8-30-2023 5:19pm

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE INTENSE FLAMES FUELED BY TEXTILES IN DOWNTOWN L.A.

Anita Johnson-Brown Editor

On August 30, 2023, early in the morning, LA City Firefighters discovered smoke coming out of a commercial building while returning from another emergency incident. They informed firefighter dispatchers at Metropolitan Fire Communications, who immediately sent a structure fire assignment to the 1100 block of South Los Angeles Street.

The firefighters battled a commercial blaze for several hours, ensuring that it remained within the unit of origin, which was a row of commercial occupancies that measured 50 feet wide by 150 feet deep. The fire unit shared a wall with two adjacent businesses, one on each side. The fire was fueled by a large amount of textiles inside the business, and it burned for several hours. Firefighters ascended aerial ladders to the roof and used chainsaws to cut ventilation holes in the roof. As they worked, flames steadily grew, soon shooting out of the holes by 30+ feet. Due to the intense flames, firefighters were forced to fight the fire from the exterior, and they deployed master streams by way of large-diameter hand lines, ladder pipes, and portable monitors (ground appliances), each of which could launch up to 1,000 gallons per minute.

The intense fire weakened the building over time, and eventually, the walls began buckling, and the roof collapsed. Crews remained set up in their defensive posture, awaiting assistance from LAFD Heavy Equipment and Thermite RS3, the firefighting "robot," while keeping the flames at bay and quenching any flare-ups.

Over 120 on-scene firefighters defended the neighboring units and prevented both of them from being infiltrated by the intense flames. Although the fire unit was a total loss, nothing more could have been done. The fire occurred before patrons or employees typically populated these Fashion District buildings, and no one was present to need evacuation. There were no reported injuries. Fire investigators responded to begin their investigation process and attempt to determine the cause of the blaze.

By Anita Johnson-Brown