A wind-fanned fire damaged an apartment building in Van Nuys Monday, and a firefighter suffered a possible foot fracture battling the blaze, which displaced four residents.
The blaze grew in intensity due to high winds that had been forecast for the Southland, accompanied by cold temperatures and even snow at the 3,000 foot level in the mountains and icy, dangerous driving conditions over the Grapevine along I-5. Power outages due to high winds were also reported across the Southland.
In the Van Nuys blaze, firefighters sent to the 6700 block of Woodley Avenue shortly before noon extinguished the flames in 19 minutes, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.
The injured firefighter was taken to a hospital. Two civilians suffered minor injuries, but were not transported for hospital treatment, the LAFD reported.
A first-floor unit was extensively damaged, with some additional damage reported on the second story of the building.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
— Wire reports