Firefighter Injured Tackling Atwater Village Blaze

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 1:08 PM, 7 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 and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 51 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Richard Warford, responded to a Structure Fire at 3507 Perlita Avenue in the Atwater Village area of Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover fire on the second floor and within the attic of an 1100 square-foot two story single family home.


View Larger Map (you can also click, grab and zoom the pre-fire image above!)
Firefighters aggressively attacked the well-entrenched flames with handlines, confining the fire to the second floor and attic, extinguishing the blaze in just 24 minutes.

During fire attack, one Los Angeles Firefighter sustained first degree burns to his left upper arm and right hand, as well as second degree burns to his left ear. Following on scene treatment by his colleagues, he was transported by LAFD Ambulance to Sherman Oaks Hospital for primary medical care, after which he was released to remain off-duty.

Structural and property loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The cause of this early afternoon blaze remains under active investigation.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department