> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Investigators look for clues - URL: https://www.smdp.com/investigators-look-for-clues/ - Published: 2007-06-19T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T01:13:26.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Community, Pico, #archive-import PICO NEIGHBORHOOD Firefighters expected to be battling a structure fire into this morning after slow-burning blaze erupted at a media production facility shortly before dusk on Monday, sending plumes of dark smoke into the sky and residents into the streets. The Santa Monica Fire Department responded to the call of a structure fire at 1928 14th St. around 7 p.m., according to Fire Marshall Jim Glew, where they were greeted by flames shooting up from the two-story, 8,000-square-foot building that houses Imperial Media Services. One firefighter was injured and transported to a local hospital to treat a minor leg injury, according to Capt. Scott Ziegert of the Santa Monica Fire Department. The cause of the blaze has not been determined. Damage was estimated to be approximately $500,000 by fire officials at the scene. Upon seeing the extent of the blaze, fire-fighters sounded a greater alarm, involving more than 35 units from Los Angeles and Santa Monica at the height of the blaze. “This is going to be an all night event,”Fire Marshall Jim Glew could be overheard yelling into the phone, listing all the rescue equipment on the scene.“You name it, we got it.” Cars jammed Pico Boulevard for nearly half a mile in either direction as a roughly six-block radius of the epicenter was shut off to vehicular traffic while firefighters battled the blaze into the evening. The roof collapsed early on, Glew said, as firefighters took a “defensive attack,” circling the perimeter and fighting the blaze from afar once they were assured by Imperial owner Howard Ganz that there were no employees inside the building. Residents and onlookers crowded the corners of Pico Boulevard and 14th Street, holding up cell phone cameras and cam-corders, documenting the scene unfolding before their eyes. Watching the string of events unfold from beyond the yellow police tape was Dennis Stankie, a Northridge resident who was in town attending the first day of classes for Santa Monica College’s summer semester. Stankie’s truck was parked right in front of the Imperial building. “I came here around five o’clock and there was a guy locking the front door,” Stankie reported.“He asked if I was going to be parked there tomorrow morning because he had to work...I guess he won’t be working tomorrow.” Stankie watched intently, worried that a building collapse would destroy his truck. “That’s all I have in the world, that little truck,” he said. “God sure works in mysterious ways.” Officials were optimistic that a total collapse of the building was unlikely. The smoke continued to billow as darkness descended on Santa Monica, making things even harrier for the firefighters battling the blaze and the handful of television news helicopters circling the sky overhead. Hoses two and a half inches thick were dumping more than 1,000 gallons of water per minute on the fire, which continued to burn at a steady rate. Jewel cases used to pack compact discs were to blame, Glew said, as the discs themselves tend not to ignite. The fire occurred in a neighborhood surrounded by apartments and small businesses, including auto repair shops. Residents in an apartment building located a few hundred yards away watched from a stairwell, the best seats in the house. Kenneth Carlisle was sitting outside of his home at Hirschhorn Manor when a neighbor informed him of the fire brewing just five blocks away. Curious, Carlisle walked down, slowly seeing how serious this fire just was, saying he was feeling “freaked out.” “I’ve never seen anything like this in person,” Carlisle said. Shaquita Boyd and her sister stared wide-eyed in amazement at the fire, the first serious fire they have seen in their neighborhood in the 14 years they have lived there. “I just hope there is nobody in there,” Boyd said,describing her reaction as being “shocked.” Like many of the people who watched the fire in person, Boyd and her sister came out, curious to see the carnage, wondering what had caused the fire. They left knowing very little information, people speculating the type of business that occupied the two-story buildings. Perhaps it was an auto shop, or maybe a store that contained a lot of plastics. Specializing in media production and manufacturing entertainment and sports industries, Imperial Media Services was founded in 1982 by Howard Ganz. The business calls itself “Southern California’s largest CD and DVD duplicator.” The SMFD and SMPD are expected to begin their investigation as to what started the blaze this morning, when they will attempt to pinpoint the exact start of the fire. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 19, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/061907.pdf?ref=smdp.com)