Overview
- Fire crews found a civilian during searches, transported the person to a hospital, and the individual was later pronounced dead, according to the Central Fire District.
- The fire began at 204 Monterey Avenue, burning a multi-unit apartment building before extending into a two-story commercial structure housing Mijo’s Taqueria and Geisha Japanese Restaurant and Tea House.
- The response was upgraded to two alarms with about 21 firefighters from five agencies on scene, supported by three ambulances and a paramedic supervisor.
- Crews contained the blaze in about an hour and remained overnight to prevent rekindling, with one firefighter sustaining a minor injury and a second civilian treated at the scene.
- Inspectors red-tagged the affected restaurants for smoke and water damage, and Mijo’s announced an immediate closure with a tentative March 31 reopening noted on Yelp as the cause remains under investigation.