Intense Fire Leads to Collapse of Woodland Hills Home

WOODLAND HILLS - On Saturday September 7, 2013 just before 8:00 PM, Los Angeles Firefighters rapidly made their way up narrow roads to 5219 Calatrana Drive. Arriving firefighters found heavy fire engulfing a three story hillside home and threatening nearby structures and brush.

Fire companies made an aggressive interior fire attack as water dropping helicopters surrounded and extinguished burning vegetation. 30 minutes into the firefight a coordination exit was ordered in anticipation of building collapse. 147 firefighters under the command of Assistant Chief Andrew Fox continued exterior operations until extinguishment in one hour and 25 minutes. Fast action by firefighters protected nearby structures and the blaze was confined to the 2,604 square foot, tri-level home.

Three adult occupants, who were not present at the time of the blaze, were displaced from the residence, which was completely destroyed.


During the firefight, limited access and egress, low water pressure, and high ambient temperatures proved challenging for firefighters. The topography of the area presented concerns with water flow to surrounding structures and salvage efforts minimized damage. Fire companies remained on scene throughout the night monitoring flare ups from smoldering materials beneath the collapsed walls.

One Firefighter sustained non life threatening injuries, he was assessed at the scene and returned to work. Dollar loss is still being tabulated and expected to be in excess of one million dollars. The cause of the fire remains under active investigation by the LAFD Arson Section.

Dispatched Units: E84 RA84 RA107 E305 T105 E72 E293 E93 T93 EM17 BC17 BC10 E100 E105 H0C H0F H4 H5 E90 E239 T39 E106 E104 E296 T96 E273 T73 DC3 BC14 E260 T60 E98 E107 E103 E288 T88 E70 AR2 BC9 BC12 UR88 T89 E289 UR89 RA89 RA889 E5 BC5 EA1 RA876 E93 RA72 T29 E229 E39 E60 T94 E294 E3 E21 T105 E305 E93 BC17 AR2 T98 E298 T93 E293

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Submitted by Katherine Main, Spokesperson
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Donated LAFD Equipment on Display at Woodland Hills Fire Station

LOS ANGELES - On Thursday afternoon, April 11, 2013, Fire Chief Brian L. Cummings visited Fire Station 84 in Woodland Hills where newly donated emergency services equipment was displayed.

Councilman Dennis P. Zine transferred nearly $200,000 in discretionary funds to support critical Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) emergency service needs in the San Fernando Valley. The funding was used to buy equipment that will be spread throughout the stations in LAFD’s Battalion 17 which covers Council District Three.

The Los Angeles Fire Department thanks Councilman Zine for his generous appropriation of funds to purchase critical equipment and supplies that will be used to enhance our service. These funds have been earmarked for the Fire Stations serving the communities of Canoga Park, Reseda, Winnetka, Woodland Hills, and Tarzana.

Battalion Chief Joseph Foley, who serves as the liaison to CD3, appreciates the Councilman’s support of the LAFD and his continuous commitment to public safety saying, “Councilman Zine understands how crucial it is for the LAFD to have the proper life saving equipment in its efforts to provide world class public safety service.”    

"The Firefighters, Paramedics, and Inspectors in the Los Angeles Fire Department are dedicated to their career as civil servants, and they work tirelessly every day despite drastic budget cuts to save lives and protect property,” said Frank Líma, President, IAFF Local 112, United Firefighters of Los Angeles City. “This additional funding from Council District 3 comes at a great time when our Fire Department has seen unprecedented budget cuts. Councilman Zine has stepped up not only for our Firefighters, but the community as well. The purchase of this life saving equipment will be essential in helping our Firefighters be more efficient, and much more effective when the lives of the public are on the line. This additional funding will help Firefighters do their jobs, and it clearly shows that Councilman Zine truly does put public safety first."

This money was used to purchase critical supplies and equipment such as GPS’s, Battery Kits, and Sawzalls for LAFD Fire Stations 72, 73, 84, 93, 104, 105, and 106 in order to support the men and women who provide emergency services for the residents of the San Fernando Valley.

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Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Halts Fast Moving Fire in Encino Commercial Building

ENCINO / TARZANA - Aggressive work by Los Angeles Firefighters brought a blaze in a one-story commercial building to a grinding halt on Thursday evening. No one was injured.

