LAFD Works to Save Church from Brush Fire #FletcherFire
LAFD fought intense two hour battle to save at
At 2:38 p.m. on July 7, 2015, the responded to a reported brush fire along the SB 2 Freeway at Verdugo Road. Embers from the brush fire spread to the eaves of the church immediately adjacent to the trees. The fire quickly moved through a large, open attic. Two operations were conducted; one to extinguish the brush fire while additional resources initiated a coordinated interior fire attack and roof ventilation operation on the church.
Firefighters negotiated a very steep pitched roof with tiles to cut a heat hole, exposing heavy fire. Within minutes, they saw signs of impending roof collapse.
All firefighters moved to safety as a large portion of the roof caved under heavy fire.
Firefighters inside the church were pulled out and a defensive operation continued. The church had a second roof line which firefighters used to apply water from hose lines fed up to the roof. They hit the fire hard until that roof also started to fail. Again, all firefighters moved to safety prior to the second collapse.
After approximately 2 hours with over 180 firefighters, knockdown was achieved. Overhaul and salvage operations worked to save church documents and valuables where possible.
Two firefighters received injuries and were both transported in good condition. Cause of the brush fire is "undetermined" and dollar loss to be TBD.
