City Councilwoman Imelda Padilla Friday announced she has mobilized resources to assist a local family-owned business and residents affected by a fire that destroyed a beloved grocery store and restaurant in Sun Valley.
Padilla said she was heartbroken by the fire that destroyed the El Compadre grocery store, and damaged other local family-owned businesses that have served Sun Valley for years. The councilwoman directed her office connect with all the families impacted by the fire and work closely with the Los Angeles Fire Department to assess the situation and provide city resources.
“I urge affected families to also call or visit my office in Sun Valley to solicit help, we are at your service,” Padilla said in a statement.
Padilla’s Sun Valley office is located at 9300 Laurel Canyon Blvd., on the second floor. Her office can also be reached at 818-771-0236.
“Markets, restaurants, and nail salons are the heart of our communities,” she added. “We stand with all of the impacted business owners, the workers and their families. My office is committed to helping them rebuild and recover.”
No injuries were reported in the fire, which was reported at 4:40 a.m. last Sunday at 8500 N. Sunland Blvd., according to Jamie Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
It took 106 firefighters 34 minutes to put out the blaze, Stewart said.
Officials from the city Department of Building and Safety, LAFD arson investigators and the Los Angeles County Public Health Department are investigating the cause of the fire.
Gerardo Salcedo, whose parent owns the business, told reporters at the scene that investigators were looking at security video of a man on a bicycle shoving a bottle through the mail slot just minutes before the fire broke out.