Arcata council ratifies emergency declaration after downtown fire; cleanup, sampling and business recovery planned

The Arcata City Council on Jan. 9 unanimously ratified a proclamation of local emergency after a large downtown blaze on Jan. 2 that damaged multiple connected buildings and prompted a county‑wide firefighting response, council members and city officials said.

Chief Emmons of the Arcata Fire District told the council that an engine crew first spotted smoke returning from another call and that a full commercial response followed, with mutual aid from agencies across the region. "We were flowing about 9,000 gallons a minute at the peak of the fire, and I believe it was right right around 2 and a half million gallons of water we put on the the fire itself," Emmons said, adding that heavy equipment and ladder trucks were necessary to prevent the fire from spreading to other blocks. He said investigators have not found evidence that a gas explosion caused the blaze, and that Pacific Gas and Electric later shut a gas line that was feeding the fire.

The council heard from police Chief Ortega, who described law enforcement duties during the incident — evacuations, traffic control, scene security and staffing the city's emergency operations center (EOC) — and from multiple council members who praised the coordination among agencies and volunteers.

Environmental and debris‑removal work are now a central focus. Jennifer Colt of Humboldt Waterkeeper told the council she has "a lot of questions about the temporary measures that will be put in place," noting photographs of paint and other materials remaining on the site and asking how runoff will be managed when it rains. City staff said the fire sent water and building residues toward Jolly Giant Creek and Butcher Slough and that the city has notified county environmental health, Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Toxic Substances Control and Cal OES, as well as the harbor district because of shellfish leases.

Assistant City Manager Tabitha Miller told the council that Environmental Services Director Emily Sinkhorn is coordinating with Cal OES and other agencies to develop a sampling and assessment plan. Miller said the city is still defining who will fund and perform cleanup work: "We have seven days for the city council, by state and even local or municipal code, to confirm and ratify the proclamation of emergency," she said, adding that the resolution allows the city to pursue state and federal resources.

Staff cautioned that insurance investigations by multiple property insurers could delay debris removal because insurers commonly conduct their own inquiries before releasing funds. City staff said they are working with property owners and local contractors to estimate debris volume — including by drone surveys — and to identify hazardous constituents such as lead or asbestos that will shape sampling and cleanup work. The city estimated it could be "at least two, probably two to four weeks" before insurance companies finish initial investigations and coordinated cleanup can proceed.

City staff also flagged a nearby dry‑cleaner remediation project with grant funds that expire in November; they said the fire could create an opportunity to address that contamination if sampling and remedial planning proceed quickly. To support displaced businesses and tenants, the Arcata Chamber and Pay It Forward Humboldt are coordinating fundraising and a centralized resource webpage; the chamber representative encouraged donors to use the vetted page and announced a Feb. 1 noon plaza parade to honor first responders.

To help businesses reopen quickly, staff said the city will try to expedite permitting and consider waiving building permit fees for displaced businesses. Staff also described temporary on‑site measures already taken — fencing, wattles and selective tarping once investigators allow entry — to limit debris mobilization during storms.

Council Member Alex Stillman moved to adopt Resolution No. 256‑32 "confirming the existence of a local emergency and ratifying the director of emergency services proclamation." The council voted by voice and the motion passed. City officials said they will continue to provide updates at future council meetings and could call additional meetings if new information develops.

The fire department and city managers emphasized that the investigation remains active and that further findings may be released when the police and fire investigators are ready to do coordinated public briefings.