A boarded-up corner house in West Long Beach has now burned twice in four days, after a midday fire Tuesday sent a thick column of smoke rising over Caspian Avenue and West 19th Street. The blaze blackened the siding and drew out nearby residents along with a fast-moving response from Long Beach firefighters.
Crews were able to move in quickly and keep the flames from climbing to the second story, containing the fire to the lower level and knocking it down in about 40 minutes. The same property had already drawn a fire response over the weekend, making this the second call to the address in less than a week.
As reported by Long Beach Post, Long Beach Fire Capt. Jack Crabtree said the fire sparked around noon inside the vacant, boarded house and quickly filled the first floor with smoke. Crabtree told the outlet that firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading upstairs and extinguished the blaze in roughly 40 minutes. He added that crews had also put out a separate fire at the same property on Saturday, though officials had few details to share about that earlier incident.
Vacant properties pose particular risks
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, vacant and abandoned buildings are more likely to be hit by vandalism or intentional fires and can come with built-in hazards for firefighters, including concealed structural damage and piles of combustible debris. The agency advises communities to monitor, secure, inspect and clearly mark vacant properties to help cut down on arson risk and protect first responders.
Fire investigators were at the scene Tuesday looking into what set off the latest blaze, and city officials had no immediate update on the Saturday fire. For additional photos and on-the-ground details, see coverage from Long Beach Post. Anyone with information about either fire is asked to contact the Long Beach Fire Department or the Long Beach Police Department; general department information is available on the Long Beach Fire Department website.
