LAFD Battles North Hills Structure Fire that Claims Man's Life

NORTH HILLS WEST - Los Angeles Firefighters battled a fully involved house fire that claimed the life of one occupant and a pet dog on August 8, 2013.

Just after 9:00 pm the Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned to a Structure Fire at 16336 Plummer Street, and while en-route they could see a large plume of smoke rising. They arrived on scene to find a one-story Single Family Dwelling fully involved in fire with flames blowing out of the front windows. Additional companies were immediately requested.

Fire attack teams entered the inferno through the front door and performed fire suppression and rescue efforts through the 1,344 square-foot home. Additional firefighters cut ventilation holes in the roof to release super heated gases. Much of the ceiling, which was tongue and groove without attic space above, burned through. A trailer and motor home in the backyard were damaged by the flames and a neighboring house to the west was exposed to flame and heat. Firefighters faced additional concerns of downed live power lines that could be seen arcing in the rear of the structure. DWP was requested to assist.

During the conclusion of fire attack, firefighters discovered the remains of an adult male significantly burned in the dining room of the structure. Beyond medical help, he was declared deceased at the scene. A pet dog was also found beyond help in the master bedroom. No other injuries were reported.

A well coordinated attack by a total of 52 firefighters, all under the command of Battalion Chief Brian Schultz, fully extinguished the flames in just 23 minutes.

It was not readily known if the home was fitted with functional smoke alarms. There were no security doors or window security bars to impede the man's egress. However, the home was described as pack rat conditions due to excessive storage inside. The 58-year old dwelling was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

A positive identification of the deceased man to include his age, as well as the cause, time and manner of his death, will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $300,000 ($250,000 structure and $50,000 contents). The cause of the evening blaze remains under active investigation by the LAFD Arson Section.

Dispatched Units: E287 T87 E290 E90 T90 E275 T75 RA75 E7 RA70 EM15 BC12 BC10 E70 E103 E298 T98 AR2 AR7 AR23

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Handles Northridge Chemical Spill that Sends Three to the Hospital

NORTHRIDGE - Los Angeles Firefighter/Paramedics (LAFD) evaluated 21 patients Monday after a small chemical spill at a large two-story medical technology building, doing business as Metronic.

On July 22, 2013 the Los Angeles Fire Department was called to 18000 Devonshire Street at 12:49 p.m., where they found under a gallon of butyl acetate a polyimide rinse spilled on the first floor. The entire building was evacuated.

Two workers came in contact with the product and took themselves to the hospital prior to the LAFD arriving on scene. A total of 21 workers were carefully evaluated by firefighter/paramedics for non-life threatening complaints, and three were transported to the hospital in minor distress due to respiratory irritation.

A total of 57 firefighters including a LAFD Hazardous Material Team, all under the command of Assistant Chief Andrew Fox, quickly and meticulously handled the incident. Firefighters remained on scene for nearly three hours and patiently escorted workers back inside the building to gain personal items.

The LA County Health Haz-Mat performed the cleanup and Cal/OSHA was notified.

Dispatched Units: E70 E87 SQ87 T87 E287 RA87 RA18 JT3 JT5 E103 E107 RA107 RA75 EM15 EM10 BC15 HU88 RA878 E98 DC3 RA828 RA70 RA73 EM17

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Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Cause Determined in Fatal West Hills House Fire

WEST HILLS - Los Angeles Firefighters found an adult male without vital signs of life in his bedroom while extinguishing a house fire Saturday afternoon.



Just after 1:00 PM on December 8, 2012, LAFD arrived at 23062 Baltar St to find a single-story residence with fire showing. Firefighters quickly suited up and kicked down the front door which was surrounded with flames. Inside, there was heavy fire to the left, particularly in the kitchen and living room, and thick black smoke to the right.

During a systematic Search & Rescue operation of the 1,625 square-foot home, firefighters discovered an approximate 50 year-old male laying prone in a bed within the burning structure. He was immediately pulled out and a team of Firefighter / Paramedics aggressively provided CPR, Advanced Life Support, and rapidly transported him code-3 to a local hospital. After further treatment by hospital staff, he was sadly beyond help and pronounced dead. No other injuries were reported.

A well coordinated effort by 46 Los Angeles Firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Joseph Foley, extinguished the blaze in just 20 minutes, confining it to the structure of origin.

