Two Firefighters Injured, Family Displaced in North Hills Apartment Fire

NORTH HILLS - Two Los Angeles Firefighters were injured and a family of three displaced, when fire engulfed an apartment Saturday afternoon.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 1:06 PM on September 21, 2013 to 8718 Parthenia Place in North Hills. Firefighters arrived swiftly at the 5,864 square-foot two-story garden-style building, to find one second floor apartment heavily involved with fire. With reports of people trapped in the inferno, an aggressive and well-coordinated attack on the fire quickly ensued.

While their colleagues battled the flames, LAFD Paramedics examined five neighbors who had tried accessing the smoke-charged apartment in a belief that occupants were trapped. Thankfully, the involved apartment had been equipped with properly installed and maintained smoke alarms, which alerted occupants and neighbors to escape in a timely manner.

The three occupants of the burning unit were without physical harm, and the five neighbors who acted in good will required no immediate care for their brief exposure to smoke. It took 44 firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Curt Klafta, just 17 minutes to fully extinguish the flames, which were confined to the apartment of fire origin.

During fire attack, two firefighters were injured. One suffered first- and second-degree burns to his hands, ears, forehead and right knee. The other required treatment for smoke inhalation. Both men were transported to hospitals by Fire Department ambulance for what were considered non-life threatening injuries.

No other persons were injured. The woman and her two teenage sons displaced by the fire were provided on-site assistance with temporary living needs by American Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers.

LAFD crews spent an additional four hours at the scene mopping up the blaze while providing personal care and emotional support to residents of the eleven unit complex. Despite a lack of residential fire sprinklers, loss to the 57 year-old building was limited to $90,000 ($60,000 structure & $30,000 contents). The blaze is considered electrical in nature, attributed to a window mounted air conditioner.

Dispatched Units: E290 T90 RA90 E81 RA81 E275 T75 EM14 BC12 E98 E7 RA7 E287 T87 T87 E287 E275 T75 AR2 BC12

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Over 100 LAFD Firefighters Battle a Motel Blaze in Van Nuys; 4 Occupants Injured

VAN NUYS - Over 100 Los Angeles Firefighters battled a blaze in a Van Nuys motel where four were injured on August 24, 2013.

At 11:14 am the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) arrived at 6500 Sepulveda Boulevard in four minutes to find smoke billowing out of the second story of a two-story "O" shaped motel, named the Voyager Motor Inn. Additional companies were immediately requested.  

Firefighters rushed inside with hose-lines and laddered the second story windows helping trapped victims to safely escape. Additional firefighters performed vertical ventilation on the roof with chainsaws while others kicked in doors of units to perform rapid Search and Rescue operations.

Fire attack was difficult due to the building lay out and the volume of fire throughout the second floor. The motel had 120 units, 60 were occupied.

The fire appeared to have originated in unit 246. The occupant rushed out leaving the door open and the flames rapidly spread, additional occupants did the same, causing the fire to blow down the hallways like a horizontal chimney, fueled by a light wind.

The bulk of the damage occurred on the second floor. Flames and smoke damaged approximately 50 units, and multiple units on the first floor suffered water damage. The motel was equipped with smoke alarms, not with fire sprinklers.

The flames were confined to the motel and no nearby structures were damaged. A total of  147 firefighters (including those initially dispatched and additional firefighters assisting with overhaul), all under the command of Battalion Chief Don Reyes, extinguished the flames in one hour and 16 minutes. Firefighters remained in an offensive attack.

The LAFD worked closely with various departments and organizations including CERT. The Emergency Management Department played a key role in collaborating the with the American Red Cross and with Recreation and Parks to open up the Delano Recreation Center for the approximately 50 displaced residents. Additionally, Metropolitan Transportation Authority was utilized to transport these residents from the fire scene to the shelter location. LAPD assisted with scene security and authentication of proper occupants during the collection of personal property.

A total of four persons were treated on scene. Three patients ranging from a five month-old female to a 32 year-old female, all with non-life-threatening injuries were transported to local hospitals. No one was burned.

The cause of the fire is Undetermined, and remains under active investigation by the LAFD Arson Section. The estimated dollar loss is still being tabulated.

