Wind swept flames from a burning carport destroyed a nearby shed and heavily damaged a residential duplex in Mid-City Saturday evening, sending one firefighter to the hospital.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 7:03 PM on February 27, 2021 to a structure fire at 4357 West Victoria Park Drive in Mid-City, where firefighters arrived quickly to find that strong Santa Ana winds had pushed flames from a fully involved carport into a nearby shed and both levels of an adjacent two story residential duplex.

Though unoccupied, the 4,062 square-foot duplex contained dense personal storage that hampered firefighters efforts and added to the fire load within the large structure. The 98 year-old building was not equipped with optional residential fire sprinklers.

Despite gusting wind, the well coordinated effort of 105 LAFD firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Rodd Souter, confined the fire to carport, shed and duplex, extinguishing the flames in just 54 minutes.

At least three vehicles parked on or near the property also suffered damage from the fire.

During the incessant attack on the flames, one Fire Captain sustained a non-life threatening laceration to his neck. Following basic treatment at the scene, he was taken by LAFD ambulance in fair condition to an area hospital for further care.

No other injuries were reported.

Inspectors from the City's Department of Building & Safety evaluated the fire damaged premises and declared the duplex 'red-tagged', as unsafe for civilian entry or occupancy. Though near the renowned Victoria Park neighborhood, the involved residence was not a part of the historic district.

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The cause of the greater alarm blaze remains the focus of an active LAFD investigation.

Dispatched LAFD Units: AR11 BC11 BC18 BC5 CM22 E11 E13 E211 E215 E226 E227 E229 E26 E261 E27 E29 E294 E66 E68 EA1 EM11 EM13 EM17 EM9 HR3 PI3 RA13 RA34 RA61 RA68 RA826 RA827 T11 T15 T26 T27 T29 T61 T94 UR27 UR88

Incident Photo Album