On Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 6:12 PM, 12 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Emergency Air, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 85 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Richard Combs, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 4539 West Adams Boulevard in the West Adams district of Los Angeles.


View Larger Map (you can also click, grab & zoom the pre-fire image above)
Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find smoke showing from the roof of a 50' x 150' one-story furniture storage facility.

Ascending ladders to the arched truss roof, firefighters commenced strategic vertical ventilation as their colleagues forced entry into the well-secured former boulevard storefront.

With combustible furniture stacked as high as fifteen feet inside the non-fire sprinklered building, firefighters fought their way through thick smoke and merchandise to find, attack and confine flames in the rear of the densely packed but unoccupied structure.

The stubborn fire was confined within the pre-1933 masonry building and extinguished in just 46 minutes.

No injuries were reported.

Loss to Posse Fine Furniture is estimated at $150,000 ($50,000 structure & $100,000 contents). The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical in nature and categorized as accidental.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LAFD Quickly Curtails Furniture Warehouse Blaze

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

While most realize that Neighborhood Firefighters play a critical role in emergencies, the proud title of Caregiver is by no means restricted to public safety or health care professionals.

As we gather with our families and friends this holiday season, the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department ask you to join them in a spirt of compassion and prevention, by frankly assessing and addressing the medical, social and safety needs of those closest to you.

Whether an elderly or infirm person - or a dependant child, our time together during the holidays allows us to both appreciate the challenges before us, and most importantly to ask for help.

Along with local resources in Los Angeles County, including our regional 2-1-1 system, the Federal Government provides information to help family and informal caregivers maintain the comfort, wellness and safety of others. To learn more, visit:

usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Health/caregivers.shtml

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - The Holiday Season - Time to Assess Your Needs as a Caregiver

To a firefighter, the only greater challenge than hearing "You Have Cancer", is having someone tell you "It Can't Be Done!".

Meet retired Santa Ana, California firefighter Lorenzo Abundiz, who has proven that hearing one seemingly fateful expression need not mean believing the other.


A survivor of three types of cancer, and founder of Code 3 For A Cure, Abundiz has traveled across North America sharing a message of hope for all cancer patients, especially those who are active and retired firefighters.

As you may recall, Abundiz departed the Los Angeles Fire Department Museum & Memorial in Hollywood in mid-2008 to commence a celebrity encouraged cross-country expedition.

Today, Abundiz returns to the same location to complete his 2009 journey among friends and supporters. We welcome you to join us:

Monday, November 23, 2009
11:00 AM
Los Angeles Fire Department Museum & Memorial
1355 North Cahuenga Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028 USA

To learn more, visit:

www.code3foracure.com

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Cancer Crusade Ends Nationwide Journey at LAFD Museum