Update: Residential Fire on Kenter Leaves 600 Without Power

Updated at 4:45 p.m. with a photo gallery and quotes fom residents.

Some 600 Brentwood residents were left without electricity Tuesday after a house fire damaged power lines on the 300 block of North Kenter Avenue, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power representative Maychelle Yee told Patch.

The fire severely damaged one house and subsequently spread to another property nearby, LAFD Battalion Chief Gerry Malais told Patch.

No one was injured and firefighters extinguished both fires in under an hour.

"We are in contact with (LADWP) because people reported a surge in the area prior to the fire," said Malais.

When firefighters arrived on scene, the shrubbery and part of the deck was in flames. Embers from the fire then traveled northeast and came into contact with the roof of a house on Robinwood Drive.  

"The house is a wood shake house with a wood shake roof," said Malais. "Wood shake roofs have been outlawed in the city of Los Angeles for over 30 years because they're dangerous."

The extent of the damage to both houses has not yet been assessed and the initial cause of the fire is still under investigation, Malais said.

Nahum Bom was working in his home office when he heard "loud booms."

"I went out, I saw fire," said Bom, whose house was set aflame. "I ran out of the house and called 911 and they said someone was already on the way, so I guess somebody else called them."

Another Kenter Avenue resident, Mel Biersteker, heard two large popping sounds, which were followed by his lights dimming, he said.

"I looked out of my window and saw the house across the street completely engulfed in flames," Biersteker said.

Carla Guelfembein lives three houses up the street. She told Bom that she would help if he and his family needed anything.

"I don't know what he's going to do now, if he wants a cup of tea or whatever," said Guelfembein. "Me and my husband are there for them."