Crime & Safety
Fire Damages Martinez Restaurant, Displaces Five
The blaze on Tuesday also caused an estimated $150,000 in damage.
Fire investigators are looking into what caused a one-alarm fire that displaced five people and damaged a restaurant in downtown Martinez on Tuesday.
Crews were dispatched to a fire at a building at 701 Main St. around 8:15 a.m., Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokesman Steve Aubert said.
Once at the scene, firefighters encountered heavy fire and thick smoke in the back of the building, he said.
Crews battled the blaze and were able to contain the flames to the second-floor apartment where it started, but not before it caused extensive smoke damage to five other apartments in the building and to Victoria's Cafe, a restaurant located on the first floor, according to fire officials.
The fire was declared under control in less than an hour. Five residents of the building were displaced and the American Red Cross was called to provide temporary housing assistance.
The blaze caused an estimated $150,000 in damage, Aubert said.
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