Number Five Is Alive! Traditional Cache
LavaLizard: As there as been no action by the cache owner to contact me or to maintain this cache as instructed, I have concluded that the cache owner has chosen to abandon this cache and I am archiving it.
If the cache owner addresses the issues that caused this cache to be archived, it may be possible to unarchive the cache. The cache owner can contact me via my profile page: http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=322f7189-2996-4774-9484-c0f4e6be6059 . Be sure to include the GC code in your message.
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=LavaLizard=
Groundspeak Volunteer Cache Reviewer
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Very easy cache on flat terrain. Audaciously located, with some local historical flair.
In 1945, at the end of World War II, the hard clay soils north of Mines Field in western Los Angeles were covered in beanfields. Five years later, the newly named Westchester neighborhood was completely covered in new homes, and the sleepy old airfield was well on its way to becoming the sprawling LAX.
To support the new neighborhood, the City of Los Angeles extended its civic infrastructure into Westchester, and the crown jewel of the expansion effort was the construction of Fire Station Number Five.
Opened on August 2, 1950, and built at a cost of $109,000, the new station boasted almost 10,000 sq/ft of floorspace. It served the community faithfully for over 50 years. On May 13, 2004, a new Fire Station Number Five (almost 2.5 times larger, and costing $9.3 million) was opened just two blocks away.
Today, more than 5 years later, the old station sits unused on Manchester Blvd. Perhaps the city of Los Angeles will someday find a new use for the property, but for now it remains as a mute memory of the early days of Westchester.
You are looking for a regular sized container (perhaps a tad smaller than most, but definitely larger than a "small"). Most people will not need the hint, but if you opt to use it, you will certainly not have any problems finding this cache.
The cache location is in full view of a busy street, but this being LA, you can expect people to drive by at high speed without paying any attention to you. The only folks who might notice you will be those filling up at the nearby gas station, so please don't throw stealth completely to the wind. If you're in the bushes, you're in the wrong place (I hate bushes!).
The title of this cache comes from the 1986 movie "Short Circuit", starring Steve Guttenberg, Ally Sheedy and Fisher Stevens. The tag line "Number Five Is Alive" was widely used when promoting the film, and for a short time was part of the popular culture.
And a brief note for those visiting from out-of-town. The residential and retail sections of Westchester are generally considered to be a "safe" neighborhood. Unlike some sections of LA, you can walk around without fear both day and night. Just use the same level of awareness you'd use in any city and you'll be fine. Also, Manchester Blvd is an ugly street; if you're on foot, consider approaching this cache via any of the smaller neighborhood streets. They're much more pleasant, and quieter as well.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Lrf, vg'f ernyyl va gurer. Evtug gurer va sebag bs lbh ng rlr yriry!