At approximately 9:00 am this morning, on the 6600 block of North Wilbur Avenue in Reseda, a passenger van from the Genesis Adult Day Health Care Facility was involved in a traffic collision with a single passenger auto. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, but several of the passengers, all of which were seniors (ages ranging 65 - 80 years old) had various complaints of minor aches and pains.

When approximately 50 LAFD Firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Jeffery Mottram, had finished processing the scene, this mid-morning collision had produced a total of 15 patients. Eight of those patients were treated and transported to local hospitals for further evaluation. Seven others were treated and released at the scene. The driver of the other involved auto was one of those transported in fair condition with minor injuries.

Battalion Chief Ray Gomez was in charge of the medical component of this incident, where at one point, he managed 10 rescue ambulances that had been ordered, anticipating both a large number of patients and extensive injuries. Fortunately, not all resources were needed.

The damage to the involved vehicles was still being assessed and the cause of the accident is under investigation.

Dispatched Units: E273 T73 E93 RA93 RA909 E293 T93 E100 RA100 E104 RA104 RA84 RA72 RA105 RA906 RA818 RA898 EM17 EM15 EM14 BC10 DC3

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Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Accident Involving Transport Van Sends Senior Passengers to Hospital

At 6:11 pm this evening, your Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a reported "hydrant" at the residential intersection of North Edloft Avenue and East Twining Street in the neighborhood of El Sereno. First arriving units were guided to the scene by water being shot approximately 100 feet into the air from a high pressure fire hydrant. The hydrant had been sheared-off by a vehicle, whose driver had apparently lost control. The driver was treated and transported to a local hospital for observation.

Mass amounts of water then began to shower surrounding homes and fill the streets. Access to the hydrant shut-off valve was made difficult to Firefighters not only because they had to endure heavy water, but also due to the large, water-main shut-off valve being located deeper underground than what standard tools on our fire apparatus are capable of accessing. This particular hydrant shut-off valve required specialized tools available only to our partners at the Department of Water & Power (DWP).



As water continued to flow for nearly two hours, approximately 50 Firefighters quickly poured on-scene to assist, along with our specialized Urban Search & Rescue unit and our Heavy Rescue squad. The water flow initially prompted the Incident Commander (IC), Battalion Chief Kevin Pearson, to protect the residents of three homes in the area by sheltering them in place. When it became apparent this would be an extended incident, the IC, under the guidance of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott, made the decision to evacuate these structures to ensure their safety.

When the hydrant was ultimately shut-down, representatives from the Department of Building & Safety quickly moved in to assess and determined the homes had sustained minimal, structural damage. However, a retaining wall at the rear of one of the structures was severely compromised. As a result, one family was unfortunately displaced for at least that evening. The family was assisted by our friends at the local Red Cross.

We are pleased to report there were no additional injuries to any of the families impacted nor to any of our on-scene personnel.

The cause is under investigation and the dollar loss is still being tabulated.


Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - 100 Foot Geyser in Residential Neighborhood Displaces Family

On Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 10:41 PM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 LAFD Foam Tenders, 1 LAFD Water Tender, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 74 Los Angeles Firefighters under the direction of Battalion Chief John Drake, responded to a Traffic Collision with Large Fuel Spill on the northbound Golden State (I-5) Freeway near Glenoaks Boulevard in Sun Valley.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find a semi-truck tanker with twin tank trailer, both laden with gasoline, parked on the right shoulder of the freeway. The trailer was observed leaking large amounts of the volatile motor fuel onto the roadway and across northbound lanes of travel.

According to witnesses, the tandem tanker truck was involved in a collision with another vehicle, causing damage to valves beneath the truck's fully-laden 4,800 gallon capacity trailer.

First arriving LAFD personnel staged their apparatus upwind and uphill from the parked gasoline transporter. With hundreds of gallons of flammable liquid already spilled, firefighters immediately curtailed traffic along the north- and south-bound lanes of the busy interstate highway to prevent ignition and diminish environmental harm.

As law enforcement agencies managed traffic along the miles-long closure that included many on- and off-ramps, transportation officials assisted firefighters who had labored intensely and successfully for nearly an hour, to dike the tide of gasoline before it could enter the storm drain system.

Patrons of a freeway adjacent motel behind a tall sound wall were sheltered in place, as teams of Los Angeles Firefighters stemmed the leaking trailer while applying an absorbent and firefighting foam to ease the cleanup and limit the potential for ignition.

No injuries were reported. There were no formal evacuations.

Following the Los Angeles Fire Department's successful mitigation of the primary hazard, control of the scene was returned to California Highway Patrol, State Department of Transportation and County Health Hazardous Materials officials.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fuel Spill From Tanker Collision Closes Golden State Freeway in Sun Valley

On Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 11:42 PM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 9 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 2 EMS Battalion Captains and 2 Battalion Chief Officers under the direction of Assistant Chief Craig Fry responded to a Physical Rescue Traffic Collision at 2701 Cincinnati Street in Boyle Heights.

