Crews Battle Large Fire at Former Carl's Jr. Near Fresno City College

Roads have closed as firefighters work to extinguish the blaze at the vacant restaurant site.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:15pm

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Firefighters are currently battling a large fire that broke out at the former Carl's Jr. location on Blackstone Avenue in central Fresno, near Fresno City College. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but the college has confirmed that the campus itself is not impacted by the incident.

Why it matters

This fire at the vacant restaurant site raises concerns about public safety and potential property damage in the area surrounding Fresno City College, a major educational institution in the region. The closure of nearby roads also impacts traffic and access to the college campus.

The details

The fire started on Wednesday night at the former Carl's Jr. location on the corner of Blackstone and McKinley Avenues. Firefighters are currently on the scene working to extinguish the large blaze, but the cause has not yet been determined.

  • The fire broke out on Wednesday night, January 29, 2026.

The players

Fresno Fire Department

The local fire department responding to and working to extinguish the fire at the former Carl's Jr. location.

Fresno City College

The nearby educational institution that has confirmed its campus is not impacted by the fire incident.

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The takeaway

This fire highlights the importance of fire safety and prevention measures, especially in vacant commercial properties, to protect public safety and nearby institutions like Fresno City College. The cause of the fire will likely be investigated further by local authorities.