Strip Mall Fire In Sherman Oaks

 On Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 7:42 AM, 19 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 2 Hazardous Materials Teams, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief Jeffery S. Mottram responded to a Major Emergency Fire at 15030 West Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.

Within four minutes firefighters arrived to a U-shaped, 1-story strip mall with smoke showing. This 100' x 50' x 50' structure contained over a dozen business. Teams of firefighters swiftly took to the light weight panelized roof to perform vertical ventilation of intense heat and smoke. Additional firefighters forced entry into the business, extending handlines to do battle at the seat of the fire.

The origin of the blaze appeared to be from a unit that contained beauty supplies, however flames extended to the adjacent businesses on both sides as well as the attic and mansard. Over 130 firefighters were assigned to the incident, but the first arriving 60 were able to get it under control in just 42 minutes and no one was injured. Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The cause of this early morning fire appears to be electrical in origin, however remains under active investigation.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department