Ace Hardware Reopens After Sunday Morning Fire

Grand Lake Ace Hardware, 1221 Grand Ave., reopened for business this morning (Monday) after being closed Sunday in the aftermath of an early morning electrical fire.

Piedmont Fire Chief Bud McLaren described the blaze as a small fire in a rear storage area that caused about $20,000 worth of damage.

Public safety workers were first alerted to the fire when the store's security system signaled a problem at 4:06 a.m. Sunday.

McLaren said the first police officers on the scene smelled smoke and notified the Piedmont Fire Department.

He said the store's automatic sprinkler system had kept the fire in check, and firefighters were able to extinguish it quickly.

Both of the PFD's fire engines and seven firefighters responded, he said. 

Piedmont also requested aid from the Oakland Fire Department, which sent two engines, a ladder truck and a battalion chief, McLaren said. Oakland firefighters were released after about 15 minutes, he said.

McLaren said the fire appeared to be electrical in nature. While the cause is still under investigation, it does not appear to be suspicious, he said.

An Ace Hardware employee said the store was able to open at its usual time today, although there's still a stench of smoke in the store.

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