Community center burns
Officials are investigating cause of the fire, which they deemed ‘suspicious’
MILLBRAE — Residents mourned the loss of their Community Center Thursday after an early morning four-alarm fire destroyed the building, collapsing much of the roof and charring beyond repair a beloved activity hub for young and old alike.
Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, which they deemed “suspicious” because it began outside the building. Arson is possible, Central County Fire Chief John Kammeyer said, and the fire department has brought in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to help investigate.
“We’re using all the resources available,” Kammeyer said.
The fire caused no injuries, but the building is considered a total loss. The blaze began in a courtyard before working its way up under eaves and eventually into the Community Center’s attic space, at which point the blaze spread rapidly, investigators said.
The fire was reported at 3:52 a.m. at 477 Lincoln Circle, and was under control by 8:15 a.m., according to Kammeyer. But fire crews stayed on scene throughout the day to search the building thoroughly for lingering flames — a process delayed by difficulty confirming whether the Community Center’s remnants were structurally stable. A drone from a private contractor surveyed from above.
Throughout the day, neighbors gathered across the street to survey the damage. The Millbrae Community Center was home to a wide range of activities — from monthly senior
bingo to children’s day camps — and residents say the gathering place will be badly missed.
“It’s been around as long as I can remember,” said Betty Dezter, who at 91 years old has lived in the area for four decades. “It gets a lot of use, and all my friends come over here for one thing or another. I don’t know where the money will come from to rebuild it.”
But Millbrae Mayor Anne Oliva said Community Center regulars can take comfort. The city will “absolutely” rebuild, she said.
In the meantime, though, programs are in limbo. Adults’ activities have been canceled for now, while a children’s camp the center was hosting this week moved Thursday to Taylor Middle School, half a mile away.
Oliva said that the Millbrae Community Foundation would meet Thursday evening to formulate a plan for relocating key services and accepting donations. Millbrae City Hall will host an open community meeting Friday at 8 a.m. to discuss these plans and disseminate information.
Meanwhile, for many neighbors, Thursday’s fire stirred questions of concern, for now unanswered: What if this really was a case of arson? What if the incident wasn’t isolated? Was there any connection to a string of apparent arson fires at Taylor Middle School last year? Kammeyer said his department is looking through its records for similar incidents.
For many, the fire also revived memories.
Alexis Lopez, 18, grew up playing in the Community Center, which is just a block from her home. First, there was “Teddy Bear Clubhouse,” a drop-off program where she was fed and cared for while her parents went off to work. Families appreciated having both before-school and after-school offerings, she said. Later, Lopez graduated on to “Fun Club,” which took children on trips to Six Flags, Great America and ice cream. And in middle school, she went to the center for dances.
“I feel like a little part of my childhood’s gone now,” she said as the building smoldered across the street.
Filomeno “Jun” Condez Jr. celebrated his grandson’s first birthday with a party at the Community Center this April. Many people rented the site for events, he said, in addition to using the free programs. By Condez’s estimation, upward of 50 people use the center on a given day. Anna Barrett, who lives across the street from the Community Center, took her 5year-old son to the center playground on a daily basis. Inside their home on Thurs- day afternoon, Barrett’s son pointed toward the fire in tears.
While Dezter was also saddened by the fire’s damage, she is confident that the city will recover quickly. She expects that service organizations like the Millbrae Lions Club will rally to alleviate the center’s loss and that others throughout the relatively small Millbrae community will get involved as well.
“Millbrae is that kind of town,” she said.