The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a significant structure fire early this morning at an auto body shop located at 21521 W Gault St in Canoga Park. According to an LAFD alert, the fire was first reported at 01:51 AM. Fire crews were met with heavy flames coming from a row of commercial buildings and quickly transitioned to a defensive mode to combat the blaze, calling for additional resources and escalating the situation to a Greater Alarm status.
The involved structure was later identified more specifically as a five-bay auto body shop measuring approximately 75 feet by 250 feet. The updated report from the LAFD, issued at 02:34 AM, mentioned that "there was heavy fire in all five bays" but firefighters were "making good progress" in controlling the fire. It was also noted that, fortunately, no injuries had been reported, and no further assistance was expected to be necessary.
Diligent efforts by responding firefighters resulted in the knockdown of the structure fire in approximately one hour. A total of 82 firefighters were involved in the operation, as stated in the LAFD knockdown notification. The report, published at 02:51 AM, highlighted the absence of injuries and communicated that personnel would remain on the scene to conduct overhaul operations well into the morning hours.
Though the fire was extensively damaging, the swift response of the LAFD prevented injuries and further loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and crews will work to not only understand what had sparked the fire but also to ensure the location is safe and stable in the aftermath. Community members around Canoga Park can expect the presence of fire crews and potential traffic disruptions throughout the day as the site continues to be secured and scrutinized.
