Fire rips through Silicon Valley strip mall, ravaging shops

Authorities say a massive fire tore through a small strip mall in Silicon Valley, burning down more than half its businesses.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

SANTA CLARA - Authorities say a massive fire tore through a small strip mall in Silicon Valley, burning down more than half its businesses.

No one was injured in the blaze early Wednesday in the city of Santa Clara. Smoke was billowing from the wreckage of the building as firefighters on ladders sprayed water on flare-ups.

San Francisco Bay Area station KNTV reports (http://bit.ly/1qJe2XP) that about a dozen restaurants and businesses are in the mall where the fire erupted about 3 a.m.

Fire Chief Bill Kelly says the flames spread quickly because the L-shaped building is about 60 years old.

Restaurant owner Parul Patel burst into tears, saying she couldn't believe the destruction.

Donna Maruoka, owner of Roundhill Studios, says she was relieved her dance studio wasn't destroyed but called the fire heartbreaking.

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Information from: KNTV-TV.

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