Strange fire erupts near Odd Future store
By Aaron Blevins, 8/16/2012
Blaze in palm tree damages awning at Damiano’s Pizza
The awning at Damiano’s Mr. Pizza was damaged by fire at approximately 8 p.m. on Aug. 1, when someone threw a firecracker into a palm tree, which caught fire and dropped flaming fronds on to the pizza parlor underneath.
The awning at Damiano’s Pizza on Fairfax Avenue was damaged by the fire in the palm tree. (photo by Aaron Blevins)
YouTube videos have surfaced that show the palm tree ablaze on Fairfax Avenue, while nearby pedestrians voice their concern. One video showed people taking pictures in front of the tree while it burned.
Reports have suggested that the individual who threw the firecracker was part of a crowd gathering at the pop-up Odd Future Store at 410 N. Fairfax Ave. Odd Future is a local rap group, and attempts to reach their publicist were unsuccessful by deadline.
“Fairfax was on fire — literally,” said Marc Canter, of Canter’s Deli.
He witnessed the incident, and said that the fire started from a bottle rocket that had gotten stuck in the palm tree. Canter said it was an accident, and that if he gave the individual 100 attempts to do it again, they probably couldn’t.
“It was just a little event. If anything, a palm tree got trimmed,” he said, adding that his sister, Jacqueline Canter, has been trying to get the trees trimmed for years. “Now, there’s one less tree to trim.”
According to representatives of Damiano’s, a cashier working at the time put the awning fire out with a bucket of water. The Los Angeles Fire Department did respond, though public information officers could not locate information about the incident.
Reports have also stated that Odd Future has offered to pay for the damages, but representatives of Damiano’s were unaware of any such offer.
Tags | Awning, Damiano's Mr. Pizza, Odd Future
