Firefighters Save Scores of Dogs When Hollywood Kennel Erupts in Flames

On Saturday, December 26, 2009 at 1:08 AM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 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, under the direction of Battalion Chief Ralph Ramirez, responded to a Structure Fire at 1014 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood.

Firefighters arrived in less than four minutes to find heavy smoke billowing from a 2,500 square-foot, one-story commercial building doing business as LA Dogworks, a self-described "retreat for dogs".

Firefighters rapidly deployed handlines through the dark, smoke filled building, navigating their way to a rear mezzanine where the bulk of flames were located.

The intense fire burned through the roof, but firefighters were able performed strategic vertical ventilation on the arched truss roof to release heat and gasses. These actions, combined with the building's elaborate HVAC system, provided clean air for canines to breathe.

The fire was extinguished in just 32 minutes.

All dogs were promptly accounted for and relocated by staff with assistance from the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services, which responded to the scene. Though no dog injuries were observed by or reported to firefighters, the facility owner later in the day told reporters that one dog had died.

No human injuries were reported.

Monetary loss from the blaze is still being tabulated, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department