[UPDATE April 5] Fire at the Alibi and the Sidelines in Arcata

https://kymkemp.com/2018/04/03/as-law-enforcement-swept-alderpoint-area-yesterday-one-woman-arrested-and-one-man-footbailed/

Fire at the Alibi in Arcata tonight. [Photo by Bobby Kroeker]


A fire started at the Alibi and the Sidelines in Arcata tonight. By 10:45 the fire was mostly out. Both businesses are reopening. We’ll update with more as information comes in.

UPDATE 10:59 p.m.: Someone had shoved a cigarette into a redwood wall, according to our reporter Bobby Kroeker. It started smoldering. And, the fire department was called about 10:20 p.m.

Update April 5: This is a press release from the Arcata Fire District:

Arcata CA – April 4, 2018 at10:14PM, Arcata Fire District was called to a reported structure fire at the Alibi on the Plaza. Engine 8215 out of the Arcata Fire Station arrived on scene within minutes of receiving the call and reported that evacuations were in progress.   They made contact with the manager of the Alibi who stated that the fire was in the wall. Fire Captain Lillard and his crew located the Fire in the exterior wall in front of the business.   The crew made an aggressive attack by cutting open the wall and extinguishing the small fire. Engine 8211 from the Mad River Station and Battalion Chief Gomes arrived shortly after and assisted with checking for fire that may have extended into the Sidelines Bar. No extension was found and the fire was contained to the wall of the Alibi, however, it appeared that the fire had been burning in the wall for some time. After contacting the security guard from the Sidelines, it was learned that a cigarette was found stuck in a small hole in the exterior siding.

The fire loss was minimal, with an estimated loss off $5000 in damage to the building. Battalion Chief Gomes reports, “The fire was discovered very early and quickly extinguished, although the outcome would have been very different if the fire would have gone unnoticed.” The combination of the two factors helped to save a two million dollar building, not including the attached adjacent building that could have been involved as well.

Due to the location of the incident, several neighboring agencies were initially dispatched to assist; Humboldt Bay Fire, Cal Fire, and Blue Lake Fire, although cancelled being that the fire was extinguished quickly. The Cal Fire engine that was dispatched, covered the McKinleyville Station while the Arcata Fire units finished cleanup and investigation at the Alibi.

Arcata Fire District would like to remind people to fully extinguish cigarettes and place them in the proper disposal receptacle.

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11 Comments
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Ben Round
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Ben Round
5 years ago

At first look, the business to the left appears to have fire images up front. If so, it looks bad!
On second look, maybe it’s just reflective metal with an orange glow???

Dan Fuller
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Dan Fuller
5 years ago
Reply to  Ben Round

My $.02 worth says it looks like your second guess hit it right on the money!!!

Lost Croat Outburst
Guest
Lost Croat Outburst
5 years ago

Darn nicotine heads, geez.

CoveTroll
Guest
CoveTroll
5 years ago

Yep I bet the culprit looked like this….

CoveTroll
Guest
CoveTroll
5 years ago

On that note. Sanctuary City…..so if they banned all guns from citizens and did not punish any non violent crimes such as theft and drug use……..would there be violence?

Sam
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Sam
5 years ago

Two on a match = bad luck

guest
Guest
guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Sam

pretty sure it’s three on a match…

Sophia
Guest
Sophia
5 years ago

I thought there was no smoking allowed on the plaza? Should have let it burn along with McKinley. Let the city go back to a pre Columbus state and deed all the land back to the Wiyot.

Terry L. Clark
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Terry L. Clark
5 years ago

Wow, dodged a bullet on that one. What would Arcata have done with a reduction in alcoholism?

LinSea
Guest
LinSea
5 years ago

I worked at Sidelines in the mid 1980’s. Alibi breakfast’ are the best. Smart owners. Combined the walk in and only needed one liquor license for both businesses. Missing those days

ourcata
Guest
ourcata
5 years ago

Too bad the City of Arcata has a smoking ban that is seldom enforced.

https://www.cityofarcata.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/4434