The early-morning blaze destroyed a detached carport on Shadow Run Drive, but firefighters reported no injuries or displaced residents.
SAN JOSE, CA — More than 20 vehicles were damaged when a fire swept through a residential carport in San Jose early Friday, destroying the parking structure but stopping short of nearby homes, according to the San Jose Fire Department.
Firefighters were called at about 2:01 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, to the 200 block of Shadow Run Drive after receiving a report of a vehicle fire. Crews arrived to find multiple vehicles and a detached carport burning. The response was upgraded as firefighters worked to contain the flames. The fire was brought under control at about 3:03 a.m., roughly an hour after crews were dispatched.
The fire destroyed the carport and damaged more than 20 vehicles to varying degrees, officials said. Some vehicles were heavily burned, while others sustained less severe damage. The flames did not spread into nearby residential buildings, and officials said no residents were displaced. No injuries were reported.
The affected parking area is at a residential complex near West Alma Avenue in San Jose. Fire officials said the damage was concentrated in the carport and vehicle areas, although some vehicles on the opposite side of a fence also were affected. Images from the scene showed rows of burned vehicles beneath the damaged structure after firefighters extinguished the blaze.
Residents described being awakened by loud noises as the fire spread through the parked vehicles. One resident told ABC7 that explosions could be heard during the incident. Fire officials have not publicly identified what produced those sounds, and investigators have not announced what started the fire.
The San Jose Fire Department’s arson unit is investigating the cause. Fire officials have said an arson-unit investigation does not by itself establish that the fire was intentionally set. San Jose police also are involved in the investigation, according to published reports. Authorities had not announced an arrest or publicly identified a suspect as of Saturday.
The investigation follows other vehicle fires reported in San Jose earlier this year. In January, authorities investigated a series of fires that damaged vehicles at several locations in the city. Police later announced an arrest in connection with a series of vehicle arsons. Officials have not said the earlier cases are connected to Friday’s carport fire, and no such connection has been established.
Reports varied slightly on the precise number of vehicles affected. The Fire Department described the total as more than 20 vehicles, while some reporting placed the number at about 24. Officials consistently said the vehicles suffered varying degrees of damage and that the detached carport was destroyed. No estimate of the total property loss had been released.
The cause remained under investigation Saturday. Authorities had not released additional findings about the fire’s origin or announced any arrests, and the Fire Department continued to report that no one was injured and no residents were displaced.
Author note: Last updated October 24, 2026.