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Home My WebLink AboutMarsh Fire Report_RedactedNFIRS-1 Basic 40060 CA 05 14 2025 Fire Station 1 (FS1) 25-02963 0 FDID State Month Day Year Station Number Exposure Location Type Census tract: Street Address Intersection In Front Of Rear Of Adjacent To Directions US National Grid 781 MARSH # Number Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix San Luis Obispo CA 93401 Apt./Suite/Room City State Zip Code Cross Street Incident Type 116-Fuel burner/boiler malfunction, fire confined Aid Given Or Received 1 Mutual Aid Received 2 Auto. Aid Received 3 Mutual Aid Given 4 Auto. Aid Given 5 Other Aid Given None CALFIRE (40080) Their FDID Their State Their Incident Number Dates and Times Alarm 05 14 2025 14:02 Arrival 05 14 2025 14:05 Controlled 05 14 2025 14:05 Last Unit Cleared 05 14 2025 15:39 Shifts and Alarms A 1 FZ1 Shift or Platoon Alarms District Special Studies 9244 3 - No, COVID 19 was not a factor ID# Value Actions Taken 81-Incident command Primary Action Taken 12-Salvage & overhaul Additional Action Taken Resources Apparatus or Personnel Module is used. Apparatus Personnel Suppression 7 16 EMS 0 0 Other 0 0 Resource counts include aid received resources. Estimated Dollar Losses and Values Losses:Required for all fires if known. Optional for all non-fires. None Property:$ 0 Contents:$ 20,000.00 Pre-Incident Values: Optional None Property:$ Contents:$ 20,000.00 A B C D E1 E2 E3 F G1 G2 Page 1 of 14 Completed Modules 2 - Fire 3 - Structure Fire 4 - Civilian Fire Cas. 5 - Fire Service Cas. 6 - EMS 7 - HazMat 8 - Wildland Fire 9 - Apparatus 10 - Personnel 11 - Arson Casualties None Deaths Injuries Fire Service 0 0 Civilian 0 0 Detector Required for Confined Fires 1 - Detector Alerted Occupants 2 - Detector Did Not Alert Them 3 - Unknown Hazardous Materials Release 1 - Natural Gas 2 - Propane Gas 3 - Gasoline 4 - Kerosene 5 - Diesel Fuel / Fuel Oil 6 - Household Solvents 7 - Motor Oil 8 - Paint 0 - Other None Mixed Use Property Not Mixed 10 - Assembly Use 20 - Education Use 33 - Medical Use 40 - Residential Use 51 - Row Of Stores 53 - Enclosed Mall 58 - Business and Residential 59 - Office Use 60 - Industrial Use 63 - Military Use 65 - Farm Use 00 - Other Mixed Use Property Use None Structures 131 Church, Place of Worship 161 Restaurant or Cafeteria 162 Bar/Tavern or Nightclub 213 Elementary School, Kindegarten 215 High School, Junior High 241 College, Adult Education 311 Nursing Home 331 Hospital 341 Clinic, Clinic-Type Infirmary 342 Doctor/Dentist Office 361 Prison or Jail, Not Juvenile 419 1- or 2-Family Dwelling 429 MultiFamily Dwelling 439 Rooming/Boarding House 449 Commerical Hotel or Motel 459 Residential, Board and Care 464 Dormitory/Barracks 519 Food and Beverage Sales 539 Household Goods, Sales, Repairs 571 Gas or Service Station 579 Motor Vehicle/Boat Sales/Repairs 599 Business Office 615 Electric-Generating Plant 629 Laboratory/Science Laboratory 700 Manufacturing Plant 819 Livestock/Poultry Storage (Barn) 882 Non-Residential Parking Garage 891 Warehouse Outside 124 Playground or Park 655 Crops or Orchard 669 Forest (Timberland) 807 Outdoor Storage Area 919 Dump or Sanitary Landfill 931 Open Land or Field 936 Vacant Lot 938 Graded/Cared for Plot of Land 946 Lake, River, Stream 951 Railroad Right-of-Way 960 Other Street 961 Highway/Divided Highway 962 Residential Street/Driveway 981 Construction Site 984 Industrial Plant Yard Property Use: Description Look up and enter a Property Use code and description only if you have NOT checked a Property Use box. Owner Local Option Person/Entity Type Business Name (if applicable)Phone Number Mr., Ms., Mrs.First Name MI Last Name Suffix Number Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix Post Office Box Apt./Suite/Room City State Zip Code H1 H2 H3 I J K2 Page 2 of 14 Remarks: B3 arrived at scene and established Marsh Command. Report of smoke showing from a second story residential unit. Occupants in the commercial space below stated water was coming into their business. T1 assigned 360 and investigation of