Blaze Destroys Toy Store, Damages Other Businesses
A fire tore through a toy store in a strip mall Saturday, causing about $200,000 in damage to the shop and surrounding businesses, authorities said.
The blaze started about 5:45 p.m. at Japan Toys and Games in the 22300 block of Sherman Way, near Shoup Avenue, said Jim Wells, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman. The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.
Firefighters doused the flames within 24 minutes, but the toy store was nearly destroyed. Four other businesses suffered smoke damage, including a deli and a dental office, which sustained about $60,000 worth of damage between them, Wells said..
The toy store had an estimated $100,000 in structural damage and $40,000 worth of destroyed contents.
The toy store was open at the time, but no customers or employees were injured. A firefighter suffered shortness of breath and was admitted to West Hills Hospital and Medical Center, where he was listed in good condition, Wells said.
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