The Salz family owned a feed and grain business and had warehouses in Decoto, Centerville and Irvington. The firm was started by Edward Salz and then continued by Clarence Salz. At one time to Company had 10 different warehouses in Decoto. One warehouse sat next to the railroad tracks on Depot Road, just south of Depot and H streets. Given that hay and other feeds are very combustible, fires were not that uncommon to the warehouses. The Alvarado Pioneer reports of a fire in November, 1953:
"A fire of $50,000, destroyed the 50 year old Salz warehouse and about 800 tons of hay at Depot Road and H Street at 8:42 p.m. Sunday evening. The Decoto Volunteer Fire Department fought the spectacular fire for over four hours with three pieces of equipment. The flames were confined to the warehouse, saving the adjoining feed mill grainery and office. The baled hay burned for several days, with fireman pouring water on the smoldering bales. The warehouse was owned by Mrs. Eleanor Salz of Palo Alto. Present operators of the business are Mrs. Ida Silva of Hayward and Manuel Muniz of 903 11th Street, Decoto. Mrs. Manuel Janeiro, 77, who lives on Railroad Avenue directly across from the warehouse, said that this was the third time the building had been destroyed by fire since she came to Decoto in 1879. She recalled the two previous fires occurring about 1892 and 1900. The building and its contents reportedly were mostly covered by insurance."