On Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 4:34 PM, 13 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 6 Arson Units, 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, a total of 106 Los Angeles Fire Department Personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Richard Rideout responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 2410 South 6th Avenue in the West Adams area of Los Angeles.


A column of black smoke was visible as Firefighters raced from their quarters, arriving at a two-story single-family-dwelling to find heavy fire extending out of the second floor. Fire crews mounted a rapid and offensive attack while making strong headway to locate the origin of the blaze. As they aggressively fought the flames, a simultaneous search for victims went underway.


Aided by Firefighters swiftly extending ground ladders to the steep roof of the 1700 square foot residence to perform strategic vertical ventilation with chainsaws, flames were held to the second story and attic. The blaze was fully extinguished in just twenty minutes. 


Fire teams soon discovered an adult on the second floor without vital signs of life. A positive identification of the individual, as well as the precise cause, time, and manner of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

Five members from the Mayor's Crisis Response Team responded to give assistance, and provide information and contacts to help the victim's daughter deal with this terrible crisis.

The first arriving Engine company did not hear Smoke Alarms sounding, however the presence, functional status, and role of smoke alarms within the home could not be immediately determined. There were window security bars in the rear of first floor, although they did not appear to impair the occupant from escaping. The 74 year-old Tudor-style home was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

The cause of the fire is under active investigation and monetary loss is still being tabulated.


Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LA Firefighters Battle Residential Blaze In West Adams Area

On Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 10:38 AM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, and 1 Rehab Air Tender, all under the direction of Captain II Brett Davis responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 1416 South 4th Avenue in Central Arlington Heights.
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Firefighters arrived to find fire and smoke blowing out from a historic two-story single family dwelling. The bulk of the flames were in the rear of the 2,800 square-foot residence, which was described as a Victorian style house with "Balloon Construction". Although over 75 firefighters responded, the first arriving 35 were able to fully extinguish the flames in just 21 minutes.

Fortunately no one was injured or displaced. Dollar loss from the fire has been estimated at $150,000 ($100,000 structure & $50,000 contents).

UPDATE:
Three male juveniles, 2 of which were 12 years-old and the other 11, were arrested and booked with "Arson of an Inhabited Dwelling". The male subjects, were then released to to their parents, with a court date pending in May of this year. The Los Angeles Fire Department would like to commend the vigilant citizens that came forward with information which assisted our expert Arson Investigator's in making the arrests.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Firefighters Quickly Extinguish House Fire In Arlington Heights

On Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 1:14 PM, 19 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 6 Division Chief Officer Command Teams, under the direction of Assistant Chief Ralph Terrazas responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 3850 West Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw area of Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover heavy smoke and fire showing from a 75' x100' commercial building. Fire crews mounted a swift and offensive attack while making strong headway to locate the origin of the flames. Interior attack teams and support teams established a staging area, to optimize a strategic assault that would confine the fire to a rear section of the second floor.

Firefighters using handlines, along with, strong teamwork and precise vertical ventilation, finally found the area where the flames were concentrated. The Incident Commander called for additional companies, as well as issuing an emergency alert, for all operations to shift to a defensive mode of attack.

The fire soon extended through the roof causing air conditioning units and other equipment from the top to begin falling through the structure. A second emergency alert was made, that one Los Angeles Firefighter was reported to be down, possibly injured on the second floor of the building. Although the firefight was still ongoing, swift attention was given to assist the fallen member, who was quickly found and taken out of the structure.

Apparently a portion of the falling roof and some of the ceiling fell on the firefighter. He sustained non-life threatening injuries and was later transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in stable condition, with expectations of a full recovery.

It took 153 firefighters to confine the fire entirely within the occupancy of origin, achieving a knockdown in 1 hour and 36 minutes. After a complete search, the building was declared vacant and no civilians were injured during the fight.

Although efforts were made to minimizing damage to the vacant structure, the entire second floor was heavily burned. It is still unclear as to how this fire broke out, and will remain as an active investigation by LAFD Officials

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Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Destroys Second Story Of Vacant Building

On Friday, September 17, 2010 at 8:37 AM, 23 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 4 Arson Units, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 5 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 152 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief David Yamahata, responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 614 South St Andrews Place in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived swiftly to find heavy fire in the attic of a six-story 58 unit center-hallway apartment building.



Dozens of residents, protected in the fire's incipient stage by building features compliant with the Ponet Square and Dorothy Mae Ordinances of the Los Angeles Fire Code, were able to exit safely as firefighters extended handlines through windows and up several flights of stairs to keep flames at bay.

One resident complained briefly of difficulty breathing, but declined treatment or transportation following his medical assessment by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics.

Firefighters rescued or oversaw the safe 'shelter in place' protection of many dogs and cats in several pet-populated apartments. The flames were confined to the common attic and roof of the building of fire origin, and extinguished in just 62 minutes.

No other injuries were reported.

Despite LAFD holding direct fire damage above living areas in the 83 year-old Versailles Apartments building, the entire structure was deemed untenable pending repair of fire damage and restoration of utilities.

