A massive fire broke out in downtown Arcata Wednesday afternoon rapidly consuming multiple buildings. The blaze centered at Hensel’s Hardware between H and I streets on Tenth drawing immediate emergency response. Reader Laura Keenados captured initial video showing towering flames reader Josh Buck filmed from Wildberries vantage. Lost Coast Outpost’s Ryan Burns confirmed on scene noting traffic closed one block in every direction from 9th and I streets. Scanner traffic reported four two-story structures involved two already collapsed prompting urgent action.
Emergency crews responded around 2:30 p.m. Humboldt Bay dispatched a ladder truck while three additional engines and an ambulance raced inbound. H Street closed completely forcing incoming crews to use alternate routes around the inferno. The Arcata Fire quickly escalated into a major incident requiring regional coordination.
Dense commercial buildings fed flames rapidly as wind pushed embers toward residential areas nearby. Evacuations became urgent priorities for incident command.
Four Buildings Collapse People Trapped
By 2:53 p.m. scanner reports confirmed people trapped on rooftops calling desperately for rescue. Firefighters requested four additional engines to battle the spreading conflagration downtown. PG&E confirmed power outages affecting 43 customers in the immediate vicinity of the fire. Lost Coast Outpost reporter Ryan Burns arrived on scene confirming Hensel’s building as ground zero around 3:15 p.m. Traffic shut down one block in every direction from 9th and I streets isolating the disaster zone completely.
Reader Josh Buck captured video from Wildberries showing flames shooting through roofs while Laura Keenados filmed initial outbreak. Mandatory evacuations ordered for nearby apartments as flames consumed adjacent structures. The situation deteriorated rapidly with two two-story buildings collapsing by 3:23 p.m. Mutual aid activation pulled fire departments from Rio Dell Eureka ensuring coverage across Humboldt County. Red Cross mobilized at 3:25 p.m. to shelter displaced residents immediately.
Regional Response Tackles Gas Hazards
Arcata Fire Department orchestrated overwhelming response to the downtown catastrophe strategically. Humboldt Bay’s aerial ladder truck positioned for defensive operations while ground crews established water supply lines quickly. Gas main rupture forced PG&E technicians to isolate service paralleling fire suppression efforts carefully. Evacuation zones expanded methodically protecting lives before property systematically.
Lost Coast Outpost provided real-time scanner updates keeping residents informed about boundaries precisely. Reader videos documented progression from heavy smoke to structural failures graphically.
Regional fire chiefs coordinated resource deployment preventing neighboring communities from vulnerability exposure. Red Cross established reception center processing displaced apartment families efficiently. Fire marshal investigators prepared to determine ignition source once safe.
(This is a developing situation. Updates will be added subsequently.)
