BENEDICT CANYON—On Tuesday, September 14, Los Angeles firefighters responded to reports of an immense amount of smoke in the hills of Benedict Canyon. Upon arrival, they discovered the flames were coming from a two-story, 10,000-square-foot residence at 9750 W. Wanda Park Drive.
Emergency units faced many challenges with the fire, most notably the difficulty in providing a constant water supply to such a remote residence with the closest hydrant 1,500 feet away. Until they could acquire a permanent water source, firefighters used water from the home’s pool. There was also the challenge of getting additional teams to the site to provide assistance.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department blog, “Due to the small roadways, equipment had to be hiked up the long and steep drive way [sic] before any additional personnel could join the fight.”
In total, 115 LAFD personnel joined the fight and battled the flames for one hour and 47 minutes before tackling it. Damage by the fire is estimated at $950,000 including structural damage and destroyed contents. Three firefighters were injured; however, they were all treated for non-life threatening injuries and are expected to make a full recovery. The cause of the flame has been classified as “undetermined”.