Dispatched Units:  E39 E288 T88 E90 RA881 E100 RA100 E289 T89 EM14 BC5 BC10 E102 E81 BC14 E489 E7 E273 T73 E293 T93 DC1 EM17 BC12 UR88 T27 E227 E27 UR27 BC5 AR2 RA27 RA39 EA1 E290 T90 E261 T61 E105 E83 RA88 RA90 EM9 T60 E260 E5 E26 T12 E212 E27 DC1 BC14 T39 E239

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Fire Demolishes Two Businesses in Panorama City

PANORAMA CITY - It took the combined effort of 162 Los Angeles Firefighters more than two hours to fully control flames early Wednesday morning, when fire swept through a large building shared by a metal finishing firm and sign manufacturing business in the central San Fernando Valley.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned by the 9-1-1 call of a passerby at 3:14 AM, reporting a fire in or near a one-story industrial building at 14660 Arminta Street in Panorama City.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy smoke showing from the rear of a metal plating business housed in a portion of the 200' x 300' structure. A witness thankfully alerted building occupants of the fire, allowing those two men to escape unharmed prior to the Fire Department's arrival.


Within minutes, fire was through the roof of the 61 year-old building - containing hazardous chemicals, causing firefighters to assume a defensive posture to prevent flames from spreading to nearby businesses, while focusing their concern on limiting environmental harm. LAFD Hazardous Materials experts performed multiple assessments of the water runoff and ambient air quality during the relentless battle to control flames. Though one acidic reading was noted in pooled water on the premises, no off-site air or water hazards were specifically identified.

Despite structural compromise, the fire was skillfully confined to the single building of fire origin, with the bulk of flames extinguished in 2 hours and 7 minutes. Spared from fire damage was the attached K & K Design Studios immediately to the west, as well as the neighboring Consolidated Fabricators to the east.

No injuries were reported at the scene of the fire. LAFD personnel remained on-site for more than 24 hours overhauling smoldering debris, assisting a detailed fire cause investigation and supporting County of Los Angeles Health Hazardous Materials Division responders, who will oversee cleanup operations.

Fire loss to Aero Chrome Plating and Nationwide Displays, which were destroyed in the fire, is still being tabulated. The cause of the early morning blaze remains under active investigation.

More than four hours after the flames were extinguished, LAFD crews were summoned to the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Bureau Headquarters, four-tenths of a mile northeast of the blaze, where eleven civilian and uniformed workers - who had not responded to the scene, expressed subjective respiratory irritation and general malaise.

One worker was taken to the hospital by colleagues prior to the Fire Department's arrival. Following a comprehensive medical evaluation by LAFD Paramedics, nine of the remaining ten patients declined further medical treatment or transportation by Fire Department ambulance. One woman was taken by LAFD Paramedics to a nearby hospital for further evaluation, her condition was not specified. LAFD personnel were unable to identify any acutely hazardous substance or condition within the police facility that may have been related to the fire.

Dispatched Units: E81 RA881 RA81 E7 E239 T39 E290 E90 T90 EM14 BC10 BC12 E98 E87 SQ87 E298 T98 RA7 RA90 E275 T75 E288 T88 DC3 E100 EM15 EM17 BC14 BC15 UR88 T27 E227 E27 UR27 BC5 T87 E287 RA87 RA27 E60 E39 E88 E293 T93 E289 T89 E273 T73 AR2 EA1 E29 E211 T11 E95 T95 E295 SQ95 RM2 RM3 RT83 RA909 HR56 AR7 E93 T61 E261 T37 E237 E83 T89 E289 E88

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Handles a Greater Alarm Structure Fire in Sun Valley

SUN VALLEY - Nearly 100 Los Angeles Firefighters battled a massive blaze in a large unoccupied commercial building housing portable toilets, at 9364 Glenoaks Boulevard on July 30, 2013.

Alerted by multiple 9-1-1 calls just after 8:00 PM of a Structure Fire, firefighters en-route saw a large plume of black smoke rapidly raising into the evening's blue sky. They arrived on scene to find fire viciously blowing through the roof of a 100' x 100' cinder-block construction commercial building, doing business as Mission Valley Sanitation. The building was directly behind Glenoaks Auto Parts. Additional resources were immediately requested. 

Due to the large extent of fire, a partial roof collapse, and no reports of anyone inside, Battalion Chief Waters wisely ordered a defensive attack, not allowing firefighters to rush inside the inferno. Rather, waves of firefighters quickly surrounded the structure and used large hose streams to pour copious amounts of water on the burning building. Two suction trucks on the property were also on fire.

A total of 98 firefighters, all under the command of Assistant Chief Andrew Fox, fully extinguished the flames in 48 minutes, however remained on scene through the night to ensure no flare-ups occurred. No one was injured. The cause of the evening blaze is undetermined and the dollar loss is still being tabulated.

