On Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 11:19 PM, 10 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 7 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Arson Unit, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 7 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief Ralph Terrazas responded to a Fire With Firefighter Injury at 1546 N. Viewsite Dr. in Hollywood HILLS.

Firefighters arrived to find light smoke and fire, which appeared to be on the outside of a multi level hillside single family dwelling. As firefighters were investigating, attempting to find the origin, it was determined that the fire was within the walls and possibly extending into the attic. After an intense search, the flames began to engulf a portion of the structure. Several minutes into the fire fight an Emergency Traffic Alert was issued warning all fire personnel on scene of a partial structural collapse. A second alert "Firefighter Down" was immediately transmitted for three firefighters who were reported trapped or missing after the collapse. Fire crews began to conduct a rescue operation looking for their injured comrades.

Two of the firefighters were immediately rescued; a third who remained trapped under heavy amounts of debris needed an extended physical rescue, with power tools and chain saws before being treated and transported from the scene to an area hospital.

All of the injured individuals were removed from the building by fellow Firefighters and transported to Cedar Sinai Medical Center. Sadly the trapped firefighter suffered severe injuries and is listed in grave condition. A second firefighter suffered a fractured ankle requiring surgery and continued stay for observation. Four other Firefighters suffered minor injuries, two from LAFD, and two others from LACoFD, were treated and released from the Hospital. All four are expected to fully recover.

It took the Los Angeles Fire Department 1 hour 40 minutes for a complete knockdown of the flames. All residents safely made it out of the building, and there were no other injuries reported during this incident.
The estimated damage is reportedly $250,000 ($200,000 Structure & $50,000 Contents). The cause of the fire and the circumstances of the injuries are currently under investigation.

Submitted by Devin Gales,Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Four Firefighters Trapped In Hollywood Hillside Blaze

On Monday, November 9, 2009 at 6:15 PM, 14 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 7 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 4 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Rehab Air Tender and 1 Emergency Air under the direction of Assistant Chief David Yamahata responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 1425 Detroit Street in Hollywood.

Lightforce 27 quickly arrived to find fire showing from a unit on the third floor of a four story U-shaped apartment building that was under construction. Additional resources were swiftly requested.

Firefighters made a concentrated effort to quickly extinguish this early evening fire. A Drop Bag operation was rapidly performed to bring hoselines to the third floor while firefighters on the roof cut 'heat-holes' allowing heat, smoke and gases to escape.

This proved to be a fast moving fire that started on the third floor and without delay traveled through the walls of five units. Several other units suffered water damage.

Firefighters not only had to battle the blaze but met additional dangers early on with electrical wires arching and having to navigate with limited visibility over smoke filled floors that hid a large hole from an unfinished trash chute being constructed. Due to firefighters keeping safety in the forefront of their mind and the keen supervision of the Incident Commander, no injuries occurred.

The blaze was fully extinguished by 101 firefighters in one hour and seventeen minutes limiting the damage to $50,000 ($50,000 structure & $0 contents). The cause of the blaze was from 'sweating pipe' on the third floor.

Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Rips Through 4 Story Hollywood Apartments

On Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 9:40 AM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Helicopters, 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, assisted by 1 Company of Los Angeles County Firefighters, all under the direction of LAFD Battalion Chief John Drake, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 8217 Gould Avenue in the Hollywood Hills.

Traversing the steep and narrow roads of the Kirkwood Bowl neighborhood near Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy smoke showing from a 3 story hillside home situated near volatile vegetation.


View Larger Map (you can also grab, rotate & zoom the pre-fire image above!)
Mindful of a four-hour conflagration that occurred in the neighborhood nearly 30 years earlier to the day, LAFD Helicopters were summoned for command support and reconnaissance, as firefighters aggressively attacked fire on all levels of the 4,343 square-foot home.

Aided by residential fire sprinklers that held swift-moving flames in check on all three floors, firefighters were able to confine and extinguish the fire within the home in just 28 minutes.

An adult male suffering from smoke inhalation as well as burn injuries to his arm and foot was found outside the home. Following on-scene treatment by LAFD Paramedics, he was detained by Police and transported by ambulance in fair condition to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Another adult male who escaped the flames with minor bruises and lacerations, declined medical transportation and remained at the scene.

No other injuries were reported.

The latest estimate of fire loss is $1,000,000 ($500,000 structure & $500,000 contents).

Los Angeles Fire Department Investigators have formally determined the mid-morning blaze to be "incendiary", describing the fire as "deliberately set" and under active investigation.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LAFD Quickly Tackles Hillside Home Inferno

On Sunday, August 30th, 2009 at 8:29 AM, 15 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 Helicopter, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief John Drake responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 1800 N. Camino Palmero, in West Hollywood Hills.

Firefighters arrived to find a large three story single family dwelling with heavy smoke and fire showing from one room on the second floor. Fire crews quickly commenced the deployment of handlines, but met the difficult task of forcible entry into the structure. Interior fire attack teams worked diligently to find the source of the flames, while roof operation teams cut several holes attempting to locate the origin of the fire.

It took firefighters several minutes to find the main fire, with only thick heavy pressurized smoke visible. As crews continued to work exhaustibly, the fire had spread rapidly through the walls as well as into the attic of the large home.Due to the angle of the fire, water had to be supplied to the roof team to begin extinguishing the bulk of the flames.

Several firefighters working in and on top the structure were forced rotate their operations, for rest and rehabilitation, due to high rigorous demand. It took 103 firefighters just over two hours to knocked down the blaze.

One Fire Captain suffered a minor burn to one hand, along with two firefighters who suffered from heat exhaustion, all three were treated and released at the hospital and are expected to recover. The dollar loss is $3,000,000 ($1,500,000 for structure and $1,500,000 for contents). The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

Submitted by Devin Gales,Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Engulfs Large 3 Story Home in Hollywood