On Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 5:47 PM, 6 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, a total of 40 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Wade White, responded to a Structure Fire with Civilian Injury at 1630 South Bentley Avenue in Westwood.
Firefighters arrived quickly to find what appeared to be a balcony fire on the uppermost floor of a U-shaped 3 story garden-style apartment building. As they bolted up stairwells and through hallways to the apartment of fire origin, firefighters calmly guided several residents to 'shelter in place' pending an assessment of the blaze.
Near the involved apartment, firefighters were met by a severely burned man, whom they immediately removed to safety as they tackled the flames, which were extinguished in less than ten minutes.
In halting words, the burned man advised responders he had been awakened by one of the properly functioning smoke alarms within his apartment, alerting him to a burning couch in an adjacent room - which like the rest of his apartment, was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.
Rather than simply escape his apartment, the man unwisely attempted to move the flaming sofa to a nearby balcony. In doing so, he was swiftly enveloped in fire, sustaining painful second- and third-degree burns to his hands, arms, torso and face, as well as thermal injury to his upper respiratory system.
Provided prompt on-scene care by a team of LAFD Paramedics, he was transported to the nearby Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in serious condition. Following stabilization at that facility, it was anticipated the man would require prolonged specialty care at a regional burn center.
No other injuries were reported.
Property loss from the fire is estimated at $10,000 ($5,000 structure & $5,000 contents).
The cause of this small but devastating fire has been categorized as accidental, and attributed to a heating source placed too close to combustible furnishings.
(video)
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
READ MORE - Westwood Man Severely Injured in Attempt to Move Burning Couch
Firefighters arrived quickly to find what appeared to be a balcony fire on the uppermost floor of a U-shaped 3 story garden-style apartment building. As they bolted up stairwells and through hallways to the apartment of fire origin, firefighters calmly guided several residents to 'shelter in place' pending an assessment of the blaze.
Near the involved apartment, firefighters were met by a severely burned man, whom they immediately removed to safety as they tackled the flames, which were extinguished in less than ten minutes.
In halting words, the burned man advised responders he had been awakened by one of the properly functioning smoke alarms within his apartment, alerting him to a burning couch in an adjacent room - which like the rest of his apartment, was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.
Rather than simply escape his apartment, the man unwisely attempted to move the flaming sofa to a nearby balcony. In doing so, he was swiftly enveloped in fire, sustaining painful second- and third-degree burns to his hands, arms, torso and face, as well as thermal injury to his upper respiratory system.
Provided prompt on-scene care by a team of LAFD Paramedics, he was transported to the nearby Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in serious condition. Following stabilization at that facility, it was anticipated the man would require prolonged specialty care at a regional burn center.
No other injuries were reported.
Property loss from the fire is estimated at $10,000 ($5,000 structure & $5,000 contents).
The cause of this small but devastating fire has been categorized as accidental, and attributed to a heating source placed too close to combustible furnishings.
(video)
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
