LAFD-Major Structure Fire In Large Tire Warehouse

Major Emergency Structure Fire In Large Tire Warehouse

On Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 5:54 PM, 29 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 9 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Arson Units, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 Helicopters, 4 EMS Battalion Captains, 6 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, Tractor Company, Emergency Air, Foam Tenders 100, 101 & 17 all under the direction of Deputy Chief Mario Rueda responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 2001 N. Marianna Av. in the Hillside Village/University Hills area.

As Fire Companies arrived, they observed a single story commercial building with heavy smoke and fire billowing from the rear. Further assessment revealed a large outside fire which had extended into the large 1 story, 150 x 600 foot, metal clad commercial building.

Firefighters tried to initiate a fierce initial interior attack on the fire, but were driven back by the intense flames from the fuel load. The business was identified as "Y" Tire Sales and Warehouse. The Incident was upgraded to a Major Emergency Fire. The thick black smoke emanating from the incident, required the rail system to be shutdown their tracks for safety purposes during the incident.

With a swift and well-coordinated transition, Firefighters went into "defensive tactics" utilizing heavy stream appliances and strategically placed master streams, applying Class B Foam to the fuel load of tires. Additional Firefighters extinguished several fires which threatened surrounding structures. When the fire spread into the grass, Helicopters were requested for the incident. During one of the water drops, the flight crew notified the IC that wind driven embers, from the grass fire, were spreading towards a residential neighborhood. Resources were quickly dispatched, initiating a separate structure fire incident (See PSO report Inc. # 1037, 4/18/07, at 1827).

It took 202 fire personnel 1 hour and 34 minutes before a knockdown was called. Fire resources will remain on-scene to complete the overhaul phase of cleanup. The dollar loss and cause of the fire have not been determined at this time. Miraculously, there were no reported injuries to civilians or firefighters.

Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department