Los Angeles Fire Department resources responded to call where a driver of an SUV crashed into a structure with possible trapped victims. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered 1 vehicle which made its way approximately 6-8 feet into single family dwelling. A physical rescue assignment was quickly requested to extricate the victims.



Firefighters utilizing an assortment of tools, while commencing triage of the injured parties, were face with the task of trying to find all the victims in a crowd of people. Rescue crews soon discovered a fatality, a 19y/o female who was apparently in one of the bedrooms at the time of impact. One two week old infant, who was believed to have also been in the same room of impact, was treated and transported in critical condition to USC Medical Center. Four other were also treated and transported, a 61y/o female, 16y/o female, 12y/o female and a 3y/o male, all suffered minor injuries.

It is with great sadness to report that the two week old infant was later pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the medical center. The driver who was taken by LAPD, was later transported to an area hospital for evaluation.

It is still unclear as to what caused the driver to smash onto the side of a home on a residential street always leaving the question, how could something like this happen. With the prime focus now being on, medical care of the injured and emotional support to the victim’s families, an active investigation of the incident will be conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department.

This is a reminder to us all ,that a night of celebration can quickly turn into a night of loss, in the blink of a eye.

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Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Two Lives Lost After Vehicle Smashes into Boyle Heights Home

On Monday, October 25, 2010 at 3:22 PM, 13 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 14 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 Helicopters, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 114 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Deputy Chief Mario Rueda, as well as Los Angeles Police and California Highway Patrol Officers, responded to a Multi-Patient Traffic Collision near 2332 East 1st Street in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to discover a multi-vehicle collision in which one vehicle, an occupied full-sized school bus, had overturned.

As additional LAFD personnel were summoned, a swift triage effort was undertaken to assist and medically assess the school bus driver and as many as 50 teenage bus occupants from nearby Roosevelt High School, none of whom were trapped or had life-threatening injury.

One person found nearby however, and later determined to be a pedestrian, had sustained fatal injury and was declared dead at the scene.

A pair of young adult males from a sedan that reportedly struck the bus, were taken into police custody while receiving pre-hospital medical care, as Firefighter/Paramedics concurrently identified 18 students from the bus in need of non-emergency ambulance transport.

The eighteen students with minor injuries, and the school bus driver - in fair condition, were taken to eight regional hospitals that had been proactively alerted by LAFD responders. A pair of Los Angeles Fire Department air ambulance helicopters placed on stand-by at Roosevelt High School, proved not to be needed.

Using a dedicated Metro transit bus, firefighters not directly involved in caring for the injured coordinated swift and orderly transportation of as many as 30 students to the Hollenbeck Community Police Station, where a reunification center was established.

In the reunification center, City of Los Angeles Crisis Response Team volunteers continued the emotional support efforts established by firefighters, as parents and guardians were calmly reunited with the students.

Despite earlier declarations of non-injury, two students at the reunification center complained of acute pain, and were taken with parental concurrence to area hospitals, bringing the total ambulance transported patient count to 23 (1 bus driver, 18 student bus riders from the incident site, 2 young males from the sedan in custody, and later 2 student bus riders from the reunification center).

No other injuries were reported.

A positive identification of deceased pedestrian, as well as the time, cause and manner of their death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

Pursuant of statewide protocol for occupied school buses involved in student injury collisions, the California Highway Patrol will be the lead agency in a detailed incident investigation.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Pedestrian Dies, 20 Students Hospitalized Following Boyle Heights School Bus Collision

A crash, a flash - a decision to act...

Those who follow LAFD Breaking News via Twitter or the LAFD_ALERT e-mail list may have noted this incident on Sunday morning. Thanks to Susan Abram and her multimedia team at the Daily News, we now have the rest of the story:

Susan Abram, Staff Writer
Daily News

Although police typically find themselves scanning witness videos for bad guys, on Monday they put out an alert for a couple of heroes.

Officers hope to find the good Samaritans who were captured on amateur video as they rescued a 69-year-old man from a burning car after a collision Sunday in Sherman Oaks. The duo was joined by another man armed with a fire extinguisher and a fourth who used a crowbar to try and break the car's windows.




"It could have been much worse if it wasn't for them," said Officer Jose Garcia of the LAPD's Valley Traffic Division.

Police said the classic 1932 Ford was... (read more...)

The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department join Los Angeles Police Officers in hailing these far-from-bystanders for their selfless response. If you have additional information about the collision, or can help us recognize these brave members of our community, please contact the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division by calling (818) 644-8000.

