On Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 4:17 AM, 3 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 22 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Timothy Ernst, responded to a Structure Fire at 2035 Knox Street in the City of San Fernando.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy smoke showing from a 1 story single family home, and immediately attacked fire within the 1,490 square-foot structure.

Though search and rescue efforts were undertaken simultaneously to fire attack, firefighters were relieved to confirm that all seven occupants and their pets had safely evacuated the smoke-charged home prior to the Fire Department's arrival.

The fire was swiftly confined to an interior closet and larger portions of the home's attic, with flames brought under control in just 22 minutes.

No injuries were reported.

The seven adults displaced by the fire, whose affiliation is unknown, were referred to the American Red Cross for temporary placement and living needs assistance.

The presence of legally required smoke alarms within the home could not be immediately determined. If present, there was no indication of the alarms being functional or playing a role in alerting occupants, one or more of whom were thankfully awake and able to alert others of the fire. The building was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

Fire loss to the 72-year old residence has been estimated at $60,000 ($50,000 structure & $10,000 contents). The cause of the early morning blaze is electrical in nature, and is attributed to the improper use of electrical extension cords haphazardly strung throughout the building to a portable generator outside the home.

The reason and duration of the home being without electrical service remains within the purview of Southern California Edison officials.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - San Fernando Electrical Fire Displaces Seven

On Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 6:40 PM, 10 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, Emergency Lighting, DOT, Street Maintenance and a Cal OSHA Inspector, under the direction of Assistant Chief Greg West, responded to a TRENCH RESCUE at 15839 W. Larkspur St. in the Sylmar area.

Firefighters responded to a reported trench collapse and rescue. Firefighters arrived on scene and found a 40 foot long trench, 4 foot wide by 8 foot deep, with 2 workers trapped. One worker was trapped with debris and dirt to his thighs, while the second worker was trapped almost to the chest. An additional USAR company was added to the assignment. One major concern of the IC, was a 12 foot long section of concrete curbing needing stabilization, to not cause additional injury to the patient.

18 minutes into the incident, one worker self extricated with the aid of a shovel provided by Task Force 98 in coordination with the stabilization of the trench walls. The male worker, approximately 63, was assessed with no complaint of injury and transported to an area hospital. With the use of hand tools and a vacuum truck, the debris was removed slowly by the USAR Firefighters. Two hours, 15 minutes into the incident, the second worker was finally extricated from the trench. He was assessed, treated and prepped for transport to an area hospital.


It took 81 Firefighters and Specialty companies 4 hours and 20 minutes to complete the incident. The workers were working on the sewer line at the curbline, in front of the single family dwelling.

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Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Workers Extricated From Collapsed Trench in Sylmar