Firefighters in Pacoima battled a blaze that erupted in a commercial building Thursday evening, with crews managing to extinguish the flames within 23 minutes. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) reported that the fire at 12970 W Branford St. began at approximately 6:55 PM, emitting moderate smoke from one unit of the structure. Responders were promptly dispatched to the scene, where additional resources were called to assist. The information was disseminated via the official LAFD alert.
After the arrival of the first responders and an aggressive offense were established, the team located a contents fire within one unit and tackled it head-on, preventing any spread to adjoining spaces, which incurred smoke damage. The LAFD announcement of the knockdown noted that "the first arriving units made an offensive fire attack and located a contents fire within one unit, extinguishing it in 23 minutes with no injuries reported." Thankfully, their efforts were met with success as the fire did not extend to other units, and the additional resources that had been enroute were subsequently canceled.
Property damage was limited thanks to the swift action of the firefighters, and no injuries were reported during the incident. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. The LAFD updates confirmed that the situation was promptly brought under control, and the firefighters' quick response averted a potentially more serious outcome.
The LAFD deployed a significant response team, including multiple engine companies and specialized units such as their Urban Search and Rescue teams. With smoke only in the adjacent units, the rapid containment efforts ensure that local businesses face minimal interruption. As per LAFD's official statement, "They prevented the fire from extending into the adjacent units (smoke only)." Council District 6, under which the incident location falls, will continue to monitor the situation, along with the LAFD's investigative team, to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
