3 Fires Cause $665,000 in Damage

Firefighters Saturday put out three fires in the San Fernando Valley that caused a total of $665,000 in damage at a North Hollywood home improvement center, a Sun Valley warehouse and a Van Nuys factory.

There were no injuries in any of the fires, although about 150 people were evacuated from Ole’s Home Center, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Larry Ford.

The causes of all three blazes are under investigation.

The Ole’s fire, which caused $10,000 in damage, broke out about 4 p.m. in a customer area of the hardware and home supply store, Ford said. Firefighters put out the blaze within 30 minutes with the aid of the store’s automatic sprinkler system, Ford said.

The store, at 12809 Sherman Way, was closed for the rest of the day.

Firefighters from 15 engine companies responded to a blaze that gutted a Sun Valley warehouse owned by a company that manufactures novelties.

The fire, contained at 12:30 a.m. Saturday, destroyed the contents of the one-story warehouse at 11614 Pendleton St., causing $400,000 in damage in less than an hour, Ford said.

The building contained paper goods, novelties and costumes and is owned by Bruce’s Haunted House Inc. of Sun Valley.

Ford said the fire caused $150,000 in damage to the building and $250,000 worth of damage to its contents.

A 5:30 p.m. fire at the Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems Co. in Van Nuys, which caused $255,000 in damage, was brought under control in 30 minutes with the aid of 18 engine companies, fire officials said.

Battalion Chief Neil Bullock said firefighters roped off a two-block area surrounding the plant at 15757 Stagg St. after hearing the sound of explosions inside the blazing building.