Dispatched Units: AR2 BC10 BC12 BC14 BC15 BC5 DC3 E24 E260 E274 E288 E289 E298 E60 E7 E77 E89 E98 EA1 EM15 RA77 RA889 RA89 RA898 T60 T74 T88 T89 T98 UR27 UR88

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Massive Blaze Causes $2.5M Damage to Sun Valley Furniture Firm

SUN VALLEY - A massive blaze Monday evening in a northeast San Fernando Valley industrial enclave put scores of Los Angeles Firefighters to the test, as the inferno combined with high outdoor temperature and humidity to make an overtly oppressive battle.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned by a passerby who called 9-1-1 at 5:09 PM on July 1, 2013 to report smoke showing from a large one-story industrial building at 9415 Telfair Avenue.

Arriving quickly, LAFD crews discovered increasingly heavy smoke from the 200' x 75' structure of cinder-block construction, that was well secured and unoccupied at the end of the business day.

As teams of firefighters took to the roof, their colleagues extended large diameter hose lines to each side of the building and used power saws to force their way through rolling steel doors in an attempt to gain access to the seat of increasingly intense flames that fed on material and remnants of furniture manufacturing, as well as chemicals and cardboard used in furniture finishing and shipping.

With ambient temperature of 95°F, relative humidity of at least 23% and variable winds up to 9 miles per hour, the conditions were difficult for the 161 LAFD personnel assigned to the incident.

A sudden yet predictable failure of the lightweight roof allowed flames and smoke to tower in the sky, as Assistant Chief Trevor Richmond coordinated a smooth and safe transition to defensive tactics, bringing large hose streams to bear on the flames from ground crews and several aerial ladders at the periphery of the building.

The flames were confined to the building of fire origin, and extinguished in 1 hour and 52 minutes. LAFD crews spent an additional 15.5 hours on-site performing salvage and overhaul at the business, which was heavily damaged in the conflagration.

Though several firefighters were assessed and treated at scene to combat the effect of dehydration throughout the firefight and recovery operation, none required ambulance transport to the hospital.

Fire loss to Kalfon Crafts Corporation, a maker of furniture & cabinetry, has been estimated at $2,500,000 ($1,000,000 structure and $1,500,000 contents).

The cause of this early evening blaze remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Dispatched Units: E77 E298 E98 T98 E289 T89 RA889 E7 RA81 EM14 BC12 BC14 E81 E260 E60 T60 E239 E39 T39 DC3 EM15 BC10 T27 E227 UR27 E5 UR88 BC5 RA27 RA827 E27 RA39 EM9 EM10 E90 E275 T75 E91 E290 T90 AR2 RA898 MD1 RT83 RA77 BC1 E287 T87 E11 E237 T37 E24 E274 T74 E86 EA2 BC15 BC17 DT1 HU89 SQ21 BC1 SQ87 E105 T88 E288 E66 T94 E294 T15 E215 E88 E89 E98 AR2 AR3 AR23

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Handles Van Nuys Brush Fire that Closed SB 405 Freeway

VAN NUYS - Los Angeles firefighters quickly surrounded a four-acre brush fire that forced the closure of all southbound lanes on the 405 Freeway near Victory Boulevard on Saturday afternoon.

On April 20, 2013, multiple commuters contacted 9-1-1 around 2:45 p.m., alerting firefighters of a 1/2 acre grass fire just south of Victory Boulevard near Haskell Avenue, west of the 405 freeway. Pushed along by a nine mph breeze, flames began spreading into nearby dry brush and trees. Additional firefighters and water dropping helicopters were immediately requested.
  
A total of 75 hard working firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Trevor Richmond, battled through portions of steep terrain in 91 degree heat and 11% humidity, fully containing the flames to four acres by 4:30 p.m.

Fortunately there were no structures threatened, however an additional concern was a nearby homeless encampment, which firefighters thoroughly searched, ensuring no one was in danger. The encampment proved to be empty and no one was injured.

Firefighters, including members of LAFD Crew 3, remained on scene for over four hours ensuring no hot spots reignited.

The flames temporarily shut down all south lanes of the 405 at Victory Boulevard, the Roscoe Boulevard on-ramp and the Victory off-ramp. A SigAlert was declared by the CHP at 3:17 p.m. As soon as safely possible CHP progressively opened lanes until the SigAlert was cancelled at 6:27 p.m.

Dispatched Units: E288 T88 E39 E290 T90 BC10 E100 E88 WT88 E83 DC3 CW3A BP83 RA100 E13 E81 E102 EM17 BC14 H5 H1 BC12 E61 E7 E93 H5

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Train vs Big Rig in Pacoima; LAFD Transports 9

PACOIMA - On Saturday, April 6, 2013, a Metrolink train collided with a Big Rig truck, sending nine to the hospital. Fortunately no one, including the truck driver was seriously injured.


