Massive San Jose Fire Seen From Space, Destroys Home Depot

SAN JOSE, CA — Crews managed to quell a massive blaze in San Jose that tore through a Home Depot on Saturday and could be seen from space, authorities said.

The fire was reported near the store's lumber supply just after 5:30 p.m. at the location on 920 Blossom Hill Road. Crews battled the blaze until it was finally under control at 11:44 p.m.

As crews arrived in the early evening, a shelter in place order was issued for the surrounding area and nearby businesses. Forty-five people with homes behind the Home Depot were forced to evacuate as the building continued to smolder and firefighters called for additional resources, the San Jose Fire Department wrote in a release.

All animals from a nearby vet hospital were also evacuated and taken to a reunification site at Golfland with assistance from the San José Animal Care Center.

By 6:08 p.m., the fire was deemed a fifth alarm fire as 100 firefighters fought to keep the blaze from spreading to other businesses in the strip-mall.

"Crews successfully prevented the fire from extending beyond the business of origin," fire officials wrote.

The Home Depot was destroyed and the air quality was deemed unhealthy by hazard crews.

Residents and occupants of neighboring businesses were allowed to return on Sunday afternoon and the blaze was out just before midnight. Firefighters remained on scene through the night.

The smoke could be seen billowing from the building from miles away. The heat signature of the blaze was also detected in space through the GOES West Meso Sector, the National Weather Service reported from its Bay Area office.

No injuries were reported in the massive fire and the cause of the fire was being investigated on Monday. While flying over the fire, Santa Clara County Sheriff Department’s STAR1 helicopter saw two other fires burning nearby. It was unclear whether those fires were connected to the fire at Home Depot.