Four businesses were destroyed in a fire that broke out near the intersection of Country Club Drive and Monterey Avenue in Palm Desert on Sunday. The Riverside County Fire Department reported that Papa Dan’s Pizza & Pasta, located in a strip mall, was among the casualties. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found heavy flames and called for a second alarm.
Six residences near the strip mall were evacuated temporarily, but residents were able to return home safely after the fire was put out. A deputy from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital, but no other injuries were reported.
Fire crews remained on-site for overhaul and salvage operations, closing East County Club Drive between Monterey Avenue and Sagewood Drive. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
