Firefighters Spare Three South L.A. Businesses From Fast Moving Fire

SOUTH LOS ANGELES - A fast moving fire in the attic of a one-story strip mall caused damage to two businesses in South Los Angeles early Saturday morning, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The Greater Alarm blaze, reported at 3:56 AM on Saturday, December 3, 2011 brought 119 Los Angeles Firefighters to 8720 South Western Avenue, where they discovered heavy smoke showing from a liquor store at the north end of a five-tenant row of businesses that shared a common attic.

Strategic rooftop ventilation helped limit horizontal fire spread, as firefighters under the command of LAFD Assistant Chief David Yamahata used handlines to tackle flames within the 100' x 75' structure.

Firefighters confined the bulk of fire to the liquor store of fire origin and attic, allowing only minor extension to a beauty supply firm immediately to the south. The three other firms were spared damage.

The flames were fully extinguished in just 35 minutes, and no injuries were reported. Loss from the fire is still being tabulated, while the cause of the blaze remains under active investigation.

Dispatched Units: E57 RA57 RA857 E266 E66 T66 E33 E264 E64 T64 EM11 BC13 BC11 E9 DC2 E233 T33 E46 SQ21 EM2 BC1 T5 E205 E5 RA5 UR3 UR88 BC4 T21 E221 E15 RA264 RA66 RA64 EM9 E10 E26 E285 T85 E295 T95 AR1

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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