Seventeen residents are in search of temporary housing after a fire tore through three townhomes in El Monte on Sunday afternoon. According to CBS News Los Angeles, the blaze started around 12:20 p.m. in the 4000 block of Penn Mar Avenue. Los Angeles County Fire Department crews arrived to find two homes fully engulfed, with the fire rapidly extending to a third via the attic.
The incident was escalated to a second alarm by the fire department, a detail confirmed through the L.A. County Fire Department's post on X, stating that the units on the scene at 12:40 p.m. were combatting the spread to a third townhome. Although the inferno's origin remains unknown, the department was able to declare the fire extinguished by 12:50 p.m., ensuring that no injuries came to pass amongst the affected residents or responding crews.
2nd ALARM STRUCTURE FIRE l FS167 l 4000 Block Penn Mar Ave #ElMonte l #LACoFD Two-story residential fire. D: 12:18 OnS: 12:21 2ndA: 12:40 2 townhomes fully involved with spread to a 3rd via the attic. 17 persons displaced. No reported injuries. KD@12:49 p.m. #PennIC
— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) December 1, 2024
The physical damage left a gap not only in the structure of those buildings but also in the lives of the 17 individuals who now found themselves without a home. Witness video shared on the Citizen App captured the severity of the situation, showing dense smoke billowing from the buildings, a sight apparent from across the surrounding area.
No injuries were reported out of the incident, a fortunate outcome amid the sudden upheaval. The fire department is still investigating the cause of the blaze, a puzzle piece that remains absent amidst the aftermath. Local news outlets such as the San Gabriel Valley Tribune highlighted that the flames initially compromised two homes before making their way to the third house via the attic. The rapid response from firefighters helped avert a potentially much worse scenario for the community.