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UPDATE: We're pleased to learn that 4 of the 5 good Samaritans have been identified. Please join us in praising these brave men, as we read more from the Daily News... (read more...)

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Raw Video: Good Samaritans Save Life in Sherman Oaks Crash

On Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 7:01 AM, 6 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 17 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Helicopter, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 83 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Greg West, responded to a Multi-Patient Traffic Collision involving a Train near 9800 North San Fernando Road in Pacoima.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find a two vehicle collision in which one vehicle was subsequently struck by an approaching train.

According to witnesses, a sedan had yielded to a passing emergency vehicle on San Fernando Road north of Branford Street before being struck by a pick-up truck, propelling both vehicles onto the adjacent railroad right-of-way.

The heavily damaged sedan with three occupants remained distant from the tracks, while the truck occupied solely by a driver landed on or near the rails - where within seconds it was struck and destroyed by a northbound commuter train.

Though no one was trapped, the man and woman in the sedan sustained moderate injuries, while the nearly 2 year-old boy riding with them, as well the truck driver, were listed in critical condition.

As their colleagues treated and transported the injured motor vehicle occupants, teams of Los Angeles Firefighters boarded the involved Metrolink Train #201, which had stopped nearby.

Though there were no obvious injuries to the 39 passengers or 3 crew members aboard the Lancaster bound train, 2 passengers who stated a desire for further medical evaluation were taken by LAFD Ambulance to area hospitals in good condition.

The four motor vehicle occupants were taken by LAFD Ambulance to the Trauma Center at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where within the hour, an LAFD Helicopter was summoned to transfer the then-stabilized child to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles.

No other injuries were reported.

This incident remains under investigation by both Los Angeles Police Department and Southern California Regional Rail Authority officials.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Pickup Struck By Train Following Two Vehicle Collision

On Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 7:41 PM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 5 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Foam Tender under the direction of Battalion Chief Karen Richter responded to a Fatality Traffic Collision with Fire at 5283 West Jefferson Boulevard in the Baldwin Hills area.

Firefighters quickly arrived to find a sport utility vehicle and a big rig tractor-trailer fully engulfed in flames after colliding. Additional resources were promptly added due to the potential fire exposure to a nearby 150' X 100', two-story commercial building doing business as Jetro Cash & Carry Wholesale Groceries.

According to witnesses the big rig loaded with sugar packets and SUV were both traveling west bound on Jefferson Boulevard, when the tractor-trailer made a wide right turn into a parking lot and was struck in the diesel fuel tank by the SUV. The diesel fuel ignited and both vehicles erupted in flames.

Firefighters used handlines to diminish the roaring vehicle blaze, while additional firefighters simultaneously performed Ladder pipe operations (extending aerial ladders with hoses, spraying water downward in a fog pattern) to protect the nearby business.

Despite firefighters swift action, the adult male driver of the SUV was trapped and found deceased on scene. The driver of the big rig self extricated and declined medical transportation. Lastly, a third patient was found when an additional 911 call was placed for an adult male that walked a block away from the scene. He was found to be a passenger of the SUV and was transported to UCLA trauma center for non-life threatening injuries.

The blaze was extinguished by 58 firefighters in just 19 minutes and no structures were damaged. Firefighters notified Fish and Game, Cal EMA and the Coast Guard due to the potential of diesel fuel entering in the storm drains.

Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Driver of SUV Dies in Big Rig Collision

On Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 5:11 AM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 3 Helicopters, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, a total of 61 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Wade White, responded to a Multi-Fatality Traffic Collision with Fire on the westbound Foothill (210) Freeway east of Sunland Boulevard in Sunland.

Responding swiftly to a traffic collision with subsequent reports of fire extending to nearby brush, Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find a two vehicle collision with one vehicle fully engulfed in flames.



According to witnesses, a full-size sport utility vehicle towing a cargo trailer collided with a big rig tractor-trailer loaded with lettuce, the smaller vehicle soon thereafter erupting in flames.

An adult male passerby reportedly assisted an 11 year-old male and 9 year-old female from the damaged SUV with minor injuries, before it was consumed by fire. A man, woman and teen male occupants however, remained within the burning vehicle. Sadly beyond the assistance of witnesses or responders, the trio were declared deceased at the scene.

The two surviving children sustained non-life threatening injuries, and were taken by LAFD Ambulance to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles in fair condition.

The adult male driver of the big rig, later complaining of chest discomfort, was taken by LAFD Paramedics to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, also in fair condition.

No other injuries were reported.

With the vehicle fire extinguished and medical treatment underway, firefighters focused their efforts on the burning vegetation, skilfully confining the fire to less than one-quarter acre of grass and brush. The flames were fully extinguished in just 29 minutes.