Just after 9:00 pm on November 29, 2012, Firefighters arrived to 18471 Ventura Boulevard (originally reported as 5400 Reseda Avenue) to find thick black smoke billowing out of a cellular phone store, threatening a connected furniture store to the west.

A bold attack ensued against the flames. Firefighters strategically fought from the rear of the 27 year-old building, making their way from the "uninvolved to the involved", careful not to push the flames into undamaged areas of the shop. Simultaneously, colleagues laddered the structure and began vertical ventilation with chainsaws to open up the lightweight open web steel joist roof, allowing for heat, smoke, and gasses to escape.

Intense flames quickly spread through the entire attic of the 70' x 25' building, resulting in a 30' portion of the roof to begin sagging. Additional firefighters were immediately requested.

Determining no one was trapped inside the 6400 square-foot store, and considering "risk vs gain", complied with the fact that the flames were well entrenched, a defensive attack began approximately 15 minutes into the firefight.

Soon thereafter, firefighters began getting a good handle on the fire. In just an additional ten to fifteen minutes there were no longer any visible flames, just defeated white smoke remained.

During and after the battle, firefighters also concentrated their efforts into salvage work to protect the neighboring furniture store from damage. A division wall between the two businesses did its job, and assisted in stopping spread of flames.

Approximately 100 firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Joseph Foley, declared a knockdown in 36 minutes.

The cause remains under active investigation by LAFD's Arson Section. The majority of damage was to the cellular phone store and the dollar loss is being tabulated.

Dispatched Units: E293 E93 T93 RA93 E83 RA83 E273 T73 E100 EM17 BC17 BC15 E84 E87 E90 E105 DC3 E305 T105 E290 T90 E239 T39 SQ21 EM15 BC14 E288 T88 E88 UR88 RA88 RA889 BC10 RA73 RA100 RA104 EM14 E39 EA1 RT83 RA860 AR2

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Firefighters Pull Dead Body from Canoga Park Apartment Fire

CANOGA PARK - Los Angeles Firefighters quickly extinguished an apartment fire, where an adult female was found dead.

Just before 3:00 pm on November 13, 2012, firefighters responded to a Structure Fire at 6331 Glade Avenue. A medium amount of black smoke was billowing out of one unit on the third floor of a very large three-story center hallway apartment complex.

First arriving firefighters whom were familiar with the location, strategically drove down a back U-shaped drive way, allowing for quick access to the involved unit. Firefighters performed a drop-bag operation to lift hose-lines to the third floor and rapidly extinguish the flames, while colleagues raised 35' ladders and climbed to the roof.

After an immediate Search & Rescue operation, a 46 year-old female was located sitting on the ground against a mattress, in the small studio apartment. Firefighters pulled her out of the smoke filled room, however, sadly she was determined dead on scene.

A total of 45 firefighters, under the direction of Battalion Chief Wes Elder, extinguished the fire in just 13 minutes, confining it to the unit of origin.

There were no security doors, window bars or obvious non-fire factors to impede the woman from exiting the home.

A legally required smoke alarm was located, however it's functional status could not be immediately determined. The 42 year-old apartment was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

The cause remains under active investigation by LAFD's Arson Section, however there is no suspicious circumstances noted. The estimated dollar loss is $15,000 ($10,000 structure & $5,000 contents).

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.

Dispatched Units: E105 T105 RA105 E84 E95 E106 RA96 E293 T93 EM14 BC15 BC14 E10 EM10 E305 AR2 AR23 AR11 RA105

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Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Treat 3 Injured After Car Crashes into Target Store

CANOGA PARK - A vehicle crashed into a Target store in Canoga Park October 26, 2012, injuring three people, one critically. The crash was just before 5:30 p.m. at 6600 Owensmouth Avenue in the Westfield Topanga shopping center.


An approximate 70 year-old woman driving a dark-colored sedan down a parking ramp continued through a three way stop toward the rear of the department store. The car crashed into the building, narrowly squeezing through closed double doors, with about a foot of clearance on either side. The vehicle barrelled about 50 feet inside the electronic section of the department store before coming to a stop.

Three people, including the driver, were injured in the crash and transported to three different area hospitals. A 56-year-old man suffered a hip injury and a 29-year-old woman suffered critical head trauma. The driver suffered moderate injuries.

Over 30 Los Angeles Firefighters secured the area, rapidly treated and transported the injured, then remained on scene for hours to remove the vehicle from the store, with LAPD assistance.

