Namaste Store Hopes to Open Soon After Weekend Downtown Santa Barbara Fire

Santa Barbara City Fire investigators are trying to figure out what caused a roaring fire early Saturday morning in a hard to find courtyard behind a State Street business.

Namaste clothing and jewelry store was spared from a total loss, and the interior was minutes away from the flames when firefighters got their hoses through the front doors and into the back patio area where the fire erupted.

There were no alarms or sprinklers going off at the time.

“The fire sprinkler systems are only required inside and not on the exterior. It’s only a small amount of places where they are required to be on the outside of structures and this is not one of them,” said Inspector Ryan DiGuilio. “Fire crews made a very good stop not only to contain the fire back here but also to stop the spread of it as it started to climb up into that second floor. “

The fire was set to enter an attic and possibly spread to adjoining structures or out to State St.

The business owner had left after work Friday night and was stunned at the call back.

“Yea it was a shock . I left at 9 p.m. and everything was fine” said Ratna Pradham. He hopes to have power and an approval to reopen next week. His summer business was already starting off strong and he does not want to miss out.

A temporary closure sign is up for now on the front door of the business at 922 State St.

In the back patio, a pile of ashes, burnt clothing, jewelry, purses and statues.

Nearby, a neighboring business had two chickens that survived despite the smoke and flames.