At 2:35 PM, a total of 64 Los Angeles Firefighters under the direction of Assistant Chief Richmond, responded to a Multi-Patient Collision involving a Train vs a Big Rig truck near the 9800 block of San Fernando Road in Pacoima.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find a destroyed crossing guard apparatus and an overturned truck that was subsequently struck by an approaching train. The driver of the truck was ambulatory and was rapidly evaluated then later released on scene.

On board the train there were approximately 130 passengers triaged. Though there were no obvious injuries to the riders or crew members aboard, 12 adult passengers required minor treatment. Out of the dozen passengers only nine stated a desire for further medical evaluation and were taken by LAFD Ambulance to area hospitals in good condition.

An LAFD rehab tender truck was dispatched to the incident to assist with providing train passengers with refreshments due to a long delay in warm temperatures. The train was then moved to the Sylmar station for the travelers to safely disembark and continue to their destinations.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation.

Dispatched Units: E298 E98 T98 E7 RA7 E77 RA102 HR56 EM17 BC10 UR88 RA77 RA98 EM15 DC3 RA898 RA89 EM14 EM17 BC12 EM17 EM14 E287 T87 E88 RA881 RA860 RP88 RA7 RA898 

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Submitted by Shawn Lenske &  Erik Scott, Spokesmen
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Fire Damages Classrooms at Sun Valley High School

SUN VALLEY - A Sunday afternoon blaze at Sun Valley High School seriously damaged two classrooms, but led to no injuries, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

LAFD was first summoned by an alarm service at 1:15 PM on March 3, 2013 to investigate a sensor activation in a building at Sun Valley High School, 9171 Telfair Avenue in Sun Valley.
Firefighters arrived quickly at the unoccupied campus to find flames showing from a one story structure containing two classrooms. Forcing entry into the well secured building, firefighters found a fast-moving blaze in a storeroom between art and film classrooms, that had taken hold of the structure's shallow attic.
Fifty-three Los Angeles Firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Curt Klafta held damage from the inferno to less than 40% of the building, extinguishing the flames in just 31 minutes.

No injuries were reported. Loss from the fire was limited to $750,000 ($500,000 structure & $250,000 contents). The cause of the fire is undetermined.

Dispatched Units: E77 RA77 RA7 E98 T98 E298 E260 T60 E81 EM1 BC10 BC5 E76 BC12 E89 EM15 T89 E289 RA89 E87 E239 T39 DC3 EM17 BC5 T88 E288 UR88 E3 UR3 BC1 RA898

[ photo ] [ photos ] [ video ] [ video ] [ video ]

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Fast Moving Arleta Blaze Displaces Seven, Injures Firefighters

ARLETA - A fast-moving house fire sparked by the careless use of a barbecue, displaced seven residents and sent three Los Angeles Firefighters to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 12:48 PM on November 28, 2012 to 9205 Dorrington Avenue in Arleta, where firefighters discovered fire to the rear of a one-story home. Intense flames had consumed an 8' x 15' fabric canopy stretched over a tall metal frame that abutted the residence, allowing flames to extend into the building prior to the Fire Department's arrival.

During the skirmish with flames, one firefighter fell nine feet through fire-weakened eaves at the southwest edge of the home, squarely striking a colleague on the ground and grazing another before landing on a ragged pile of debris outside the building. The three men sustained injuries that ranged from painful to potentially debilitating, yet were considered non-life threatening. The trio were taken to an area hospital where at least one was expected to remain for observation.

LAFD crews reunited two small dogs with the homeowner as they battled the flames, which were extinguished in just 16 minutes - but not before causing $100,000 damage ($70,000 structure & $30,000 contents) to the home, which was not equipped with fire sprinklers.

No other injuries were reported. The American Red Cross provided temporary placement assistance to the three adults and four children displaced by the blaze.

The cause of the fire is considered accidental. Responders attribute the blaze to careless placement of the barbecue beneath a fabric canopy, combined with unsafe handling of ignited charcoal.

Dispatched Units: E7 E81 RA75 T90 RA890 EM12 BC12 E98 T98 E298 RA7 RA898 E275 E289 T89 DC3 E290

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Los Angeles Firefighters Rescue Victims From Sun Valley House Blaze

SUN VALLEY - Los Angeles Firefighters quickly extinguish a house blaze that injured five, one critically.

Summoned by a 9-1-1 call at 12:18 AM on November 10, 2012, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded quickly to 8919 Stanwin Avenue in Sun Valley, to discover a one-story residence, with heavy fire showing. The structure was of typical 1950's stucco construction, with a hip-style roof, and four bedrooms, one of which was converted from a large 20' x 14' enclosed patio.

