Fire at Lodi auto repair shop draws large crowd of onlookers
A fire sent black smoke billowing into the sky and drew a large crowd of onlookers just east of Downtown Lodi on Friday afternoon.
At approximately 4 p.m., the Lodi Fire Department responded to a fire in the lot behind Pericao’s Auto Service, located at 219 N. Main St., according to Battalion Chief Pete Iturraran.
Sgt. Kevin Kent of the Lodi Police Department reported seeing white smoke, possibly indicative of burning chemicals, coming from the fire.
Engines from the Stockton Fire Department also arrived on the scene to assist Lodi firefighters in containing the blaze behind the auto repair shop, adjacent to Jessie’s Grove Winery Ice House, where the Dancing Fox makes its wines and beers.
“I was having lunch when a cook told me there was a fire at the Ice House, so I rushed down,” said Joel Kemalyan, Dancing Fox’s assistant winemaker.
As he hosed ashes away from the Ice House’s driveway, Kemalyan added that he was concerned about the wine barrels, although he did not notice any damage to them.
Capt. Shane Langone reported that the damage was limited to auto parts.
“Vehicles, boats, motors, blocks. Salvage yard stuff,” said Langone.
Iturraran added that the fire’s cause is undetermined as of yet, stating that an investigation will begin shortly.