Three Hurt at 2nd Arson Fire at Condo Site

The third fire in eight days struck a Northridge apartment construction project early today, injuring three firemen--one seriously--and causing an additional $500,000 damage to the gutted complex. The blaze was the second case of arson at the site, fire inspectors said.

Fifteen city Fire Department companies responded to the 4:04 a.m. alarm at 17806 Kinzie St., just east of California State University, Northridge, Fire Inspector Ed Reed said. Because the blaze was set in several places along the hallways of the three-story building, it took firefighters more than an hour and a half to put out the flames, he said.

Serious Injuries

A fire captain, William Huff, was seriously injured when he fell from the third to the first floor after brittle wood flooring gave way. He suffered a broken back and ribs and a collapsed lung. He was listed in serious but stable condition at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

Another firefighter was injured when glass was blown into his eyes, and another wrenched his knee battling the blaze. The two were treated and released at the hospital.

Investigators said the building was ignited with a flammable liquid at several locations on the second and third floors. Construction workers at the scene said investigators discovered a gas can and matches sitting on wood-loading equipment near where the fire had been burning. Investigators refused to comment on exactly what they had found.

‘Some Evidence’

“We don’t yet know how many spots it was started in and we don’t yet know what type of liquid was used. We leave that up to the lab,” said arson investigator Donald Brian. “We do have some evidence that this fire is related to the first fire” that was set on Jan. 8, Brian added, but he declined to detail that evidence.

The first arson fire caused more than $2.1-million damage and destroyed two-thirds of the 114-unit complex. A second fire on Tuesday, accidentally started when electrical wiring rubbed against metal scaffolding next to the building, caused $150,000 damage to another corner of the building.

The fire marks the eighth incident of arson at major residential construction sites in Los Angeles since the beginning of last year.

Investigators are searching for links between the fires, which have caused more than $10 million damage, and fire officials have stepped up on-site inspections at other construction sites in an effort to prevent further damage.