On Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 1:51 PM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 84 Los Angeles Firefighters under the direction of Battalion Chief James Gaffney, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 430 South Union Avenue in the Westlake district of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find light smoke emanating from a three-story center hallway apartment building.

Directed by occupants who had smelled smoke within the 14,885 square-foot building, firefighters made their way to a pair of small apartments on the second floor, where a swift moving fire had erupted in the ceiling.

Ushering residents to safety in a calm and orderly manner, firefighters commenced their attack on the flames, which had spread to a wall between 3rd floor units directly above, as well as a portion of the attic.

The fire was confined to effect only 4 apartments in the 30 unit building. Flames were extinguished in just 34 minutes, and there were no injuries.

Displaced by the blaze were 5 adults and 1 child, all of whom were referred to the American Red Cross for temporary shelter and needs assistance.

Loss to the 84 year-old building has been estimated at $40,000 ($30,000 structure & $10,000 contents). The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical in nature.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Electrical Fire Displaces Six in L.A.'s Westlake Neighborhood

On Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 3:13 AM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Jerome Boyd responded to a Civilian Fatality Structure Fire at 4038 South Ursula Avenue in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw area.
 
Firefighters arrived quickly to discover heavy smoke showing from a two-story garden type apartment building. While beginning to extend hoselines into one of the two bedroom units, firefighters were immediately met by a woman who apparently made it out of the residence with one of her five children. While continuing a systematic search through the smoke charged structure, a quick, bold and decisive interior attack on the fire was initiated.

Two additional children were rescued by firefighters and all were unharmed by smoke or flame. Sadly and despite the prompt work of all resources, two male teenage twins were discovered without vital signs of life in a rear room. Both boys were declared deceased at the scene. It took the diligent effort 36 firefighters 21 minutes to knock down the flames. All other residents in the home were unharmed. Although melted smoke alarms were present, it is unclear as whether or not they were a factor in warning the residents.

Seeking to comfort the grieving Mother, the LAFD quickly mobilized a Crisis Response Team to provide compassionate assistance to all friends and neighbors, and those closest to the victims. The American Red Cross was called in to aid the displaced and distraught family. This incident is a reminder to all families of the importance of E.D.I.T.H (Exit Drills In The Home), a well planned exit strategy in case of a fire. Although a Monetary loss exists, one can not truly be calculated where there is loss of life. A positive identification of both deceased, as well as the cause, manner and time of their deaths will be determined by the LA County Coroner's officials. The cause of the fire remains under an active investigation.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Twin Boys Found Deceased From Apartment Fire

On Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 7:15 PM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 4 Arson Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief David Yamahata responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 528 E. Washington Bl. in Washington Blvd Corridor.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and fire coming out from a Church in a local neighborhood just outside downtown Los Angeles. A large column of smoke and flames were visible from the street surrounding the incident, with a school and local businesses just a stone throw away. As fire teams mounted a strategy, a significant amount of the flames had to be suppressed before the initial fire attack team could enter the building.

Roof teams quickly made their way up ladders to the top of the structure to cut ventilation holes to release the smoke and super heated gases. Fire crews aggressively advanced hose-lines, to begin extinguishing the flames, but were immediately met with an additional challenge of protecting adjacent structure from the heat. The fire consumed the attic of the church, causing roof compromise and great concerned for the safety of all the firefighters. The Incident Commander ordered all members to transition into a defensive exterior fire fight, but was soon called right back in to an offensive attack.

Two single family dwellings caught fire and posed more of a workload for all personnel at the scene. Due to the quick and decisive work, both adjacent structures received very little fire damage. A nearby blue line track had to be shut down during the entire fire operation to ensure the safety of all those at the scene.

It took approximately 80 firefighters just 41 minutes to achieve a knock down without injury. No civilians were reported to have been in either one of the buildings at the time of the incident. There were no injuries to any of the firefighters. Two adults and three children were displaced, as The American Red Cross was called in for assistance.

The cause of this fire will be under an active investigation by Los Angeles Fire Department Arson Investigators, as well as the multi-agency House of Worship Task Force.


UPDATE
An investigation was conducted by the House of Worship Arson Taskforce, which includes (LAFD, LAPD, ATF, and FBI). Subsequently a Ricardo Aguilar Martinez was arrested the next day and charged with two counts of arson. Mr. Martinez accepted a plea agreement and was convicted on one count of arson 451 (b) PC and was sentence to three years in State Prison.  Upon his release from prison, Martinez must register as a convicted arsonist.


Submitted by Devin Gales & Erik Scott, Spokesmen
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Church Caught Ablaze Along The Washington Blvd Corridor

The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department join generations of Los Angeles residents in offering our best wishes to legendary television journalist and LAFD friend Stan Chambers, who has announced his retirement after more than six decades of television news reporting.

The pioneering newsman, who spent his entire career at KTLA-TV, chose today - his 87th birthday, to make the announcement...

 

During the past 63 years, no reporter has gotten closer to the action, the truth - and the meaning of local stories than Stan Chambers.

We thank you Stan, for your many decades alongside us during firestorms, floods and disasters. It has been a profound honor for us to witness and be inspired by your work. Please enjoy a well earned retirement with our best wishes.

On August 19, 2010, Los Angeles Fire Chief Millage Peaks and City Councilmember Tom LaBonge honored Mr. Chambers with a luncheon at Fire Station 27 in Hollywood, followed by the ceremonial presentation of an Honorary Fire Chief's helmet and plaque at the adjacent LAFD Museum & Fallen Firefighter Memorial.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Legendary Newsman and Friend of LAFD Retires