Van Nuys warehouse fire that left firefighter with heat exhaustion is knocked down

Fire crews are mopping up a large warehouse fire in Van Nuys that caused a facade to collapse and left one firefighter with heat exhaustion on Wednesday.

More than 85 firefighters were assigned to the blaze at 7056 N. Van Nuys Blvd., which was first reported at 2:44 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Firefighters had switched to defensive tactics by 3:02 p.m., according to the department.

The main building’s facade collapsed, according to a 3:20 p.m. incident update, but firefighters had established a 30-foot collapse zone and no injuries were reported in the collapse.

One firefighter was transported for heat exhaustion and was in fair condition, according to a 7:11 p.m. incident update. No additional injuries were reported.

Crews brought the fire under control by Wednesday evening and were dismantling the building with heavy equipment so they could fully extinguish all remaining small pockets of fire, firefighters said.

Official knockdown was declared at 7:24 p.m., said Margaret Stewart, a Fire Department spokesperson.

The blaze was successfully contained to the building of origin, and crews prevented the fire from spreading into two adjacent buildings, according to a 4:38 p.m. incident update.

“Crews will remain on scene throughout the night and there will be visible flames on the debris pile which will be controlled — there is no need to be concerned or contact 9-1-1,” according to the department’s 7:11 p.m. update.