The Department of Building & Safety further assessed the integrity of the structure and LAPD Topanga Division investigated what exactly caused this vehicle to crash into the store.

Dispatched Units: E72 E305 E105 T105 RA84 E106 E10 RA96 HR56 EM17 BC17 UR88 RA906 RA93 RA73 EM15 EM14 RA104

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Firefighters Injured in Canoga Park Apartment Blaze

CANOGA PARK - Intense flames gutted an under-construction, three-story apartment complex in Canoga Park early Saturday morning. Nearby buildings were spared destruction, however three firefighters were injured.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned to 7050 Vassar Avenue, just after midnight on July 7, 2012, to find a 50' x 100' apartment complex, well involved in fire. The building was under various stages of construction, with scaffolding reaching the third floor. Roaring flames on top of the structure stretched over 20' into the sky, threatening nearby buildings.

A bold and well coordinated offensive attack ensued, as firefighters rushed inside with hand-lines, and strategically cut holes on the roof.

Due to the aggressive work of firefighters, the flames were extinguished in just over one hour by nearly 100 Firefighters, all under the command of Battalion Joseph Chief Foley.

Although nearby buildings were spared destruction, approximately seven units were damaged, displacing some residents.

One male firefighter suffered a hand injury and was transported to a local hospital in fair condition, and placed off-duty. Two other male firefighters were evaluated, one for an eye injury, another for illness, however, both remained on-duty.

The cause of this early morning blaze remains under active investigation by the LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section, and the dollar loss is still being tabulated.

Dispatched Units: E72 E105 T105 E305 RA105 RA84 EM17 BC17 E84 E106 E104 E296 T96 E273 T73 DC3 SQ21 BC15 T93 E293 T87 E287 E93 E60 EM15 BC12 BC14 E88 UR88 RA88 T89 E289 RA889 BC10 AR2 E87 T88 E288 DC3 SQ21 BC9 E105 T93 E293 AR2 BC17 DT3 T39 E239 E90 EM17 E93 E98 E39 E88

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Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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One Man Burned, Three Escape Injury in West Hills House Fire

WEST HILLS - One man sustained critical burn injury, and three housemates escaped uninjured, when a fire erupted in a west San Fernando Valley home early Thursday morning.

Reported at 3:14 AM on January 12, 2012, the blaze brought 32 members of the Los Angeles Fire Department to 6531 Sheltondale Avenue in West Hills, where they discovered a one-story 1,570 square-foot home fully involved with fire.

Though two men and two women escaped the burning home, one of the men, age 53, sustained second-degree burns to as much as sixty percent of his body, including his torso, face and airway. In critical condition, he was rushed by LAFD Paramedic Ambulance to nearby West Hills Hospital and Medical Center, which is home to the Grossman Burn Center.

The fire was confined to the structure and flames were fully extinguished in just 20 minutes. The American Red Cross was summoned to provide assistance to the three uninjured adults displaced by the fire.

There was no immediate evidence of functional smoke alarms within the home, nor were there any window bars, security doors or obvious non-fire factors to impede the egress of occupants. The 51-year old residence was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

Loss from the fire is estimated at $180,000 ($120,000 structure & $60,000 contents). Though the cause of this early morning blaze remains under active investigation, LAFD Investigators have been able to eliminate construction or design deficiencies as being a cause of this fire.

Dispatched Units: E106 RA906 E72 RA72 E296 T96 EM17 BC17 E100 T105 E305 AR2

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Woodland Hills House Fire Deemed Arson

WOODLAND HILLS - Los Angeles Fire Department investigators have declared a fast-moving fire in a hillside home Monday afternoon to be an act of arson, and are seeking the public's help in apprehending those responsible.

The fire, reported by an astute neighbor at 1:03 PM on Monday, December 19, 2011, brought 45 Los Angeles Firefighters to the unoccupied split-level home at 5136 Llano Drive in Woodland Hills.

Firefighters quickly navigated narrow and winding streets south of Ventura Boulevard to find heavy flames on both the street-level top floor and the floor beneath that compromised the 2,292 square-foot residence.

An aggressive and well-coordinated attack on the fire confined flames within the 47 year-old structure. Firefighters had the blaze extinguished in just 25 minutes and no injuries were reported.

Fire heavily impacted both levels of the non-fire sprinklered home, and preliminary damage estimates exceed $300,000.

