On Tuesday, May 03, 2005 at 1:03 PM PDT, eight Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, two LAFD Rescue Ambulances, one EMS Captain, and one Chief Officer Command Team under the direction of Assistant Chief Richard Warford, responded to a structure fire at 917 South Maple Avenue in the Central City area.

Firefighters discovered smoke showing from a three-story, pre-1933 commercial building. Upon further investigation, the hardworking members of the LAFD found a rubbish fire in the elevator shaft, being restricted by a sprinkler. The fire remained confined to the shaft and was fully extinguished by firefighters in just 15 minutes.

During firefighting operations, one firefighter sustained an electrical shock as he climbed the aerial ladder and made contact with power lines via his Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. Though initially believed to be in serious condition, upon observation at Good Samaritan Hospital, he was treated and released. The cause of the fire is considered suspicious and damage is still being tabulated.