Benigno Pare (Full Name: Benigno Nuguid Pare), 56, and Anil Sharma (Full Name: Anil Kumar Sharma), 25, Died Following Blaze at Avenue Liquor Store on Roosevelt Avenue in Redwood City
REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA (November 11, 2025) – Two people identified as Benigno Pare and Anil Sharma were killed in a Redwood City fire at the Avenue Liquor Store.
San Mateo County officials are saying that the fire started around 5:30 a.m. on November 3. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene to help the victims.
The building was fully engulfed in flames by the time they arrived. Firefighters were able to extricate two people inside of the building who were later identified as Benigno Pare and Anil Sharma.
Both victims showed no signs of life and sustained major burns in the fire. Sadly, both victims died due to the severe nature of their injuries.
Apparently, both Benigno Pare and Anil Sharma were workers at the store. A full investigation into the deadly blaze at the Avenue Liquor Store remains ongoing at this time.
It remains unknown what may have started the fire.
Liability for Redwood City Residential Fires
Business owners in California have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. They must comply with all fire safety codes and take steps to mitigate known hazards. If a worker is injured or killed at their job, they or their surviving family members will typically have recourse through the workers’ compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance scheme designed to help workers, regardless of who may be held at fault for an accident. Having said that, employers should still take several actions to prevent fires.
- Identify Hazards: Employers should actively work to identify and eliminate fire hazards. This will include making sure that there is no damaged wiring or frayed cords at a location.
- Fire Protection: Employers should ensure that all smoke detectors and sprinkler systems are properly installed and periodically tested.
- Emergency Plan: Employers should create and rehearse an emergency plan. The exit routes for a building should be clearly visible.
Fires are often highly preventable. Even if a fire cannot be prevented for some reason, there should be adequate warning systems to alert people of danger. Sadly, in far too many situations, this is not the case. In addition to workers’ compensation, the family of any worker who died on the job may be able to pursue some measure of justice through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident.
Third-Party Liability for Redwood City Residential Fires
Residential fires remain a leading cause of serious injury and death in the United States. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2023, 1,389,000 fires resulted in 3,670 civilian deaths and 13,350 injuries. In addition, there were 89 firefighter deaths. This firefighter fatal injury count is a decrease from the 97 fatal injuries in 2022 but is otherwise the second highest since 2013.” Residential fires can be highly complex events. There could be several sources of third-party liability for any residential fire.
- Property Owner: The owner of the property could be liable for fire if it lacked adequate safety systems such as smoke alarms or functioning exits.
- Landlord: The owner of a commercial property could also be liable for an accident if negligent maintenance on a premise contributed to what happened.
- Maintenance Contractors: Commercial coolers routinely spark fires. The company responsible for these systems could face liability if they engaged in the negligent repair or poor maintenance of a unit.
- Municipality: In rare cases, a municipal entity like a city could be liable for an accident if they knew of illegal habitation at a property or improperly permitted a building.
It can be difficult to know where to begin after any fatal accident at a worksite. Many victims are left with traumatic injuries. Families may have to contend with the sudden loss of a primary income earner. The surviving family members of any person who dies in the workplace should understand that they do have legal rights. They are able to seek some measure of accountability and justice through a civil action.
Investigating Redwood City Residential Fires
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the families of Benigno Pare and Anil Sharma. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that other tragedies can be averted.
Do you need more information about a Redwood City residential fire? Our team of workplace safety advocates is here for you. We care deeply that victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
