As winter unfolds along Stockton's Miracle Mile, business owners are grappling with rising anxiety and early morning wake-ups, fearing the potential devastation of their establishments due to a series of overnight fires.
Dr. Karen Sanchez, owner of the Pacific Resiliency Center for Psychology, Wellness, and the Arts, shared her distress, having encountered the aftermath of four separate fires within inches of her building in the past three months. Sanchez expressed her concern, stating, "It's always on the back of my mind: Is my building going to burn down, is it going to be next? It's really scary and disheartening."
The fires, which have targeted the northern stretch of the Miracle Mile along Pacific Avenue, have left charred debris perilously close to businesses. Sanchez described finding burnt remnants of branches, cardboard, and even attempts to burn food and flowers. She lamented the seemingly infinite supply of flammable materials in the area, raising doubts about the fires coming to an end any time soon.
Adding to Sanchez's apprehension is the fenced-off empty lot next to her office, once occupied by Persimmon Community Acupuncture. In November 2021, flames engulfed the structure, leaving a lasting impact on the business community.
"It was really scary to see that building on fire knowing that I had been there and I know the landlord," said Sanchez. "I felt so bad for her."
The recent fires follow two incidents in 2021 and 2022 that ravaged buildings on the southern end of the shopping district. Sanchez is now sounding the alarm, advocating for increased police presence or security patrols behind businesses to prevent further damage to the iconic Miracle Mile.
"I just think, 'gosh will this ever end?'" said Sanchez. "I love being on the Mile, but it's kind of scary being here right now knowing there's a chance your building can burn down."
