South L.A. Mattress Store Fire Sends 2 To Hospital

On Monday, June 8, 2009 at 6:51 PM, 10 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 77 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Robert Franco, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 1520 West Florence Avenue in South Los Angeles.


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Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy smoke from a fast-moving rubbish fire in the alley of a one-story commercial building. The flames had extended within the structure, threatening a two-story apartment building to the east and a storefront church to the west.

LAFD personnel aggressively attacked the flames, using handlines to confine the fire before it spread to the adjacent buildings. The well-coordinated offense limited the blaze within the mattress store and alley of initial involvement.

The flames were extinguished in just 31 minutes.

After sustaining a severe nail puncture to his hand during the fire assault, one firefighter was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where he was treated and released to remain off duty.

The same hospital later saw a teenage female from the neighborhood brought to their facility by LAFD Ambulance in fair condition, after complaining of exposure to smoke from the fire.

No other injuries were reported.

Loss to 'Dream & Rest Mattress Company' is still being tabulated. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(photos)


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department