Commercial Fire Takes Life in Koreatown
Excessive storage blocked entry and forced firefighters to breach walls to reach the fire in a four story (over parking) office building in Koreatown. Sadly, one person perished in the blaze.
At 3:18PM on March 10, 2022 the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 611 S Catalina Street in Koreatown. The first arriving fire companies arrived to find a four story, over parking, sealed office building with smoke showing and requested additional resources
Firefighters initiated an interior fire attack while truck companies went to the roof to open penthouse doors, vents, etc to release any smoke.
Fire attack immediately faced challenges at the front entry, blocked by excessive storage inside. Once they made access into the building, they determined the fire was in two units on the second floor.
The excessive storage conditions inside the building forced crews to breach through multiple interior walls to reach and get water on the fire. Over 90 firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Wade White, achieved a knockdown in 35 minutes.
Their aggressive and persistent efforts limited the fire to the two units of origin, thus saving the rest of the building.
Once the flames were extinguished, firefighters were able to get through the debris and office furniture, locating one deceased person.
LAFD Arson, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Police Department, are investigating the cause of the fire per protocol for a fatality.