LAFD crews swiftly took to the roof to perform strategic vertical ventilation of heat and smoke, as their colleagues forced entry into the house to battle the well entrenched flames in the living room, enclosed patio-room, and kitchen. Four residents were inside when the blaze broke out.

Firefighters made an aggressive search and rescue operation of the 1,827 square-feet residence and successfully rescued the most critically injured from the front bedroom, and ensured all other occupants were out safely.

It took the well-coordinated effort of 45 Los Angeles Firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Daniel McCarty, just 21 minutes to extinguish the flames before they could spread to nearby residences.

A total of five adults were injured. Two were occupants and three were neighbors: A 50 year-old female suffered 2nd & 3rd degree burns to 25% of her body, and was rapidly treated and transported to a local hospital in critical condition. A 45 year-old male suffered a minor respiratory injury and was treated and transported to local hospital in fair to serious condition. Three neighbors suffered minor cuts to their hands after attempting to rescue the victims, and declined transport to the hospital.

All four residents of the house fire were displaced, only two were injured.

Smoke alarms were located in the residence, however their functional status was not readily determined, and no smoke alarms were found in or immediately outside the room where the critically injured were rescued. There were no obvious non-fire factors to impair the occupants egress from the dwelling, which was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

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

Dispatched Units: E289 E89 T89 RA889 E77 RA77 E7 EM14 BC14 E81 RA81 E39 E298 T98 AR2 AR12 AR17

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Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Battles Stubborn Flames in Massive Construction Debris Pile

SUN VALLEY - More than 120 Los Angeles Firefighters labored in rotating teams for more than 11 hours on Thursday, to fully extinguish a stubborn recycling yard blaze in the northeast San Fernando Valley that sent one firefighter to the hospital.


The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 4:03AM on August 23, 2012 to the Waste Management recycling facility at 11606 Sheldon Street in Sun Valley, where they discovered a deep-seated blaze in a massive "football-field-sized" construction debris pile being processed for recycling.

Through the initial assistance of an on-site tractor operator, later supplemented by a pair of LAFD operated bulldozers, firefighters spread and doused the pile with water and firefighting foam, containing the blaze in less than five hours and fully extinguishing the flames by 2:00PM.

With smoke hanging low in the sky, and dozens of fire apparatus and fire hose deployed along Sheldon Street, the industrial thoroughfare was closed for nine hours, as LAFD crews completed their battle against seemingly implacable flames.

At the height of the battle, one LAFD Firefighter sustained a significant hand laceration and could not continue duty. He was taken to an area hospital for first care, where he was treated and released.

No other injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Dispatched Units: E77 RA77 E298 E98 T98 E24 E89 T89 E289 E274 T74 DC3 SQ21 EM14 BC12 RA909 TP2 DT3 DT2 LD1 E87 SQ87 E7 E260 T60 BC14 FT17 E17 RA98 RT83 TP1 E24 EA1 E87 RA60 T78 E278 EM14 E39 T2 E202 T11 E211 RA889

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Residential Compost Blaze Damages 3 San Fernando Valley Homes

LAKE BALBOA - The spontaneous combustion of a residential compost pile during triple-digit heat on Wednesday afternoon, led to $76,000 in damage to a trio of San Fernando Valley Homes.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 3:05 PM on August 8, 2012 to an outside fire in the 17300 block of Marlin Place in Lake Balboa. With ambient temperature hovering at an oppressive 105 degrees Fahrenheit, firefighters arrived swiftly to find the outside fire had extended into a pair of side-by-side garages at adjacent homes.

As LAFD crews attacked the twin fires, they also noted flames on the wood shake roof of a home more than 200' away, sparked by an ember from the initial blaze. Despite the spatial challenge and light but variable winds, thirty-nine firefighters had the flames under full control in less than 12 minutes.

No injuries were reported.

LAFD Battalion Chief Mark Saxelby later determined that mulch within a plastic above-ground device - the size of a 30-gallon trash can, in the side yard of 17336 Marlin Place, had spontaneously ignited, causing fire to spread west into the garage at 17338 Marlin Place, with a wind-driven ember igniting the more distant roof fire at 17345 Marlin Place.

Loss to the homes at 17336 and 17338 was an identical $30,000 structural damage and $5,000 contents loss. The roof and attic at 17345 sustained $6,000 in structural damage only, bringing the overall fire loss at the three Marlin Place homes to $76,000.

While the fire is considered accidental, it underscores the importance of closely following instructions for home mulching systems, and taking appropriate precautions during periods of high heat.

