On Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 2:17 AM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 4 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief John Potter responded to a Structure Fire at 14153 West Erwin Street in Van Nuys.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find a two-story garden style apartment with smoke showing from the rear of the ten unit structure. Neighbors were awakened  by sounds of breaking glass and smoke alarms shortly before the arrival of fire crews. Residents tried to enter the involved apartment,  but the smoke and heat was too intense. Firefighters made a rapid entry after reports of a person still inside.

Roof teams cut ventilation holes to release super heated gases, as fire attack teams performed fire suppression and rescue efforts. During the attack on the blaze, Firefighters discovered a 65 year-old elderly woman inside the home. The patient was immediately provided with advanced life support intervention and transported to Sherman Oaks Medical Center. The patient was pronounced dead at the hospital.

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

The fire was confined to one unit and rapidly extinguished in just 16 minutes, with 36 Firefighters.  The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Woman Found Dead at Scene of Van Nuys Fire

It has been more than two years since our friend and colleague, Los Angeles Firefighter/Paramedic David Pass lost his life in an off-duty motorcycle collision caused by an errant motorist.

Our friends at KABC-TV in Los Angeles have been kind enough to produce and broadcast a brief video that highlights the continuing search for the driver of a Chevrolet Impala that fled the intersection of LaBrea Avenue and Centinela Avenue in Inglewood, California on July 21, 2007 - without so much as stopping to aid the dying father of four.


We wish to thank KABC-TV and the Inglewood Police Department for their diligence in bringing this motorist to justice. If you have information about this incident, we ask you to call investigators at (888) 41-CRIME.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Driver Who Killed Off-Duty Los Angeles Firefighter Remains At Large

On Monday, November 9, 2009 at 6:15 PM, 14 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 7 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 4 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Rehab Air Tender and 1 Emergency Air under the direction of Assistant Chief David Yamahata responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 1425 Detroit Street in Hollywood.

Lightforce 27 quickly arrived to find fire showing from a unit on the third floor of a four story U-shaped apartment building that was under construction. Additional resources were swiftly requested.

Firefighters made a concentrated effort to quickly extinguish this early evening fire. A Drop Bag operation was rapidly performed to bring hoselines to the third floor while firefighters on the roof cut 'heat-holes' allowing heat, smoke and gases to escape.

This proved to be a fast moving fire that started on the third floor and without delay traveled through the walls of five units. Several other units suffered water damage.

Firefighters not only had to battle the blaze but met additional dangers early on with electrical wires arching and having to navigate with limited visibility over smoke filled floors that hid a large hole from an unfinished trash chute being constructed. Due to firefighters keeping safety in the forefront of their mind and the keen supervision of the Incident Commander, no injuries occurred.

The blaze was fully extinguished by 101 firefighters in one hour and seventeen minutes limiting the damage to $50,000 ($50,000 structure & $0 contents). The cause of the blaze was from 'sweating pipe' on the third floor.

Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Rips Through 4 Story Hollywood Apartments

Many are surprised to learn that

the LAFD has its own Handcrew.

Here are answers to the three most common questions:

What is LAFD Handcrew 3? It is a Volunteer Type II Handcrew managed by the Los Angeles Fire Department and currently organized as a Wildland Explorer Post. Crew 3 members receive wildland classes, hands-on training and guidance to help successfully gain a career in the Fire Service. Crew 3 is managed by active-duty LAFD Members with extensive wildland fire training and handcrew experience.

When did this begin? On July 14th, 2006, an Explorer Post was started at Los Angeles Fire Station 88 by Captain Derek Vehling and Apparatus Operator Gregory Holly. Crew 3, organized and chartered as a Wildland Explorer Post, is a first of its kind at the LAFD.

What is Crew 3 able to do? They have been activated for numerous Brush Fires, Rain/Mudflow Incidents, assist in Red Flag Pre-deployments and various other projects such as preparation for the annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony at the LAFD's  Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center.

Learn more about LAFD Crew 3 in this video by FDNNTV...

For additional information about LAFD Crew 3 or to contact them, please visit:

www.LAFDCrew3.org

Note: The recently proposed Cadet Program, to be administered in its entirety by the Los Angeles Fire Department, will continue to utilize Department volunteer Post Advisors for leadership and support. The LAFD Cadet Program will replace this other Learning for Life associated LAFD "Explorer Posts" effective January 1, 2010.

Submitted by Erik Scott

Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LAFD 'Crew 3' Stands Ready To Answer The Call