On Monday, September 3, 2007 at 1:40 AM, 10 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team and DOT, all under the direction of Battalion Chief Patrick Shanley, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 7602 N. Vineland Av. in the North Hollywood area.

Initial reports coming into the OCD Dispatch center from an adjacent market, indicated the building located across the street was on fire. The first arriving Fire Department resources found a one story, commercial strip mall, 60 foot by 100 foot, with one occupancy well involved with fire. An immediate request for a second assignment of additional resources was made.

The fire had started and fully engulfed the Mexican bakery, Panaderia Chihuahua, extending into the laundromat, Lavanderia Coin Laundry located next door. The responding fire companies went into a diligent interior fire fight utilizing 1-3/4 and 2-1/2 inch hose lines, coordinated with an aggressive trench ventilation operation, to gain control of the early morning blaze. It took a concerted effort of approximately 75 firefighters to bring the blaze under control in 26 minutes.

The cause of the blaze is undetermined at this time. The total dollar loss of the three occupancy, strip mall complex was estimated at $285,000. The origin of the fire, the bakery, the estimated loss was $200,000. The laundromat, sustained moderate smoke and fire damage with the dollar loss estimated at $75,000. The third occupancy, La Pizza Loca, sustained light smoke and fire damage and the dollar loss was estimated at $10,000. There were no reported injuries.

Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department