Burned-out store in Palmdale strip mall catches fire

PALMDALE – The remains of a large retail store, gutted by flames on May 15, were on fire Friday afternoon.

The incident was reported around 2:18 p.m. at the 2200 Block of East Palmdale Boulevard, said L.A. County Fire Inspector Tony Imbrenda.

Imbrenda said five engines and two trucks responded to the one-alarm fire, and knockdown was reported at 5 p.m.

He said firefighters also conducted extensive overhaul operations.

“They were turning up burned and charred debris and getting water on it to make sure that the thing doesn’t start up again,” he said.

The building, which housed a newly opened retail store, burst into flames in the early morning hours of May 15, just days before the store’s official grand opening celebration.

More than 100 firefighters battled the second-alarm fire at its peak, and much of the 40,000-square foot structure was gutted by the flames.

Fire officials could not say whether Friday’s blaze was related to the incident last month.

“Anything is possible, but it’s not very likely,” Imbrenda said. “It’s still under investigation.”

No surrounding structures were affected and no injuries were reported in Friday’s fire, Imbrenda said.

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