Investigators Seek Cause of Intense Blaze at Los Angeles Church

LEIMERT PARK - A multi-agency fire investigation is underway to determine the cause of a blaze that heavily damaged a southwest Los Angeles church early Friday morning.

The fire was reported to the Los Angeles Fire Department at 1:54 AM on April 26, 2013. Firefighters arrived quickly to 4909 South Crenshaw Boulevard, where they found heavy fire inside the Bethesda Temple Apostolic Church.

The combination of a steeply pitched roof, high ceilings and the volume of fire, lead firefighters to quickly transition to defensive operations. Nearly 100 firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Ralph Terrazas, had the flames extinguished in just 50 minutes. A well-coordinated effort by firefighters limited the blaze to the 86 year old building of fire origin. No injuries were reported.

Twenty-nine additional LAFD personnel were called to the scene over the next fourteen hours, to assist in salvaging items from the sanctuary and supporting the investigation.

With clergy expressing a strong interest in maintaining Sunday services, firefighters helped churchgoers set up for worship in the community center next door. "This church is a cornerstone of the community", said Fire Captain Jaime Moore, adding "we're doing everything we can to help them get back on their feet".

Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $2 million ($1.5M structure & $500,000 contents). Pursuant of protocol, the fire remains the focus of an active investigation by the multi-agency House of Worship Arson Task Force, which has yet to declare a cause for the blaze.

Dispatched Units: E66 E294 E94 T94 RA94 RA894 EM11 BC18 E15 DC1 T66 E266 E34 E26 T26 E226 E215 T15 EM9 BC11 T27 E227 E27 UR27 RA27 RA927 UR88 BC5 E10 AR1 E233 T33 E11 AR11 AR17 RT59 RA867 AR9 E94 BP94 AR17 T94 E294

Submitted by Katherine Main, Spokesperson
Los Angeles Fire Department

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