On Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 10:01 PM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 32 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Richard Rideout, responded to a Structure Fire at 2747 North Laurel Canyon Boulevard in the Hollywood Hills.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find fire showing from a one-story hillside home.

Forcing entry into the smoke-charged residence, firefighters quickly encountered household pets seeking to escape the blaze, and soon commenced an exhaustive search of the 1,288 square-foot building to find and rescue a half-dozen more animals in severe to extreme distress.

The fire was swiftly confined to the home's kitchen and extinguished in just 22 minutes.

The total of nine pets rescued from the burning home, including four dogs and five cats, were cared for by Los Angeles Firefighters, who soon determined that two dogs and two cats were beyond medical help.

Following more than a half-hour of on-scene care by firefighters, the two dogs and three cats who survived the blaze, were entrusted to the care of a responder from the Department of Animal Services.

No human injuries were reported.




Monetary loss to the 55 year-old home - unoccupied by humans at the time of the fire, is estimated at $110,000 ($75,000 structure & $35,000 contents). The cause of the late night blaze is categorized as electrical.

We were deeply touched by this video statement from the resident...



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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Los Angeles Firefighters Pull Nine Pets From Burning Hollywood Hills Home

On Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 4:32 PM, 12 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 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 under the direction of Battalion Chief Chris Kawai responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire with Firefighter Injury at 11336 Dona Lisa Drive in Studio City.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy smoke and fire showing from the second floor of a 2 story hillside home.

Teams of firefighters extended ground ladders to the roof of the 2,151 square-foot residence as their colleagues extended hoselines within the structure - not occupied at the time of the fire; to do battle with fierce flames.

Working swiftly and efficiently, rooftop firefighters performed essential vertical ventilation, allowing crews beneath them to advance on the flames, as the deeply entrenched fire consumed joists between the first and second floors on its way to the adjacent and attached garage.



As scores of LAFD personnel turned back the flames, one Los Angeles Firefighter sustained a one-story fall, when the ground ladder he was descending suddenly gave way. Landing squarely on the driveway below, the 23-year LAFD veteran sustained musculoskeletal injury to his legs. In fair condition, he was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was treated and released that evening to remain off-duty.

The fire was confined to the structure of origin and extinguished in just 31 minutes. No other injuries were reported.

Fire loss to the 46 year old, non-fire sprinklered home was estimated at $200,000 ($150,000 structure & $50,000 contents). The cause of this late afternoon blaze was determined to be electrical in nature.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Veteran Firefighter Injured Tackling Studio City Blaze

On Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 6:32 AM, 13 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 4 Arson Units, 3 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 Helicopters, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, and Los Angeles County Fire Department under the direction of Assistant Chief Mark Stormes responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 2047 North Sunset Plaza Drive in the Hollywood Hills.

The owner of a five level multi million dollar home reportedly awoke to the sound of breaking glass, and stated he rushed upstairs in anticipation of a burglary to find the upper level of his home engulfed in flames.

Engine and Rescue 97 responded up the curvy hill on Sunset Plaza Drive in less than eight minutes to find fire blowing out the windows and skylights of an approximate 7500 square feet hillside home. Firefighters immediately utilized a wagon battery to quickly knock down the bulk of the flames from the exterior, making the structure tenable for an interior attack with well coordinated attack of handlines. Truck Companies then went to the roof and started vertical ventilation to assist in the attack, control, and extinguishment the structure fire.

It took 109 firefighters just 38 minutes to obtain a knockdown, however an extended overhaul and detailed salvage operation took place to minimize damage to precious pieces of art and protect luxury automobiles inside the structure. No injuries were reported.
The fire loss has been estimated at 7,000,000 dollars, (one million for the structure and six million for the contents). The cause of the fire is still under investigation.


Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Firefighters Battle a Blaze in a Hollywood Hills Home