On Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 5:48 PM, 19 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 7 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, Emergency Air 1, the Tractor Company, DWP and DOT, all under the direction of Assistant Chief Daniel McCarthy, responded to a Structure Fire at 657 Anderson St. in the Industrial East side.

Several 9-1-1 calls into the OCD Dispatch Center indicated a large warehouse was on fire, which was confirmed by responding companies, that a large "loom up" was in the industrial section of L.A.'s east side. The first responders on the scene reported a very large one story, Pre-33 commercial, approximately 100 foot by 250 foot was showing heavy smoke and fire. Additional resources were ordered.

The building was a huge warehouse divided into five sections and supported four arch truss roofs. As interior firefighting companies initiated the deployment of 2-1/2 inch hose lines, the roof group set forth an aggressive ventilation effort as fire and smoke emitted from the roof ventilators. The intensity of the afternoon blaze caused power lines to arch to the rear of the structure. Midway through the intense fire fight, resources were ordered to discontinue ventilation efforts because of the noticed "sponginess" of the roof. Shortly afterward, a section of that roof failed which was located directly over the fire origin. The structural integrity of the building was also questioned with the observed bowing of the brick perimeter wall.

It took 141 Firefighter 48 minutes to call a knockdown of the fire. There were no injuries reported throughout the incident. The occupancy, the Seville Olive Company, was closed for business at the time the fire erupted. The cause and dollar loss estimate is undetermined until the completion of the fire investigation.

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Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department