location of fire. E4 assigned fire attack and primary; E4 reported that fire was contained to the bathroom and extinguished by sprinkler system. Officers Etherton and Johansson arrived on scene and attempted to evacuate the second floor, found fire extinguished by sprinklers. E2 assigned 2 out and E3 staged at hydrant. After report of no fire, transition to salvage mode. T1 assigned to shut off sprinkler system, E2 assigned salvage inside the furniture store. Crews tied in with manager and began moving furniture from area where water was coming into business. Fire Marshall Daniel responded to the scene and did cause and origin investigation to determine cause of fire. Building official Trevor nelson and code enforcement from the city determined no need to red tag the residence. Water department restored domestic water to the building and communication made with building management staff, Property managers informed that the sprinkler system needed to be restored prior to open the unit. Contact made with Fire Marshall after compliance with sprinkler system complete later that day. Scene turned over to property management without incident. Authorization 40667 Gutierrez, Armando Fire Captain 05/14/2025 Officer In Charge ID Signature Position or Rank Assignment Date 40667 Gutierrez, Armando Fire Captain 05/14/2025 Member Making Report ID Signature Position or Rank Assignment Date L M Page 3 of 14 NFIRS -2 Fire 40060 CA 05 14 2025 Fire Station 1 (FS1) 25-02963 0 FDID State Month Day Year Station Number Exposure Property Details B1 Not Residential Estimated number of residential living units in the building of origin whether or not all units became involved B2 Buildings Not Involved Number of buildings involved B3 None Less than 1 acre Acres burned (outside fires) On-Site Materials Or Products On-Site Materials Storage Use Ignition D1 Area of Fire Origin D2 Heat Source D3 Item First Ignited D4 Type of Material First Ignited Cause of Ignition 1 - Intentional 2 - Unintentional 3 - Failure of Equipment or Heat Source 4 - Act of Nature 5 - Cause Under Investigation U - Cause Undetermined After Investigation Factors Contributing to Ignition Human Factors Contributing to Ignition Check all applicable boxes None 1 - Asleep 2 - Possibly impaired by alcohol or drugs 3 - Unattended person 4 - Possibly Mentally Disabled 5 - Physically Disabled 6 - Multiple Persons Involved 7 - Age Was A Factor Estimated Age of Person Involved Male Female Equipment Involved In Ignition Equipment Involved Brand Model Serial # Year Equipment Power Source Equipment Power Source Equipment Portability 1 - Portable 2 - Stationary Portable equipment normally can be moved by one or two persons. Fire Suppression Factors Mobile Property Involved 1 - Not involved in ignition, but burned 2 - Involved in ignition, but did not burn 3 - Involved in ignition and burned None Mobile Property Type and Make Mobile Property Type Mobile Property Make Local Use Pre-Fire Plan Available Arson Report Attached Police Report Attached Coroner Report Attached Other Reports Attached Mobile Property Model Year State License Plate Number VIN _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ A B C D E1 E2 E3 F1 F2 F3 G H1 H2 Page 4 of 14 NFIRS -3 Structure Fire Structure Type 1 - Enclosed Building 2 - Portable/Mobile Structure 3 - Open Structure 4 - Air-Supported Structure 5 - Tent 6 - Open Platform 7 - Underground Structure 8 - Connective Structure 0 - Other Building Status 1 - Under Construction 2 - In Normal Use 3 - Idle, Not Routinely Used 4 - Under Major Renovation 5 - Vacant and Secured 6 - Vacant and Unsecured 7 - Being Demolished 0 - Other U - Undetermined Building Height Number of Stories At/Above Grade Number of Stories Below Grade Main Floor Size Total Square Feet OR BY Length (ft) X Width (ft) Fire Origin Below Grade Story of Fire Origin Fire Spread Confined to Object of Origin 2 - Confined to Room of Origin 3 - Confined to Floor of Origin 4 - Confined to Building of Origin 5 - Beyond Building of Origin Number of Stories Damaged By Flame Number of Stories w/Minor Damage (1-24%) Number of Stories w/Significant Damage (25-49%) Number of Stories w/Heavy Damage (50-74%) Number of Stories w/Extreme Damage (75-100%) *Count the roof as part of the highest story Type of Material Contributing Most to Flame Spread K1 Item Contributing Most to Flame Spread K2 Type of Material Contributing Most To Flame Spread Presence of Detectors N - None Present 1 - Present U - Undetermined Detector Type 1 - Smoke 2 - Heat 3 - Combination of Smoke and Heat 4 - Sprinkler, Water Flow Detection 5 - More Than One Type Present 0 - Other U - Undetermined Detector Power Supply 1 - Battery Only 2 - Hardwire Only 3 - Plug-In 4 - Hardwire With Battery 5 - Plug-In With Battery 6 - Mechanical 7 - Multiple Detectors & Power Supplies 0 - Other U - Undetermined Detector Operation 1 - Fire Too Small To Activate 2 - Operated 3 - Failed To Operate U - Undetermined Detector Effectiveness 1 - Alerted Occupants, Occupants Responded 2 - Alerted Occupants, Occupants Failed to Respond 3 - There Were No Occupants 4 - Failed to Alert Occupants U - Undetermined Detector Failure Reason 1 - Power Failure, Shutoff, or Disconnect 2 - Improper Installation or Placement 3 - Defective 4 - Lack of Maintenance, Dirty 5 - Battery Missing or Disconnected 6 - Battery Discharged or Dead 0 - Other U - Undetermined I1 I2 I3 I4 J1 J2 J3 K L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 Page 5 of 14 Presence of Automatic Extinguishing System N - None Present 1 - Present 2 - Partial System Present U - Undetermined Type of Automatic Extinguishing System 1 - Wet-Pipe Sprinkler 2 - Dry-Pipe Sprinkler 3 - Other Sprinkler System 4 - Dry Chemical System 5 - Foam System 6 - Halogen-Type System 7 - Carbon Dioxide System 0 - Other U - Undetermined Required if fire was within designed range of AES Operation of Automatic Extinguishing System 1 - Operated/Effective 2 - Operated/Not Effective 3 - Fire Too Small To Activate 4 - Failed To Operate 0 - Other U - Undetermined Required if fire was within designed range Number of Sprinkler Heads Operating Required if system operated Reason for Automatic Extinguishing System Failure 1 - System Shut Off 2 - Not Enough Agent Discharged 3 - Agent Discharged But Did Not Reach Fire 4 - Wrong Type of System 5 - Fire Not In Area Protected 6 - System Components Damaged 7 - Lack of Maintenance 8 - Manual Intervention 0 - Other U - Undetermined Required if system failed or not effective M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 Page 6 of 14 NFIRS -9 Apparatus or Resources 40060 CA 05 14 2025 Fire Station 1 (FS1) 25-02963 0 FDID State Month Day Year Station Number Exposure B Apparatus/Resource Dates/Times Sent Number of People Apparatus Use Actions Taken ID:BC3 Type:92-Chief officer car Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:02 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:05 Clear:05/14/2025 15:37 Sent 1 Suppression EMS Other 81-Incident command ID:E2 Type:11-Engine Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:05 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:08 Clear:05/14/2025 15:35 Sent 3 Suppression EMS Other 11-Extinguishment by fire service personnel ID:E3 Type:11-Engine Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:02 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:09 Clear: Sent 3 Suppression EMS Other 10-Fire control or extinguishment, other ID:E4 Type:11-Engine Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:02 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:08 Clear:05/14/2025 15:37 Sent 3 Suppression EMS Other 66-Remove water 53-Evacuate area ID:MR1 Type:70-Medical & rescue unit, other Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:04 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:08 Clear: Sent 2 Suppression EMS Other 73-Provide manpower 66-Remove water ID:PRV20 Type:00-Other apparatus/resource Dispatch: Arrival:05/14/2025 14:23 Clear:05/14/2025 15:39 Sent 1 Suppression EMS Other 86-Investigate ID:T1 Type:12-Truck or aerial Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:02 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:07 