Downtown Commercial Fire Prevented From Advancing
Fire extending into the front of a commercial building was stopped and prevented from advancing through the business.
On May 6, 2023 at 5:45PM the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire in the 640 block of S San Pedro Street in Downtown Los Angeles. The first arriving fire officer reported finding a two story commercial building with an outside fire which was extending into the building. He requested three additional task forces and the firefighters initiated an offensive operation.
Facing both rolling steel and heavy duty security doors, firefighters used rotary saws to cut their way into the building. Once inside, fire attack found the fire extending to just the area at the front of the building. The 38 firefighters on scene (prior to the assignment of the additionally requested fire companies), operating under the command of Battalion Chief Nicholas Ferrari, quickly got water on the blaze and achieved a full knockdown in 30 minutes. The fire was held at the front of the building and prevented from extending back through the structure.
One male firefighter sustained a non-life threatening leg injury while working to gain access to the building. He was transported to the hospital for care.
The fire was determined to have originated outside and extended into the building. A thorough search of the structure found no occupants inside.
