On Monday, April 28, 2008 at 2:15 PM, 27 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 8 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, Rehab Tender 59 staffed by 2 CERT Coordinators, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 Helicopter, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 7 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, Emergency Air 1, the LAFD Tractor Company, L.A. Co. Engine 38 and Battalion Chief 20, DOT, DWP, LAPD and the Gas Co., all under the direction of Deputy Chief Mario Rueda, responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 6236 S. Gramercy Pl. in the Hyde Park area.

The initial 9-1-1 call into the OCD Dispatch Center indicated a fire located in a commercial building. As responding Firefighters arrived on scene, they found a one story commercial building with fire showing from the interior of the occupancy. Firefighters began a labor intensive interior fire fight in concert with the roof top ventilation team, trying to gain control of the fire. Additional companies were requested as the extreme concentration of radiant heat increased to the point that pallets stored in the adjacent storage yard from the fire origin started to self combust.

At 1425 hours, all Firefighters were ordered out of the occupancy because of concerns regarding the structural integrity of the building and all members were accounted for. At 1451 hours, the Incident Commander was notified that fire had caused power lines to fall and become draped across Engine 46 which was located to the rear of the fire building. The members were able to exit the apparatus without injury after the power lines were de-energized. The increased intensity of the blaze created substantial radiant heat which contributed to several adjacent buildings and cars to also self ignite.

Seven businesses and a pallet storage yard were involved in the blaze. The two buildings destroyed were a vacant sound stage and M & M Auto Repair Yard. The pallet storage yard was also destroyed. The remaining businesses were saved by the gallant efforts of the LAFD Fire companies on scene. It took 183 Firefighters 2 hours and 59 minutes to call a knockdown on the fire. The cause and the dollar loss estimate are undetermined until the completion of the fire investigation. There were two Firefighters transported to a local hospitals, one with heat related symptoms, one with a small laceration to the right forearm. One civilian was treated for 1st and 2nd degree burns to the arm and was released at the scene to seek his own medical attention.

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Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department