Fire Investigation Update for the Christmas Day Los Altos Commercial Structure Fire
Los Altos, Calif. — January 9, 2024 — Santa Clara County Fire Department (County Fire) arson investigators immediately began their investigative process following the 3-alarm fire at 4600 El Camino Real in Los Altos on December 25, 2023.
Fire investigators continue to work in collaboration with the City of Los Altos Building Division and several private insurance agencies to complete a thorough fire investigation that meets the needs of all parties. Due to fire damage, the building has been declared unsafe and at risk of collapse. As a result, eastbound El Camino Real between San Antonio Road and Sherwood Avenue has remained closed and fire investigators have not been able to access the interior of the building to safely complete the investigative process.
The City of Los Altos has approved the partial demolition of the front part of the building nearest El Camino Real to proceed. This will allow the fire investigation to continue and provide for the safe reopening of the closed segment of El Camino Real. Demolition is anticipated to begin on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. The demolition process will be completed systematically to preserve the integrity of the site as much as possible as the investigative process continues.
A portion, if not all the closed section of El Camino Real, is anticipated to reopen as early as Thursday, January 11, 2024. As additional newsworthy updates become available, County Fire will continue to share more information.
Questions can be referred to County Fire’s Information and Public Affairs Office at (408) 341-4444 or publicinfo@sccfd.org.
Media Contacts
Fire Contact: Erica Ray, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Information Specialist
- Phone: (408) 341-4444
- Email: publicinfo@sccfd.org
City Contact: Sonia Lee, City of Los Altos, Public Information Officer
- Phone: (650) 947-2611
- Email: slee@losaltosca.gov
