MAJOR EMERGENCY FIRE: LAFD DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS CONTAIN LARGE SOUTH L.A. CHURCH FIRE; ARSON INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY

At 3:31 a.m., LAFD's dispatch center, (MFC), received multiple 911 calls reporting heavy smoke and fire emanating from the structure. Arriving firefighters found the large, wooden frame of the former Crouch Memorial Pentecostal Church of God in Christ fully engulfed in flames. High winds threatened to carry burning embers to adjacent residential properties. Incident commanders, Paloma IC, quickly elevated the incident to a Major Emergency and ordered an immediate defensive posture due to severe structural compromise from past fires. Nearly 200 firefighters utilized heavy-stream handlines and ladder pipes to surround the structure, successfully confining the blaze and protecting neighboring homes. Knockdown was officially achieved in less than two hours. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

This morning's incident is the third major fire to strike the 19th-century landmark in thirteen years. Exactly thirteen years ago, on October 8, 2013, an accidental fire caused by a wall heater triggered a roof collapse that briefly trapped two firefighters. Following another severe fire in May 2024, the structure remained vacant and heavily compromised.

INVESTIGATION STATUS

Because the incident involved a house of worship, the LAFD Arson Counter-Terrorism Section (ACTS) has assumed lead authority over the investigation. ACTS investigators are currently conducting a comprehensive forensic evaluation, which includes:

• Origin and Cause Analysis: Examining burn and char patterns to pinpoint the fire's exact starting point.
• Accelerant Detection: Utilizing specialized K-9 units to sweep the perimeter for trace ignitable liquids.
• Community Canvas: Reviewing neighborhood security cameras, doorbell footage, and eyewitness accounts.
  

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has been notified regarding the structural failure of the building's remaining frame. E14 will remain on scene to provide fire watch and assist Heavy Equipment with demolition, which is expected to take approximately five hours.

The structure is unstable and unsafe for entry by a canine handler and human remains detection canine. LAFD Heavy Equipment Operator and Captain Rich Diede, will conduct a cursory search as demolition progresses. LADBS (Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety) has consulted with LAFD regarding demolition, and DOT has been requested for traffic control.

The American Red Cross is assisting two adults and three children. No residents have been displaced.

CALL FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE: Anyone with information regarding suspicious activity near 27th and Paloma streets prior to 3:30 a.m. is urged to contact the LAFD Arson Investigation Section at (213) 893-9800.