On Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 12:31 AM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 5 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 41 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Kevin Pearson, responded to a Civilian Fatality Fire at 10926 South Wilmington Avenue in Watts.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find a small structure affixed to the rear of a one-story home fully involved in fire, with intense flames extending to an immediately adjacent office/travel trailer, and simultaneously threatening an occupied two-story duplex to the north.

Swift action by first arriving firefighters prevented the fire from extending to the duplex, as they aggressively battled flames, confining them to the rear of the one-story home and trailer.

During a primary search, LAFD crews discovered a lifeless adult male within the trailer. Beyond medical help, he was declared dead at the scene. It was not immediately clear if the trailer had served as the man's domicile.

No other injuries were reported.

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. A positive identification of the decedent, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of his death, will be determined the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

The cause of this post-midnight blaze remains the focus of an active investigation by Los Angeles Fire and Police Department Investigators.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Involving Watts Trailer Claims One Life

On Monday, March 7, 2011 at 6:33 AM, 6 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Arson Units, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 41 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, as well as one Engine Company from the Los Angeles County Fire Department responding in Automatic Aid, all under the direction of LAFD Assistant Chief Craig Fry, responded to a Civilian Fatality Structure Fire at 1674 East 115th Street in Watts.

First-due Los Angeles City and County Firefighters arrived quickly and simultaneously to discover the inside of a one-story 1,330 square-foot single family home fully involved with fire.



Forcing entry into the residence, firefighters encountered intense flames among "pack rat" storage of personal belongings, yet pushed on relentlessly to search all parts of the fire and smoke-charged three bedroom home for a woman reportedly trapped in the inferno.

It was during this initial assault on the flames that firefighters discovered the lifeless body of an adult female within the structure. Beyond medical help, she was declared deceased at the scene.

The well coordinated firefight - including strategic vertical ventilation, confined the blaze within the home, allowing for extinguishment of the flames in just 24 minutes.

No other injuries were reported.

Along with the excessive storage that potentially hampered occupant escape, firefighters determined the building was fitted with window security bars "non-compliant" with the City's quick-release safety standard.

There was also no evidence of smoke alarms within the home as required by law. The 93 year-old wood frame building was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

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

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated.

Having ruled out an intentional act, Los Angeles Fire Department Investigators continue to look into the cause of a blaze they consider to be accidental in nature.

(video)


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LAFD Identifies Dire Factors in Fatal Watts Fire

On Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 6:56 PM, 12 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 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 86 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Kevin Pearson, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 8765 South McKinley Avenue in Watts.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy fire to the rear of and threatening a 25' x 100' residential duplex under construction.

The swift moving flames had consumed a van parked within an attached garage and heavily damaged that structure, before spreading to the unoccupied duplex, which was framed internally with dimensional lumber and externally wrapped in preparation for siding or stucco.

Despite a well coordinated attack that brought flames under control in just 23 minutes, the partially-constructed duplex, as well as the van and garage were destroyed by fire.

There were no injuries reported.

Loss to the van, garage and unoccupied duplex is estimated at $150,000. The fire was determined to be a deliberate act, and remains under active investigation by the LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Watts Fire Destroys Van, Garage & Duplex Under Construction

On Sunday, September 19th, 2010 at 7:59 AM, 4 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Kevin Pearson responded to a Structure Fire at 843 East 91st Street in Watts.

Firefighters arrived within four minutes to a one-story single-family-dwelling that had heavy fire showing. Jumping into action, they extended hand-lines inside the wood-framed stucco structure to do battle at the seat of the fire, while their colleagues swiftly took to the roof. Using chainsaws on this "hip" styled roof, the Truck Company had fire blowing out of the ventilation holes they cut. This released heat, smoke and gasses, which assisted another team of Firefighters to perform a detailed interior search of the 1,626 square-foot residence.
 During this search-and-rescue procedure an elderly male was found in the front room, pulseless and non-breathing. Firefighter/Paramedics earnestly provided CPR and Advanced Life Support at the scene and during transportation to a local hospital, where sadly he was later declared deceased.

Twenty-nine Firefighters confined the blaze to just two rooms, and declared a Knockdown in 14 minutes, before flames were able to damage any nearby structures. In examining the fire's aftermath, there was no immediate evidence of a functional smoke alarm within the 62-year old residence, nor was it equipped with residential fire sprinklers. There were no window bars or security doors to impair the 86 year-old male's escape. Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $55,000 ($40,000 structure & $15,000 contents). The cause of this fire is undetermined.

Submitted by - Erik Scott, Spokesman,
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Structure Fire in Watts Claims Life of Elderly Male

On Friday, February 19, 2010 at 4:08 PM, 3 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 LAFD Rescue Ambulance, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Armando Hogan responded to a Train vs. Pedestrian Fatality at 1700 East Century Boulevard in Watts.

Firefighters and Paramedics arrived to find a 51 year-old female, with major injuries after being struck by a southbound Metro Blue Line light rail train. The woman was reported to have been thrown several feet, before the train finally came to a halt over her body. It was difficult for rescuers to access the woman who paramedics assessed and determined deceased at the scene.

The northbound and southbound rail lines were shut down for several hours until it was declared safe to reopen the tracks for train traffic. All passengers where escorted to a safe location during the incident. There were no other injuries reported at this incident. The circumstances of this fatal train accident will remain under investigation by local law enforcement and transportation authorities.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Woman Fatally Struck by Metro Blue Line Train

On Monday, September 14, 2009 at 8:20 AM, 12 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 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, under the direction of Battalion Chief Trevor Richmond responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 1812 East Century Boulevard in the community of Watts.

EMS 13 arrived first to find two automobiles fully engulfed in flames and threatening a duplex. Additional firefighters were close behind and quickly deployed hand-lines to knockdown the fire, minimizing the exposure to nearby structures. Truck Companies raised ladders to the roof and began aggressive vertical ventilation. Firefighters faced additional hazards from live power lines that were down and were assisted by DWP.

Ninety-five firefighters obtained a knockdown in 31 minutes. One civilian adult female received non life-threatening burns and was transported to a local hospital. Dollar loss was estimated at $225,000 ($150,000 for the structure and $75,000 for the contents). The cause of the fire was a water heater that ignited the fumes of two partially filled 55 gallon drums of gasoline. The flames then spread to the automobiles and structures. American Red Cross was notified and offered temporary housing for the displaced occupants

Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Greater Alarm Fire in Watts Injures a Civilian