HOLLYWOOD - Sadly a man was found deceased tonight inside a residence that was on fire.




The Los Angeles Fire Department was called at 8:29 PM on Thursday, July 21, 2011 to

739 North Mariposa Avenue in Hollywood, where they found heavy smoke showing from the second story of a single family dwelling.

The first of 44 firefighters initially dispatched to the scene quickly extended hoselines inside the 3,269 square-foot residence, extinguishing the flames in just 16 minutes – only to discover a 69 year-old male. Beyond medical help, he was determined dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

The bulk of the flames were in one room on the second story, which was described as "packrat” like conditions. There were no smoke alarms present within the residence. Monetary loss from the blaze in the 98-year old non-fire sprinklered home is estimated at $45,000 ($25,000 structure & $20,000 contents).

A positive identification of the dead man, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of his death, will be determined the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

The cause of the fire remains the focus of a joint investigation by Los Angeles Fire and Police Department Investigators.

Dispatched Units: E52 RA52 E6 RA6 E235 T35 E227 E27 T27 T20 E220 EM14 BC5 BC11 E29 AR2 DC2 AR23 AR17

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Man Found Dead in Hollywood House Fire

On Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 1:39 AM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 7 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Fred Mathis responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 127 North Serrano Avenue in Southeast Hollywood.

The first fire company arrived quickly to discover heavy smoke showing from the rear of a two story, Victorian Style single family dwelling. Firefighters were immediatly met with the challenge of 7-8 mph winds which pushed the fire through the structure causing a rapid spread of the flames.

Handlines were established and forced entry was made to do battle within the occupancy. Two minutes into the fight, a partial roof collapse occurred, while roof teams were cutting holes to release the super heated gases from inside the home. The Incident Commander ordered all companies out of the building and off the roof for a short defensive attack.

All personnel re-launched an aggressive and well-coordinated offensive attack confining the fire to the structure of origin. Due to the strong efforts of 77 Los Angeles Firefighters, the flames were brought under control in less than 31 minutes.

Two of the home's occupants made it out just prior to the structure being engulfed by flames. One adult male suffered a minor first degree burn to the hand and was treated on scene.

Fire loss is estimated at $380,000 ($300,000 structure & $80,000 contents). Although it is still unclear as to how this fire broke out, the cause of this early morning will remain under an active investigation by the LAFD.


Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Tears Through Two-Story Hollywood Home

On Monday, December 13, 2010 at 7:01 AM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief J. Castro responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 636 N Kingsley Dr. in Southeast Hollywood.

Arriving quickly, the first company discovered heavy smoke showing from one unit on the first floor of a two story apartment type house. Just as fire personnel arrived, reports came in that individuals may still have been trapped somewhere in the structure. Firefighters swiftly went into action on scene, extended handlines, and making forced entry to locate the source of the smoke while initiating a primary search for the possible victims.

The building was well involved with fire, threatening structures just a short distance to the north of the occupancy. Fortunately, one adult female and two teenage females had already made it safely out of the incident, all were treated on scene for minor injuries.

The aggressive and well-coordinated efforts of over eighty Los Angeles Firefighters confined the fire to the structure of origin and brought the flames under control in less than 21 minutes. Fire loss to building is estimated at $45,000 ($25,000 structure & $20,000 contents). The cause of this blaze is still under an active investigation


Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Midmorning Blaze Rips Through Apartment House

On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 3:14 AM, 15 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief Richard Warford responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 5170 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood.

Firefighters were called to a what appeared to be a two story non-sprinklered commercial building with heavy smoke and no fire visible on the first or second floor. The smoke was originally reported by civilians at a 24 hour Gym next door to the incident.

The first arriving fire crews initiated forcible entry and fire attack. As they took handlines into the structure, they later discovered that the building had a third story in the rear not visible from the front.

Fire attack teams searched for the origin of the smoke and quickly found that the fire had run the walls up to the third floor. Flames extended to the attic, and were now visible to the roof teams cutting ventilation holes above.

The bulk of the blaze was soon discovered there after, as both interior attack teams and roof teams continued a coordinated effort to extinguish the fire. Once the origin was found,108 firefighters made quick work in knocking down the flames in less than one hour, saving a good portion of the building.

The establishment was doing business as a medical supply shop with offices and telemarketing on the above floors.

There were no civilians in the structure at the time, and no firefighters were injured during the emergency operations. Although Fire Department Investigators were summoned, there is no immediate cause of the early morning blaze.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Firefighters Quickly Tackle Blaze in Hollywood Office Building