Home » Homeless Start 2-Alarm Fire at Closed Down FoodMaxx in Antioch

Homeless Start 2-Alarm Fire at Closed Down FoodMaxx in Antioch

by CC News

At around 8:30 am Sunday, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District firefighters responded to the 2900 block of Delta Fair Blvd in the City of Antioch for a report of a fire.

It was reported of smoke coming from the closed down FoodMaxx, this was the second call in two-days as they responded to a motorcycle set on fire Saturday morning.

On Sunday, firefighters arrived on scene with a moderate amount of smoke showing and active fire. A second-alarm response was requested as a precaution–it was also reported that at least two people were inside refusing to leave before firefighters were able to get them out of the building.

By 8:48 am, the major body of the fire had been knocked down, but crews were battling heavy smoke in the building with multiple holes on the roof having to be opened up.

By 9:00 am, they crews were searching the building and were still in offensive fire attack before confirming the fire was out a short-time later. No injuries were reported.

According to the Fire Investigator Ryan Graham, preliminary information shows the fire started after an argument inside amongst trespassing residents (homeless).  12 areas where people were sleeping

“No solid leads and no one on scene will provide information,” said Graham. “The fire is still under investigation.

Graham added that there were at least 12-areas inside the building where it appeared people were sleeping.

Antioch Motorcycle Fire

It is unknown if the fire is related to yesterdays motorcycle fire which came in 5:31 am Saturday. Crews made entry and quickly extinguished the motorcycle fire inside the building.

Antioch Police said Saturday they get at least 12 calls a week to this abandoned building. Meanwhile CONFIRE said traditionally they do not respond often to this building, however, activity at it has picked up in the last few weeks.

Along with the 12-areas inside FoodMaxx where people were sleeping, a fire on W 4th Street on Monday in Antioch is where CONFIRE found approximately 30 homeless residing.

Activity has picked up in the last few weeks.

Split 3-2 Vote: Antioch City Council Postpones Decision on Delta Fair Village Apartments

The Antioch City Council voted to continue blight indefinitely after postponing moving a project forward that would have begun redeveloping a blighted shopping center at the corner of Delta Fair Blvd and Buchanan in the City of Antioch.

If approved, the property would have began being cleaned up and redeveloped into a new shopping center and apartment complex. Currently, the property is full of empty buildings, boarded up retail, garbage all over the property and many homeless frequenting the area.

The project was put on hold in a 3-2 vote after Councilmembers Lamar Thorpe, Joy Motts and Monica Wilson had concerns over the property owners handling of blight and fines over the past five years. Meanwhile, Mayor Sean Wright and Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock called it an opportunity to clean up a blighted area in town and begin the redevelopment of an area desperately in need.

The Delta Fair Village Multi-Family home project was a 210-apartment unit facility that would have been developed at the corner of Delta Fair and Buchanan Road with a new 4,000 square foot retail building. In total, there would be five buildings. The total size of the project was estimated of 411,511 square feet with renovation of existing 73,535 of retail space.

The applicant, Chui Family LLC, proposed a residential density of 45 units per acre which is the highest allowed per the General Plan. There would be 392 parking spaces including 324 in a gated parking garage, 38 on parking garage tandem, 68 spaces outside of the building along with bicycle parking area.

Along with the shopping center renovation, they would realign parking drive aisles, upgrade parking lot landscaping, add roof variation and façade articulation, materials in shopping center would match apartments, replace broken storefronts, remove signed and condition renovations to begin prior to apartment construction. — Full Story

Previous Fires

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7 comments

John October 15, 2023 - 12:38 pm

Maybe Antioch should give an update to how big of a failure its E 18th homeless hotel program is doing and return the money to its residents. Good job Lamar Thorpe and Joy Motts, two political hacks who brought this on Antioch.

Enough is enough October 15, 2023 - 12:41 pm

Watch out Brentwood and Oakley, you are next as the rhetoric is you guys are not doing enough for the “unhoused” and need to do more. Antioch City Council meetings have started that rhetoric to deflect its failures onto you.

WPR October 15, 2023 - 1:59 pm

West Antioch as was rest of Antioch was vibrant in late 1970s and 1980s.
Even America’s Tire on San Jose has pulled out after many many decades moving to Pittsburg.
How many closed business buildings are there now in Antioch.
Past decisions by city and councils allowing large number high density residences built.
Liquor stores in Antioch seem to be only businesses immune to business downturn.
.
How many residences in Antioch are now section 8?

Street Sweeper October 15, 2023 - 3:41 pm

I hope they investigate this for arson. ” unhoused” getting a kickback to burn it down?

FOOS October 15, 2023 - 6:16 pm

How long is this FECKLESS COUNCIL going to allow vagrants to destroy our community? These are not the only fires attributed to vagrants. Earlier a fire destroyed an abandoned warehouse downtown. Homeless continue to start fires in areas that are covered by brush and trees including fires along walking trails. Is it going to take someone loosing their home or life before the Council acts? Vagrants flood to Antioch because our Council, service organizations and do gooders provide many of the things they need. Let’s not forget the advocates. They pack Council meetings and plead for more money and more rights for vagrants. What about the taxpayers? Who advocates for us, our do nothing Council? This Council has destroyed Antioch with their hands off attitude towards vagrants.

ME October 16, 2023 - 8:28 pm

What is the property
owner doing to mitigate or prevent this? Is he throwing a tantrum and saying screw it to punish everyone for not giving him the deal to manage the housing project? Maybe if it all burns down he’ll get a fat insurance payout. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s exactly what he’s waiting on.

dee dee ramone October 17, 2023 - 7:58 am

too bad they didn’t burn the whole city down.

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