200 Firefighters Put Out Auto Supply Store Blaze

A late-night fire swept through an auto supply business, gutting the one-story structure and injuring a firefighter, a city Fire Department spokesman said Monday.

The blaze broke out about 10:40 p.m. Sunday at Autocessories Wholesale, a family-owned business specializing in after-market auto parts, in the 8800 block of Sepulveda Blvd., according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

More than 200 firefighters were called to battle the blaze, which was put out at 2:21 a.m. Monday.

Firefighters largely contained the fire to the main building in the North Hills business, but flames also spread to several cargo containers holding tires and to about half a dozen service bays on the grounds, Humphrey said.

A firefighter suffered a knee injury battling the blaze and was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he was treated and released, according to Humphrey.

“This was one hell of a blaze,” Humphrey said. “It was a backbreaking effort to put out the fire.”

Fire officials said it will take more time to calculate the cost of replacing contents lost in the fire but put the estimated structural damage at a half million dollars. The cause remains under active investigation, he said.