Structure Fire Damaged Businesses in Old Town Goleta

Update by Edhat Staff
4:15 p.m., October 18, 2017

A structure fire involving a storage unit damaged two businesses in Old Town Goleta Tuesday evening.

At 6:59 p.m., Santa Barbara County firefighters responded to 5879 Hollister Ave in Old Town Goleta. The building directly involved belongs to Foot and Body Massage, which is part of a strip mall with four other businesses.

Firefighters arrived to find a well-involved fire behind Foot and Body Massage in a storage area towards the rear of the building and next to Eric Kreb’s Automotive on Orange Ave, contained to a storage area, said firefighter Vince Agapito.

There was slight heat damage to the massage parlor and automotive store, as well as extensive smoke damage inside the massage parlor, said Agapito.

Thirty firefighters were on scene to knock down the blaze while also having to avoid downed power lines behind the massage parlor.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputies were the first to respond the scene who evacuated two businesses that were active at the time: The Mercury Lounge and Noodle City.

Edhat will update this article with more information as it becomes available.

Update by an edhat reader
7:22 p.m., October 17, 2017

I heard two explosions and ran outside in Old Town Goleta on Hollister Ave to see a big fire. It appears to be near Noodle City, maybe behind Pepe’s and the bike shop. I heard it was semi-industrial, but there is a lot of awful smoke. I took this picture then ran back inside. The Mercury Lounge is also on fire, but hearing it started in a mechanic’s shop.