The home was fitted with smoke alarms, however their functional status was not able to be determined due to extensive fire damage. There were no security doors, window security bars or obvious non-fire factors to impede the man's egress. The 50-year old dwelling was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

A positive identification of the deceased man to include his age, as well as the cause, time and manner of his death, will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

Estimated monetary loss from the fire is $150,000 ($100,000 structure & $50,000 contents).

Dispatched Units: E105 T105 E305 E72 RA872 RA96 EM17 BC17 E84 E104 RA105 E106 E296 T96 AR2 AR11 AR7 AR23

LAFD Senior Arson Investigator David Liske stated the cause of the afternoon blaze was from a, "discarded or misplaced cigarette".

Did you know? Every year, almost 1,000 smokers and non-smokers are killed in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. You can make a difference!

 

firesafecigarettes.org

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Small Plane Crashes on Cal State Northridge Campus

NORTHRIDGE - The crash of a small single-engine plane attempting to make an emergency landing on a college athletic field Sunday afternoon, sent the plane's two occupants to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Los Angeles Fire Department received an emergency call from the Control Tower at Van Nuys Airport at 3:09 PM on November 25, 2012, reporting a small aircraft down on the campus of California State University Northridge (CSUN), 2.5 miles northwest of the airport.

Aviation authorities stated the Cessna 206, a six-seat single engine airplane with two persons aboard, was traveling from Novato, California to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, when an in-flight emergency was declared.

Witnesses describe the pilot attempting to land the ailing aircraft on the athletic fields that occupy the northeast section of CSUN's South Campus. The plane quickly traversed the fields, before striking a chain link fence and a tree, which sheared the Cessna's left wing and caused the craft to overturn. Amazingly, there were no injuries on the ground, and no campus structures damaged. Thick smoke seen as the airplane came to a rest soon dissipated, and what was initially believed to be a small fire, may have simply been burning oil.

Several bystanders came to the immediate aid of the male pilot and female passenger, assisting them from the wreckage. The Los Angeles Fire Department arrived quickly to abate the fire hazard and provide medical care to the pilot and passenger, who were described as in fair condition with non-life threatening injuries. The two were taken by LAFD ambulance to an area hospital.

The Fire Department remained on-site for more than four hours to assure campus safety, minimize environmental harm and preserve the scene for a coordinated investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.

Dispatched Units: E70 RA70 E103 E287 T87 E87 T73 E273 RA104 HR56 EM15 BC15 UR88 DC3 H8

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Fire Damages Building on James Monroe High School Campus

NORTH HILLS - A pre-dawn fire on the campus of James Monroe High School damaged portions of a classroom building early Friday morning.

Summoned by a 9-1-1 call from a passerby who noted smoke at 2:41 AM on November 9, 2012, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded swiftly to 9229 Haskell Avenue in North Hills, to discover fire within a large one-story building on the south side of the campus.

It took the well-coordinated effort of 94 Los Angeles Firefighters just 45 minutes to quell the flames within a wood shop and an adjacent hallway. No injuries were reported.

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The cause of the blaze remains under active investigation.

Dispatched Units: E290 E90 T90 RA90 E7 RA7 EM15 BC10 E81 E275 T75 E87 E287 T87 E103 DC3 BC12 SQ87 BC15 EL83 AR2 E239 T39 E298 T98 EM17 E288 T88 E89 UR88 RA88 RA889 BC14 RT83

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Partners to Launch OK/HELP Window Sign Program for Earthquake Preparedness

Today, 9.3 million Californians successfully participated in the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill. Great job! Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Fire Department partnered with Council District 12, CERT, American Red Cross, and the U.S. Geological Survey in compiling a pamphlet to offer you and your family clear, simple steps to follow immediately after a major earthquake.

It's encouraged to store the pamphlet near your front door, then following an earthquake, tear off the “OK/HELP” sign and place it in your front window to indicate to your neighbors and emergency personnel if you are "OK” or need “HELP.” This will help firefighters save time and maximize resources by getting to those who need immediate help more efficiently.

We know it's not a matter of IF, but WHEN the Big One will strike. And simply, the better prepared we are, the greater our ability to keep our families safe. 

Chick here to view the pamphlet online, or any resident of Los Angeles City can request one from www.CD12.org.

"Successful disaster preparedness begins with having a plan, and exercising it. The OK/HELP sign is a great step toward being ready. LAFD is always there to help you learn about disaster planning at LAFD.org," - Fire Chief Brian Cummings. 

