A significant structure fire erupted at a vacant courthouse on North San Fernando Road in Cypress Park, as reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department. On October 28th, shortly before 4:00 PM, flames were visibly erupting from the two-story structure that had been previously damaged by fire. The LAFD, upon arrival, immediately transitioned into a defensive mode to combat the blaze, calling in additional task forces to the scene. According to a dispatch from the LAFD's alert system, no injuries were reported as teams worked to control the fire.
Progress was made against the fire with firefighters reassessing their strategy, initiating a tactical pause to "temporarily stop flowing water from the ladder pipes" to re-evaluate conditions and tactics, according to an update from LAFD's alert. Working in the defensive mode initially, which made to control the flames from the exterior, LAFD personnel then shifted gears as conditions allowed, proceeding with interior operations.
The third alert from the LAFD noted that "the bulk of the fire extinguished and given the cinder block walls, firefighters are now safely able to return to interior operations." In support, heavy equipment operators were dispatched with tractors to aid in overhaul operations, ensuring all traces of the fire were completely extinguished. LAFD's Arson Counterterrorism Section was also on the scene to begin an investigation into the cause of the fire. The information provided to the public via LAFD's second update assured that there were still no injuries reported.
Ultimately, the LAFD achieved a "knockdown" of the fire in just over one hour, with 64 firefighters successfully bringing the fire under full control. This conclusion to the day's rapid and intense efforts, as shared by the LAFD's knockdown announcement, came with the continued assurance that there were no injuries. Firefighters remained on site into the evening to manage any unstable parts of the building and ensure the safety of the surroundings, while the investigation into the cause of the fire pressed on.
