HANFORD, Calif. A Tuesday afternoon fire caused major damage to a commercial building on East Lacey Boulevard, forcing a business owner to escape through a window while firefighters battled challenging wind conditions.

According to the Hanford Fire Department, crews responded around 4:45 p.m. on February 17 to a large structure fire in the 8400 block of East Lacey Boulevard.

When firefighters arrived, they discovered flames burning in the attic of a building that houses Premier Truck Parts and Hanford Hoses & Hitches. Officials learned the owner and operator was inside when the fire began and managed to escape safely through a window.

Despite strong winds that initially slowed response efforts, crews contained the fire within approximately 30 minutes. The blaze caused major damage to the building, but no injuries were reported among civilians or firefighters.

Ten Hanford Fire Department personnel responded to the incident, with assistance from eight additional firefighters from the Kings County Fire Department.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Following the incident, the Hanford Fire Department reminded local businesses about the importance of fire prevention, highlighting three key safety measures: maintaining clearly marked exits, keeping functional fire extinguishers accessible, and avoiding the overuse or overloading of electrical cords and extension cords.