On Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 4:56 PM, twenty-eight Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, seven LAFD Rescue Ambulances, two Arson Units, one Urban Search and Rescue Unit, one Rehab Unit, one Hazardous Materials Team, three EMS Battalion Captains, five Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, and one Division Chief Officer Command Team, all under the direction of Assistant Chief Patrick Engel responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 20800 Dearborn St. in Chatsworth.
Firefighters responding to the reported fire location noticed a large column of smoke billowing from the general vicinity. The first Companies arrived to find a large single-story commercial building with heavy fire showing. An aggressive interior attack, coordinated with rapid roof
ventilation produced little progress in controlling the fire. Approximately ten minutes into the fire, fearing for the safety of personnel on the scene, the Incident Commander ordered the progression from an offensive operation to a defensive mode. Heavy stream hose lines, ladder pipes, and portable monitors were positioned to provide maximum water flow with maximum effect.
During the one-hour defensive operation, additional Firefighters mounted an aggressive campaign to save the office/retail portion of the building. Even though the building suffered enormous damage, the firefighters were able to protect the office area, thereby saving the occupants records and computers. By protecting the contents of the office, the business, Tri Star Interiors, will have an improved prospect of returning to full operations quicker.
There were no reported injuries and the dollar loss is still being tabulated. The preliminary cause appears to be electrical, however the investigation is in progress.