The fire was reported just before 6:15 p.m. at the store at 635 Coleman Ave., said San Jose fire Capt. Mitch Matlow.
“The management in the store heard the fire alarms go off, and then they started seeing water coming down from the ceiling in the area over their fresh meat section,” said Matlow, adding that the water was from the store’s fire sprinkler system.
Firefighters arrived to see flames on the roof of the store, which was also being evacuated. About 19 employees and 60 customers were in the store at the time of the fire.
“Everybody is accounted for,” Matlow said. “There are no injuries.”
Employees described the evacuation as “pretty orderly” and said customers were still trying to check out while being asked to evacuate.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, Matlow said.
Matlow said the fire started on the roof. The cause, however, remains under investigation.
As of 8 p.m., employees were still waiting to be let back into the store to collect their belongings. They said work had taken place Monday on the roof where the fire ignited.
The fire left a hole in the roof, Matlow said. An estimate of the damage was not immediately available, but Matlow said he expected the store to remain closed for at least a couple of days.
Firefighters were working with the management to preserve perishable goods in the store, Matlow said.
