On Tuesday, September 30, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 56 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Ralph Ramirez, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 501 North Citrus Avenue near the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles.
Firefighters arrived quickly to discover a large 2 story single family home on a corner lot in the final stages of construction and fully involved with fire.
An aggressive and well-coordinated assault with handlines and heavy streams allowed firefighters to confine the flames to the 3,000+ square foot structure of origin.
A single family home to the north sustained door and window damage only from radiant heat. Residents of that location, as well as the owners of the burning structure staying in a remote guest house on their property, were untouched by the flames.
The fire was extinguished in just 31 minutes. There were no injuries.
Preliminary structural loss is estimated to be at least $500,000. The cause of this intense early morning blaze, which nearly consumed the building, remains under investigation.