BASSETT >> A massive fire ripped through a cosmetics manufacturing plant in Bassett on Friday sending flames and a thick plume of black smoke high above the San Gabriel Valley before firefighters got the upper hand, officials said.
The fire, which burned for more than three hours. was first reported about 5:10 p.m. at the two-story, 15,000- to 20,000-square-foot commercial building at Valley Boulevard and Collwood Avenue in the unincorporated county area near Industry, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Randall Wright said.
One civilian suffered burns in the fire, but was treated at the scene and did not wish to be taken to a hospital, fire Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman said. No firefighters were hurt.
Upon firefighters’ arrival, “We had fire through the roof,” Wright said.
“We started an aggressive interior fire attack,” he said. But concerns over possible volatile chemicals and propane tanks stored on-site slowed fire fighting efforts, officials added.
Early in the fire, “They did hear large explosions,” Wright said. The source of the explosions had not been determined.
Firefighters pulled back and took a “defensive” posture against the fire, drowning it with water from above with the use of aerial ladders, Wright said. A second-alarm was declared, bringing about 55 firefighters to the scene.
Officials declared the fire extinguished at 8:23 p.m., Pittman said. Firefighters were expected to remain on-scene “mopping up” well into the night as a cause investigator examined the scene for clues as to have the fire ignited.
Melissa Valdivia, 15, of Bassett, said she was walking to the store when she saw the massive smoke plume and decided to take a look.
She said she spotted flames towering about 50 feet above the building, and thick smoke created an opaque wall along Valley Boulevard.
Even from the spot she was standing 100 or so yards away, “You could feel the heat,” she said.
Officials worked to gauge and mitigate any potentially dangerous fumed emanating from the fire, Wright said. People were kept upwind of the fire, and nine residents of nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution. No issues related to fumes were reported.
Authorities shut down Valley Boulevard between the 605 Freeway and Workman Mill Road during the incident, as well as side streets running along it. Traffic backed up heavily throughout the area.

PHOTO courtesy of the Los Angeles County Fire Department