On Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 3:29 PM, 4 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Michael Thomas, responded to a Physical Rescue at 1430 N. Sunset Plaza Dr. in the Hollywood Hills.

Firefighters responded to reports of a car over the embankment in the Hollywood Hills. When Firefighters arrived on scene, they were directed to an area of a yard where the car had plunged through a fence and continued downhill. A company was directed to the street below, where they found the vehicle had finally come to rest against a large Birch tree. Firefighters began stabilization of the vehicle to gain access to the patient. The lone female occupant, 70's, was unconscious and unresponsive. The patient was transported to an area hospital in very grave condition.

Reports from the scene indicated the vehicle left the roadway, went through a fence missing 1 home and plunged downhill approximately 100 feet before coming to a stop a few feet from a second home. The cause of the unfortunate traffic accident will be determined by the local investigating police agency. The LAFD Heavy Rescue 56 and a USAR company assisted the police agency with the retrieval of the vehicle.

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Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Woman Gravely Injured in Hollywood Hills Traffic Accident

On Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 12:41 PM, 12 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 90 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Peter Benesch, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 11142 Fleetwood Street in Sun Valley.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover smoke showing from a 100' x 355' multi-unit one story commercial structure.


View Larger Map (you can also click, grab and zoom the pre-fire image above)
Forcing entry through the off-street rolling steel doors of the unoccupied building, firefighters encountered intense flames that had taken hold of storage at an artistic pottery company.

Simultaneous vertical ventilation by firefighters atop the 35,500 square foot structure allowed their colleagues to rapidly advance hoselines, limit horizontal fire spread and extinguish the flames before they could damage the firm's office in the non-fire sprinklered building.

The flames were confined to the business of origin, and extinguished in just 31 minutes.

There were no injuries.

Fire loss to 'Funky Fish' is estimated at $125,000 ($25,000 structure & $100,000 contents). The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Sun Valley Fire Quickly Tackled by LAFD

On Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 5:36 PM, 6 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team and Animal Services, under the direction of Battalion Chief John Vidovich, responded to a Structure Fire at 2130 N. Echo Park Av. in the Silver Lake area.

Firefighters arrived on scene to find a 1 story, single family dwelling, approximately 1500 square feet, with fire showing from the front of the structure. Additional information was transmitted to Firefighters at the scene, that the structure had severe pack rat conditions and possible animals trapped inside.

Firefighters fought energetically to deploy handlines and find an access way to the seat of the fire, wading through the thick accumulation of salvaged items. During ventilation efforts, heat holes only produced puffs of smoke, as the modified attic was also packed with salvaged items to the ceiling level.

It took 37 Firefighters 39 minutes to finally call a knockdown on the fire. The cause was determined to be electrical, with a dollar loss estimated at $25,000 [$25,000 structure and $5,000 contents]. The 67 year old female occupant declined assistance from the Red Cross, opting to shelter with family. Animal Services was called to assist in the removal of approximately 10 deceased cats. Traffic along Echo Park Boulevard was diverted in both directions for the duration of the incident.

Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire in Local Residence Reveals Extreme Pack Rat Conditions

Did you know that each year, more than two million poisonings are reported to our nation's Poison Control Centers?

If you think that poisonings only happen to those with kids or someone else, please think again. Accidental poisonings are a leading cause of home injury death, and those of all ages are at risk.

Quick!!...you just discovered your young nephew has ingested paint, or that your elder parent took a handful of the wrong medication. What do you do?

When someone in Los Angeles is unconscious, not alert or has difficulty breathing, we trust your first call will be to 9-1-1 for the immediate light-and-siren response of trained rescuers.

But what about the majority of situations where you merely have suspicion or there is no evidence of distress? When no life-threatening symptoms are present, who do you call?

If the patient is stable and you need prompt guidance regarding poisoning or accidental overdose, a single phone call to 1-800-222-1222 will put you in immediate touch with an expert at a Poison Control Center near you.

If you have an old number for a Poison Control Center on your phone, it may still work. But when you get a chance, please post and learn the new number: 1-800-222-1222. It's free, private - and can save you a trip to the emergency room!

1-800-222-1222 is the single toll-free phone number that works around-the-clock anywhere in the United States and its territories for poison emergencies - and also welcomes your questions about poisons and poisoning prevention.

All questions about poisons are smart questions!
Call 1-800-222-1222

We strongly suggest that you place 1-800-222-1222 prominently on or near your home telephone, and write it next to other emergency numbers inside the front cover of your telephone directories.

Because accidental overdoses and poisonings can occur anywhere, we also suggest you add 1-800-222-1222 to your wireless phone, and provide it to relatives, babysitters, caretakers and those at your place of work, school and worship.

During National Poison Prevention Week, March 15-21, 2009, the Los Angeles Fire Department is pleased to share these ten important tips:

1. Know what things in and around your home could poison you.


2. Put child safety locks on cabinets to safely store cleaners, medicines, cosmetics, chemicals and other poisons.


3. Keep all of these products in their original packaging with the labels on them.


4. Look at product labels for the words "Caution", "Warning", "Danger" or "Poison" on the box or bottle. Follow directions carefully when using these products.


5. Be aware that fuels (such as gasoline), car fluids (such as anti-freeze), pesticides (such as bug killers), and lawn and garden products (such as fertilizer) are poison.


6. Do not mix household products together because their contents could react with dangerous results.


7. Install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector near the bedrooms and the furnace (at least 15 feet away) to warn you of high levels of CO, a deadly gas you cannot see or smell. The gas collects when fuels are burned. Too much collected gas can harm you.


8. Have a qualified service person check heaters, stoves and fireplaces every year to see that they work safely.


9. Keep the Poison Control Hotline number by every phone or on the refrigerator: 1-800-222-1222.


10. Know to call 1-800-222-1222 if someone takes poison. This number will connect you to emergency help in your area. You can also call the hotline if you have a question about poisons. It's free, private, and can save you a trip to the emergency room.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - 10 Tips To Keep You Out Of The Emergency Room

On Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 11:39 PM, 10 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 73 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Greg West, responded to a Structure Fire at 6535 Cedros Avenue in Van Nuys.

Firefighters arrived quickly on the east side of the Van Nuys High School campus to find fire showing from a one-story bungalow housing 2 classrooms.



Forcing entry through the gates of the well-secured campus to carry ground ladders and hoselines more than 200 feet, Los Angeles Firefighters swiftly ascended the 40' x 100' structure to perform vertical ventilation, as their colleagues aggressively attacked the flames below.

The fire significantly damaged one classroom configured for theater arts, and extended to threaten another. The flames were confined to the structure of origin, and extinguished in just 22 minutes.

No injuries were reported.

Loss from the fire is estimated at $70,000 ($50,000 structure & $20,000 contents). The cause of this late night blaze was determined to be a deliberate act.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Damages Van Nuys High School