Hotel fire under investigation
EL CENTRO – The cause of the third-alarm fire that destroyed the Mayan Hotel at 595 W. State St. remains under investigation, the Fire Department said Monday.
According to a release issued by the department, more than 30 firefighters helped control the blaze, which was first reported to the El Centro Police and Fire Dispatch Center at 11:08 p.m. Saturday.
The first-alarm assignment dispatched two engines companies, two quick response vehicles, and one battalion chief from the city of El Centro to the incident with 11 personnel. The first-in El Centro Fire Department unit arrived on the scene at 11:11 p.m., three minutes after the initial call for service, the release said.
“On arrival, the firstin company found a three-story, vacant commercial building with fire and smoke showing,” the Fire Department’s account said.
A second-alarm request was issued at 11:13 p.m. About the same time, the fire broke through the brook and self-vented, causing the fire to intensify. The third-alarm was sounded at 11:32 p.m.
The release said firefighters attempted an interior search and fire attack, but were driven back by fire conditions in the structure’s interior. They then concentrated their efforts on defense, confining the fire to the hotel and protecting surrounding buildings.
The building could be seen still smoldering well into Sunday before the fire was completely extinguished. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported, the release said.
The mutual aid request brought resources from Imperial, County of Imperial, Holtville, Calexico, Brawley, Westmorland and NAF El Centro fire departments.
Other cooperating agencies included the American Red Cross, AMR Ambulance, the Imperial Irrigation District, Southern California Gas Company, City of El Centro Code Enforcement Division, City of El Centro Public Works and the El Centro Police Department.
The Mayan has been vacant since the city condemned it and evicted its tenants in February 2018. In December 2020, it was the site of a second-alarm fire.
El Centro Fire Department investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the fire. Any witnesses or individuals with information related to the fire should call (760) 3374530.