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Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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House Fire Claims Life of Woman in South Robertson, LA

SOUTH ROBERTON - Los Angeles Firefighters quickly extinguished a residential blaze on Saturday, January 28, 2012. However, sadly, an adult female was found deceased inside.

Firefighters arrived within four minutes to 2637 Garth Avenue, to find fire showing from the rear of a one-story single-family-dwelling. Scores of firefighters forced entry with rotary saws, and performed an aggressive attack with hose-lines through the smoke charged 1,379 square-foot residence. Simultaneously, their colleagues performed strategic vertical ventilation with chainsaws on the roof to remove hot smoke and gasses.

Although a security front door provided forcible entry challenges, firefighters quickly made access through a rear sliding glass door. The burned body of an 38 year-old female was subsequently discovered in a rear bedroom of the residence. Without vital signs of life, she was determined deceased at the scene.

A total of 41 firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Al Ward, confined the fire to the residence of origin and fully extinguished the flames in just 22 minutes. No one else was injured.

In examining the fire's aftermath, smoke alarms were present, however their functional status are not immediately known. Some windows in the rear of the residence were equipped with security bars and the front door was a security door, however it is undetermined if either impaired egress. The 77-year old residence was not equipped with fire sprinklers.

A positive identification of the deceased woman, as well as the precise cause, time, and manner of her death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

The Crisis Response Team arrived to provide immediate on-scene crisis intervention, emotional support and referrals to the family involved in this traumatic incident.

The cause of this 11:20 AM blaze in under active investigation by LAFD's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section and monetary loss is still being tabulated.

Chief Ward in conjunction with LAFD Arson Investigators stated, "There have been 18 civilian fatalities in the last year and the lack of functional Smoke Alarms may have been a contributing factor in 50% of these incidents."

Fire Chief Brian Cummings provided this timely tweet to the citizens of Los Angeles earlier today, "Make sure that you have smoke detectors in your home. Test them regularly and change the batteries twice per year."

Dispatched Units: E58, RA58, E43, RA43, LF94, EM9, BC18, E61, LF92, E34, AR2, AR7, AR36, AR10, E57


Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Man Injured, Pets Die in Explosive San Fernando Valley House Fire

LAKE BALBOA - An explosive fire in a San Fernando Valley home early Tuesday, killed two pets and sent the homeowner to the hospital for treatment of painful burn injuries.

The fire, reported initially as an explosion by neighbors at 7:53 AM on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, brought 38 members of the Los Angeles Fire Department to 7500 White Oak Avenue in Lake Balboa.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find a one-story 810 square-foot home well involved with fire. As LAFD crews battled the blaze, they encountered the home's sole occupant, a 72 year old man, with second-degree burns to his face and hands. Following prompt treatment by Fire Department Paramedics, he was taken by ambulance to Northridge Hospital Medical Center in fair condition.

Firefighters continued to attack the flames, discovering two cats and two dogs within - or immediately adjacent to - the burning structure. Pulled from within and away from the smoke charged residence, firefighters were able to provide oxygen, resuscitate and rescue one canine and one feline. The other two animals however, proved to be beyond medical help and died at the scene.

The fire was confined to the home and extinguished in just 18 minutes. No other injuries were reported.

Once stabilized by firefighters, the surviving dog and cat were placed in the arms of neighbors who pledged to get them to veterinary care.

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The cause of the early morning blaze has been categorized as accidental, and is attributed to a leak of combustible propane from a portable heating device used improperly within the home.

Dispatched Units: E273 T73 RA73 E100 RA100 E103 EM15 BC17 E70 T90 E90 E290 BC15

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Teens Rescued From Rocky Chatsworth Cliff by Los Angeles Firefighters

CHATSWORTH - A pair of teenagers were safely removed from a perilous cliff in the northwest San Fernando Valley in a nearly two-hour effort by Los Angeles Firefighters.

Sixty-eight Los Angeles Fire Department personnel - including two LAFD helicopters and an Urban Search and Rescue Team, were summoned at 6:58 P.M. on Tuesday August 16, 2011, to 10870 North Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Chatsworth, where witnesses reported a pair of teen males stranded on a cliff at Stoney Point, a municipal park popular with hikers and revered by climbing enthusiasts.


The local teens, both 18 years-old, reportedly separated from a group of friends in the rugged terrain, choosing a hillside path that led them to be trapped at dusk in a narrow and rocky recess more than 200 feet above the ground, making a helicopter-based rescue difficult.

