A fire erupted at the New Century Auto Body & Paint shop in Lake Balboa, resulting in multiple explosions and the consumption of several vehicles. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the incident that began just before noon on Saturday. KTLA reported that the shop, located at 16816 W Saticoy Street, endured fierce flames that also caused significant damage to its 70-year-old one-story structure.
Despite the challenging 108-degree heat, no injuries were reported as a result of this fire. "Multiple explosions occurred inside the shop as firefighters arrived, likely related to vehicles or equipment inside," authorities explained. This made the job particularly strenuous for fire crews, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The blaze was substantial enough to be classified as a Greater Alarm Structure Fire by LAFD, with defensive firefighting operations deployed upon their arrival. A 3,544-square-foot building was consumed in the fire, which took 63 minutes to knock down by the emergency team consisting of 104 firefighters.
According to LAFD's follow-up alert, the old cinder block structure was not equipped with a fire sprinkler system. The cause of the greater alarm fire remains under active investigation by authorities.
