Sunday night fire forces shopper, employee evacuation, but
store
reopens Tuesday
By Michael Van Cassell Staff Writer
Hollister – Target reopened Tuesday morning after an arsonist set a fire that chased shoppers and workers from the crowded store Sunday evening.
Hollister Fire Department Chief Bill Garringer said the fire was intentionally set, but few details were released regarding the origin of the fire or the investigation, now in the hands of the Hollister Police Department.
“It’s an ongoing investigation so I can’t give any details,” Police Cpt. Bob Brooks said Monday evening. There was no damage estimate available.
Arson investigators are hoping that the numerous surveillance cameras throughout the store might have captured images of the arsonist in action.
“They’re looking closely at the surveillance tapes of the store,” Garringer said.
The fire began at 6:28pm in the grocery section in the northeast part of the store, Brooks said. Five engines, two ladder trucks and 32 firefighters were eventually called on scene to help control the two-alarm blaze, Brooks said.
Firefighters had the fire under control by 7:39pm, he said.
“Obviously there was a witness that saw the fire and alerted everybody and then the store was evacuated,” Brooks said Sunday night, shortly after the blaze was declared under control. “The store was evacuated and everybody got out safely.”
In addition to the Hollister Fire Department, the Aromas Fire Department, San Juan Bautista Fire Department and Gilroy Fire Department sent engines and firefighters, Brooks said.
Garringer commended Target’s employees for getting everyone safely out of the store.
“The Target employees did a great job of evacuating everybody before our arrival,” Garringer said. “I think they must have practiced before.”
Jessica Holt and Mitchell Cox were shopping at Target Sunday evening. As they headed toward the checkout area at the front of the store, Holt said, she heard someone shout “fire!”
She said they turned and saw smoke coming from the grocery section, then saw flames.
“You see these flames gushing up to the ceiling,” Holt said. “It was that quick.”
They heard the store’s sprinkler system turn on, and Cox told Holt to go outside and wait, she said. As she headed toward the front of the store, she heard the call for evacuation and people began to run.
“It was scary,” Holt said. “The flames didn’t scare me. It was the people running.”
Holt said Cox grabbed a fire extinguisher and briefly attempted to fight the fire, but the thick smoke drove him out of the store. Cox emerged from the store drenched by the sprinklers.
Fire damaged a 400-square-foot area of the store, Brooks said. There was heavy smoke and water damage throughout the building, he said.
Dozens of Target employees waited in a group in the parking lot. Later Sunday night, their personal items, left behind during the evacuation, were brought to them in shopping carts.
Kimberly Irons, manager of the Morgan Hill Target store, was at the Hollister store Monday morning to help coordinate re-opening efforts. Irons said there was product loss and the store was closed primarily due to water damage.
Irons said extra Target employees were called in from outlying areas to assist in re-opening the store.
“People have been here all night to get the store open,” Irons said Monday. “We will be working, all of the employees, to get the store open as fast as possible. We cannot wait to have our community back in our store.”
And many community members were anxious to get back inside, as well.
Gina Peyton and Kaitlynn Cardoza cautiously approached the yellow police tape blockade at the store’s front entrance Monday afternoon.
“I knew about the fire last night but we have prescriptions at the pharmacy,” Peyton said.
Small signs attached to the yellow tape directed shoppers to visit other Target locations such as Gilroy. But those who like Peyton and Cardoza has medication waiting were allowed inside to pick up their prescriptions.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 of mv*********@***********ws.com.
