UPDATE: Two die in liquor store fire

Police and firefighters are investigating a fatal fire that broke out early this morning (Nov. 3) at Avenue Liquor Store at Roosevelt Plaza in Redwood City.

Firefighters were called to the shopping center at 5:30 a.m. and found the building engulfed in flames, according to police.

While battling the blaze, firefighters who were on the roof saw two people in the building, police said. The two people did not appear to be showing any signs of life and had severe burns at the time firefighters saw them, police said.

Once the fire was out, investigators confirmed two people who had died. The coroner’s office is working to identify them. Police don’t know why they were in the building, if they were living in the store or working there.

The store owner who is cooperating with the investigation, police said.

UPDATE 3 p.m. — As police, fire and coroner officials continue to investigate the early morning fire that resulted in the deaths of two people, neighbors and customers have told the Post that two Avenue Liquors employees slept in the back of the store.

The employees, known as Benny and Mohammed, slept in the business, according to Cynthia Maldonado, an employee at the neighboring Big Brother’s Burgers.

Customer Jesse Martin told the Post that Benny acted as the manager for the liquor store.

The coroner’s office is still on scene at the fire and has not confirmed the identity of the deceased.

Vanhac Tran, who lives across the street from the shopping center, told the Post that around 3 a.m., she heard loud bangs and not long after, she saw two fire trucks.

Tran has known Benny for over 10 years and said his white van was still parked in the plaza’s lot.

Redwood City Police Detective Daniel DiBona said police are working to get a search warrant to inspect the building further.

DiBona said there were a lot of wiring issues in the building, and investigators are trying to get an electrician to the store at 2147 Roosevelt Ave.  — From Post reporter Adriana Hernandez, who is on the scene.

UPDATE 6 p.m. — Police were able to get a search warrant and entered the building from the back around 4 p.m. 

In white suits, forensic investigators entered the building, examining the store from the back to the front. 

The deceased were confirmed to be two adults, according to Lt. Jeff Clements. The fire started in the back of the liquor store, he said. 

Clements said that because there are no witnesses to the incident, they have to be careful when collecting evidence. 

Multiple agencies are involved in the investigation, which is slowing it down, Clements said.  The incident caused a lot of fire and water damage, leaving investigators to collect evidence slowly, Clements said.