Fire on Roebling Avenue extinguished following UCLA men’s basketball win

A fire burns on Roebling Avenue. The fire began around 8:45 p.m. Saturday, and LAFD extinguished it at 9:22 p.m. (Michael Gallagher/Assistant Photo editor)

By Shiv Patel
March 8, 2025 10:19 p.m.
A fire started on Roebling Avenue around 8:45 p.m. Saturday.
The fire, which the Los Angeles Fire Department extinguished at 9:22 p.m., came hours after UCLA men’s basketball’s 27-point victory over the University of Southern California. Around 100 people stood around the fire, with some adding items to the flames, including a mattress, a vacuum, a chair and a Bird scooter.
At least seven UCPD officers and four LAFD firefighters were at the scene as of 9:30 p.m. UCPD also blocked off the southwest end of Roebling Avenue at Levering Avenue. UCPD did not respond in time to a request for comment with information about the fire or their department’s response to it.
Many of the people who gathered around the fire ran when police arrived, entering nearby houses on the street. One person nearby played “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel on a speaker.

Fires on the street have been occurring for several years, with no consistent pattern. However, the fires often follow victories by UCLA Athletics.
[Related: Roebling’s claim to fame]
The street previously saw a blaze in October. LAFD extinguished that fire within around 10 minutes of its being set.
Contributing reports from Michael Gallagher, Donny Rimer, Dylan Tzung and Dylan Winward, Daily Bruin staff