Fire burns University Heights businesses

Firefighters extinguished a first-alarm fire at a University Heights barber shop and cellphone repair business Tuesday.

The fire was reported shortly before 11 a.m. at the single-story commercial building on Park Boulevard at Lincoln Avenue.

Heavy smoke and flames were showing by the time the initial fire crews got on scene, said San Diego Fire-Rescue Capt. Joe Amador. Firefighters extinguished the fire in the barber shop within minutes but the fire had spread to the shared attic space connecting the business suites in the older building.

The fire was knocked down about 25 minutes later. Nearly 40 firefighters were called to help because the potential for damage was so great, Amador said.

Fire investigators were looking into the cause and origin of the blaze.