Salinas Fire officials give update on Dick Bruhn fire

Salinas city officials have released new information about the Feb. 13 fire at the Dick Bruhn building in Oldtown Salinas. They said electrical circuits in part of the building showed signs of compromise and could not be ruled out as a factor in the fire cause, yet the specific cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Battalion Chief Sam Klemek said around 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, an employee identified as Eduardo Gonzales and his family went into the building for a tour. Gonzales walked to the garage area to energize the main electrical panel and turn on the lights. The group toured the second floor and after a while noticed smoke. Gonzales his brother-in-law, identified as Alejandro Serrato, and a teen walked back downstairs and saw a fire burning on the mezzanine level. The seven people inside regrouped and at 2:45, a call was made to 911. Another call was made at the same time. Salinas Fire officials said in total, 13 calls were made to 911.

Salinas Fire crews were dispatched and arrived on the scene 2.5 minutes later. The fire grew quickly because of combustible finishes and surfaces, coupled with the open floor plan of the building and fresh air fed the fire.

“There were several openings through the floor where burning debris had fallen down into the first floor retail area,” Klemek said. “There was all sorts of flammables there. There was a couch and several things that were combustible that enabled the fire to take hold on the first floor.”

Because of the scope of the fire, 15 other fire agencies from around the area responded. Some crews helped battle the fire while others provided coverage to the city.

The city said it issued a stop-work order on the building a year ago after discovering that illegal construction was going on inside.

“We can’t say that it caused the fire, but it definitely contributed and helped to contributed to the rapid spread of the fire,” Fire Chief Ed Rodriguez said.

As for the future of the historic building, city officials believe it is structurally intact. It’s up to the property owner, Gerry Kehoe, to decide its fate. City leaders said the family wants to preserve it, but there are some problems to overcome.

“The Kehoe family has had some challenges regarding a landfill willing to accept the waste,” said Megan Hunter, community development director for the city of Salinas. “They have provided documentation that they are making sure that they are diligent in trying to obtain, or secure a contractor and to secure the landfill that will take the waste.”

The developer has until May 2 to complete a structural analysis, which will detail short and long-term improvements to the property. Any sort of repair work must be done by June 17.

The fire took three days to fully extinguish and caused $2-3 million dollars worth of damage to the building. The 300 block of Main Street was closed for six days, causing loss of business to nearby shops. There still is no official tally how much the fire cost the city of Salinas.