Chatsworth, CA – On December 1, 2023, at 9:16 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded to a raging fire at a commercial scrap yard at 21608 W Nordhoff Street in Chatsworth, where flames and heavy smoke were visible from blocks away. Firefighters launched an aggressive attack, achieving a knockdown by 9:30 p.m., preventing the blaze from spreading to nearby businesses or homes.
LAFD units from Fire Station 96, located nearby arrived at 21608 W Nordhoff Street within minutes of the 9:16 p.m. call, finding a scrap yard—stacked with metal, tires, and other combustibles—fully engulfed, according to an LAFD. The fire, fueled by dense materials, produced thick black smoke visible across Chatsworth, prompting additional units, including Engine 107, to join the response. Firefighters deployed multiple hose lines and used aerial ladders to attack the blaze from above, achieving a knockdown in just 14 minutes by 9:30 p.m.
No injuries were reported, and the fire was contained within the scrap yard, sparing adjacent industrial buildings and a residential neighborhood to the south. The cause remains under investigation, with LAFD arson investigators examining potential sources like electrical faults, chemical reactions, or discarded cigarettes, common in scrap yard fires. The site, a known recycling facility, sustained significant damage, but no evacuations were required. Nordhoff Street was briefly closed for safety, reopening by 10:30 p.m. after debris clearance.
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