Old Town Newhall businesses destroyed in morning fire
Business owners devastated by Newhall fire
Several business owners in the Newhall community woke up to devastating news on Monday.
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Los Angeles County firefighters battled a fire that destroyed several businesses in Santa Clarita’s Old Town Newhall community early Monday morning.
What we know:
Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the fire was reported around 3 a.m. in the 24000 block of North Main Street.
Fire authorities called a second alarm because of heavy flames and smoke at the scene. Some of the impacted businesses include Gary’s Auto Collision Center, The MAIN theater, the Newhall Refinery restaurant and the clothing store Care Tucker.
The fire was declared a knockdown by 10 a.m. Firefighters remained at the scene to monitor hot spots.
No injuries were reported. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad and arson investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
Several Newhall businesses destroyed by flames
Multiple businesses were destroyed after a fire erupted in the Newhall area on Monday morning.
What they're saying:
"This is my clothing store and my business that I've had for three years," a business owner told FOX 11. "We just recovered from a horrible flood and lost a bunch of product, and now this, and they're deeming it a complete loss. It's gone. I don't know what to do. I'm sorry I'm at loss. I am a mom of four and I just, yeah, we're a small business, a family business."
Dig deeper:
In July, FOX 11’s Gina Silva covered a lawsuit filed against Gary’s Collision Center, in which several customers alleged fraud and unreturned vehicles.
Gary’s Auto Collision Center is owned by John Wright, who also owned Halsey’s Auto Center on Sierra Highway. That business burned down in July 2025.
Fire devastates Old Town Newhall 'community pillar'
The community is left devastated after a fire destroyed several businesses in Newhall.
PREVIOUS: Lawsuit filed against Santa Clarita collision center as customers allege fraud, unreturned vehicles
FOX 11 first investigated Wright and Gary’s Auto Collision Center in July after multiple customers came forward, saying they paid for repairs and never got their vehicles back.
Cheyenne Serano and her boyfriend, Malcolm Moyenda, said Wright never repaired their Tesla and placed a lien on it instead.
"He’s been in the middle of a lot of litigation and under investigation. He has been holding my boyfriend’s car hostage for the past 10 months, put a fraudulent lien on it. Over $200,000 was what the lien was for," Serano said.
Mark Haberman, another customer, said he paid Wright $20,000 to repair his truck more than a year and a half ago. It was still sitting at the shop when the fire broke out.
"I don’t know the extent of the damage to my personal vehicle. This might be a wash at this point," Haberman said.
When FOX 11 interviewed Wright in July, he denied all wrongdoing. "I don’t hold anything hostage," Wright said at the time.
FOX 11 attempted to reach Wright again Monday and did not hear back.
What we don't know:
No official cause has been announced as of Monday, Aug. 24.
The Source: This story was written with information from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.