As many as thirty residents were referred to the American Red Cross for temporary assistance, which included emergency shelter with adjacent pet accommodations provided by the City of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services.

Loss from the blaze has been estimated at $1.2 million ($900,000 structure & $300,000 contents), a figure greatly lessened during the firefight by swift property protection and diligent salvage efforts by teams of Los Angeles Firefighters, who spent nearly ten hours at the scene.

Acting with knowledge that a small non-injury blaze - extinguished by fire sprinklers, had been intentionally set 28 hours earlier in an adjacent and co-owned building at 608 South St Andrews Place, a cadre of Investigators from the Los Angeles Fire Department's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section were joined by an Investigator from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) in a comprehensive investigation that included use of an accelerant detecting canine.

Following the team's thorough on-site analysis, the cause of Friday morning's attic fire was confidently declared accidental, and "most probably electrical" according to Investigators.

The investigation of possible gunfire heard in the neighborhood earlier that morning was a matter handled separately by Los Angeles Police Department officials.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Dozens Displaced in Koreatown Apartment Blaze

On Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 3:13 AM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Jerome Boyd responded to a Civilian Fatality Structure Fire at 4038 South Ursula Avenue in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw area.
 
Firefighters arrived quickly to discover heavy smoke showing from a two-story garden type apartment building. While beginning to extend hoselines into one of the two bedroom units, firefighters were immediately met by a woman who apparently made it out of the residence with one of her five children. While continuing a systematic search through the smoke charged structure, a quick, bold and decisive interior attack on the fire was initiated.

Two additional children were rescued by firefighters and all were unharmed by smoke or flame. Sadly and despite the prompt work of all resources, two male teenage twins were discovered without vital signs of life in a rear room. Both boys were declared deceased at the scene. It took the diligent effort 36 firefighters 21 minutes to knock down the flames. All other residents in the home were unharmed. Although melted smoke alarms were present, it is unclear as whether or not they were a factor in warning the residents.

Seeking to comfort the grieving Mother, the LAFD quickly mobilized a Crisis Response Team to provide compassionate assistance to all friends and neighbors, and those closest to the victims. The American Red Cross was called in to aid the displaced and distraught family. This incident is a reminder to all families of the importance of E.D.I.T.H (Exit Drills In The Home), a well planned exit strategy in case of a fire. Although a Monetary loss exists, one can not truly be calculated where there is loss of life. A positive identification of both deceased, as well as the cause, manner and time of their deaths will be determined by the LA County Coroner's officials. The cause of the fire remains under an active investigation.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Twin Boys Found Deceased From Apartment Fire

On Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 10:56 PM, 14 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 7 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 5 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief David Yamahata responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 4844 West Jefferson Boulevard in the Jefferson Park area.

 
Firefighters arrived quickly to find a 75' X 100', two-story commercial building, doing business as L.A. Shoji & Decorative Products Inc, with smoke and fire showing. Additional firefighters were immediately requested.

This 10,000 square foot building had offices on two-stories in the front and a large one-story screen manufacturing facility in the rear that was separated by a wall with a rolling steel door.

As Firefighters focused on rapidly advancing hose lines for an interior attack, the roof team began aggressive ventilation. Flames shot through each hole cut by Truck Companies on the arched truss roof. As the blaze grew, Firefighters were able to strategically stand on the bearing wall that separated the manufacturing facility for support. However, the gallant efforts of the firefighters on the roof and interior were halted due to worsening conditions.

Within 30 minutes, all members were cleared from the structure and the Incident Commander ordered Firefighters to commence a Defensive attack. Shortly there after, there was a partial roof collapse toward the rear of the building.

Firefighters began using large handlines and ladder pipes capable of delivering copious amounts of water. Due to the intense effort of all on scene, the bulk of the damage remained in the manufacturing facility where the fire originated and no injuries occurred. The first arriving 111 firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze in one hour and 12 minutes.

The 74 year old building was cordon off due to it's structural integrity being compromised and having significant exterior cracks.

Monetary loss from the blaze is still being tabulated and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Late Night Structure Fire Blazes in Jefferson Park

On Monday, March 22, 2010 at 12:17 AM, 7 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 4 Arson Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 56 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Ralph Ramirez, responded to a Civilian Fatality Structure Fire at 2610 South Ridgeley Drive in the West Adams area of Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover smoke from the top floor of a 50' x 25' second-story single family residence above a parking area secured in an improvised manner with multiple sheets of plywood.

During initial fire attack, firefighters discovered the lifeless body of a 77 year-old male in a small ground floor annex to the rear of the home. Without vital signs of life and beyond medical help, he was declared deceased at the scene.

A swift and well coordinated assault by firefighters confined the blaze to the second floor and attic on the north side of the home. The fire was extinguished in just 32 minutes, and no other injuries were reported.

The presence of smoke alarm(s), their functional status and role at the time of the fire could not be immediately determined.

