San Leandro Unites: Community Rallies to Save Historic Casa Peralta After Fire

San Leandro, CA — The early morning silence of downtown San Leandro was shattered on Saturday by the blaring sirens of fire engines and the swirling lights of emergency vehicles converging on one of the city’s most cherished landmarks — Casa Peralta. By dawn, the historic Spanish-style mansion, built in 1901 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, had suffered major damage from a fire that investigators believe was sparked by an electrical fault. But as the sun rose over the city, another force began to gather: the San Leandro community, determined to save a piece of its shared past.

An Alarming Wake-Up Call

The fire broke out around 3:12 a.m. in the kitchen area of Casa Peralta, located on W. Estudillo Avenue. The mansion, known for its distinctive tile work, ornate wooden ceilings, and manicured gardens, has long served as a museum and event space. According to San Leandro Fire Department Chief Maria Torres, the blaze was reported by a neighbor who noticed smoke pouring from the building’s south wing.

“We arrived within five minutes,” said Chief Torres, standing beside the blackened shell of what had been the mansion’s dining room. “Our teams were able to contain the fire before it reached the upper floors, but the ground level has sustained significant damage.”

Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two hours before it was extinguished. No injuries were reported, but the destruction was evident: charred beams, waterlogged antiques, and smoke-stained walls. The cause, according to preliminary findings, appears to be faulty wiring in the kitchen’s original electrical system, which had not been updated since the 1960s.

A Symbol of San Leandro’s Roots

Casa Peralta has stood as a testament to San Leandro’s rich, multicultural history for over a century. Originally built as a wedding gift by Spanish landowner Ignacio Peralta for his daughter, Maria, the mansion’s design reflects both Spanish and Californian influences. Its gardens are home to ancient olive trees, and the house itself has hosted generations of San Leandro residents for festivals, weddings, and civic events.

“This house is not just bricks and mortar; it’s the story of San Leandro,” said local historian and Casa Peralta docent, Rosa Martinez. “So many of our families have connections here — from the Peraltas to the Chinese American gardeners who tended the grounds, to the Italian stonemasons who laid the foundation.”

The mansion has faced threats before: the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake left cracks in its foundation, and in 2001, budget shortfalls nearly shuttered the museum. But each time, San Leandro residents have rallied to preserve their heritage.

A Community Mobilizes

By midday Saturday, word of the fire had spread throughout the city. Social media posts with the hashtag #SaveCasaPeralta began trending locally. Volunteers from the San Leandro Historical Society and the local chapter of the Girl Scouts arrived at the scene, offering bottled water and sandwiches to exhausted firefighters. As the yellow tape went up around the perimeter, city council members and local business owners gathered to assess the damage.

“I grew up coming here for Dia de los Muertos and Lunar New Year celebrations,” said City Councilmember Ana Delgado. “Losing Casa Peralta would be like losing a part of my childhood.”

Mayor Jonathan Wu held a press conference outside the mansion’s scorched entryway, announcing the formation of an emergency restoration committee. “This is a setback, but not the end,” Mayor Wu said. “We will rebuild and restore Casa Peralta, brick by brick, memory by memory.”

Local businesses quickly joined the effort. La Palma Bakery, a family-run establishment known for its tres leches cakes, pledged to donate a portion of weekend sales to the restoration fund. The San Leandro Chamber of Commerce began organizing a benefit concert, inviting local bands and food trucks to participate.

The Museum’s Treasures: What Survived, What Was Lost

Inside Casa Peralta, the damage was devastating but not total. Firefighters and museum staff managed to rescue several irreplaceable artifacts, including a 19th-century Spanish altarpiece, a collection of vintage Peralta family photographs, and a hand-carved wooden chest believed to have belonged to Maria Peralta herself.

“We had protocols in place for emergencies like this,” said museum curator Thomas Li. “Our emergency kits — fire blankets, archival boxes — helped us save about 60% of our most valuable items. Unfortunately, we did lose some textiles and kitchenware.”

The mansion’s famed tile fountain, imported from Seville, was unharmed, as were the gardens and the iconic front porch, where generations have gathered for family portraits.

A Grassroots Fundraising Drive

As night fell, the city’s resolve only grew stronger. The San Leandro Community Foundation launched a crowdfunding campaign with a goal of raising $500,000 for immediate repairs and long-term preservation. Within 12 hours, more than $70,000 had been pledged, with donations pouring in from current and former residents, local businesses, and even neighboring towns.

“We’ve seen donations as small as five dollars and as large as five thousand,” said foundation director Priya Patel. “People want to help in any way they can.”

The foundation also announced a series of upcoming events: a candlelight vigil on the mansion’s front lawn, a virtual lecture on the history of Casa Peralta, and a children’s art contest with the theme “What Casa Peralta Means to Me.”

Volunteers Step Up

Restoration experts from throughout Alameda County have volunteered their time and expertise. Historic preservation architect Lucia Tran, who helped restore the Fox Theater in Oakland, has joined the restoration committee.

“These old buildings require a special touch,” Tran said. “We’ll be working closely with artisans, craftspeople, and historians to ensure the repairs honor the original design.”

Meanwhile, students from San Leandro High School’s art and architecture clubs have offered to help clean and catalog surviving artifacts. “This is a learning experience for all of us,” said junior Maya Johnson. “We’re not just saving a building — we’re saving our city’s history.”

The Road Ahead

City officials estimate that the full restoration of Casa Peralta could take up to two years and cost as much as $2 million. Insurance will cover a portion of the repairs, but much of the funding will depend on grants and community support.

“Restoring a historic site isn’t just about fixing what’s broken,” said Mayor Wu. “It’s about making sure future generations can experience the magic of this place — the creak of its floorboards, the scent of orange blossoms in the garden, the sense of belonging it gives to everyone who walks through its doors.”

The city plans to install upgraded electrical and fire suppression systems, both to protect the mansion and to bring it up to modern safety standards. In the meantime, several planned events — including weddings and school field trips — will be relocated to nearby venues. But the spirit of Casa Peralta, residents say, endures.

A Symbol of Resilience

As the weekend drew to a close, hundreds gathered outside the mansion for the candlelight vigil. Some shared stories of their own family milestones at Casa Peralta — quinceañeras, graduations, retirement parties. Others simply stood in silence, reflecting on the power of memory and community.

“There’s a saying in Spanish: ‘No hay mal que por bien no venga’ — ‘There’s no bad from which good doesn’t come,’” said Rosa Martinez. “Out of this tragedy, I see neighbors helping neighbors, children learning about their roots, and a city coming together. That is the true legacy of Casa Peralta.”

As San Leandro faces the long task of rebuilding, one thing is clear: in the heart of this Alameda County city, history is not just preserved in stone and wood, but in the determination and unity of its people.