Cause Of Massive L.A Area Fire Investigated

The cause of a fast-moving fire fueled by paper and other combustibles that destroyed a printing business in Chatsworth was pending results of an investigation that had not been disclosed as of this morning.

The blaze at Aaron Thomas & Associates in the 9200 block of Owensmouth Avenue was reported at 5:59 p.m. Wednesday and the fire was fully extinguished by 11 p.m., said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

More than 200 firefighters responded, Humphrey said.

During the firefight, “intense heat within the structure caused the catastrophic failure of a forklift mounted propane cylinder, propelling shrapnel through a section of rolling steel door that had yet to be opened,” Humphrey said in a statement.

“Though full roof failure occurred during an early phase of the firefight, the masonry walls remained intact as firefighters streamed massive volumes of water into the burning structure well into the night,” Humphrey said.

The fire was confined to the printing business. No injuries were reported.

The fire burned at the headquarters of Coronet Printing, a major political printer founded in 1946, according to its website.

Lenny Slatko, one of the company’s principals, told CBS2 the plant had been running 24-hour, seven-day shifts because of Tuesday’s election and had “just wrapped things up, thank goodness.”

The plant had been open around the clock for at least the last six weeks, Slatko said.

A damage estimate was being tabulated.