november 11, 2002
looks like my old office building, in the railroad square, caught fire last night at about 1am. from what i have gathered the fire started in the stairwell that lead into my actual office space. traveled up the three flights of stairs, burnt half the second floor and the entire third floor. in the picture of the third floor window you can see the sky where the roof used to be.
early estimates suspect arson. only the firefighters can really tell what damage has been done to my old office space or the architects next door. the lawyers on the third floor have lost everything and i imagine some of the offices on the second floor has suffered enormous damage as well. the structure of the brick building is fairly sound just from looking at it. i could see the heavy timber that was the frame of the building was still intact too so i don't think this historic building will need to be torn down. but everything is unknown at this point. the building wont be open to the occupants until tomorrow morning.
. . .
local news links:
Fire roars through Railroad Square
SLO sees three fires in three days
november 14, 2002
i was able to gain access to the railroad square building and see the damage first hand. we had to sign wavers, don hard hats, and sign another sheet showing "entrance" and "exit" times. the entire building is surrounded by a makeshift chain-link fence. the smell of smoke is thick and the scent of water and heat weighed heavy throughout each office space. upon entrance, the feeling of inspecting an abandoned building vacant for years. soot marks, water peeling away the sheetrock, furniture overturned, soggy papers strewn over the floor. each step met with the squish of water-logged carpet or the cracking of broken glass. the bottom level of the building suffered mostly water, heat, and smoke damage. the stairwell from the north side, where the fire started, is completely charred. as you can see from the photos each step leading to the top floors will crumble with the slightest touch.
out of this horrible sight i can't help to see how interesting a fire is. examining the trail the fire left behind. follow it up the stairs, along the side walls, overtaking half of the second floor and then finally engulfing the entire third floor. some things are still intact untouched from the blaze. a wall covered in flames and the adjacent wall showing only peeling paint. cracked glass blocks or blown out windows leaving behind a white plaster opening. as if the fire is selective in its wrath.
the cause of the fire is still under investigation. hopefully this will not be left unsolved. i already miss this building.
my old space
hall entrance looking out into the stairwell, glass doorway
floor of hall entrance
charred door frame of hall entrance
inside the stairwell, far wall and door of conference room for garcia architecture.
intensity of the fire on the underside of the steps
double glass doors in stairwell leading to outside balcony
heavy timber pillar supporting the stairs
main entrance door from outside into suite B across from yoga center
glass entrance door into suite b, removed by firemen, still locked
inside shot of conference room door which held out the fire from entering garcia architecture in suite c
wider shot of conference room door showing minor damage compared to what is behind it
shattered glass blocks
close up
outside on main entrance steps looking into stairwell
looking up into the second floor from the stairwell
