At 9:29 p.m. (PST), fourteen companies of Los Angeles city firefighters, three rescue ambulances, one arson unit, one urban search and rescue unit, one hazardous materials team, two EMS battalion captains, three battalion chief officer command teams, and one division chief officer command team all under the direction of Assistant Chief Roy Kozaki responded to a structure fire at 910 W. 23rd St. in the USC University Village.
As firefighters arrived, they reported a two-story, multi-unit residence (a four-plex on each floor), with smoke showing. Firefighters, using thermal imaging cameras, were able to locate the fire inside of a wall, which had then traveled up the inside of the wall and took hold in the attic. Firefighters began an aggressive attack from the interior of the structure as fellow firefighters on the roof cut ventilation holes. Due to the aggressive fire attack, and well coordinated ventilation efforts, 95 firefighters were able to control the fire in just 17 minutes. An investigation has determined that a wall heater, which had been left on when the occupants had gone out, started the fire and then traveled to the attic. The damage was estimated at $70,000 ($50,000 Structure and $20,000 Contents). Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.