On Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 4:51 PM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 59 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Ronald Jackson, responded to an Explosion at 6530 Independence Avenue in Canoga Park.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly and were directed the northeast corner of a 205-unit three story complex of apartments over perimeter parking, to discover severe blast damage within and near a first floor utility room.

First arriving firefighters rapidly coordinated evacuation and crowd control for the dozens of occupants who had fled the damaged building, as additional LAFD crews - including those specially trained in Urban Search and Rescue, methodically examined the 145,000 square-foot complex.

Small but steady flame visible through a crack in the cement floor of the utility room subsided when natural gas service to the building was turned off.

Despite blast damage that extended to the third floor of the 25 year-old wood frame/stucco building, there were no injuries.

As a result of the explosion and a need to secure utilities, 47 apartments were deemed untenable. Assisting 50 residents in their need for temporary housing were staff from the City's Housing Department and volunteers from the American Red Cross.

Structural loss to Americana Independence Apartments, as well as collateral automotive and content loss is still being tabulated.

An Investigation Team from the LAFD's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section concurred with Chief Jackson's determination that a "flammable vapor explosion" occurred within or near the utility room.

Representatives from the Los Angeles Departments of Building & Safety and Water & Power were joined by the Southern California Gas Company in a joint investigation to determine the source of the flammable gas.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department