Fire Confined by Master Streams
Los Angeles City firemen used heavy stream appliances to keep a recording studio fire confined to the main structure in the West Third Street area January 8.
The fire in the Record Plant, 8456 W. Third near La Cienega, was reported at 11:35 a.m., bringing Heavy Duty Task Force 61 (Engine 61, Pump 61, Engine 261 and Truck 61) and Task Force 58. It was controlled in an hour and a half.
On arrival, Task Force 61 commander reported that the two-story brick structure was well involved with flame and requested additional units.
In all, 11 companies including Task Forces 29, 20, 92, Salvage 83 and three battalion commanders (18, 5, 3) under Division I Commander Tom Tolman worked to confine the fire to the building itself.
Tele-Squrts were used to protect exposures.
Fire broke out in the rear of the 50 X 150-foot structure and spread rapidly throughout the floor and attic area. An electrical malfunction in the building was reported to be the cause of the fire.
Because the attic area was so heavily involved, fire fighters had to quickly abandon their roof position and continue the battle from the ground. Soundproofing insulation and the highly flammable contents of the record recording facility hampered the control efforts.
Initially, damage was reported at $2 million. However, Christopher Stone, Record Plant president, subsequently reported that “because and only because of the efficiency of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the damages were, it appears, limited to approximately $500,000.”
Photos by Mike Meadows
