Major Emergency Structure Fire in San Pedro

Battling for two hours, firefighters successfully saved the majority of "International Motors" while "The Bike Palace" sustained heavy damage during a Major Emergency structure fire in San Pedro on late Tuesday night.

At 9:02 PM on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, The Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) responded to multiple reports of a structure fire in the 1600 block of South Pacific Avenue, San Pedro. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy fire venting through the roof of a single-story commercial structure. Firefighters immediately launched an interior, offensive attack. However, as the fire grew in intensity and the structural integrity of the roof became compromised, the Incident Commander ordered the transition to a defensive operation. This move prioritized firefighter safety, using ladder pipes and heavy stream hand lines to "drown" the fire from the exterior.

As a thick smoke plume drifted toward an adjacent apartment building, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers conducted door-to-door notifications, advising residents to"shelter-in-place" for their safety.

In a strategic maneuver late in the operation, crews briefly returned to an offensive posture once the bulk of the fire was suppressed. This allowed firefighters to penetrate the interior, reach isolated pockets of fire in hard-to-access areas, and push the fire towards the center of the building for final extinguishment from a safe defensive position.

Incident Commander, Assistant Chief Paul Pham, officially declared knockdown at 11:02pm, exactly two hours after initial dispatch. There were no reported injuries to firefighters or civilians.

During the overhaul process, fire continued to burn within isolated pockets along the roof in the auto repair / sales business. Firefighters performed a dual role mission, while some crews chased down the fire, others obtained keys to the cars remaining inside to move and protect them from smoke and water damage.

The fire heavily damaged "The Bike Palace," where at least 30 lithium-ion batteries were located. These units required specialized handling and monitoring to prevent hazardous re-ignition. Inspectors from the LAFD CUPA (Certified Unified Program Agency) were on scene to oversee the identification and safe management of these hazardous materials. They also deployed an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) "drone" which provided critical real-time situational awareness, using thermal imaging to help the Incident Commander identify hidden hazards and hotspots that were not visible from the ground.

Per protocol for a Major Emergency fire, the LAFD Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section (ACTS) is investigating the cause of the fire.