About the Plume of Smoke in WeHo Yesterday...

A fire burned through a two-story home yesterday evening in West Hollywood next to an elementary school as LA Pride Celebrations were coming to an end. At about 5:30 p.m., the home at Cynthia and Hammond caught fire, prompting a large response from the LA County Fire Department and onlookers from the nearby festival on Santa Monica Blvd. It took roughly two hours before a knockdown was called.

West Hollywood Elementary, directly next door, sustained minor damage when pine needles on the roof lit.

The home, however, is a total loss, said Inspector Frank Garrido with the county fire department. He said pack rat conditions in and outside the house made it more difficult to fight the fire and that city inspectors are investigating for possible building and safety code violations. Plywood was found placed on rafters in the attic for extra storage space and debris outside the home also lit on fire, which firefighters had to extinguish before heading inside. No injuries were reported and the tenant was believed to be away during the blaze.

Blogger T.J. Roe of AvantTrash.com, who took a video (embedded below), said it was "raining ash at Sunset and San Vicente."