Portions of the Moreno Valley Mall remained closed Friday, with the city saying portions of the structure were unsafe and potentially “life-threatening” due to fire code violations.
The closure started at the end of business day Thursday due to numerous health and safety code violations identified by the Riverside County Fire Department and Cal Fire, according to the city. The fire department recommended that portions of the facility be shut down immediately and red-tagged — deeming then unsafe to occupy — until the violations are fixed.
No specifics about the violations were released, with officials saying only that they pose “significant risks to tenants and customers alike, including the potential loss of life in the event of a fire.”
“The closures will remain in effect until the repairs, which are required by law, are effectively and comprehensively addressed by the mall owner, who has repeatedly failed to comply with prior requests to correct the code violations,” city officials said in a statement Thursday.
Macy’s and JCPenney will be permitted to remain open since they have sufficient exits for their occupancy and provide their own fire protection systems. Harkins Theaters will also remain open after making modifications to their normal business practices. The public library, located within the mall, will remain temporarily closed.
City officials said they will work with business owners affected by the closure.
Built in 1992, the 87-acre facility is a two-level shopping center.
What is the forecast for reopening the mall?