El Cajon

El Cajon fire officials Monday were still investigating the cause of a three-alarm blaze that caused extensive damage to a model-airplane manufacturing shop and two other businesses at 421 Vernon Way Sunday night.

The fire, which was called in by a passer-by at about 7:50 p.m., caused nearly $400,000 damage to Peck-Polymers, which manufactures model airplane kits. The 3,200-square-foot business contained hundreds of model airplanes made out of plastic, wood and paper, radio equipment and packaging material. The fire also caused minor damage to a machinery shop and a silk-screen manufacturing company in the same building, El Cajon Fire Marshall Richard Henry said.

Henry said that the single-story building was unoccupied when the fire broke out. There were no reports of injuries.

Firefighters from San Diego, La Mesa, Mount Helix, Santee and Lakeside assisted the El Cajon Fire Department in bringing the fire under control after about 50 minutes, Henry said.

Henry said that fire investigators have not ruled out the possibility that the fire was set.

“At this point we have not been able to determine what caused the fire to start,” Henry said. “But we are continuing to look at all possibilities, including accidental ignition and arson.”