Investigators are looking into the cause of a three-alarm fire at a trade school in San Jose. Tanks filled with compressed gases caught fire Thursday evening on the side of the Loyd E. Williams Pipe Trades Training Center.
Firefighters responded at 7:35 p.m. to a report of a fire at 780 Commercial St., said fire Capt. Tim Miller.
The training center at that address offers apprenticeship programs in plumbing, steamfitting-pipefitting, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanical services, according to its website.
Upon arrival, fire crews reported hearing explosions, which Miller said was likely the result of smaller canisters of compressed gas bursting.
Firefighters found welding tanks filled with compressed gasses on fire on the side of the trade school and discovered the fire had spread inside the school, Miller said.
"The fire spread briefly inside but it was held in check by the sprinkler system," Miller said.
As of 10 p.m. Thursday, Miller said the tanks on the outside of the building were still on fire and firefighters were using large amounts of water to keep them cool.
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Roughly 50 people were inside the building at the time of the fire but Miller said all of them were able to get out of the building safely. No injuries were reported, Miller said.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
