Man Critically Injured in North Hollywood Apartment Fire

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - A man dramatically rescued from a burning apartment by Los Angeles Firefighters late Wednesday evening, was fighting for his life at an area hospital, as investigators sought the cause of the blaze.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 10:44 PM on January 23, 2013 to 6737 Denny Avenue in North Hollywood. Firefighters arrived quickly to find one first-floor unit at the rear of the 18,150 square-foot 2 story garden-style apartment building fully involved with fire.

Thirty-seven firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Peter Benesch mounted a tenacious fire attack with simultaneous search that led to the dramatic rescue of a 20 year-old pulseless and non-breathing man from the intensely burning apartment.

A relentless resuscitation effort by a trio of LAFD Paramedics ensued and continued during ambulance transport, as the veteran rescuers leveraged decades of experience to restore a heartbeat and respiration to the man, who had sustained second- and third-degree burns to more than 70% of his body.

No other injuries were reported.

Monetary loss from the fire, which was confined to the one heavily damaged apartment, is still being tabulated. The cause of the blaze remains under a joint active investigation by Los Angeles Police officials and Investigators from the LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section.

Dispatched Units: E260 E60 T60 RA860 RA60 E89 EM14 BC14 E77 E289 T89 E86 AR2 AR23 AR7 AR9

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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