Dispatched Units: E90 RA17 E273 T73 E93 RA903 EM15 BC15 E84 E83 E293 T93 BC17

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Model Plane Suspected Cause of 30 Acre Wildfire

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY - More than 100 firefighters responded by ground and air to battle a fast-moving thirty-acre grass fire in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area on Monday afternoon.
The wildfire was reported at 12:18 PM on July 16, 2012, south of 6400 Woodley Avenue, within a 2,000 acre public reserve of undeveloped land in the south San Fernando Valley, that serves as a seasonal flood control basin.

Light but variable winds fanned flames in three-foot tall grass that led to thicker and more volatile vegetation, as the fire quickly grew. Los Angeles Fire Department helicopters performed precise aerial water drops to help contain the forward movement of the fire, as LAFD ground crews deftly flanked the flames.

They were soon joined by five Los Angeles County Fire Department handcrews, four of their Supervisors and an LACoFD helicopter to collectively contain the fire in just 47 minutes.

The flames were fully extinguished in less than 90 minutes. A preliminary estimate of twenty acres burned was increased to 30.5 acres following a more detailed assessment once the smoke cleared. No structures were threatened or damaged, and there was no need for evacuation.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters suspect that a radio-controlled model aircraft from the nearby Apollo XI Model Aircraft Flying Field, may have landed unintentionally in the tinder dry grass, sparking the blaze. Los Angeles Police Officers interviewed witnesses at the scene for what remains an active investigation.

Dispatched LAFD Units: E100 BC10 E90 WT88 E88 E88 H0D H1 E83 E81 RA100 E290 T90 E239 E39 T39 E273 T73 E93 DC3 EM15 BC14 H4 H6 E87 E70 E84 BC17 BC729 RT83 E89 E105 BP28

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Confines Inferno to North Hills Wholesale Firm

NORTH HILLS - A fast-moving fire was confined to a North Hills merchandising firm on Thursday evening, as firefighters spared nearby businesses and prevented injury.

A steady stream of 9-1-1 calls reported the blaze, beginning at 7:51 PM on Thursday, June 14, 2012, as a large column of smoke arose from the one-story 60' x 150' building at 15748 Arminta Street in North Hills.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find fire through the roof of One on One Trading, an overstock merchandising firm that shared a common wall with other businesses.

Skilfully forcing entry through rolling steel doors into the non-fire sprinklered structure, fire crews encountered an inferno that had consumed much of the wholesale merchandise in the building before burning through the lightweight roof above.

A bold and well coordinated offense by more than sixty Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, held flames within the business of fire origin. The blaze was extinguished in just 24 minutes, and no injuries were reported.

Loss from the fire is still being tabulated, while the cause of the dusk-hour blaze remains under active investigation.

Dispatched Units: T90 E290 RA90 RA81 E239 E39 T39 E103 E7 EM15 BC10 BC15 E100 E90 T88 E288 DC3 E81 E287 E87 T87 E273 T73 RA87 RA39 E88 E275 T75 E102 SQ21 EM17 BC17 UR88 AR1 RA909 E87 T89 E289 E60 E90

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Firefighters Rescue Female Trapped in Burning Van Nuys Apartment

VAN NUYS - Just before 5:00 AM on Saturday March, 3rd, 2012, Los Angeles Firefighters rescued a 19 year-old female trapped in a bathroom, inside her burning apartment.

Firefighters rushed with lights and sirens to 15440 West Sherman Way, where they found a large three-story apartment building with smoke beginning to pour out from one unit on the second floor.

Meanwhile a young college student, who described herself as a, "deep sleeper", curtly awoke to the sound of smoke alarms echoing, alerting her of a fire. When she instinctively opened her bedroom door to the living room, she said it was, "ablaze". Using her cell phone, she immediately dialed 9-1-1. The call was received at LAFD's new Metro Fire Communications, where a scared woman was heard stating, "smoke is flooding my bedroom and I can't get out!" After determining her address, where she was inside the residence, and that she was unable to get to a window, the 9-1-1 Firefighter/Dispatcher instructed her to close the door, and get away from the fire. Over the next few minutes, life saving advice was provided.

Unable to escape, it was determined that a bathroom connected to her bedroom was the safest place to find shelter. As heavy black smoke rapidly crept in, she was instructed to place wet towels around the door and in the cracks to diminish it's deadly threat. Shortly thereafter, through sporadic coughing, and smoke stung eyes, she confided in the dispatcher, "Oh my God, I'm terrified". The dispatcher reassured her that firefighters were outside and running to her apartment, then stated, "I'm going to stay on the phone with you until they find you." She was then instructed to place a wet towel over her nose and face to filter smoke and lay flat on the ground to find clean air.

