On Sunday, July 2, 2006 at 4:43 p.m., 10 companies of Los Angeles firefighters, three LAFD rescue ambulances, one arson unit, one urban search and rescue unit, one hazardous materials squad, two EMS battalion captains, four battalion chief officer command teams and one division chief officer command team, under the direction of Assistant Chief Curtis James responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 10691 Kewen Avenue in Pacoima.
Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy fire showing from the rear of a one-story single family dwelling.
Strategically deploying handlines to both battle the flames and protect nearby homes, firefighters aggressively attacked the swift-moving fire, which had taken hold of the rear patio and extended into the kitchen and a nearby bedroom addition on their arrival.
During the intense fire attack, one firefighter sustained a non-life threatening injury to his ankle. Following initial care at the scene, he was transported by ambulance to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
No other injuries were reported.
Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $70,000 ($50,000 structure & $20,000 contents). The cause of the blaze is attributed to a six year-old male igniting combustibles on the patio while playing with fire.