Crews Battle Blaze in Abandoned U.S. Navy Building Used by Homeless in Vallejo

By Bay City News

Firefighters put out a one-alarm fire at an abandoned U.S. Navy building now used by the homeless in Vallejo this morning, a fire department spokesman said.

Fire crews responded reports of the fire in the 500 block of Mare Island Way around 12:30 a.m., fire department spokesman Mark Libby said.

Firefighters were unable to immediately access the blaze because the building was boarded up, he said.

Once firefighters were able to take down the boards and enter the structure five homeless people were found inside, according to Libby.

Firefighters learned seven homeless people fled the scene before crews arrived, Libby said. The fire stayed in the middle of the building and was under control shortly before 1 a.m., he said.

Libby estimated that about 10 percent of the building was lost in the fire.

Debris from the homeless and torn-down items from the former U.S. Navy building was found at the scene, he said.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation, Libby said.

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