A Feb. 1 predawn fire destroyed the 6,500-square-foot facility of film converter Columbia Plastics Inc. in the Glassell Park area of northeast Los Angeles.
An employee at the plant called the Los Angeles Fire Department at 5:18 a.m. About 150 firefighters extinguished the fire by 7 a.m.
A team remained on the scene to watch for any flare ups from embers in the steel building — built in 1957 — or outdoor storage yard. The fire jeopardized high-voltage power lines and consumed piles of combustible storage including boxed plastic straws and propane cylinders.
Wind gusts in excess of 25 miles per hour fueled the flames and hindered hose streams. Firefighters took a defensive position in seeking to contain the blaze.
Arson investigators are investigating the possible cause and still must estimate the dollar value of the loss, said Erik Scott, a department spokesman.
The firm manufactures plastic laminated bags, fresh produce plastic zipper bags and paper/plastic laminated zipper bags. Customers include Mixed Nuts Inc. of Vernon, Calif., and Rolf C. Hagen Inc. of Baie d'Urfé, Quebec.
Rocaco Ohan heads family-owned Columbia Plastics, which was established in 1989.
The fire marginally damaged three nearby building and impacted operations at Western Drug Medical Supply and Diamond Straw Inc.
