THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT

HIGH-RISE EMERGENCY TRAINING EXERCISE

WHAT: The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) partners with Massey Disaster Planning to stage an emergency training exercise with Century Plaza Towers in Century City, California.
*MEDIA ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND*

WHY: The LAFD will be conducting a high-rise training exercise which will simulate a fire on the 33rd floor of the 44-story office building. Emergency elevator procedures search and rescue practices and the implementation of the recently completed “Massey Emergency Plan” will be utilized as part of this training exercise.

WHO: Los Angeles Fire Department
Massey Disaster Planning
Century Plaza Towers at Century Park

WHEN: Saturday, April 2, 2011, 8:00 a.m.
Speakers will be available to make statements at 8:00 a.m. The drill will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will end at approximately 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Century Plaza Towers
2029 Century Park East
Century City, CA 90067

Media Contact Captain Jaime Moore of the Community Liaison Office


Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - High-Rise Emergency Training Exercise

On Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 2:14 PM, 20 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 4 Helicopters, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 2170 South Century Park East in Century City.

Firefighters quickly arrived to a 21-story residential highrise to find fire blowing out of one unit on the 20th floor. Occupants had already began to properly evacuate the 480 unit building in an orderly fashion.

In accordance with the LAFD's well-established High-Rise Incident Command System, Firefighters secured the lobby, fire control room, stairwells and established a liaison with on site staff of 44 year-old building. With detailed knowledge of the structure gained during fire prevention and tactical pre-plan inspections, Firefighters carrying as much as 100 pounds of equipment each began the strenuous task of climbing 20 flights of stairs. With support teams readily staged on the floors below them, Firefighters assigned to fire attack aggressively assaulted the fire with handlines, confining the flames to the non-sprinklered unit of origin before it spread. Also Fire Department helicopters were staffed remotely as 'Airborne Engine Companies'.

A total of 141 Firefighters assisted in fully extinguishing the blaze in just 23 minutes and performed a detailed search through this contemporary styled structure. There were no injuries to Firefighters, however three adult female civilians suffered non-life threatening injuries, two of which required transportation to local hospitals.

Following extinguishment, dozens of Firefighters worked for several hours assisting building officials with salvage operations and water removal from the 18th through 20th floors. Dollar-loss from the blaze is being tabulated and the cause is under investigation.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Firefighters Stop High-Rise Blaze From Spreading

On Friday, October 1, 2010 at 5:46 PM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Greg Gibson responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 219 West 7th Street in the Fashion District of downtown L.A.

Firefighters responded to an Automatic Alarm at a 12-story High-Rise building and within two minutes it was modified to a Structure Fire. As Companies arrived on scene, there were reports of smoke alarms activated and water flowing from sprinklers. Firefighters rapidly made their way through the light smoke on the third floor and performed a drop-bag operation to obtain hose-lines. A small fire on an outside balcony was quickly extinguished in just 18 minutes. There was minimal content damage, but extensive de-watering was required. Additional Firefighters performed a detailed search on all floors of the 87,000 sq-foot building to ensure no one was in need of rescuing. There were no injuries nor was anyone displaced. Thanks to the diligent firefighting and salvage efforts of the 71 Los Angeles Firefighters, the estimated dollar loss was limited to only $3,000 ($1,000 structure and $2,000 contents). The cause of the fire in this 95 year-old building is under active investigation, but does not appear to be arson at this time.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Quick Knock-Down of High-Rise Fire in Fashion District