Ryan Murray, junior at Chico State, and his friend Kevin were on their way to Bidwell Park when they saw black smoke in the air on Tuesday coming from the Safeway on Mangrove Avenue.

When they pulled into the parking lot, they noticed the smoke was coming from the back. Murray went around to the back of Safeway and found flames shooting straight up. At 4:40 p.m. three fire trucks showed up.

Chico Fire Department Division Chief Aaron Lowe said that it was probably the dumpster or the wood pallets that started the fire.

The fire spread to the building and went up to the attic of Safeway. The building had to be evacuated but has since been re-opened.

“It’s hard to tell exactly what started the fire when it’s started in a dumpster,” Lowe said. “It’s currently under investigation.”

Lowe says if anyone has any information about the fire to please come forward and contact the Chico Fire Department.

Brittany McClintock can be reached at [email protected] at @b_mcclintock17 on Twitter.