On Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 5:20 PM, 15 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Arson Units, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 103 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Christopher Kawai, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 6263 Leland Way in Hollywood.

Firefighters arrived quickly at the popular 'Off Vine' restaurant to find nearly 90 dinner patrons and staff safely evacuated from the 1,652 square-foot building, a century old one-story craftsman style residence with a modern attic conversion to form a two-story restaurant.

With much of the restaurant well-involved with fire, Firefighters mounted a bold offense against the stubborn flames that had taken hold of many recesses within the much-remodeled structure. The progressive fire attack, combined with strategic vertical ventilation, allowed Firefighters to confine the damage and extinguish the flames in just 34 minutes.

While fiercely fighting the blaze, one Firefighter sustained 2nd degree facial burns, while another suffered an ankle injury. Both men were taken to area hospitals where they were treated and released.

No other injuries were reported.

Dozens of Firefighters labored intensely during and after the fire to salvage the restaurant's many valuables, including a wine collection and business records contained in the heavily damaged building's half-basement.

Loss from the fire has been estimated at $450,000 ($300,000 structure & $150,000 contents). The cause of the swift-moving blaze was determined to be electrical in nature.

(video) (photos) (photo)


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department