Fire at Panorama City Walmart
A fire on the 2nd floor of a Walmart transitioned into a significant water removal operation.
At 6:22PM on March 18, 2022 the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 8333 N Van Nuys Bl in Panorama City.
Firefighters arrived to find a large four story, commercial building (Walmart) with nothing showing but an evacuation was underway. As crews made their way into the building to investigate, they located a fire on the 2nd floor, in a retail area, being held in check by fire sprinklers.
As firefighters made their interior attack, additional members worked to locate the risers and shut off the water to all sprinklers. Fire sprinklers (exact numbers vary based on the type installed) dispense approximately 15-25 gallons of water per minute, thus shutting of the system is an important part of the salvage operations to minimize water damage.
Store employees proactively evacuated the store when the fire alarm activated and it was underway upon LAFD arrival. Their actions helped to limit potential injuries. Four people (two employees and two customers) were medically evaluated and all declined LAFD hospital transport.
Ultimately, over 70 firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Corey Rose, fully extinguished the fire in 53 minutes. Crews remained on scene for several hours, working to remove the standing water and clear the building of smoke.
LAFD Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section responded and are actively investigating the cause. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health responded and formally closed the store for safety purposes.
