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Fire At Old Vallejo Dealership Displaces Homeless Encampment

VALLEJO (CBS SF) - Vallejo firefighters battled a fire at the vacant Bill Lange Cadillac dealership Wednesday afternoon, fire department spokesman Bill Tweedy said.

It was the fifth time the dealership at 4301 Sonoma Blvd., now used as a homeless encampment, caught fire, Tweedy said.

Fire fighters found a large fire burning in the center of the metal frame building shortly after it was reported around 1 p.m. Tweedy said.

The burning area once housed the dealership's auto repair shop, Tweedy said.

The removal of several metal supports inside the building made the structure unsafe for firefighters to enter and chemicals and human waste had been dumped inside the structure, Tweedy said.

The fire was contained to the west side of the building and did not spread to an area that is being used as a homeless encampment, Tweedy said. Several homeless people were displaced, Tweedy said.

(Copyright 2011 by CBSSan Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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