Clear:05/14/2025 15:36 Sent 3 Suppression EMS Other 00-Action taken, other A Page 7 of 14 NFIRS -10 Personnel 40060 CA 05 14 2025 Fire Station 1 (FS1) 25-02963 0 FDID State Month Day Year Station Number Exposure A Page 8 of 14 B Apparatus/Resource Dates/Times Sent Number of People Apparatus Use Actions Taken ID:BC3 Type:92-Chief officer car Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:02 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:05 Clear:05/14/2025 15:37 Sent 1 Suppression EMS Other 81-Incident command Personnel ID Name Rank Role Attend Actions Taken 40667 Gutierrez, Armando Battalion Chief ID:E2 Type:11-Engine Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:05 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:08 Clear:05/14/2025 15:35 Sent 3 Suppression EMS Other 11-Extinguishment by fire service personnel Personnel ID Name Rank Role Attend Actions Taken 103864 Simmons, Sophie Firefighter 92710 Witt, James Captain 52001 Joy, Cullen Engineer ID:E3 Type:11-Engine Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:02 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:09 Clear: Sent 3 Suppression EMS Other 10-Fire control or extinguishment, other Personnel ID Name Rank Role Attend Actions Taken 99163 Martin, Ted Firefighter 54183 King, John Engineer 14845 Barrett, Richard Captain ID:E4 Type:11-Engine Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:02 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:08 Clear:05/14/2025 15:37 Sent 3 Suppression EMS Other 66-Remove water 53-Evacuate area Personnel ID Name Rank Role Attend Actions Taken 99552 Morrison, Keanu Firefighter 73250 Renner, David Captain 92335 Williams, Joseph Engineer ID:MR1 Type:70-Medical & rescue unit, other Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:04 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:08 Clear: Sent 2 Suppression EMS Other 73-Provide manpower 66-Remove water Personnel ID Name Rank Role Attend Actions Taken 100076 McClanahan, Maren 5588012-Firefighter 100070 Kaperonis, George 5588012-Firefighter ID:PRV20 Type:00-Other apparatus/resource Dispatch: Arrival:05/14/2025 14:23 Clear:05/14/2025 15:39 Sent 1 Suppression EMS Other 86-Investigate Personnel ID Name Rank Role Attend Actions Taken 109053 Daniel, Josh 5588016-Investigator Page 9 of 14 ID:T1 Type:12-Truck or aerial Dispatch:05/14/2025 14:02 Arrival:05/14/2025 14:07 Clear:05/14/2025 15:36 Sent 3 Suppression EMS Other 00-Action taken, other Personnel ID Name Rank Role Attend Actions Taken 70995 Pratt, Jason Captain 57382 Larsen, Patrick Engineer 30791 Doolin, Luke Engineer Page 10 of 14 NFIRS-1S Supplemental 40060 CA 05 14 2025 Fire Station 1 (FS1) 25-02963 0 FDID State Month Day Year Station Number Exposure Primary Narrative: B3 arrived at scene and established Marsh Command. Report of smoke showing from a second story residential unit. Occupants in the commercial space below stated water was coming into their business. T1 assigned 360 and investigation of location of fire. E4 assigned fire attack and primary; E4 reported that fire was contained to the bathroom and extinguished by sprinkler system. Officers Etherton and Johansson arrived on scene and attempted to evacuate the second floor, found fire extinguished by sprinklers. E2 assigned 2 out and E3 staged at hydrant. After report of no fire, transition to salvage mode. T1 assigned to shut off sprinkler system, E2 assigned salvage inside the furniture store. Crews tied in with manager and began moving furniture from area where water was coming into business. Fire Marshall Daniel responded to the scene and did cause and origin investigation to determine cause of fire. Building official Trevor nelson and code enforcement from the city determined no need to red tag the residence. Water department restored domestic water to the building and communication made with building management staff, Property managers informed that the sprinkler system needed to be restored prior to open the unit. Contact made with Fire Marshall after compliance with sprinkler system complete later that day. Scene turned