South LA Fire Destroys Five Businesses And Severely Damages Two Others
Video by Lauren Day
Investigators are figuring out what caused a fast-moving fire that ripped through a block of industrial buildings in South Los Angeles early this morning.
The fire destroyed five businesses and severely damaged two others, according to LA County Fire Department Inspector Chris Reade.
It took 250 firefighters to put out the flames at the complex on South Hoover Avenue, north of Slauson. Some neighbors were awakened by the smell of fabric burning. Stanley Price was roused from his bed at 2 a.m. by the “overpowering” stench.
Although it “stank very much,” Price stood outside and watched the blaze glowing against the dark clouds in awe.
Sofaworks — which has been around for 18 years — is a smoldering shell of its former self. The furniture shop was owned by Pedro Gutierrez and his wife, Francisca Johnson, who hail from El Salvador.
Their son, Manuel, says his parents are going to have to start over, because they lost everything. “The foam that they use for the sofas — it's flammable so it got all burned,” the 13-year-old said.
While the family business burned, Rodriguez couldn’t find his two beloved dogs, who guarded the building.
According to Inspector Reade, Shakira and Gato were later found “sitting on the sidewalk right in front of the business waiting for their owners to come to work.”
Rodriguez and his pets had a happy reunion. At first, “they didn’t want to come because they were scared,” he said. But then, “She saw me and she was running. …My other dog was nervous so I had to go to him.”
The dogs were not hurt, but one firefighter was sent to the hospital.