Firefighters remained at the scene for more than three hours supporting the California Highway Patrol's collision investigation, as well as the Coroner's discreet and dignified removal of the deceased.

The identification and formal relationship of those who died, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of their deaths will be determined by the Coroner's office. The cause of the collision remains within the purview of the California Highway Patrol.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Three Perish, Three Injured in Fiery Foothill Freeway Collision

On Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 11:25 PM, 14 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, Foam Tender 100, HazMat Tender 75, CHP, LAPD, L.A. County Health HazMat, Cal Trans and DOT, under a Unified Command, responded to a HAZ MAT incident at the southbound San Diego FY x Ventura FY in Sherman Oaks.

Firefighters responded to reports of a traffic collision involving a semi on the 405 Freeway. As Firefighters arrived onscene, they found a tractor trailer on it's side, with a load of approximately 8600 gallons of butane, in an uncompromised container. A HazMat assignment with additional companies was requested. A Unified Command was established with LAFD, CHP, LAPD, Caltrans and L.A. County Health HazMat. As the HazMat Teams checked the container's integrity, the Unified Command developed a plan to offload the contents safely. Several Engines were utilized to relay a 4 inch supply line from Sepulveda Boulevard, located below the freeway. An aerial ladder truck was used to relay water from the rear of F.S. 88, across a storm drain, to the freeway above. A contingency plan was formulated for evacuations if needed. Butane when compressed is in liquid form, but when released, is highly flammable.



At 0415, the tractor and container was righted, towed away without incident and its contents offloaded at Balboa Park, under the supervision of the HazMat teams. 104 Firefighters and specialty companies assisted in controlling the incident. The driver was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. The driver stated he was avoiding an abandoned vehicle in lanes and flipped the trailer.

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Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Overturned Semi Creates HazMat Incident on 405 Freeway

On Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 11:23 AM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 41 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Greenup, as well as one CERT Coordinator, responded to a Traffic Collision with Entrapment at 2827 South Westwood Boulevard in West Los Angeles.

Firefighters responded to reports of a multi vehicle traffic accident. Upon arrival, Firefighters found 2 vehicles which had collided, resulting in the injury of 5 patients. Early reports indicated that possibly as many as three were trapped inside the vehicle. As Firefighters cordoned off a safe work area, other Firefighters initiated patient triage, treatment and prepared them for transport. Firefighters found 1 female, 60's, in very critical condition after being ejected from her vehicle. 1 male, 60's, was extricated from a vehicle in grave condition and was later declared deceased at the hospital. The remaining 3 critical patients were a male 18 months, a male, approximately 25 and a female, approximately 35. All patients were transported to area hospitals.

During the triaging of the incident, Firefighters found 3 small dogs who were also victims of the traffic incident. All 3 were transported to a local animal shelter for initial treatment, where one later died. The cause of the incident will be determined by the local investigating police agency.

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Submitted by d'Lisa Davies for Diana Igawa, acting PSO
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - 5 Critically Injured in Westwood Traffic Collision

On Saturday, April 11,2009 at 1308 PM, 1 Company of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 LAFD Rescue Ambulance and 1 EMS Battalion Captain responded to a Fatal Injury at 505 South Vermont Avenue in Mid-Town Los Angeles.

Paramedics arrived quickly to find an 18 month old male with severe injuries to his body after being run over by a large Sport Utility Vehicle at a full service car wash.


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The small child was playing unattended when he was crushed by one of the tires of the vehicle. He was quickly treated on scene by firefighter/paramedics and was rushed to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, where he was Pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Circumstances surrounding the incident are being further investigated by the LAPD. Counseling was provided to all parties involved at the scene.

The tragic death of this young boy servers as a reminder of how important it is to keep a strict watch over our little ones especially any place where vehicles are present.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Toddler Killed at Los Angeles Car Wash

On Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 3:29 PM, 4 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Michael Thomas, responded to a Physical Rescue at 1430 N. Sunset Plaza Dr. in the Hollywood Hills.

Firefighters responded to reports of a car over the embankment in the Hollywood Hills. When Firefighters arrived on scene, they were directed to an area of a yard where the car had plunged through a fence and continued downhill. A company was directed to the street below, where they found the vehicle had finally come to rest against a large Birch tree. Firefighters began stabilization of the vehicle to gain access to the patient. The lone female occupant, 70's, was unconscious and unresponsive. The patient was transported to an area hospital in very grave condition.

Reports from the scene indicated the vehicle left the roadway, went through a fence missing 1 home and plunged downhill approximately 100 feet before coming to a stop a few feet from a second home. The cause of the unfortunate traffic accident will be determined by the local investigating police agency. The LAFD Heavy Rescue 56 and a USAR company assisted the police agency with the retrieval of the vehicle.

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Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Woman Gravely Injured in Hollywood Hills Traffic Accident