Larchmont home gutted by fire before Los Angeles Fire Department crews control flames
A vacant home in the Larchmont neighborhood was gutted by fire on Sunday afternoon before firefighters could control the blaze.
It was reported at around 2:20 p.m. at a single-story house in the 500 block of N. St. Andrews Place, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Fire Department.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze for just over an hour before they were able to completely extinguish the flames, crews said.
"Primary and secondary searches were completed with no victims found inside the structure," firefighters said.
Search dogs were requested to conduct a more thorough search of the property out of an abundance of caution, LAFD officials noted.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation and arson units were called to the scene to assist with the incident. Neighbors say that years of problems led up to Sunday's fire.
"We've had problems with homeless encampments for years," said Heather Fonseca, who lives nearby. "We call the city, we call our city councilman. They send out people to talk to them and then eventually they leave and then another group comes in."
No injuries were reported, but Fonseca says that the family living next door, whose home was also decimated by flames, lost two of their beloved pet dogs.
"They're devastated, I don't know what they're going to do," Fonseca said. "They've lost everything. I mean, you can see, there's nothing left."
She says that the neighbor who lost his home had called law enforcement on multiple occasions for help clearing the property of squatters, but was never able to get any real assistance.
"I'm very worried that we could be next," Fonseca said.
Video from the scene shows a massive cloud of black smoke extended from the burning structure on Sunday afternoon. SkyCal flew overhead after the fire had been extinguished, which showed the charred remains of where the home once stood.
CBS LA has reached out to LAFD officials for information on previous calls for service at the property, as well as the city of Los Angeles for comment on the incident but has not yet heard back.
