A large apartment fire at West Barton and North El Centro avenues that injured three firefighters and displaced 42 residents on May 31 was caused by an arsonist, according to Los Angeles Fire Department officials.

LAFD firefighters tend to an injured comrade as the department works to extinguish the Barton Avenue fire. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

Arson investigators were on scene as crews battled the fire at 5957 Barton Ave., as it is standard procedure for investigators to respond to large fires, assistant fire chief Andy Fox said. Following their investigation, however, officials announced that the fire was set intentionally.

At approximately 10:45 a.m. last Friday, firefighters responded to a 911 report of a structure fire at the apartment building, which is owned by Horizon Realty. Fox said the fire started in the laundry room located in the structure’s basement.

“[Firefighters] went in and made the initial attack, got the initial knockdown of the fire,” he said. “The fire had extended into the walls and ultimately communicated into the attic — very stubborn fire.”

Fox said firefighters used infrared cameras to locate fire in the walls, but the fire spread rapidly through the wood-frame, stucco structure.

“It’s an older style building,” he said. “The construction does allow the fire to burn through the walls and get into the attic. [Firefighters], upon arrival, saw light smoke in the attic. They actually cut a hole in the roof and inspected to see if there was active fire in the attic. At that time, there wasn’t.”

However, that changed as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

“What happens is the attic pre-heats with heated gases, and eventually it ignites,” Fox said.

In all, it took 23 fire companies and more than 150 firefighters approximately two-and-a-half hours to extinguish the fire, he said. Throughout the incident, firefighters could be seen carrying empty oxygen tanks, seeking shade or dousing themselves with water.

Three firefighters were injured, though it appeared that none of the injuries were severe. One suffered burns to his hands, and another received a laceration on his hand. Both were transported to local hospitals. A third firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion and was treated on the scene.

Fox said the building had 16 units, all of which appeared to be occupied. The city’s Department of Building and Safety later deemed the structure unfit for entry, so all of the building’s residents were displaced.

“We’re working with the Red Cross to find suitable housing for them,” Fox said, adding that some residents were able to grab valuables before seeking alternative housing. Firefighters also retrieved some items for residents.

He said all 16 units were damaged by either fire or smoke. The department estimated that the total dollar loss was $1.2 million, which included $100,000 in damage to the contents. The smoke detectors were operable, though, and all the residents got out safely.

One resident, Austin, who declined to give his last name, said the smoke alarm sounded on the other end of the building. He realized the building was on fire after his roommate stepped outside and alerted him.

“I saw it all coming from through the cracks in the floor,” Austin said. “I literally woke up as they pulled up out front.”

LAFD investigator Daniel Gaytan said the first arriving fire company suspected that the fire was the result of arson due to the location of the fire and the burn patterns. He said that was substantiated during the department’s investigation.

Gaytan could not specify whether an accelerant was used, but said the department is following some leads. He said investigators have yet to identify any people as suspects.

Arson in broad daylight is generally rare for the department, Gaytan said.

“Normally, these types of fires are reserved for the dead of night,” he added.

Anyone with information about the incident is advised to contact LAFD’s Arson Counter-Terrorism Section at (213)893-9800.