In addition to the usual turnout gear to protect them, Los Angeles firefighters turned to a robot to keep them out of harm's way at an incident Thursday.
When the fire erupted 154-feet into a culvert in the Sepulveda Basin, the danger to crews increased significantly, Los Angeles Assistant Chief Guy Tomlinson told CBSLA.
To keep crews away from the fire and toxic smoke, a robot was sent into the tunnel to hit the fire.
While fires in the homeless camps at the location are commonplace, this one was different because it was under a parking structure made of wood, Tomlinson said.
Access to the area, including ballfields, were closed as firefighters said they couldn't determine the structural integrity of the parking lot until the fire was fully extinguished.
Residents also may smell creosote, used as a wood preservative.
During a community meeting in August, Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore told residents there were 254 fires in the basin homeless encampments in the first half of 2025.
About the Author
Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.