LAFD Firefighters Protect Over Two Dozen Neighborhood Homes During Major Emergency South Los Angeles Church Fire
Monday, October 12, 2026
LAFD Spokesperson: Jennifer Middleton
LAFD firefighter sprays water from a wagon battery into the burning structure while firefighters on the ground ready their handline for fire attack.
Photo Credits:
Captain Anthony TubbsHISTORIC SOUTH-CENTRAL, LOS ANGELES - Early this morning, October 12, 2026, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) successfully contained a massive, fast-moving Major Emergency structure fire at a vacant, historic church building on the 2600 block of South Paloma Street (cross street East 27th Street).
The first arriving crews dispatched at 3:31 AM found the large, two-story house of worship heavily engulfed in flames. Recognizing the building as the site of a high-profile, near-fatal incident thirteen years prior, incident commanders immediately initiated defensive operations, focusing heavy master streams and ladder pipes from the exterior to protect personnel from structural collapse.
A History of Danger: The 2013 Paloma Fire
The century-old, all-wooden structure—formerly the historic Crouch Memorial Pentecostal Church—was already deeply etched into LAFD history. On October 8, 2013, more than 150 firefighters battled a fierce attic blaze at the same location. During that incident, an aggressive interior attack turned perilous when the roof catastrophically caved in. The collapse trapped two firefighters under burning debris, prompting a dramatic Mayday rescue by an LAFD Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) and resulting in multiple hospitalizations.
The century-old, all-wooden structure—formerly the historic Crouch Memorial Pentecostal Church—was already deeply etched into LAFD history. On October 8, 2013, more than 150 firefighters battled a fierce attic blaze at the same location. During that incident, an aggressive interior attack turned perilous when the roof catastrophically caved in. The collapse trapped two firefighters under burning debris, prompting a dramatic Mayday rescue by an LAFD Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) and resulting in multiple hospitalizations.
Tactical Success in the 2026 Blaze
With the building's structural integrity already severely compromised by the 2013 fire and a subsequent smaller blaze in 2024, today's defensive strategy proved critical. The incident quickly expanded in complexity as strong winds blew a massive ember cast eastward into the surrounding residential neighborhood, sparking spot fires up to 200 feet away and threatening up to 25 neighboring homes. Downed high-voltage power lines also dropped in front of the structure, adding severe electrical hazards to the scene.
With the building's structural integrity already severely compromised by the 2013 fire and a subsequent smaller blaze in 2024, today's defensive strategy proved critical. The incident quickly expanded in complexity as strong winds blew a massive ember cast eastward into the surrounding residential neighborhood, sparking spot fires up to 200 feet away and threatening up to 25 neighboring homes. Downed high-voltage power lines also dropped in front of the structure, adding severe electrical hazards to the scene.
In response, incident command requested several additional task forces. Ultimately, approximately 180 firefighters flooded the area. Crews successfully deployed massive wagon batteries to trap the ember cast, saving every single threatened home from destruction.
"Firefighters were able to protect all those homes around it," said LAFD Battalion Chief Cody Weireter. "With the amount of fire we did have, we're looking really at a success in that aspect."
The blaze was officially declared a knockdown in 1 hour and 36 minutes. One local resident was evaluated at the scene, but miraculously, no civilian or firefighter injuries were reported—a stark contrast to the dangerous injuries sustained over a decade ago.
Because the wooden structure sustained total catastrophic loss to its framing, the L.A. Department of Building and Safety has red-tagged the property for a complete tear-down. The LAFD Arson Counterterrorism Section is currently on-scene investigating the cause of the fire.
CALL FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE: Anyone with information regarding suspicious activity near 27th and Paloma streets prior to 3:30 a.m. is urged to contact the LAFD Arson Investigation Section at (213) 893-9800.
