A two-alarm fire ripped through the historic Tehachapi train depot Friday morning, causing more than US$1 million in damage and leaving a community distraught.
 
There were no injuries in the fire that started at 03:08, Friday, and the cause is still unknown.
 
"When I was watching it burn this morning, I had tears in my eyes. It was the centerpiece of Tehachapi. Now it's all gone," said city council member and former mayor Ed Grimes.
 
Twenty-four firefighters responded to the blaze on the 100 block of West Tehachapi Boulevard.
 
The large wooden structure was fully engulfed when they arrived.
 
It took firefighters 76 minutes to control the blaze.
 
Rail service on the adjacent tracks was stopped briefly to put out the fire.
 
Erected in 1904, the depot is one of more than 60 built between 1896 and 1916 using a standard Southern Pacific Railroad design known as Plan No. 23.
 
Only six are left.
 
It is also one of the few buildings that remained standing after the 1952 Tehachapi earthquake.
 
It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
 
The Union Pacific Railroad handed the depot keys to the city in 2005.
 
In fact, fire sprinklers were being installed and were to be completed Friday, Grimes said.
 
The depot was "very close" to being restored as a museum.
 
"It's ironic," said the 65-year-old Tehachapi resident.
 
He's lived there since 1950.
 
The depot brought the community together, Grimes said.
 
Residents drove by the station Friday morning in disbelief, he said.
 
"It's totally devastating. It just takes the heart and soul out of you," Grimes said.
 
A discussion on whether the city will rebuild the depot is already scheduled for Monday's city council agenda.
 
"We fully intend to rebuild this community landmark as soon as we are able," said interim city manager Greg Garrett, in a statement.
 
Jorge Barrientos.