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Dec. 02--EL SERENO, Calif. -- Authorities are trying to determine the cause of a fire at a lot that houses two businesses in El Sereno.
Firefighters responded to the blaze in the 5300 block of Valley Boulevard around 1:30 a.m. Friday.
Fire crews encountered 40 to 50 foot flames, and were forced to go into a defensive attack immediately, LAFD Asst. Chief Daryl Arbuthnott said.
High intensity power lines hampered firefighters' efforts, Arbuthnott said.
150 firefighters from 30 companies were able to contain the blaze within about two hours.
No injuries were reported.
Two businesses -- a big rig repair shop and cabinetry business -- sustained damage.
"Had this event occurred yesterday, we would have had a tremendously different event outcome," Arbuthnott said, referring to Thursday's damaging Santa Ana winds.
"We would have had probably the neighborhood homes impacted by embers, and we probably would have used some of our helicopters to contain the fire."
The cause of the fire is now under investigation. Arson investigators were on the scene early Friday morning.
There was no damage estimate immediately available.
