
Last night, a two-story Craftsman-style home in University Park was engulfed by flames, prompting a rapid response from the Los Angeles Fire Department. According to an LAFD alert, the fire was first reported at 11:04 PM at 718 W 30th St, with firefighters facing a defensive struggle against the blaze that had fully involved the second floor of the vacant structure.
The greater alarm structure fire at the 4,556 square foot home, which has sat empty and boarded since for an unspecified length of time, drew a considerable LAFD presence to the scene. "Defensive firefight against flames fully involving the second floor of an abandoned and boarded 4,556 square foot two-story Victorian home," stated the initial LAFD release, incorrectly identifying the architectural style of the building, which is actually Craftsman.
An impressive contingent of 88 firefighters were deployed to tackle the inferno, managing to contain and extinguish it in just 35 minutes. A follow-up announcement made by LAFD's Brian Humphrey heralded the team's efforts: "88 LAFD Firefighters took just 35 minutes in largely defensive operations to confine and fully extinguish heavy fire." This statement, part of an LAFD report, highlighted the successful resolution to the event without any reported injuries.
The cause of the fire is under active investigation, with no immediate details available regarding the source of the blaze. Given the age and the long-standing vacancy of the home, built back in 1905, the incident raises questions about the fate of such historic structures in our urban fabric. While the firefighting efforts were praised for their swift action, the loss of a piece of Los Angeles's architectural legacy is surely felt by the community.