For more than 150 years, the Stockton Iron Works building has stood on North Harrison Street near the deep water channel as a symbol of Stockton’s hardworking past.
A blaze on Friday badly damaged the building. The Stockton Fire Department quickly responded and extinguished fire, but the old building’s future is in question.
Fire crews responded around 12:30 p.m. to the 300 block of North Harrison Street, according to . The firefighters actively battled the fire for about 40 to 45 minutes before getting it under control.
Officials believe propane tanks may have been inside the original warehouse, which could explain loud popping sounds heard during the fire. High-tension power lines above one of the nearby warehouses were also threatened by the flames, but PG&E arrived quickly and de-energized the lines.
The Stockton Iron Works goes back to 1868, and is officially recognized as a local landmark. It is classified as a City of Stockton “Structure of Merit” on the local historic register, celebrating its legacy as an industrial powerhouse.