On Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 11:40 PM, 13 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 91 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief James Gaffney, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 3525 East Emery Street in South Boyle Heights.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find fire showing through the roof vents and skylights of a 150' x 150' one-story commercial building.

Forcing entry into the secured structure with hand and power tools, firefighters made an aggressive and well-coordinated assault on the fire, extending handlines to the core of the furniture manufacturing firm, as their colleagues performed strategic vertical ventilation of the arched truss roof above.

Timely and effective teamwork by dozens of firefighters prevented flames from extending horizontally beyond the core of the building, sparing the bulk of the business from severe fire damage.

The flames were extinguished in just 26 minutes, and no injuries were reported.

Fire loss to Yesenia's Upholstery is estimated at $800,000 ($300,000 structure and $500,000 contents).

The cause of the blaze was determined to be electrical in nature.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department