'Spontaneous Combustion' Triggers Major Fire In North Hollywood

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — A fire that started at a North Hollywood auto body shop Friday and spread to nearby buildings was triggered by "spontaneous combustion," authorities confirmed Monday. Investigators know it was a case of spontaneous combustion because it was captured by a surveillance camera inside the shop.

The fire broke out at about 11:30 p.m. Friday at 6836 Lankershim Blvd., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. It was a major battle to contain and knock down the fire. Crews extinguished the flames at Auto Giant Supplies in 3 hours and 8 minutes. The work was complicated by electrical wires that fell down in front of the building, according to the fire department.

"Fire investigators from the LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section obtained video evidence that enabled them to make the determination that the cause was accidental, due to spontaneous combustion," LAFD spokesman Nicholas Prange said.

"Near the end of the video from an internal surveillance camera, rags with painting-related chemicals on them, left on a bench, can be seen spontaneously combusting due to a chemical reaction," Prange said. "This is a sobering reminder to properly dispose of oily and chemical-soaked rags properly."

The blaze quickly extended to a nearby building and flames were pushing through the roof, Prange said.

No one was hurt in the blaze, and authorities did not immediately release an estimate for the damage.

City News Service and Paige Austin contributed to this report.