There were no obvious non-fire factors impeding the victim's egress. The home's security doors - including one near where the man was found, were equipped with legally compliant single cylinder deadbolt locks that required no key, tool or special skill to exit.

The home was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

A positive identification of the deceased man, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of his death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $200,000 ($150,000 structure & $50,000 contents).

The cause of this midnight blaze remains under active investigation by Los Angeles Police and Fire Department Investigators.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Presence of Smoke Alarms Questioned in Fatal West Adams Blaze

On Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 0:47 AM, 15 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 2 Hazardous Materials Teams, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 5 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 2 Division Chief Officer Command Teams, under the direction of Assistant Chief Robert Franco responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 5029 W Jefferson Bl in Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw area.

Shortly after midnight Los Angeles Firefighters quickly arrived to find a one-story L-shaped commercial Auto Body Shop building well involved with fire. Fire Entry Teams had to make forcible entry on two sides of the before attempting to locate the origin of the flames. Firefighters laddered the roof of a 75’x200’ section of the building and commenced strategic vertical ventilation.


A division wall separated the unoccupied building into two sections. LAFD personnel aggressively attacked the flames, using Large hand lines and class A foam to confine the fire before it spread to any adjacent buildings. Additional resources were rapidly requested, in the event the blaze would spread.

One portion of the structure was 30’X70’ and had 25’ flames shooting through the roof and the other section was 75’x200’,with less fire involvement. Two spray-booths and several expensive automobiles inside the structure were damaged.

It is unknown if the structure had sprinklers or fire alarms. 119 firefighters were able to extinguish this blaze in just 46 minutes. No injuries were reported.

Thanks to the diligent firefighting and salvage efforts of the Los Angeles Firefighters the dollar loss was limited to $250,000 ($100,000 structure & $150,000 contents). The cause is under investigation.


Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Midnight Fire Burns Through Auto Body Shop

On Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 6:12 PM, 12 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Emergency Air, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 85 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Richard Combs, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 4539 West Adams Boulevard in the West Adams district of Los Angeles.


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Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find smoke showing from the roof of a 50' x 150' one-story furniture storage facility.

Ascending ladders to the arched truss roof, firefighters commenced strategic vertical ventilation as their colleagues forced entry into the well-secured former boulevard storefront.

With combustible furniture stacked as high as fifteen feet inside the non-fire sprinklered building, firefighters fought their way through thick smoke and merchandise to find, attack and confine flames in the rear of the densely packed but unoccupied structure.

The stubborn fire was confined within the pre-1933 masonry building and extinguished in just 46 minutes.

No injuries were reported.

Loss to Posse Fine Furniture is estimated at $150,000 ($50,000 structure & $100,000 contents). The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical in nature and categorized as accidental.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LAFD Quickly Curtails Furniture Warehouse Blaze

On Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 7:41 PM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 5 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Foam Tender under the direction of Battalion Chief Karen Richter responded to a Fatality Traffic Collision with Fire at 5283 West Jefferson Boulevard in the Baldwin Hills area.

Firefighters quickly arrived to find a sport utility vehicle and a big rig tractor-trailer fully engulfed in flames after colliding. Additional resources were promptly added due to the potential fire exposure to a nearby 150' X 100', two-story commercial building doing business as Jetro Cash & Carry Wholesale Groceries.

According to witnesses the big rig loaded with sugar packets and SUV were both traveling west bound on Jefferson Boulevard, when the tractor-trailer made a wide right turn into a parking lot and was struck in the diesel fuel tank by the SUV. The diesel fuel ignited and both vehicles erupted in flames.

Firefighters used handlines to diminish the roaring vehicle blaze, while additional firefighters simultaneously performed Ladder pipe operations (extending aerial ladders with hoses, spraying water downward in a fog pattern) to protect the nearby business.

Despite firefighters swift action, the adult male driver of the SUV was trapped and found deceased on scene. The driver of the big rig self extricated and declined medical transportation. Lastly, a third patient was found when an additional 911 call was placed for an adult male that walked a block away from the scene. He was found to be a passenger of the SUV and was transported to UCLA trauma center for non-life threatening injuries.

The blaze was extinguished by 58 firefighters in just 19 minutes and no structures were damaged. Firefighters notified Fish and Game, Cal EMA and the Coast Guard due to the potential of diesel fuel entering in the storm drains.

Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Driver of SUV Dies in Big Rig Collision

On Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 6:35 PM, 7 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 52 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott responded to a Structure Fire at 985 South 3rd Avenue in the Wilshire Center district of Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy smoke and fire showing from a vacant 50' x 75' one-story commercial structure, threatening an immediately adjacent building.


View Larger Pre-Fire Image. You can also click, grab & zoom the image above!
Forcing entry and performing swift vertical ventilation, firefighters extended handlines to do quick battle with flames inside the sparsely furnished building, extinguishing the fire in just 28 minutes.

The fire was confined within the structure of origin, with some exterior damage to the adjacent structure to the west.

There were no injuries.

Loss from the blaze is still being tabulated, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Damages Vacant Building in Wilshire Center