At about 1 a.m., San Jose firefighters responded to a large fire at the vacant building at 600 Sinclair Drive in Mayfair. The building was fully involved on arrival, and the blaze was difficult to knock down because of many enclosed compartments within the structure. Crews remained on scene throughout the day for fire watch. Groups working to save MACSA had recently secured a city investment, and community leaders described the loss as a huge setback but not the end. The nonprofit previously faced a 2010 controversy after an armed raid and allegations that leaders skimmed employees' 401(k) funds; two officials were charged. Preliminary reports indicate the fire began as an exterior blaze and the cause remains under investigation. The Alum Rock Union School District owns the site, and the adjacent Renaissance at Mathson school canceled classes for Friday because of the fire.
We wanted to save that building because it meant so much to our Latino community, our Mexicano community from east side," Ortiz said.
It is a huge setback, but it doesn't mean the end.
Preliminary reports said Friday's fire began as an exterior blaze, but the cause was not yet determined and under investigation.
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