On Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 4:16 PM, 14 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Helicopters, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Rehab Air Tender, 1 Park Ranger Water Tender and 1 Helicopter along with 2 Hand Crews from Los Angeles County Fire Department under the direction of Battalion Chief Brian Cummings responded to a Major Emergency Brush Fire at 1202 West Anaheim Street in Harbor City.

Light Force 85 arrived and found two acres of light to medium brush burning in Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, just North of Anaheim Street and West of Vermont Avenue. Wind at approximately eight mph pushed the flames Eastward along the South side of Los Angeles Harbor College, toward the 110 freeway.

Firefighters quickly deployed hand lines trying to anchor the fire along the West flank and work their way North. In addition to the challenge of hilly and at-times unstable terrain, firefighters also had to overcome difficult water access. Water Shuttle Operations were established by strategically placing Fire Engines along Anaheim Street, moving water from the fire hydrants to the firefighters on the hills.

Meanwhile a Heli-Spot was established at The Navy Fuel Depot for water-dropping helicopters to battle the blaze from the air and provide aerial reconnaissance. Heavy smoke and flames continued to travel toward the 110 Freeway thus the Southbound lanes were closed as a precautionary.

Due to the aggressive attack from 92 firefighters, a knockdown was obtained in one hour and 49 minutes at 6:05 PM. Firefighters also received a little help from Mother Nature who kept the Relative Humidity around 60, assisting in holding the blaze to just 20 acres. Hand lines were stretched around the entire perimeter of the burned area and firefighters remained on scene over night to ensure any hot spots would not pose a threat. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported. The cause is still under investigation.

Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Major Emergency Brush Fire Scorches 20 Acres

On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 3:14 AM, 15 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief Richard Warford responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 5170 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood.

Firefighters were called to a what appeared to be a two story non-sprinklered commercial building with heavy smoke and no fire visible on the first or second floor. The smoke was originally reported by civilians at a 24 hour Gym next door to the incident.

The first arriving fire crews initiated forcible entry and fire attack. As they took handlines into the structure, they later discovered that the building had a third story in the rear not visible from the front.

Fire attack teams searched for the origin of the smoke and quickly found that the fire had run the walls up to the third floor. Flames extended to the attic, and were now visible to the roof teams cutting ventilation holes above.

The bulk of the blaze was soon discovered there after, as both interior attack teams and roof teams continued a coordinated effort to extinguish the fire. Once the origin was found,108 firefighters made quick work in knocking down the flames in less than one hour, saving a good portion of the building.

The establishment was doing business as a medical supply shop with offices and telemarketing on the above floors.

There were no civilians in the structure at the time, and no firefighters were injured during the emergency operations. Although Fire Department Investigators were summoned, there is no immediate cause of the early morning blaze.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Firefighters Quickly Tackle Blaze in Hollywood Office Building

On Friday, October 9, 2009 at 3:22 AM, 10 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 Helicopter, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 85 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Richard Warford, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 11365 Thurston Place in Westwood.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find smoke showing from the northwest portion of a 3,154 square-foot one story single family home with sub-grade garage.


View Larger Map (you can also click, grab and zoom the pre-fire image above!)
As firefighters pulled hoselines to battle the flames, they were met by the home's sole occupant who had been awakened and alerted to the fire by a properly functioning smoke detector of her home alarm system.

With concerns for flying embers, an LAFD Helicopter was assigned for aerial reconnaissance and command support, as firefighters made a relentless attack on the stubborn flames.

The bulk of the fire was confined to the rambling attic of the 57 year-old 'U-shaped' home, which was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers. The flames were extinguished in just 44 minutes.

Though allowing LAFD Paramedics to examine her for smoke exposure, the female resident who escaped unscathed declined treatment or transportation.

No other injuries were reported.

Loss from the fire is still being tabulated. Firefighters remain confident that a properly maintained and fully functioning smoke alarm saved the woman's life.

The cause of this early morning blaze remains under active investigation.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Smoke Alarm Saves Life of Sleeping Westwood Woman

On Monday, October 5, 2009 at 10:10 PM, 13 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 5 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Deputy Chief Terrance Manning responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 410 S. Manhattan Pl.

Firefighters arrived to a 4 story modern-style center hallway apartment building, with heavy smoke and fire on the second floor. Confronted immediately with several people exiting the structure, fire crews made quick entry after hearing reports of possible individuals trapped inside. The first arriving fire crews continued to make an aggressive attack on the blaze, while other crews simultaneous searched for possible victims.

As firefighters took handlines down a hallway on the second floor they found that the buildings fire doors had kept the flames and most of the smoke confined to the one area of the structure. Interior attack teams rescued a family of five who where trapped but sheltered in place on a Balcony. Roof teams quickly cut ventilation holes near the origin of the fire and opened the roof's penthouse doors to rescue one trapped adult male.

The fire was confined to one unit, but several units sustained heavy damage from heat and smoke. The blaze was knocked down in just 33 minutes with 99 firefighters. Thankfully no firefighters or civilians were injured during the incident, however American Red Cross came to the aid of 13 displaced individuals, consisting of six males, seven females, three families total.

It was Believed that fire doors as well as fire alarms played a significant role in alerting the occupants of the treat of flames, and was a contributing factor in the lives saved.

Firefighters remained on scene for several hours, protecting the homeowners belongings from additional damage during the salvage and overhaul operations.The total dollar loss was estimated at $100.000 ($50.000 structure, $50.000 content) the cause of this fire is still under investigation.



Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Rips Through Modern Building Near Hancock Park