over to property management without incident. Additional Narrative (#1 of 2): Upon arrival Truck 1 was positioned on Garden street on the Delta side of the building. Truck 1 did a 360 of the building and found that the fire had been extinguished by the sprinkler system. T1 was then given the order to shut down the sprinkler system. T1's crew made access the basement and shut down the water . T1 was then given the assignment to shut down the alarm system. After silencing the alarm system, T1 assisted in salvage and overhaul of the lower business. Medic Rescue 1 picked up the water vacuum from station 1 and brought it to the scene to remove water from the business. A Page 11 of 14 Additional Narrative (#2 of 2): SLO FD FIRE ORIGIN & CAUSE INVESTIGATION REPORT DATE: 05/14/2025, 1401 Hours LOCATION: 781 Marsh San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 PROPERTY TYPE: Commercial/Residential Building CLASSIFICATION: Accidental INCIDENT #: SLO-FD 25-02963 REPORTING OFFICER: DANIEL, JOSHUA Fire Marshal (PREV 20) REPORT #: 25-0002 SLO PD REPORT# 252514041 SYNOPSIS This report documents the investigation into the origin and cause of a mixed-use building fire in the downtown district of San Luis Obispo. SOURCE OF ACTIVITY On April 15, 2025, at approximately 1401, San Luis Obispo County Dispatch received a 911 emergency call reporting a fire at 781 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401 in San Luis Obispo County. At approximately 1420 hours, while working my regular schedule as the SLO Fire Department (SLOFD) Fire Marshal (PREV20), I responded code two from my office at SLOFD Station 1, 2160 Santa Barbara Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA. I arrived at the fire scene at approximately 1425 hours and cleared it at approximately 1530 hours. OBSERVATIONS/ACTIONS Upon my arrival, I observed all San Luis Obispo Fire Department suppression apparatus, along with Battalion 3 (B3), working to horizontally ventilate a first-floor commercial structure and a second-floor residential structure using electrically powered fans. The upstairs unit was working to divert water out the window to Garden St.. Other crews were engaged in protecting the commercial units’ merchandise downstairs from water damage. I could see the structure had no visible smoke or flame from the street, and all exterior doors and windows were open for improved ventilation. I reported to the Marsh IC regarding a report on the condition and current actions being taken. During the face-to-face communication with Broad IC, I was assigned by B3 Gutierrez to determine the origin and cause of this incident. My investigation report can be found in the Image Trend Fire reporting system for further details. INVESTIGATION My investigation actions and findings are based on a scientific examination of the origin and cause of the fire. Methodology The methodology I utilized during this investigation consisted of identifying all available data for origin determination, including witness accounts, an initial scene assessment, development of a preliminary fire spread hypothesis, an in-depth examination of the fire scene, reconstruction of the fire scene, development of a final fire spread hypothesis, and identification of the fire’s origin. I identified all available data for cause determination, including ignition sources, fuel packages, oxidizers, and circumstances. I utilized all available resources to develop fire-cause hypotheses and determine which hypotheses best fit the credible data available to identify the cause of this fire. During my investigation, I obtained witness statements. I conducted the interviews in full uniform. The following is a summary of the statements I collected. The following statement was conducted with San Luis Obispo PD and a body camera was used to conduct the interview. Summary of Statements STATEMENT stated that he started the fire by lighting a candle and placing it on the back of the toilet under some towels. The towels caught fire, and he removed the candle, taking it to the kitchen. When he went back to