiring failure is being considered, other potential causes have not yet been ruled out.
Authorities continue to investigate the exact cause of the fire. No injuries were reported.
The Oceanside Fire Department reminds residents and business owners of the dangers posed by outdated electrical wiring, which remains a common yet often overlooked fire hazard. Many older buildings still operate with electrical systems not designed to accommodate modern appliances and electronics, increasing the risk of electrical fires, electrocution, and costly repairs.