Propane barbecue caused devastating Foster City condo fire, officials say

FOSTER CITY, Calif. (KGO) -- A propane barbecue on a first-floor exterior deck caused the massive fire that devastated a Foster City residential complex on Sunday, fire officials confirmed.

The San Mateo Fire Department has officially finished its preliminary investigation and turned the property over to the local homeowners association.

UPDATE: Man arrested after allegedly leaving propane barbecue unattended, sparking Foster City fire: police

However, the building on Sea Spray Lane remains strictly off-limits to everyone, including residents hoping to retrieve their personal belongings.

Officials have fenced off and red-tagged the entire structure due to severe damage.

Emergency crews warn that there is still a very real danger of a total building collapse.

RELATED: Foster City condo complex damaged by 6-alarm fire could collapse; had no fire sprinklers: officials

A day after the fire heavily damaged a Foster City condo building, crews on Monday are still on Sea Spray Lane, putting out hotspots as they pop up.

Top Stories

Fire crews resume prescribed burn on Angel Island, creating smoky skies

• 1 hour ago

Family, teammates mourn 19-year-old College of San Mateo football player killed in crash on Hwy 101

• 3 hours ago

Hurricane Polo off Mexican coast is among 'the strongest storms ever,' fueled by El Niño

• 1 hour ago

Firefighters will continue to perform periodic site checks in the area to monitor for hidden hotspots and prevent the fire from rekindling.

To assist the dozens of residents forced out of their homes, the American Red Cross is opening a dedicated assistance center to help those who are displaced.