A FIRE DAMAGED THE FORMER SALINAS RECREATION CENTER BUILDING EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. THE BLAZE BROKE OUT BEFORE 8:30 A-M ON THE 1-HUNDRED BLOCK OF SAN JOAQUIN AVENUE, AND ENGULFED A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT AS WELL AS A PORTION OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING. A PRIVATE WATER TANKER HAD THE FIRE PARTIALLY CONTROLLED WHEN SALINAS FIRE CREWS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. FIRE OFFICIALS ARE UNCLEAR OF THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, BUT AT THIS TIME IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE EITHER SPREAD FROM THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT OR BE DUE TO FAULTY ETXERIOR WIRING. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, THE BUILDING SUSTAINED MODERATE SMOKE DAMAGE.
