In light of fatal fires involving Christmas trees and holiday decorations in recent years, the Los Angeles Fire Department reminds you: 

 "It can take seven years to grow a Christmas tree... and seven seconds for it to become an inferno." 

The LAFD asks you to pay close attention to the video, so as to understand The Facts About Fire:

Fire is FAST!

There is little time! In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house. In minutes, a house can be engulfed in flames. Most fires occur in the home when people are asleep. If you wake up to a fire, you won't have time to grab valuables because fire spreads too quickly and the smoke is too thick. There is only time to escape.

Fire is HOT!

Heat is more threatening than flames. A fire's heat alone can kill. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees or more at eye level. Inhaling this super hot air will scorch your lungs. This heat can melt clothes to your skin. In five minutes a room can get so hot that everything in it ignites at once: this is called flashover.

Fire is DARK!

Fire isn't bright, it's pitch black. Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness. If you wake up to a fire you may be blinded, disoriented and unable to find your way around the home you've lived in for years.

Fire is DEADLY!

Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire uses up the oxygen you need and produces smoke and poisonous gases that kill. Breathing even small amounts of smoke and toxic gases can make you drowsy, disoriented and extremely short of breath. The odorless, colorless fumes can lull you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door. You may not wake up in time to escape.

In the event of a fire, time is the biggest enemy and every second counts!

Escape first, then call for help. Develop a home fire escape plan and designate a meeting place outside. Make sure everyone in the family knows two ways to escape from every room. Practice feeling your way out with your eyes closed.

Never stand up in a fire, always crawl low under the smoke and try to keep your mouth covered. Never return to a burning building for any reason; it may cost you your life!

Having functional smoke alarms and practicing your home escape plan will dramatically increase the chance that you and loved ones will survive what you hopefully now have learned, are the facts about fire!

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Christmas Tree Fires: Fast and Deadly

On Monday, December 13, 2010 at 7:01 AM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief J. Castro responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 636 N Kingsley Dr. in Southeast Hollywood.

Arriving quickly, the first company discovered heavy smoke showing from one unit on the first floor of a two story apartment type house. Just as fire personnel arrived, reports came in that individuals may still have been trapped somewhere in the structure. Firefighters swiftly went into action on scene, extended handlines, and making forced entry to locate the source of the smoke while initiating a primary search for the possible victims.

The building was well involved with fire, threatening structures just a short distance to the north of the occupancy. Fortunately, one adult female and two teenage females had already made it safely out of the incident, all were treated on scene for minor injuries.

The aggressive and well-coordinated efforts of over eighty Los Angeles Firefighters confined the fire to the structure of origin and brought the flames under control in less than 21 minutes. Fire loss to building is estimated at $45,000 ($25,000 structure & $20,000 contents). The cause of this blaze is still under an active investigation


Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Midmorning Blaze Rips Through Apartment House

On Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 2:14 PM, 20 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 4 Helicopters, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 2170 South Century Park East in Century City.

Firefighters quickly arrived to a 21-story residential highrise to find fire blowing out of one unit on the 20th floor. Occupants had already began to properly evacuate the 480 unit building in an orderly fashion.

In accordance with the LAFD's well-established High-Rise Incident Command System, Firefighters secured the lobby, fire control room, stairwells and established a liaison with on site staff of 44 year-old building. With detailed knowledge of the structure gained during fire prevention and tactical pre-plan inspections, Firefighters carrying as much as 100 pounds of equipment each began the strenuous task of climbing 20 flights of stairs. With support teams readily staged on the floors below them, Firefighters assigned to fire attack aggressively assaulted the fire with handlines, confining the flames to the non-sprinklered unit of origin before it spread. Also Fire Department helicopters were staffed remotely as 'Airborne Engine Companies'.

A total of 141 Firefighters assisted in fully extinguishing the blaze in just 23 minutes and performed a detailed search through this contemporary styled structure. There were no injuries to Firefighters, however three adult female civilians suffered non-life threatening injuries, two of which required transportation to local hospitals.

Following extinguishment, dozens of Firefighters worked for several hours assisting building officials with salvage operations and water removal from the 18th through 20th floors. Dollar-loss from the blaze is being tabulated and the cause is under investigation.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Firefighters Stop High-Rise Blaze From Spreading

On Saturday, December 11,2010 at 9:06 AM,4 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters,1 LAFD Rescue Ambulance,1 EMS Battalion Captain,2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, under the direction of Battalion Chief Robert Willcox responded to a Structure Fire at 19016 W. Nashville St. in Porter Ranch.

Firefighters arrived to find a single-family home with heavy smoke showing. An aggressive attack on the fire, combined with vertical ventilation was implemented to confine the fire to a rear room in the structure. An 85 year old male resident who excited the home, was injured after attempting to extinguish the flame on his own. The man was treated and transported to an area hospital and is listed in stable condition.

During the fire fight and a simultaneous search throughout the structure, firefighters discovered and rescued five cats from inside the house. Having been exposed to the thick toxic smoke, four were brought out lifeless, with an additional having breathing problems.

Firefighters quickly went into action sparing no time to provide supplemental oxygen in an effort to revive the animals. Happily all five souls survived and were transferred to the custody of Animal Control Officers.

The occupant's daughter, who had reached the scene, expressed her gratitude in that these articles and collectibles were family treasures and many were irreplaceable , both in dollar amount and personal value.

The estimated dollar loss for this incident is $250.000 ($150.000 structure & $75.000 content). The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - One Man Injured, Five Other Souls Saved In A Fire