Flames Erupt in a Medical Dispensary

On Monday, July 20, 2009 at 5:34 AM, 12 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 5 Arson Units, 3 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Milage Peaks responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 8936 S. Sepulveda BL in Playa Del Rey.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover heavy smoke and fire coming from the second floor of a 2 story commercial building. Crews began an aggressive attack, deploying multiple hand lines on the ground while simultaneously providing vertical ventilation on the roof.

Even though some adjacent buildings were threatened, Firefighters were able to contain the fire to only one structure and saved a good portion of the building. It took 91 Firefighters 29 minutes to obtain a knockdown of the flames. There were no injuries reported to civilians or Firefighters.

The commercial building was doing business as a Medical Marijuana Dispensary. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation. The total dollar loss was estimated at $500,000 ($300,000 structure & $200,000 contents).

Submitted by Devin Gales/in behalf of Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department