North Hollywood Fire Destroys Building
Photo Credit: Rick McClure
Firefighters successfully defended a building under construction as fire ripped through two North Hollywood businesses.
At 9:07PM, the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to reports of an outside fire extending into a structure in the 5400 block of N Tujunga Av in North Hollywood.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find a commercial building with heavy fire showing which triggered a defensive operation. The multi-pronged fight required additional resources and quickly grew to a Major Emergency status incident.
Truck companies raised aerial ladders to deploy ladder pipes while engine companies used wagon batteries and put large diameter hand lines into place. Firefighters ascended a residential high rise across the street to gain the high ground with additional handle lines. High voltage power lines combined with wires down created an additional safety hazard to be factored into the angle of attack of all water streams.
While the fire raged, crews worked aggressively to defend another exposed building, still in the framing stage of construction. Their efforts were successful and the structure remained undamaged.
The fight continued for one hour and 56 minutes before the 111 firefighters, under the leadership of Assistant Chief Corey Rose, achieved a knockdown. There were no injuries reported.
A residential high rise across from the fire was impacted by smoke blanketing the area but there were no medical complaints and firefighters ensured the area was ventilated with all alarms were cleared.
Based on protocol for a fire of this size, LAFD Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section responded for the cause investigation and it remains active.
