Fire at Former North Hills Church Injures Two and Displaces Families
Massive Fire in North Hills Leaves Two Injured and Families Displaced
LOS ANGELES – A significant fire broke out Wednesday morning at a vacant building in the North Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, resulting in two injuries and the displacement of several families. Fire officials report that the blaze erupted just before 6 a.m. at a former church, which had been identified as a frequent site for homeless encampments.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene in the 15200 block of Parthenia Street, between Columbus and Burnett avenues. Upon arrival, crews found a two-story structure engulfed in flames, presenting an immediate threat to a neighboring four-story apartment complex. Emergency responders swiftly evacuated residents from the adjacent building to ensure their safety.
Firefighters conducted a thorough search of the apartment complex to assist evacuating residents and check for signs of fire spread. Unfortunately, two women were transported to the hospital due to potential smoke inhalation. Although the apartment building sustained minimal structural damage, three of its 41 units were deemed unsafe, displacing six adults, 21 children, and six pet turtles.
The blaze lasted nearly two hours before being declared under control. Fire officials noted that the vacant structure had been monitored by the Los Angeles Fire Department as a known homeless encampment.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. This incident marks the second fire involving a vacant building in the San Fernando Valley on the same day, following an earlier fire in Winnetka.