Arriving quickly by ground and air, Los Angeles Firefighters hiked up steep and winding trails at sunset as an LAFD command helicopter lit their way to the top of the mountain with a 30 million candlepower spotlight. A second LAFD air ambulance helicopter, configured for hoist operations hovered nearby; as one of the first-arriving firefighters rappelled 50 feet down the sheer cliff to assess and prepare the young men both physically and mentally for rescue.

Confirming the teens to be uninjured - and explaining what lied ahead, the first firefighter was soon joined by a member of LAFD's Urban Search and Rescue unit, who separately placed each boy in a harness for the accompanied descent down the cliff, where the young men were reunited safely with friends and a parent.

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Dispatched Units: E296 T96 RH114 E107 RA107 H0C H0E UR88 HR56 EM17 BC15 BC17 E89 T27 E227 E70 H1 H6 E27 UR27 T88 E288 E88 EM15 RA70 EL72 E72 E90

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Near-Drowning of San Fernando Valley Siblings Highlights Water Danger

GRANADA HILLS - Two young children are fighting for survival at a Mission Hills hospital after nearly-drowning in the backyard pool of their Knollwood area home in the north San Fernando Valley.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 4:42PM on Sunday, August 14, 2011 to 12055 Susan Drive in Granada Hills, where they found the lifeless body of a 2 1/2 year-old boy and his barely breathing triplet sister, who had moments earlier been rescued by their mother from the family's swimming pool.

According to witnesses, the mother had left the boy and girl playing together in a room within the large two-story residence, as she went to check on the third triplet and 7 year old sibling in another part of the home.

After an unspecified period, the mother returned to seek the boy and girl and determined them missing. A brief search of the premises led her to the swimming pool, where she discovered and rescued the submersed pair.

Two teams of LAFD Paramedics worked exhaustively and at the pinnacle of their skill to resuscitate the children. In the few minutes it took to arrive by ambulance at nearby Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, the responders had improved the girl's condition and restored the boy's pulse - giving them a fighting chance of survival, though both remained in critical condition.

With a focus on drowning prevention, the Los Angeles Fire Department was quick to stress the importance of its Pool Safely campaign, while highlighting the effectiveness of bystander poolside CPR that recently saved the life of another San Fernando Valley child.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Illegal Fireworks Suspected Following Chatsworth Blaze

CHATSWORTH - A grass fire on Independence Day in the northwest San Fernando Valley reported to have injured one or more persons, may have been sparked by illegal fireworks.

Fifty-five Los Angeles Fire Department personnel - including four LAFD helicopters, were summoned at 9:32 P.M. on Monday, July 4, 2011, to 10619 Andora Avenue in Chatsworth, where residents reported a grass fire at nearby Stoney Point, an iconic landmark and municipal park popular with hikers and revered by climbing enthusiasts.

According to witnesses, a thunderous explosion occurred before fire erupted near the site's massive outcroppings. Arriving quickly by ground and air, Los Angeles Firefighters hiked up steep and winding trails in the darkness to confine the wildfire, as LAFD helicopters flanked the blaze that scorched less than a half-acre of tinder-dry brush in the 43 minutes it took to fully extinguish the flames.

Despite an exhaustive search of rugged terrain across the 76-acre site nestled between the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains, firefighters were unable to find one or more persons that a witness said were burned in the fire. In seeking the those injured, firefighters discovered and took custody of a large cache of fireworks found atop the towering cliffs.

The specific cause of the blaze remains part of an active investigation by Los Angeles Police and Fire Department Investigators. Those with information about the event are asked to call the LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section at (213) 485-6095.


Dispatched Units: E107 E296 E87 T96 BC14 E496 BC15 E72 H4 H6 H1 H3 E106 E104 E103 BP8 AR2 RP88

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Chemical Investigation at Science Annex

On Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 2:35 PM, 6 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team and 49 Firefighters, all under the direction of Battalion Chief Manuel Lafarga, responded to a Chemical Investigation at 2250 East Alcazar Street in Lincoln Heights.

