The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 3:05 PM on August 8, 2012 to an outside fire in the 17300 block of Marlin Place in Lake Balboa. With ambient temperature hovering at an oppressive 105 degrees Fahrenheit, firefighters arrived swiftly to find the outside fire had extended into a pair of side-by-side garages at adjacent homes.
As LAFD crews attacked the twin fires, they also noted flames on the wood shake roof of a home more than 200' away, sparked by an ember from the initial blaze. Despite the spatial challenge and light but variable winds, thirty-nine firefighters had the flames under full control in less than 12 minutes.
No injuries were reported.
LAFD Battalion Chief Mark Saxelby later determined that mulch within a plastic above-ground device - the size of a 30-gallon trash can, in the side yard of 17336 Marlin Place, had spontaneously ignited, causing fire to spread west into the garage at 17338 Marlin Place, with a wind-driven ember igniting the more distant roof fire at 17345 Marlin Place.
Loss to the homes at 17336 and 17338 was an identical $30,000 structural damage and $5,000 contents loss. The roof and attic at 17345 sustained $6,000 in structural damage only, bringing the overall fire loss at the three Marlin Place homes to $76,000.
While the fire is considered accidental, it underscores the importance of closely following instructions for home mulching systems, and taking appropriate precautions during periods of high heat.
Dispatched Units: E90 RA17 E273 T73 E93 RA903 EM15 BC15 E84 E83 E293 T93 BC17Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
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