 

Concurrently, firefighters rushing to her aid were notified exactly where the trapped victim was located, expediting her rescue. A "drop bag" operation was swiftly executed to bring hose-lines to the second story. Firefighters then broke through the front door, battled intense flames and performed an immediate search of the 1,000 square-foot apartment, and rescued the woman in a matter of minutes. She stated, "They were wearing masks and had flashlights. It was like a movie."

She was safely rushed outside and compassionately treated by LAFD Firefighter/Paramedics, then transported to Valley Presbyterian Hospital as a precaution. Later that day she was without injury or medical complaint and stated, "I'm so happy to be alive".

Under the command of Battalion Chief Hayden, 75 firefighters fully extinguished the blaze in just 22 minutes. The bulk of the fire was in the living room and kitchen.

The cause of this early morning blaze, is undetermined, possibly electrical in nature. The dollar loss is estimated at $40,000 ($20,000 structure and $15,000 contents).

Due to the amount smoke and fire, the woman would not have survived if it were not for three important things:
 

1. Functional smoke alarms providing early fire detection, and time to call 9-1-1.
2. Listening to the 9-1-1 Firefighter/Dispatcher's lifesaving instructions.
3. The outstanding work of trained Los Angeles firefighters.

This brave young woman's first name is, Blessing.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Major Emergency Structure Fire in Van Nuys Injures 2 LA Firefighters

VAN NUYS - Over 125 Los Angeles Firefighters extinguished an enormous fire in a 150' x 100' one-story commercial building in just under two hours, where two Los Angeles Firefighters were injured. 

Just after 5:00 pm on Wednesday February 15th 2012, firefighters arrived to find fire blowing out one unit of a strip mall, located at 6600 North Van Nuys Boulevard. Waves of additional firefighters were requested.

Extensive amounts of smoke could be seen for miles as it lingered low to the ground due to a heavy marine layer and slowly pushed south by light winds.

The structure located was of older construction with a conventional roof, parapet, and a common attic space. The open area under the roof allowed fire to rapidly spread across the tops of three business before hitting large division walls, halting the advancement of the flames.

Shortly into the extended battle, firefighters switched into a defensive attack. Truck Companies quickly finished cutting holes on the roof with chainsaws. Fire blew through the roof forcing firefighters to rapidly exit. Firefighters on the ground used large 2 1/2" hose-lines along with ladder pipe operations, where copious amounts of water was sprayed from the end of extended aerial ladder trucks, capable of 2000 gallons per minute, into the structure.

Three separate stores were damaged, doing business as: First Bargin Center, Birrieria Luita, and El Pantalon.

The blaze was fully extinguished in one hour and 53 minutes before any adjacent buildings were damaged.

Two firefighters received minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals in fair condition.

The dollar loss is still being tabulated and the cause is under active investigation.

Dispatched Units: E239 T39 E81 E102 E288 E88 T88 RA88 RA889 EM14 BC10 BC14 E100 E39 RA39 E289 E89 T89 E7 E90 RA100 E83 RA83 E278 T78 E298 T98 E273 T73 DC3 SQ21 EM15 EM17 EM9 BC12 UR88 BC5 AR2 RT83 EA1 RM2 E87 E60 E93 E287 T87 E305 T105 E237 T37 BC17 BC18 AR23 RA7 RA99 RA60 MD1

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Pack-Rat Conditions Fuel Blaze in North Hollywood Home

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - A woman sustained minor injury after a stove fire she thought controlled, raced through her densely packed suburban San Fernando Valley home Wednesday morning.

Alerted by multiple 9-1-1 calls from passing motorists at 7:44 AM on January 11, 2012, Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly at 12425 Burton Street in North Hollywood, where they found a one-story 1,189 square-foot home surrounded by dense vegetation to be well involved with fire.

On arrival, firefighters were met by the 84 year-old homeowner, who stated she had been cooking when debris in the kitchen was ignited from the stovetop. After believing she had fully extinguished the burning item, the woman exited the front door of her home for an unspecified purpose and time period.

As the woman returned to her residence, she was confronted near the front door by immense heat that singed her hair and caused her to sustain first degree facial burns. She immediately retreated from the home.


Teams of firefighters worked in unison within the house and on the roof above in battling fire that roared through the building, fueled by "pack rat" storage of combustible belongings throughout the 59 year-old non-fire sprinklered residence. It took 41 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel just twenty-one minutes to extinguish the blaze.

LAFD Firefighter/Paramedics treated and comforted the woman at the scene before transporting her in fair condition by ambulance to Kaiser Panorama City Medical Center.

No other injuries were reported.

