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Fresno Expedites Demolition of Vacant Buildings After Fires
City moves to tear down empty structures near Blackstone and McKinley avenues following recent blazes.
Published on Feb. 12, 2026
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After three vacant buildings burned down in Fresno's Blackstone and McKinley corridor within a two-week span, the city has expedited the demolition of other empty structures in the area. The buildings were already slated for demolition as part of a new grade separation project, but recent fires have prompted officials to fast-track the process.
Why it matters
The vacant buildings have become a public safety concern, with the Fresno Fire Department responding to multiple fires in the area that they attribute to the city's homeless and transient population. Demolishing the structures is seen as a way to improve safety and efficiency along this major thoroughfare.
The details
Fresno Fire Chief Billy Alcorn says the department has responded to six to seven fires in the general Blackstone and McKinley area just this year alone. The latest blaze on February 8th sparked near the former Carl's Jr. restaurant, which had burned down two weeks prior on January 28th. While the causes of the fires are still under investigation, officials say vacant, abandoned buildings are common targets for these types of incidents.
- On January 28, a former Carl's Jr. restaurant burned down.
- On February 8, another fire sparked near the intersection of Blackstone and McKinley.
- On February 9, the city began demolishing the first vacant building in the area.
- On February 12, the city continued the demolition process, starting with the old Taco Bell at the Blackstone and McKinley corner.
The players
Billy Alcorn
Fresno Fire Chief who says the department has responded to multiple fires in the Blackstone and McKinley area.
Nelson Esparza
Fresno City Councilmember representing District 7, who says the vacant buildings are a temporary issue as the city works on a grade separation project in the area.
What they’re saying
“We often see things like that in the higher concentration areas where our homeless population or the transient population is at. We've responded to quite a few fires in that area.”
— Billy Alcorn, Fresno Fire Chief (YourCentralValley.com)
“The vacant buildings that we have there are a very temporary thing for the community. Ultimately, we've begun to demolish them. Unfortunately, we did see a couple fires occur before the demolitions started.”
— Nelson Esparza, Fresno City Councilmember (YourCentralValley.com)
What’s next
The city plans to continue the demolition of vacant buildings in the Blackstone and McKinley corridor in the coming days and weeks as part of the grade separation project.
The takeaway
The recent fires in vacant buildings have highlighted the public safety concerns in this area of Fresno, prompting the city to accelerate its plans to demolish these structures. By removing the abandoned buildings, officials hope to improve safety and efficiency along this major thoroughfare.
