Two families displaced after fire damages commercial, residential buildings in Los Banos

Two families have been displaced after a fire damaged a commercial building and two residences in Los Banos on Thursday, according to fire officials.

According to Los Banos Fire Chief Mason Hurley, firefighters responded around 1:50 p.m. to a structure fire at 25 West Pacheco Boulevard.

Fire officials said the fire damaged the commercial building containing a pet grooming business and a comic book business, as well as two nearby family units and a shed.

According to Hurley, the fire appears to have started on the exterior of the buildings and caused heavy damage to two sides of the commercial structure and extended into the attic spaces of all three buildings.

About 15 fire personnel responded to the fire including the Los Banos Fire Department and Merced County Mutual Aid.

Hurley said all three structures were on fire at the same time and it took firefighters about an hour to gain control of the blaze.

All occupants inside the buildings were able to escape and no injuries were reported.

Fire officials said two families have been displaced by the fire and Red Cross has been contacted to assist the families.

Hurley said the cause of the fire is under investigation.