UPDATE: SCMA member Alex Thompson with venice311.org was kind enough to provide her photos and videos for our members to view

Los Angeles firefighters relentlessly battled an extremely hot and stubborn Major Emergency blaze at a large Venice storage facility that injured five firefighters.

Just after 7:30 PM on October 25, 2014, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a Structure Fire at Extra Space Storage located at 658 Venice Blvd. They found a two-story 100′ x 100′ storage facility with smoke in the second floor.

Several interior storage units were well involved in fire and flames rapidly spread as the intense heat and black smoke banked down. Firefighters battled until they were low on air and had to exit to get new air-bottles, then rejoined the fight. Continual waves of additional firefighters were repeatedly ordered throughout this intense fire.

The building’s metal roof made it difficult to vertically ventilate with saws to allow heat and smoke to release. Firefighters broke out windows to assist with horizontal ventilation and utilized rotary saws with diamond tip blades to cut large sections of exterior stucco walls.

One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and was transported to a hospital. Then an Engine Captain was evaluated and rehabbed on-scene, but did not require transport. Another firefighter suffered a back injury and heat blisters and was transported. A Truck Captain suffered heat exhaustion and was transported in serious condition. Lastly a firefighter from a Truck Company suffered heat exhaustion and was treated on scene.

Over 200 firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Storms, battled the fire through the night. The abundance of contents continue to smolder and an official Knockdown will be called in the morning.

Dispatched: BC1 BC11 BC13 BC14 BC18 BC4 BC5 BC6 BC9 DC1 E15 E19 E203 E205 E21 E211 E215 E226 E237 E260 E261 E263 E269 E288 E294 E295 E298 E43 E5 E58 E59 E62 E63 E66 E67 E68 E88 E93 E94 E95 EA1 EM11 EM14 EM9 FT100 HU59 RA43 RA5 RA59 RA62 RA66 RA69 RT83 T11 T15 T26 T3 T37 T5 T60 T61 T63 T69 T88 T94 T95 T98 UR5 UR88

Article written by Erik Scott, Spokesperson
Los Angeles Fire Department