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Massive Blaze Damages Van Nuys Businesses

Wednesday, September 9, 2015
VAN NUYS-

Scores of firefighters battled a major emergency blaze in a large Van Nuys commercial building early Thursday morning.

Fire Engine in the background with firefighters running in the foreground.The Los Angeles Fire Department was notified at 12:11 AM on September 10, 2015 by the 9-1-1 call of a passerby, of a structure fire at 14937 Calvert Street in Van Nuys. LAFD crews arrived quickly to find fire through the roof of a mid-block 240' x 180' one-story commercial building, built in zero-clearance configuration among similar concrete-tilt up structures to the east and west. 

Firefighters mounted a bold attack on entrenched flames within reThink Environmental, a producer of lighting, energy and surfacing products, for nearly 20 minutes, before structural compromise forced their well-coordinated transition to a defensive posture with heavy streams. 

Though a division wall helped limit fire spread to the east, the common attic and partial collapse of the burning building allowed flames to quickly spread west into KCK Industries, a provider of health care and hygiene products, where the westward progression of flames was ultimately stopped. 

Two firefighters spraying water.One hundred sixty-one firefighters under the command of Assistant Chief Emile Mack held the bulk of fire damage to the two businesses, extinguishing the flames in just 2 hours and 4 minutes. 

One Fire Captain was briefly examined for exertion before being medically cleared to return to duty. No other injuries were reported.

An Inspector from the City's Department of Building & Safety was called to examine the building and determine its tenability following the severe fire damage. Monetary loss from the inferno is still being tabulated, while the cause of the blaze remains under investigation. 

Dispatched Units: E239 E39 T39 RA39 E288 E88 T88 RA88 E102 EM14 BC10 BC14 CM42 E81 E290 E90 T90 E289 T89 EM17 BC17 UR88 E89 UR89 RA89 RA889 T27 E227 HR56 BC5 RA102 EM15 BC15 BC9 BC12 T98 E298 EA1 E37 E93 E287 T87 E235 T35 AR2 E87 SQ87 CM41 E229 T29 E105 E60 E226 T26 CM21 RA878 RA81 RA90 HU89

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