Early this morning, Los Angeles firefighters responded to a significant emergency at a vehicle manufacturing facility in Harbor Gateway. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), a blaze broke out involving an electric vehicle within the two-story, 21,000 square foot industrial building.
The fire was reported extinguished after an intense 40 minutes of firefighting efforts that began at 4:37 AM. LAFD stated that "A fire involving a electric vehicle within a 21,000 square foot two-story vehicle manufacturing facility in an industrial area was extinguished in 40 minutes (4:37 AM) without injury." The operation did not require any evacuations, a bit of good news amidst the early morning chaos.
Determining the cause of the fire is the focus of an active investigation. However, a noted point of concern is the structural integrity of the venue. Apparently, evidence suggests an explosion occurred before the LAFD's arrival on the scene.
LAFD Public Information Officer Firefighter David Ortiz is en route, with an estimated time of arrival of 6:30 AM, to provide further details. "A Department of Building & Safety Inspector will evaluate the integrity of the structure in the vicinity of the fire, due to physical compromise from an apparent explosion that took place prior to firefighter's arrival," the LAFD alert disclosed.
The department has not released any information about potential damages to the manufacturing facility or the electric vehicle involved. For now, relief can be found in the fact that the incident did not result in any injuries or necessitate evacuations. Updates will be provided as the LAFD and Building & Safety Inspector assess the aftermath of what could have been a disastrous event. Stay tuned for more information as details from the investigation are made public.
