Executive Summary
- Firefighters responded to a blaze at a vacant pizzeria on La Brea Avenue at 1:48 a.m. Thursday.
- Over 40 LAFD personnel extinguished the non-injury fire within 30 minutes.
- Arson investigators were deployed after surveillance video suggested the fire was intentionally set.
Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) investigators have initiated an arson inquiry following a structural fire at a vacant commercial building in the Fairfax District early Thursday morning. The incident, which occurred at the site of the former Esco’s pizzeria, prompted a significant emergency response and a subsequent criminal investigation based on preliminary video evidence.
According to LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart, the emergency call was received at 1:48 a.m. regarding a blaze in the 600 block of North La Brea Avenue. A force of over 40 firefighters was deployed to the scene. Department officials reported that crews successfully extinguished the fire within 30 minutes, preventing it from spreading to adjacent structures. No injuries were reported during the operation.
The investigation was escalated to the arson unit immediately following the discovery of surveillance footage. Stewart stated that the video captured "possible suspicious activity," leading authorities to suspect the fire was set intentionally. Investigators are currently preserving the scene to correlate physical burn patterns with the actions observed on video.
Investigative Outlook
The swift classification of this incident as a potential arson highlights the critical role of surveillance infrastructure in property crime investigations. Fires in vacant commercial structures present specific hazards to first responders and the community, often necessitating a rigorous forensic approach to rule out negligence or insurance-related motives. The focus of the inquiry will likely remain on identifying the individuals captured on camera and establishing the specific accelerant or method used to ignite the building.
It is important to note that while this is an active criminal investigation, any individuals who may be charged in the future are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
