On Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 9:05 PM, 21 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 10 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 5 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Emergency Air Tender, a total of 148 Los Angeles Firefighters assisted by Glendale Fire Department, all under the direction of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott, responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 3053 North Fierro Street in Glassel Park near Atwater Village.


Firefighters arrived to find a one-story, commercial building approximately 200' x 75' with heavy fire showing and immediately called for additional resources. Fire crews aggressively advanced hose-lines to preserve the property and contents of this high-end, furniture manufacturing and sales company (doing business as "Haute House").

The additional challenge of protecting adjacent structures was immediately met by firefighters. Due to the large amount of combustible materials inside the structure, flames rapidly spread and intensely burned, resulting in a full roof collapse. Large hose streams and ladder pipe operations, capable of pouring copious amounts of water on the blaze were utilized.

Due to the determined effort and seamless teamwork of all on scene, the blaze was fully extinguished in one hour and 20 minutes before anyone was injured. Flames were predominately confined to the building of origin. Fire loss to the non-occupied structure is estimated at $1,750,000 ($1,500,000 structure & $250,000 content). The cause of the blaze is under active investigation.

Submitted by Erik Scott & Matt Spence, Spokesmen
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Rips Through Furniture Store Near Atwater Village

On Friday, January 21, 2011 at 3:57 AM, 10 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 84 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Craig Yoder, responded to a Confined Space Rescue at 4501 West Colorado Boulevard in the Atwater Village area of Los Angeles.

Responding to a report of persons unconscious within the 269,000 square-foot Baxter Healthcare Corporation blood plasma fractionation facility, first arriving Los Angeles Firefighters swiftly established a perimeter, command post and safe staging location as they donned protective gear to enter the facility.



Joined quickly by additional firefighters, and with an LAFD Hazardous Materials Squad and LAFD Urban Search & Rescue Team on the way, firefighters discovered and rescued an adult male found pulseless and non-breathing.

Nearby the man, but trapped within the confines of a cylindrical vessel, firefighters discovered a pair of his coworkers unconscious.

According to witnesses, the three men had been cleaning and/or maintaining high-technology medical equipment when they were suddenly overcome. The exact sequence in which the men collapsed has yet to be confirmed.

As LAFD personnel moved the first lifeless worker to an area of safety for advanced medical care, firefighters utilized strength and ingenuity to safely extract the pair of unconscious men through a 24" diameter portal atop the permanently mounted four-foot-tall by five-foot-wide tank in which they were imperiled.

The two critically ill men rescued from the tank, and their gravely ill colleague - who had his pulse and blood pressure restored by the skilled effort of LAFD Paramedics - were rushed alive to a trio of nearby hospitals. Though Los Angeles Police Officers later informed LAFD that one of the men had died, it was not immediately clear which had succumbed.

While LAFD Hazardous Materials experts determined a significant presence of ethanol in the area where the men collapsed, it was not immediately clear what role the substance had played, in whole or in part, in the worker's demise or his colleague's being rendered unconscious.

No other employee or responder injuries were reported.

Pursuant of protocol, Investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department and Cal/OSHA responded to the scene to commence their respective death and injury investigations. The aforementioned agencies will be working closely with the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner to positively identify the decedent, and to determine the precise cause, time and manner of his death.

Questions regarding the presence, need or injured men's use of safety equipment and approved worksite procedures remain within the purview of Cal/OSHA officials.

(video)

Submitted by Erik Scott and Brian Humphrey, Spokesmen
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LAFD Performs Confined Space Rescue at Atwater Village Medical Firm

On Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 2:28 AM, 3 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 Heavy Rescue, 4 Arson Units, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief Daren Palacios responded to a Vehicle Fire with Civilian Fatalities at 3333 North San Fernando Road in the Atwater Village area.

Firefighters arrived within five minutes to find several persons waving them down, in an attempt to direct them to a large parking lot in the rear of a commercial building, near a newspaper distribution center. A Dodge Sportsman Class-C Motorhome, tan in color, was found parked and was well involved in flames.


Firefighters used hand-lines to quickly extinguish the fire and were able to confine the blaze to the one vehicle. No other automobiles or structures were damaged.

During the initial attack, firefighters discovered the remains of an adult (gender undetermined) in the over-head sleeper area. Then during a detailed search firefighters uncovered a second body (adult male) under debris in the same vehicle. Both adults were declared deceased at the scene.

LAFD Heavy Rescue was utilized after the flames were extinguished, to move the motor-home away from a fence, providing better access for firefighters to work.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office will seek to positively identify the deceased, as well as to formally determine the cause, manner and time of their death.

The incident is categorized as a joint active investigation by Fire and Police Department officials.

No other injuries were reported. Monetary loss totaled $3,000.

(Video) (Video)

Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Two Bodies Found Inside Burning Motorhome

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

READ MORE - Firefighter Injured Tackling Atwater Village Blaze