Firefighters haven’t determined what started a two-alarm fire in Pescadero on Bean Hollow Road  last month but it destroyed barracks-style housing for farmworkers and their families.

More than a dozen fire trucks responded to the scene, along with staff from Puente and the San Mateo County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Following the fire, Puente worked with the Red Cross, St. Vincent de Paul Society and the County Human Services Agency to provide food, shelter and clothing for the residents.

Puente staff has also worked to find permanent housing for those living at the property.

The housing is owned by Marchi Central Farms, which has had other, unrelated troubles with the housing it operates. In 2010, the farm was cited for providing its housing units water that contained toxic levels of nitrates. The county subsequently “red tagged” the housing units, forcing about 60 people from their homes. Since then, farm owners have improved the property, including the addition of a new water treatment system.