At 5:03 a.m., 15 companies of Los Angeles firefighters, seven LAFD rescue ambulances, two LAFD helicopters, one deputy chief, two EMS battalion captains, one Arson unit, three Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, one Division Chief Officer Command Team and other LAFD support personnel, under the direction of Deputy Chief Mario Rueda responded to a greater alarm structure fire at 10020 N. Fairgrove Ave. in the Tujunga/Sunland area.
First units on the scene reported a one-story single family dwelling well involved with fire and winds gusting in excess of fifty miles per hour. As the winds fanned hot embers and brands throughout the area, firefighters immediately requested two water dropping helicopters to assist in downwind observation and structural protection. As a result of the wind driven fire from the original fire, two other structures sustained minor to moderate damage (10011 N. Fairgrove Ave., minor damage & 10022 N. Fairgrove Ave., moderate damage) and one motor home at 10046 N. Tujunga Blvd. was destroyed. Two other structures at 10015 N. Fairgrove Ave. and 10019 N. Fairgrove Ave. sustained fire damage and are being investigated as possible separate fires starting at the same time as the original fire at 10020 N. Fairgrove Ave.
Firefighters used handlines to aggressively attack and extinguish the fires in approximately one hour and six minutes. Downed power lines that energized a chain link fence and the strong gusty winds presented special concerns for Firefighters during this incident. Two adult females and a teenage male were home at the time of the original fire at 10020 N. Fairgrove Ave. and all three suffered minor smoke inhalation and were transported to Verdugo Hills Hospital in good condition. One firefighter suffered a facial laceration during firefighting operations when he was struck in the face by a flying object. He was subsequently transported to Olive View Medical Center in good condition. Fire cause is still under investigation. Total fire damage is estimated at $390,000 to include structure and contents.