Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
At 8:04AM on December 4, 2025, the LAFD dispatch center received reports of a fire in Boyle Heights, the second of what would be three significant fires across the city that morning.
Crews responded to the one-story commercial building at 3181 E. Pico Avenue and found fire showing from the front of the structure. Suspected to have started outside the building, this fire's cause remains under active investigation.
First-arriving companies were forced into defensive mode due to heavy fire load inside the building, high-voltage lines in the vicinity, and major forcible entry challenges which slowed access for fire attack. Approximately 90 firefighters worked on scene to extinguish the flames and successfully protect one additional exposed structure.
While "knockdown" of a fire is typically declared by the Incident Commander before overhaul begins, this fire was somewhat unique -- LAFD Heavy Rescue crews utilized firefighting robot RS3 and specialized skid steers to extinguish hotspots and remove damaged materials in areas of the building that firefighters could not safely access with hand lines.
No civilian injuries were reported; one LAFD member was transported to a local hospital after experiencing a medical emergency.
At 8:04AM on December 4, 2025, the LAFD dispatch center received reports of a fire in Boyle Heights, the second of what would be three significant fires across the city that morning.
Crews responded to the one-story commercial building at 3181 E. Pico Avenue and found fire showing from the front of the structure. Suspected to have started outside the building, this fire's cause remains under active investigation.
First-arriving companies were forced into defensive mode due to heavy fire load inside the building, high-voltage lines in the vicinity, and major forcible entry challenges which slowed access for fire attack. Approximately 90 firefighters worked on scene to extinguish the flames and successfully protect one additional exposed structure.
While "knockdown" of a fire is typically declared by the Incident Commander before overhaul begins, this fire was somewhat unique -- LAFD Heavy Rescue crews utilized firefighting robot RS3 and specialized skid steers to extinguish hotspots and remove damaged materials in areas of the building that firefighters could not safely access with hand lines.
No civilian injuries were reported; one LAFD member was transported to a local hospital after experiencing a medical emergency.
