A late-night fire destroyed a truck at the Restore, a thrift shop in downtown Watsonville run by Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay.
Firefighters responded to reports of a vehicle fire at 555 Main St. at 11:15pm and found a Ford F550 pickup fully engulfed in flames parked about two feet from a building.
Crews tamped down the fire within minutes and no structures were damaged.
Chucky De Luna, who manages the ReStore thrift shops in Watsonville and Seadide said that a frequent customer—whose window from an upper-floor apartment in the Resetar Hotel that overlooks the yard—saw the fire and called 911.
The loading area where the fire erupted is a common hangout spot for homeless people, evidenced by empty alcohol containers, trash and used syringes, De Luna said.
“We have a huge homeless issue,” he said. “They’re back here all the time. They ravage through all of our stuff.”
CEO Catherine Stihler estimated the loss at $20,000, not including the loss in revenue from being unable to accept donations for the day.
She said that the fire could have been worse, since it did not spread to the adjacent building.
“We’re so thankful that the police and fire department responded so quickly,” Stihler said.
After news of the fire broke, Monterey-based landscaping company PM Landscaping donated a trailer.
“We are so grateful,” Stihler said.
But the organization is still hoping someone has a truck they are willing to donate.
There are no indications of suspicious circumstances surrounding this incident, Watsonville police said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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