North Sacramento Abandoned Building Suffers Another Fire

No injuries reported as crews battle blaze at Old Arcade Hospital

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Sacramento Fire Department responded to a fire at an abandoned building in North Sacramento early Monday morning. The second-alarm fire at the Old Arcade Hospital along Del Paso and Arden Boulevards is considered suspicious, as the building has suffered multiple fires throughout the year despite being boarded up for years.

Why it matters

Abandoned buildings can pose serious public safety risks, including fire hazards and potential havens for criminal activity. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges Sacramento faces in addressing neglected properties and ensuring the safety of surrounding neighborhoods.

The details

According to Battalion Chief Brhett Steppig, crews did not immediately force entry due to the danger presented by the building's previous fire damage. They instead took a defensive posture, spraying water from the outside rather than committing firefighters to the interior. The fire required a second alarm, with at least 10 engines and ladder trucks called to the scene. Access and water supply issues made fighting the blaze difficult.

  • The fire was reported around 1:34 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Sacramento Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to and battled the fire at the abandoned building.

Brhett Steppig

A battalion chief with the Sacramento Fire Department who provided details about the department's response and tactics.

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What they’re saying

“We're not going to risk a firefighter's life to go in there and just save that property when we know that there's no one in there. So we kind of took that defensive posture and just sprayed water from the outside and never committed to the interior.”

— Brhett Steppig, Battalion Chief, Sacramento Fire Department (fox40.com)

What’s next

Investigators will continue to look into the cause of the fire, which is currently considered suspicious. The mop-up phase is expected to last a few hours, resulting in blocked off roads in the area.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges Sacramento faces in addressing abandoned and neglected properties, which can pose serious public safety risks. While firefighters worked to contain the blaze, the repeated fires at this location highlight the need for more proactive measures to secure and maintain such properties to protect the surrounding community.