A blaze in South Los Angeles' Harvard Park neighborhood wrought devastation on several businesses in the early hours of Thursday morning. According to NBC Los Angeles, firefighters were called to West Slauson Avenue shortly after 2 a.m. where they contained the flames that affected a home and at least three businesses, including a cabinet shop, a floral store, and an upholstery shop.
The Los Angeles Fire Department dispatched approximately 121 firefighters to the scene, with reports from CBS Los Angeles noting the effort took under an hour to extinguish the fire. A neighbor, David Morales, reflected on the longevity of the businesses stating, "I've lived here for maybe 25 years, and they've been here all this time. It's said to see." No injuries were reported in the incident which affected a portion of buildings on the 5800 block of Western Avenue.
Further details from FOX LA expand upon the locations involved, identifying the affected businesses as Pete’s Cabinets, Aguirre’s Upholstery, and the unnamed wood shop and flower shop. Explosive sounds were heard by witnesses during the fire, described as similar to fireworks or thunder, adding to the harrowing scene as the blaze spread rapidly.
Arson investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, which remains under active investigation. The Los Angeles Fire Department was swift in their response, with Battalion Chief Mattias Wikstrom confirming that numerous apartment units behind the impacted businesses were evacuated as a precaution. One business owner, who resides behind their shop, revealed that the fire spread to their home, exacerbating the losses endured by the community.