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The cause of the early morning blaze is categorized as accidental, and attributed to combustible debris - likely a newspaper - ignited by the stove and incompletely extinguished by the woman.

Dispatched Units: E289 E89 T89 RA889 RA89 E7 E77 E298 T98 EM14 BC12 BC14 E60 RA7 AR2

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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'Greater Alarm' Does Damage to Pacoima Business

PACOIMA - Firefighters from all ends of the San Fernando Valley converged on a large, commercial "Structure Fire" today. There were no injuries.

The time of alarm was 3:54 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011. First on-scene companies at 9847 North Glenoaks Boulevard, encountered an approximate 50' x 150' commercial building with "heavy fire showing from the rear" of a wrought-iron manufacturer. The incident quickly escalated to a "Greater Alarm Structure Fire" as 80 Los Angeles Firefighters teamed-up to battle the intense heat and flames generated by the single-story occupancy, constructed entirely of metal.

Firefighters managed to halt the fast moving blaze before it reached the company's administrative office and in doing so, were able to preserve critical business information, as well as some valuable inventory. The fire was fully-extinguished in 1 hour and 12 minutes. There were no injuries reported from the scene.

Dollar-loss estimates were placed at $500,000 for structure and $250,000 for contents. The cause of the late afternoon fire is under active investigation by the LAFD's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section.

Dispatched Units: E77 E88 E98 T98 E298 E287 T87 RA898 RA98 EM17 BC12 BC10 E60 E274 T74 E24 DC3 SQ21 BC14 E7 E91 E81 E275 T75 E260 T60 E239 T39 EM14 E89 T89 E289 RA89 RA889 UR88 BC5 AR2 AR7 RA93 SU1 BC14 DT3 HE1 LD1 LD2 TP2 TP3 EA1 EL83 RT83 E39 E87 T93 E293

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Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Man, Deceased Found in North Hollywood Trailer Fire

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - An adult male was found deceased inside a "fifth-wheel" trailer in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 15th, 2011. Firefighters responded to 6926 North Farmdale Avenue just before 2:00 am, where a large, one-story commercial building was reportedly ablaze, with "heavy fire" at the rear of the structure. The Incident Commander immediately called for additional resources, as Firefighters forced-entry onto the secured grounds of the industrial building. What they encountered, was actually the trailer fully engulfed in flames. First arriving resources made quick work of the fire, however, in the midst of their fire-attack, discovery was made of the young man.

Just over 30 Los Angeles Firefighters fully-extinguished the fire in only 12 minutes, preventing extension into the adjacent structure, a rock and mineral company doing business as "Rock Our World." It is believed that the deceased was an employee of the business. A positive identification and exact cause of death to the approximate 20-30 year old male, will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

The dollar loss estimate was placed at $30,000. The cause of the fire remains under active investigation by the Los Angeles Fire Department's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section.

The Los Angeles Fire Department extends condolences to the family of the deceased.

DISPATCHED UNITS:
E289 E89 T89 RA889 RA89 E260 E60 T60 E77 BC14 BC10 E100 E86 E102 E39 T39 E239 E278 T78 T98 E298 DC3 SQ21 EM14 BC12 BC18 T88 E288 E88 UR88 BC5 AR2 AR11 AR17 AR9 T89 E289


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

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Los Angeles Fire Department Deployment Plan Approved

The following information was released by Los Angeles Fire Department Administration following a meeting of the Los Angeles City Council on May 18, 2011.

The LAFD Deployment Plan was approved today by a 12 to 2 vote [of the City Council] with two amending motions.

The first amending motion speaks to restoring funding to the department to re-open resources. Should labor make contract concessions, those funds will return directly to the Fire Department. Specifically 6.9 million dollars in anticipated concessions from labor negotiations will be placed in the unappropriated balance account.

The Department will use the same data analysis system that was used to create the deployment plan to determine what neighborhood services will be restored.

The second amending motion was designed to maintain the position authorities without the funding. 318 position authorities remain unfunded. This means that any savings that are found within the budget will be used to restore neighborhood resources. Those resources will be determined by the Fire Chief.

July 5th [2011] remains the implementation date for the LAFD Deployment Plan. The MCP [Modified Coverage Plan] will remain in place until that date.

Special Duty sworn furloughs were approved.

"After several hours of debate, I’m pleased that the LAFD Deployment Plan proposed by Chief Peaks was approved by the Los Angeles City Council," said Councilmember Tony Cárdenas.

"I applaud his leadership and vision in the development of a Plan that will save the City more than $50 million a year while enhancing public safety for all of Los Angeles." said Councilmember Tony Cárdenas.

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