Alhambra : $1-Million Fire Investigated

The Fire Department is investigating a blaze Saturday night that engulfed a former Mercedes-Benz car dealership, causing $1 million in damage and injuring a firefighter. “The cause of the fire is still undetermined, but we are treating it as suspicious,” Fire Marshal John Kabala said. When firefighters arrived Saturday night at the former car showroom of Jim Marino Imports Inc., 1333 W. Main Ave., they encountered a fire that covered the whole 20,000-square-foot building, he said. Twelve residents from a nearby apartment building were evacuated temporarily because the vacant dealership housed hazardous wastes such as waste oil and acid, Kabala said. He said an Alhambra firefighter suffered minor injuries when the roof of the building collapsed on him. “He suffered cuts, injured his shoulder and sprained his neck,” Kabala said. Fire units from South Pasadena, San Marino and Monterey Park were called in to battle the blaze. The fire caused an estimated $1 million in damage to the building and computer equipment. City officials say the site is still owned by Jim Marino Imports Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year. The owners were not available for comment.