Three-Alarm Fire Extinguished in San Mateo

A piece of office equipment that caught fire may have caused a three-alarm blaze in downtown San Mateo Monday afternoon, San Mateo Fire Chief Dan Belville said.

The fire was reported at 3 p.m. on the 11th floor at 400 S. El Camino Real at the corner of Fourth Avenue when emergency personnel responded to an alarm, either a fire alarm or sprinkler alarm, according to Belville.

Firefighters called in a second, then third alarm due to the size of the building.

"These buildings, because of their nature, need a lot of firefighters," Belville said.

It's believed the automatic sprinklers extinguished the flames, and firefighters ensured there were no hot spots. No injuries were reported.

Smoke and heat damage is minimal, but water damage extended to the lobby of the building, though Belville said it's unlikely water affected every floor and instead traveled through a pipe system or the stairs.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, but Belville said it may have been caused by a piece of office equipment, including a printer. A property management company occupies the 11th floor, according to Belville.

Zach, who works on the 12th floor of the building and didn't wish to give his last name, said he evacuated after he heard the fire alarm sound.

"It smelled like an electrical fire," he said while waiting outside the building, along with the other occupants who had been forced to evacuate.

Another man who works in the building, on the eighth floor, said he was outside when he learned of the fire. He said he saw two firemen "rush" out of the building at one point.

The San Mateo Daily Journal is reporting the building houses the offices of U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo.

It is also reported to be the Peninsula office for State Senator Leland Yee, D-San Francisco.