On Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 3:56 PM, 4 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 8 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief John Miller responded to a Mult-Patient Medical Incident at 6201 North Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills.

Firefighters arrived at Pierce College, where 800 students and coaches gathered from multiple High Schools for a cross country track meet. Due to intense physical exertion and extreme temperatures, 12 suffered heat related illnesses. Most of those evaluated by Firefighter/Paramedics, were athletes. In addition to providing emergency medical care, a total of 45 Firefighters scoured the three mile track to ensure no runners had fallen ill and were left behind. In all, ten females that were 16 to 17 years-old, required transportation to various local hospitals. Medical complaints were predominately minor in severity, however two patients suffered temporary altered-level-of-consciousness. The incident lasted just under two hours.

The Los Angeles Fire Department stresses the importance of staying hydrated and not exercising alone, especially during extreme temperatures.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Cross Country Runners Hospitalized From Heat Injuries

On Friday, October 16, 2009 at 6:35 PM, 12 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 5 Arson Units, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 Helicopter, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, along with The House of Worship Task Force under the direction of Assistant Chief Mark Stormes responded to a Structure Fire at 5955 N. Lindley in Tarzana.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and fire coming out from The Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East's stain glass windows. Very large eucalyptus trees in front of the building also caught fire, causing a giant column of smoke and flames visible from the street. A significant amount of the flames had to be suppressed before the initial fire attack team could enter the building.

Master stream appliances were set in place to knock down the bulk of the blaze at the front of the structure. Roof teams quickly made their way up ladders to the top of the structure to cut ventilation holes on the a frame portion on the building. Fire crews aggressively advanced hose-lines, to begin extinguishing the fire.

It took 92 firefighters just under 30 minutes to achieve a knock down without injury. Although hundreds of the church's parishioners were at the scene, no one was reported to have been in the building at the time of the incident. There were no injuries to any civilians.

A monetary loss from the blaze will be estimated by church officials. The House of Worship Task Force has formally declared the cause of the fire to be "undetermined electrical".

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Task Force Investigates Fire At Church In Tarzana

On Monday, April 6, 2009 at 8:20 AM, 7 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 41 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Ronald Jackson, responded to a Structure Fire at 6300 Jumilla Avenue in Woodland Hills.

Firefighters arrived quickly and witnessed smoke and fire coming from two rooms of a 2,000 square-foot ranch style single family dwelling.


It took crews 10 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

There were two occupants in the home at the time of the fire; however both made it out safely prior to the arrival of the Fire Department. 1 occupant sustained minor injury to his knee , the other with no visible injury, neither needed transport.

Two dogs were also caught in the blaze, one escaping with its life and one perishing in the flames.

Loss from the fire is estimated at $24,000 ($20,000 structure & $4,000 contents). Firefighters noted excessive storage in the home and determined the blaze was caused by the ignition of ordinary combustibles placed near an electric wall heater.


Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Storage Near Wall Heater Sparks Woodland Hills Blaze