Fire burns Arnold Shopping Plaza

Fire destroyed part of the Arnold Shopping Plaza shortly before 11 a.m. Monday.

The fire destroyed two unoccupied units at the plaza at 925 Highway 4.

No injuries were reported.

The cause is under investigation.

Ebbetts Pass Fire Battalion Chief Steve Kovacs said a third of the building was fully involved when his firefighters arrived at the scene.

Alde Vargas, who owns the neighboring El Vaquero restaurant with her husband, Alfonso, said they were getting ready to open when a business owner across the way told her the building was burning.

“We were prepping all the food, getting ready to open at 11. Our neighbor told us there was a big fire. I didn’t believe him. The lights started blinking. ... When I went outside, I saw the tree on fire and the building on fire. The heat was so intense.”

Four engines from Ebbetts Pass, four engines from Cal Fire, one engine from the Murphys Fire Protection District and an engine from Angels Camp Fire responded.

The fire was reported at 10:39 a.m., according to Cal Fire. It was contained by 11:30 a.m.