LAFD Investigators, assisted by an accelerant detecting canine, performed a comprehensive on-site investigation, leading them to declare the fire a deliberate act. Anyone with information related to this crime is asked to contact the LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section at (213) 893-9800, or lafdarson@lacity.org

Dispatched Units: E84 RA84 E305 T105 E72 RA93 EM17 BC17 E100 AR2 E93 T93 E293 BC10 DC2 EA1 AR12

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Late-Night Arson Fire Brings Heavy LAFD Response

RESEDA - The Los Angeles Fire Department battled a stubborn blaze late, last night in a one-story commercial building. The fire, described initially as suspicious - and later confirmed as arson, brought well over 100 Firefighters to the scene. No one was injured.

At 11:34 pm, on Thursday, November 10, 2011, Los Angeles Firefighters responded to 18715 West Sherman Way, where they found a 150' x 150' single-story, strip mall with heavy fire and smoke pouring from the Padco Brake & Parts storefront. With additional resources responding, Firefighters were quick to force-entry into each of the three occupancies at the address and worked aggressively to prevent the fire from spreading.

With one large attic space, common to all three businesses, the fire had the potential to sweep through the entire commercial strip. The 134 Firefighters on-scene managed to confine the tough fire to just the one unit and the attic, but not before experiencing a partial roof collapse. The neighboring businesses did sustain some smoke and water damage. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries, as Firefighters fully-extinguished this blaze in one hour and 24 minutes.

A thorough and on-going investigation by the LAFD's Arson Counter-Terrorism Section has determined this an "Arson Fire." Anyone with information that may assist the investigative efforts is asked to please contact the Arson Counter-Terrorism Section at (213) 893-9800. The dollar-loss estimates are not yet available.

Dispatched Units:
E273 T73 E100 RA100 E93 T93 E293 E103 RA103 EM15 BC15 BC17 E72 E104 E70 T90 E290 E305 T105 DC3 SQ21 EM17 BC12 T88 E288 UR88 RA88 T89 E289 BC10 E287 T87 E28 E90 E296 T96 T39 E239 RT83 RA909 E260 T60 E60 E229 T29 E98 AR2 EA1


Submitted by Matt Spence & Erik Scott, Spokesmen
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Accident Involving Transport Van Sends Senior Passengers to Hospital

At approximately 9:00 am this morning, on the 6600 block of North Wilbur Avenue in Reseda, a passenger van from the Genesis Adult Day Health Care Facility was involved in a traffic collision with a single passenger auto. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, but several of the passengers, all of which were seniors (ages ranging 65 - 80 years old) had various complaints of minor aches and pains.

When approximately 50 LAFD Firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Jeffery Mottram, had finished processing the scene, this mid-morning collision had produced a total of 15 patients. Eight of those patients were treated and transported to local hospitals for further evaluation. Seven others were treated and released at the scene. The driver of the other involved auto was one of those transported in fair condition with minor injuries.

Battalion Chief Ray Gomez was in charge of the medical component of this incident, where at one point, he managed 10 rescue ambulances that had been ordered, anticipating both a large number of patients and extensive injuries. Fortunately, not all resources were needed.

The damage to the involved vehicles was still being assessed and the cause of the accident is under investigation.

Dispatched Units: E273 T73 E93 RA93 RA909 E293 T93 E100 RA100 E104 RA104 RA84 RA72 RA105 RA906 RA818 RA898 EM17 EM15 EM14 BC10 DC3

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Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Video: Firefighters Rescue Imperiled Hawk in Woodland Hills

On Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 7:18 PM, the Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned to assist an animal in peril in the 5300 block of Elvira Road in Woodland Hills.


Neighborhood Firefighters arrived quickly to find a hawk entangled in fishing line strung between a tall tree and utility pole. An LAFD Ladder Truck joined the Engine Company in a delicate effort to rescue the raptor, by carefully extending an aerial ladder 40 feet beyond utility lines.

Firefighters cut the filament line - a possible remnant from a kite, to release the frightened animal. The hawk was gingerly placed in a lightweight sack to protect it from further harm, and entrusted to the care of a responder from the Department of Animal Services.

No persons were injured.

Those who encounter animals in distress in the City of Los Angeles are encouraged to call the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services at (888) 452-7381. Additional information on animal care and control can be found at:

laanimalservices.com

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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