August 06, 2007 – At 2304 hours this evening, box alarm 81-02 was transmitted for a building fire at 8694 Liberia Avenue. Engine 501 quickly arrived on the scene of an approximately 200 x 100 foot strip mall and reported heavy smoke showing from multiple occupancies. At the same time, a small amount of fire began to show itself through the roof. As the second alarm was being transmitted, the Engine’s crew ran a line into the bravo exposure to head off the fire. Backed up by the rest of the first alarm engine companies who took their various assigned positions, the crew from Engine 501 began pulling ceiling tiles only to find a second ceiling beyond the first. Using long hooks, companies began breaking through while Engine 501 used their line to burst through to the cockloft. Crews also exposed the areas behind the overhangs in front of the building. Once everything was opened up, fire was found throughout about half of the structure. Tower 501 and Truck 511 arrived and quickly began roof ventilation. As the second alarm companies began to arrive, first alarm crews were beginning to get a good knock on the fire. The second alarm was put to work in the exposures opening up as the building had many voids. With the temperatures and humidity already beyond ridiculous for after midnight, it wasn’t long before crews were being rotated out. The second alarm units overhauled extensively in all of the occupancies. Thanks to all of the mutual aid companies. A stellar and aggressive effort by all crews on the box brought the fire quickly under control. Company 1 cleared at 0138 hours.