First arriving units were quick to gather as much information as was available at the USC Clinical Science Annex. It was discovered that the unidentified substance was isolated to one, single laboratory on the second floor of the two-story facility. The decision was then made by the Incident Commander to safely and quickly evacuate the entire building. However, there were 10 lab workers close enough in proximity to the spill, that warranted brief isolation from the lab. This task was carried-out by Firefighters who all made entry dressed in their appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE's). Subsequently, each of the 10 lab workers and another 14 building occupants (also on the floor at the time of the spill) received body scans with the Hazardous Material Squad's radiological detectors.

As an extra safety measure, a Decontamination Team was also put in place. Thankfully, there were no direct exposures to the spill, all detector readings were within normal limits and no occupants exhibited any signs or symptoms of illness or discomfort. Decontamination, therefore, was not required and all were eventually cleared and released at the scene.

The substance was deemed to be unharmful and of very small quantity (less than 2 ounces). After a meticulous sweep of the entire building and the processing of its occupants, the lab was sealed, the incident declared static and after three hours, was turned over to the Los Angeles County Health and Hazardous Materials Department as well as USC officials.

Adjacent occupancies, while alarmed because of the nature of the incident, were sheltered-in-place briefly, but were not affected due to the strategic management of the incident.

The incident is under investigation.

Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

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Firefighter Injured Battling Flames in Chatsworth

On Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 12:15 AM, 16 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 8 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 LAFD Helicopter, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 118 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott, responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 9654 Cozycroft Avenue in Chatsworth.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find fire through the roof above a pair of centrally located units that housed one of several businesses in a single-story eight-unit 160' x 300' industrial building.

Forcing entry through rolling steel doors of the wholesale clock firm involved in fire, scores of firefighters worked in unison to swiftly salvage key business records and computer equipment from the office, as their colleagues nearby held advancing flames at bay.

The offensive attack on the fire, accompanied by strategic vertical ventilation, continued unabated for more than 20 minutes, until the roof became untenable and portions of the structure began to give way.

 
A skillful transition to defensive operations prevented flames from spreading beyond the one business, as large hosestreams - including those from aerial ladders, were brought to bear against the inferno. The well-coordinated firefighting effort prevented the blaze from causing direct damage to a gymnastic club to the south or a metalworking firm to the north.

The flames were brought under control in just 63 minutes.

During the assault on the flames, one Los Angeles Firefighter sustained painful and potentially debilitating 2nd-degree burns to as much as nine-percent of his body, including hands and chest. He was taken in fair condition by LAFD ambulance to West Hills Hospital, home of the Grossman Burn Center, where he was treated in the Emergency Room and released to remain off-duty.

No other injuries were reported.

Fire loss to Bey-Berk International a timepiece wholesaler, is still being tabulated.

The cause of this midnight blaze remains under active investigation.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Firefighter Injured While Battling Blaze in Granada Hills

On Monday, April 18, 2011 at 6:06 AM, 6 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, a total of 39 Firefighters all under the direction of Battalion Chief Robert Willcox responded to a Structure Fire with Firefighter Injury at 11065 North Balboa Boulevard in Granada Hills.

The first Firefighter on-scene started his work day a little early, as he was driving to his Fire Station from home, he noticed smoke billowing out of a one-story 100' x 50' Commercial Strip Mall. He immediately contacted 9-1-1, provided a size-up, and assured no one was inside by speaking with a worker that arrived just seconds prior.


As additional Firefighters arrived and made entry into the structure, black smoke was banked down within one foot of the floor. Teams of Firefighters swiftly extended ground ladders to the roof of the 9,300 square-foot, multi unit structure to perform strategic vertical-ventilation with chainsaws, as their colleagues deployed hose-lines within the building to do battle with the flames.


One Firefighter made his way up a ladder to the conventional flat roof, and as he climbed down a four-foot parapet, he fell and seriously injured his left knee. His fellow Firefighters quickly came to his aid and it was deemed best to remove him from the roof via a hoist operation. An Aerial truck raised its ladder to the roof with a specialized basket attached to bottom of it, of which the injured Firefighter was placed inside and lowered to safety. The wounded Firefighter was transported to Holy Cross hospital where he was later released and will remain off-duty until healed.


The fire, described at "hot and smoldering", was confined to just one unit doing business as Chile's Mexican Food restaurant. The flames were fully extinguished in just 13 minutes, before any civilians were injured. The 52 year-old non-fire sprinklered building was equipped with properly working smoke alarms.


Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $50,000 ($20,000 structure & $30,000 contents). The cause of the blaze was determined electrical in nature, and may be attributed to an overloaded electrical power strip found under a counter.



Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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