US, Los Angeles: Santa Clarita Fire Destroys Historic 100 Year Old Strip Mall Part 4.

Los Angeles, United States - August 24, 2026 08/24/2026 08:00 am GMT-0700 SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – A massive third-alarm fire destroyed a century-old building in the heart of Old Town Newhall early Monday morning, consuming several businesses and leaving business owners watching as years of work went up in flames. The fire was first reported at approximately 2:54 a.m. at the Newhall Refinery restaurant near the 24200 block of Main Street, prompting a response from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the building. As the blaze rapidly spread through the structure, crews transitioned to a defensive operation and worked to protect neighboring businesses. The incident, dubbed the “Main Incident,” eventually escalated to a third alarm as additional firefighters and equipment were called to the scene. Aerial footage captured portions of the building collapsing while firefighters worked feverishly from outside the structure to extinguish the flames. Among those who lost their entire business were Care and Jonny Tucker, owners of Care Tucker Style House. Care Tucker said the first indication something was wrong came when the couple received an early-morning security alert. “At 3:30 in the morning, I got a call from ADT saying that alarm went off,” Tucker said. “They thought someone broke in. So I sent my husband down to come check on it thinking somebody’s robbing us. And in fact, there was a fire going on.” When the couple first arrived, their store had not yet caught fire. They watched as the flames continued spreading through the building, eventually reaching their business. “We saw the refinery go, and then us,” Tucker said. For Tucker, the loss went far beyond the merchandise inside. “Our store is — these are like my dream, and it’s my brand,” Tucker said through tears. She described the boutique as a place where she sought out unique, premium products while building relationships with customers and other women throughout the community. The fire is not the first disaster the business has endured. The Tuckers said their store suffered significant flooding roughly two and a half years ago, damaging inventory in the rear portion of the business. They were able to reopen after that incident, but acknowledged rebuilding from Monday’s fire will be considerably different. “We just have to work through it. Trust God,” Jonny Tucker said. “We have a great community.” He said he is confident the business will eventually return. “The one thing I know for sure is when we reopen, and wherever we reopen, Care will do a great job rebuilding and making it really something,” he said. The Tuckers also stressed that the devastation extends far beyond their own business. Care Tucker pointed to Ralph and Christine, owners of the Newhall Refinery, their employees and the numerous performers and creatives who relied on the city-owned MAIN theater. “It’s not just a loss for us or even for them. It’s their employees. Our employees,” Tucker said. She said The MAIN regularly provided a home for young actors, actresses and productions, meaning the fire also eliminated a gathering place for a portion of Santa Clarita’s creative community. “Every week there’s a new production going on,” Tucker said. “They support young, up-and-coming theater actors and actresses. And now imagine the next however long — those won’t be happening. People won’t be gathering for that.” The building was originally constructed in 1926, with portions added in 1935, making the original structure 100 years old this year. Businesses and venues destroyed in the fire include the popular Newhall Refinery restaurant, the city of Santa Clarita’s The MAIN theater, the former El Trocadero restaurant and Care Tucker Style House. Firefighters continued battling the blaze hours after the initial call as crews worked to extinguish remaining pockets of fire throughout the heavily damaged structure. The cause of the fire remains unknown and is expected to be investigated once conditions allow investigators to safely access the scene. This is a developing story. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.