Multi-Story Residential Blaze in Echo Park

ECHO PARK - A relentless fire in a multi-story residence, required more than 150 Los Angeles Firefighters and  two water dropping helicopters to extinguish. The October 12, 2011 incident was reported by multiple 9-1-1 callers at 5:41 PM, bringing a rapid response from Firefighters as they ascended narrow roads en route to 1357 North Elysian Park Drive, just west of Dodger Stadium.

Arriving at a three-story Craftsman-style residence with a basement, Firefighters made access and quickly extinguished the flames on the first floor, however they still had fire roaring on the floors above, through the attic and in the basement.

Truck Companies assigned to the roof, aggressively performed vertical ventilation with chainsaws, as fire blew from each hole that was cut. The environment then became unsafe and required a quick exit from the roof, before it collapsed.

As scores of additional Firefighters were dispatched, the strategic decision was made to request water dropping helicopters. They were able to survey downwind for burning embers, while having the capability to swiftly halt advancing flames if they spread to the hillside. Ultimately, one precise water drop on the burning structure itself, was all that was required.

Through the exhausting assault, Firefighters, for a time, went into "defensive mode," exiting the untenable structure to do battle from the exterior. Then, once additional headway was made, they re-entered the wood-sided, century-old house to attack the flames head-on.

Firefighters continually overcame heavy fire on multiple floors of this balloon construction house, protecting adjacent residences and ensuring flames did not spread to nearby, volatile vegetation. As if that wasn't enough, live ammunition that had been stored on the second floor, discharged in the midst of the firefight.

Battalion Chief Fred Mathis stated, "...another challenge we faced was access to the hilltop house. There was one way in and out. After the first apparatus arrived, all those following had to stack one behind the other, downhill. This required some Firefighters to carry gear up a 1/4 mile, then back again to exchange air bottles. It was a tough location. They did a great job!"

This "Major Emergency Structure Fire" was fully extinguished in one hour and 16 minutes by 165 Firefighters. Fortunately, due to an aggressive attack and sound command, no one was injured.

One owner of the residence, a senior, was compassionately evaluated by Firefighter/Paramedics on-scene. She did not require transport to a hospital.

There was extensive damage to one side of the residence, however it was not a total loss. The estimated dollar loss was $300,000 ($250,000 structure and $50,000 contents).

The cause of the fire is under active investigation.

Dispatched Units:
E11 E3 BC11 E9 E220 T20 RA3 RA803 EM6 E29 E203 T3 E6 SQ21 DC2 BC1 E15 E211 T11 EM2 BC2 UR3 T27 E227 RA827 T5 E205 UR88 BC5 RA20 RA27 E27 H0E H0B E205 T5 H2 H4 E90 E215 T15 EA2 RT59 RA1 E226 T26 E21 RA56 RA11 EM11 T90 E290 AR1 T61 E261 E5 E89 SU1 T12 E212 E63 T39 E239 RA6

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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