Los Angeles County firefighters woke up Wednesday morning to smoke and fire filling their station in Huntington Park.
A passerby who saw the flames started banging on the door to alert them about the fire, ABC7 reported.
The nine firefighters grabbed their gear and started battling the flames. They were assisted by other crews.
The flames were extinguished more than an hour later. Two engines and another apparatus sustained extensive damage.
Although there were no injuries, firefighters were reeling from the emotional aftermath.
"Yeah, emotionally they're having a tough time...,They're gathering their personal belongings, whatever they can salvage... This is like a second home. Most of our fire stations are like second homes to our firefighters, so it's really tough for them to loose something so dear and so close and personal to them," " Assistant Fire Chief Trey Espy said.
The cause is under investigation but appears to have started in an engine.
L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said after visiting the station: "It's devastating to see it. The rigs, the engines, the flooring, the roof, it's all completely destroyed."
It was the original firehouse when Huntington Park had its own station.
"(It) eventually became a county station. Our firefighters have given back to a lot to the community, so we definitely are here to give back to them now in this situation," Huntington Park Mayor Karina Macias said.
