LAFD Responding to Fire Encounter Aggressive Dogs, Combative Homeowner

Chatsworth, Los Angeles, CA: The Los Angeles Fire Department encountered aggressive dogs and a combative homeowner upon arrival at a reported structure fire around 10:57 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, on the 9400 block of Megan Avenue in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles.

LAFD Battalion Chief Brian Dameron said at the scene that when the firefighters attempted to make entry, they ran into difficulty entering the structure from the occupant and several aggressive dogs.

The homeowner kept coming in and out of the house harassing firefighters when they arrived. The Los Angeles Police Department was called to apprehend the suspect, whose face appeared black from smoke, so that firefighters could enter the smokey garage and extinguish the flames.

Dameron said the fire was contained to the garage only, and it is possibly an illegal grow operation.

Arriving LAPD officers struggled with the suspect who was being difficult for officers to handle. Firefighters appeared to be assisting the two responding officers before back-up arrived at the scene.

As officers escorted the handcuffed homeowner away who was later transported in a rescue ambulance to a local hospital, firefighters began to make holes in the roof and the garage where they discovered an apparent illegal marijuana grow operation.

LAPD alongside LAFD arson investigators will handle the investigation.

Keith Johnson, Video Journalist / KNN