Chatsworth, CA – On January 13, 2024, at 1:48 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded to a reported structure fire at 8929 N Fullbright Avenue in Chatsworth, where a Molotov cocktail was thrown through the front window of a private business, setting the window shades ablaze. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, limiting damage, while the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) launched an arson investigation. The incident, disrupted the San Fernando Valley’s early morning calm and raised concerns about targeted attacks on local businesses.
LAFD crews from Fire Station 96 arrived at the single-story commercial building to find broken front windows and flames consuming the interior window shades, per LAFD. Evidence suggested a Molotov cocktail—a glass bottle filled with flammable liquid—was hurled through the window, igniting the fire, according to a preliminary LAPD statement. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within 10 minutes, by 1:58 a.m., preventing spread to the building’s interior or adjacent businesses.
No injuries were reported, and the business, a small manufacturing firm, sustained minor damage to the windows and shades. LAPD’s Topanga Division, already on scene, secured the area and collected evidence, including glass fragments and residue, to confirm the use of an incendiary device. The suspect or suspects remain at large, with no motive disclosed, though investigators are exploring whether the attack was targeted, possibly linked to business disputes or vandalism, per a 2023 Los Angeles Times report on rising arson cases. Tips can be reported to LAPD Topanga at (818) 756-4800 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477