the bathroom, the towels were entirely on fire. He removed one of the towels from the towel rack and threw it onto the floor. Around the same time, the fire sprinklers activated and extinguished the fire. then left the building and waited for fire crews across the street off Marsh. END OF STATEMENT Systematic Approach I began my investigation by systematically and methodically walking through the fire scene, from the exterior to the interior, identifying all available data to determine where and how the fire had started. EXTERIOR I walked through the exterior in a clockwise fashion, noting no fire or smoke damage to the building. However, water was flowing from the second floor and leaking through the ceiling of the first floor. INTERIOR I entered the structure through the North side entrance door. Alarm/Smoke Detector/Protection/Security At the time of my examination, the smoke detector was not sounding an alarm, and it had a battery installed. Living Room Page 12 of 14 I observed that this room has an average fuel load of common combustible materials for an inhabited structure. No fire patterns or evidence of smoke damage. Kitchen It appeared to have an average fuel load of common combustible materials for an inhabited structure. The kitchen had no fire patterns or evidence of smoke. Bath #1 I observed that this room is approximately 10 feet long x 8 feet wide x 12 feet high. It appeared to have an average fuel load of common combustible materials for an inhabited structure. Bathroom fire patterns were visible on the wall above the towel rack and the ceiling; smoke damage is evident. The sprinkler in the bathroom was draining water from the heat activation. Bedroom #1 It appeared to have no fuel for an inhabited structure. The bedroom has no fire patterns or smoke damage. Area of Origin (AOO) After careful consideration, it is my opinion that all credible data have been accounted for and that all credible alternate origin hypotheses have been considered and eliminated. Therefore, I believe the area of origin was above the toilet in the bathroom. AOO Fire patterns show the towels hanging on the towel rack when they were burning. AOO Competent Ignition Sources All AOO Competent Ignition sources were evaluated, and the only source of heat found to sustain ignition was from the candle. FIRE CAUSE 1. IGNITION SOURCE: Candle 2. MATERIAL FIRST IGNITED: Bathroom towels 3. OXIDANT: Oxygen from the surrounding air 4. EVENT WHICH BROUGHT IGNITION SOURCE AND MATERIAL FIRST IGNITED TOGETHER: carelessly lit a candle under hanging towels in his bathroom. Those towels then caught fire, prompting the fire sprinklers to activate and suppress the flames. PHOTOS DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN AND UPLOADED TO THE ELECTRONIC CASE FOLDER VIDEOS WERE RECORDED AND UPLOADED TO THE ELECTRONIC CASE FOLDER CONCLUSION This fire was caused by negligent behavior on the part of who was moving into the apartment from another apartment down the hall. started lighting the candle and placing it on the back of the toilet. Knowing the towels were hanging just above the flame. He stated that he did not think it would be an issue. Once the towels were fully engulfed in flames, the heat and smoke reached a point where they triggered the sprinklers in the building; however, the sprinklers suppressed the fire to just the towels. The sprinklers kept the fire from spreading further and causing a much larger fire incident. CLASSIFICATION OF THE CAUSE ACCIDENTAL: The proven cause does not involve an intentional human act (2017 NFPA 921 20.1.1) My opinion of the origin and cause of this fire is based on the following: 1. My more than (10) years of professional service in the firefighting industry 2. My more than (7) years of professional full-time fire investigations 3. I have personally conducted and/or assisted in over (250) fire events 4. I have over (300) hours of fire investigation and related law enforcement training END OF INCIDENT REPORT Apparatus Narrative for BC3: Unknown Page 13 of 14 Apparatus Narrative for E3: unknown Page 14 of 14