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In a strip mall, a massive fire broke out Los AngelesSaturday morning, 17 cats were killed and one firefighter was injured.
Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a fire at a structure in the 9000 block West Venice Boulevard, around 5:44 am Saturday. The incident was reported by a passer-by who called 911 to report the fire.
The first 124 LAFD officers arrived at the address and saw smoke coming out of the central section of a one story strip mall that contained about a dozen companies.
What was described as “an” Extreme, 73 minute firefightCrews broke into the building to search many businesses and confiscated the cat boarding facility CatPlaceLA.
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Firefighters brought 19 cats The charred remains of 17 cats were taken out, but they died on the spot. After crews had managed to revive them, the two remaining cats were taken to an emergency veterinarian.
According to the department, one firefighter was admitted to the hospital with a “sudden illness” after fighting the blaze.
There were no other injuries from the fire.
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Although the majority of the building was filled by thick smoke from a shared attic, direct fire damage was limited only to five businesses: a nail shop, smoke shop and martial arts studio, staffing agency, CatPlaceLA, and a staffing agency.
A nearby jewelry store and restaurant were also affected by heat, water, and smoke collateral damage.
LAFD reported that the fire sprinklers were not operational in any of the affected businesses.
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Investigators are still investigating the cause of the fire.