At least 10 businesses destroyed as fire engulfed Anaheim strip mall

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Multiple businesses were destroyed when a fire tore through a strip mall in Anaheim.  

The fire broke out Wednesday around 5:30 a.m. in the 1200 block of South State College Boulevard. At least 10 businesses in the plaza were destroyed.  

Business owners and employees were shocked to see their livelihoods completely destroyed.  

"That's the only business I survived from, me and my family, and it's gone. I don't know what to do," said one business owner. "We are all family here, me and the customers. I am here everyday. Pretty such I'll be without a job now." 

"We're all hurting today. This is affecting many more lives financially right away. It's a sad day," said strip club DJ David Meza.  

"Three years we were here. To see it gone in an hour it just really sucks and seeing them all down, it's tough on all of us. All of our employees, 23 of them, are jobless now," said Damian Hurtado owner of Taqueria El Poblano. 

Firefighters from Anaheim, Fullerton Orange, and OC Fire Authority worked together to battle the 4-alarm fire.  

The blaze caused a traffic nightmare, forcing morning rush-hour road closures. 

Southbound lanes of State College Road will be closed till midnight. Road closures in the area continue to impact traffic. State College Boulevard was closed between Ball and Winston Road, and Ball was closed between Sunkist and East streets. Drivers are urged to avoid this area and instead use the 57 Freeway or East Street for north-south travel. Those for east-west travel can use Cerritos and Lincoln avenues.  

It's unclear how the fire started.  

City News Service contributed to this report.