Fire at Rancho Grande Taqueria Knocks out Power to Gene's Fine Foods Shopping Center

A fire started inside the Rancho Grande Taqueria around 5:17 a.m., Battalion Chief Jack Neiman-Kimel said.

"We got a call of the fire around 5:17 a.m. The fire started in the wall and was venting though the roof when we got here," he said. "We responded with four engines, two trucks and a Battalion Chief. Once we assessed the fire, we called for help from the Alameda County Fire Department, who responded with two more engines and another Battalion Chief. We opened the wall to put the fire out. It took about 30 to 40 minutes to extinguish the fire."

Neiman-Kimel say the fire may have started inside from stove that had been left on.

"We found a burned pot inside on the stove," he commented. "The power to the whole building, including Gene's Fine Foods, along with all of the other smaller businesses is out because the fire was in a wall that had a power panel."

A trash collector picking up the trash saw the fire and called the fire department, according to Neiman-Kimel.

Neiman-Kimel says there were no injuries during the fire.

"Gene's is trying to get a large generator in and the restaurant will be down for days," he said. "The health inspector has to check the place before they can serve food again."

Randy Talarico, who owns Shear Cuts Barber shop a few doors down from the restaurant, is closed for business until the power gets back up.

"I am hanging around the shop talking to people who come by and calling those who already had appointments to reschedule," he said.

Edgar Hernandez, whose father, Victor Hernandez who has owned Rancho Grande Taqueria for almost 12 years, says the restaurant is likely to be closed for weeks.

"We have to first pass the health inspection," he said. "We are starting with our insurance. The fire department is not sure but they say they think the fire may have started inside. They also said it could have been from the electrical."

Rancho Grande Taqueria is a well-known favorite of Pleasanton local, John Madden.