On Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 6:06 PM, 2 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 LAFD Rescue Ambulance, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Michael Bowman responded to a Plane Crash at 1233 East Rose Avenue in Venice.

LAFD Firefighter/Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls reporting that a small plane had crashed near the eighth hole of Penmar golf course in the city of Venice.

Firefighters on scene quickly made their way to the downed aircraft and discovered only one person was on board of the Cessna 152. That person, a male adult, was declared dead on the scene. No one on the ground was injured or killed.

The heavily damaged aircraft did not catch fire and leaked only a small amount of fuel. Monetary loss is estimated at $150,000 for the aircraft and $1,000 for damage to the golf course.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the FAA, NTSB and LAPD along with a variety of other regulating bodies. A positive identification of the deceased male, as well as the cause, time and manner of his death will be determined by the Coroner's Office.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Plane Crashed on Golf Course, 1 Man Found Dead

The Los Angeles Fire Department is investigating a string of suspicious fires in the Venice area over the past month that may be the work of an arsonist.

City officials are asking local residents to report any suspicious activity and to take common-sense precautions to prevent fires near their homes.

According to Bill Rosendahl, Councilman for the Venice area, "We are determined to keep Venice safe by working together with the community; we will apprehend and arrest the person or persons responsible."

These fires have started as outside fires, mostly in areas such as automobiles, fences and rubbish, but some have extended into a structure, according to Fire Department officials.

The Los Angeles Fire Department Arson Investigators interviewed two individuals in relation to these fire incidents. Currently, no suspects are in custody.

The lead agency is the Los Angeles Fire Department, working in conjunction with the Los Angeles Police Department, Council Member Rosendahl’s office and other allied agencies, including the Santa Monica Fire Department.

Fire officials urge residents to be on alert for suspicious activity. The LAFD recommends that residents lock all vehicles, secure gates and garages, and place rubbish in cans and secure trash cans behind closed or locked fences.

Residents should immediately call 9-1-1 should they discover an active fire; residents are also urged to call the LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section office directly at 213-485-6095 to report suspicious activity or to relay information about any of the recent fires.


Submitted by Captain Tina Haro, Public Information Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Public Help Sought in Battling Suspicious Venice Fires

On Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 4:55 AM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 4 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 36 Los Angeles Firefighters under the direction of Battalion Chief Edward Bushman, responded to a Trailer Fire With Civilian Injuries at 4133 South Redwood Avenue in the Venice area of Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover a 6' x 10' windowless trailer burning in the side yard of a single family home.

 According to witnesses, a man and woman in their mid-30's had been sleeping within the compact trailer when it erupted in flames.

Reportedly assisted from the fire by a male homeowner who came to their aid with a garden hose, the trailer occupants were free from the flaming vehicle but severely burned on firefighters arrival.

As LAFD personnel treated the critically injured pair - and assessed the needs of the uninjured homeowner, other firefighters quickly extinguished the trailer before flames could extend to the nearby one-story dwelling.

The burned man and woman - whose affiliation was not immediately known, suffered 3rd degree burns to their faces, arms and legs. In critical condition, they were transported by LAFD ambulance to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood.

No other injuries were reported.

Though propane in or near the trailer is believed to have fueled the explosive flames, the specific cause of the fire remains under active investigation.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Pair Suffers Critical Burns in Venice Trailer Fire

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 9:38 AM, 13 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 89 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, as well as 1 Company of Los Angeles County Firefighters, all under the direction of LAFD Battalion Chief Michael Greenup, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 3817 South Ocean Front Walk in the Venice area of Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived at a three-story beachfront condominium complex, to discover smoke showing from one of three attached units.


View Larger Map (you can also click, grab and zoom the pre-fire image above!)
Met by construction workers who had been renovating the one unoccupied dwelling, firefighters commenced a well-coordinated attack on the flames, which had taken ahold of walls on the ground floor parking area and extended vertically within the recesses of the two-story unit to its attic above.

Using thermal imaging cameras and strategic vertical ventilation, firefighters greatly minimized the horizontal spread of the fire, sparing the two adjacent homes and extinguishing the stubborn flames in just 34 minutes.

No injuries were reported, and no one was displaced by the fire.

Loss to the 36 year-old wood frame and stucco building has been estimated at $200,000 ($150,000 structure & $50,000 contents). The cause of this mid-morning blaze is categorized as accidental, and attributed to construction activities.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Firefighters Quell Flames at Venice Beach Condominium