Apartment Building Fire Injures Teenager; LAFD Offers Two Teachable Lessons

LOS ANGELES - On August 1, 2013, LAFD Firefighters battled a preventable fire in a two-story apartment building that injured a 16 year-old girl. 

Just after 11:00 A.M. firefighters were summoned to a Structure Fire on the 900 block of E Adams Boulevard, where they found fire blowing out of one unit on the second floor of a two-story Center Hallway Apartment. Additional firefighters were immediately requested.

Due to an aggressive attack firefighters were able to quickly get water on the flames before they consumed the building. Approximately 35 firefighters, all under the command of Battalion Chief Surgey Tomlinson, extinguished the fire in just 17 minutes. The flames were confined to one-unit that was well involved in fire on second floor.

Dispatched Units: E10 E210 T10 RA810 E9 T9 RA9 E21 SQ21 EM11 BC1 BC18 E15 RA14 E221 T21 E215 T15 DC1 BC11 AR1 RA814 AR17

One patient, a 16 year-old girl, suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. LAFD Arson Investigators determined the cause of the fire was a candle accidentally falling from a window ledge and landing on the bed. The occupants attempted to extinguish the fire with water, and thought they had, however the embers continued smoldering and reignited.

Your Los Angeles Firefighters offer two teachable lessons from this fire.

First: Candle fires are preventable! Did you know?...

- On average, 42 home candle fires are reported every day.
- More than half of all candle fires start when something that could burn, such as furniture, mattresses - or bedding, curtains, or decorations is too close to the candle.
- Over one-third (36%) of home candle fires begin in the bedroom.
- One-half of home candle fire deaths occur between Midnight and 6 am.
- Young children and older adults have the highest death risk from candle fires.

Simple Tips:
- If you do use candles, ensure they are in sturdy metal, glass or ceramic holders and placed where they cannot be easily knocked down.
- Avoid using candles in bedrooms and sleeping areas.
- Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn.
- And NEVER leave burning candles unattended!

Second: If you have a fire at home call 9-1-1 immediately to summon the local Fire Department who will ensure it is properly extinguished.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

City and County Firefighters Battle Industrial Blaze in South L.A.

SOUTH LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Fire Department was called just before 1:30 pm on June 25, 2013 to 136 East 58th Street, where they found Antique Wood Craft, a one story furniture manufacturing business, heavily involved in fire.

It was quickly determined the stage and quantity of flames made an interior offensive firefight impossible. An exterior defensive fire attack ensued. Nearly 100 firefighters battled the hour long blaze. During this time, two adjacent commercial buildings were exposed to fire and sustain minor damage.

Quick action by firefighters and working fire sprinklers aided in rapid fire extinguishment. Nearly one dozen workers escaped the fast moving fire prior to the Fire Department’s arrival.

The main fire in the 75’ by 100’ metal-clad building was so intense, that an ember traveled one and a half blocks, where it ignited a fire at 327 East 58th Street. There, the blaze was limited to a surface fire on the roof, swiftly extinguished through the combined effort of LAFD and Los Angeles County Fire Department responders.

Fire loss is still being tabulated. The cause of the fire remains under active investigation by the LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section.

Dispatched LAFD Units: E33 T33 E233 RA833 RA33 E221 E21 T21 SQ21 E46 BC13 BC11 E14 E266 T66 DC1 EM13 BC1 BC2 E215 T15 E11 E66 T10 EM11 T3 E203 E3 UR3 UR88 BC4 RA3 RA803 RA62 EM5 RA79 EA1 E210 TP1 TP3 LD1 LD2 DT2 DT3 AR2 AR1 EL3 T94 E294 E27 E85 E64

[ photos ]

Submitted by Katherine Main, Spokesperson
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Fire in South L.A. Auto Repair Business Claims Life

SOUTH LOS ANGELES - A fire in an automotive repair firm proved deadly to a man early Sunday morning, when he was unable to escape his makeshift living space inside the business, as flames fed on the dense storage within.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 1:36 AM on June 16, 2013 by a 9-1-1 call from a passerby who noted smoke pouring from the 45' x 20' one-story building at 8002 South San Pedro Street.


You can click, grab and zoom the pre-fire image above - or view larger
LAFD crews arrived quickly to find fire showing from the well-secured 900 square foot building. Forcing entry through metal security doors to battle flames fed by pack-rat conditions amid thick floor-to-ceiling smoke, firefighters promptly encountered the body of a man just inside the front doorway.


The pulseless and non-breathing adult male was swiftly carried from the burning building by firefighters, who soon determined he was beyond medical help, and declared him dead at the scene.

It took 30 Los Angeles Firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Anthony Matthews, just thirteen minutes to fully extinguish the flames. No other injuries were reported.

The commercial building, within which a small area had been converted to living space, contained excessive storage and was not equipped with smoke alarms or fire sprinklers. The front security door included a double-cylinder (key required on both sides) deadbolt lock. Such locks are known to impair egress in the event of a fire, and are not locally permitted in residential settings.

A positive identification of the dead man, as well as the specific cause, time and manner of his death, will be determined the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

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

Dispatched Units: RA833 RA33 E264 E64 T64 E21 EM13 BC13 E46 T33 E233 AR1 DC1

[ photos ]

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Crash Between Los Angeles Transit Vehicles Sends 32 to Hospital

WASHINGTON BOULEVARD CORRIDOR - A collision between a Metro Blue Line train and a Metro Local transit bus south of downtown Los Angeles, sent thirty-two persons to the hospital Monday morning. None of the injuries was believed to be life threatening.


The crash between the passenger-laden mass transit vehicles was reported to the Los Angeles Fire Department at 6:58AM on August 27, 2012, bringing a swift and structured response of 119 LAFD personnel to 1900 South San Pedro Street in the Washington Boulevard Corridor.

According to witnesses and transit officials, the Long Beach bound light-rail train was traveling east at-grade in the roadway median, when it collided with a southbound Line 51 bus. The train remained upright and on the tracks, while the bus continued to strike and topple a traffic signal on the southwest corner of San Pedro Street and Washington Boulevard.

No one was trapped in the bus, and there were no reports of injury to pedestrians or nearby motorists. Within moments, Fire Department responders had assembled a triage system that identified 48 persons as in need or desirous of medical evaluation.

Following triage and on-site treatment, a total of thirty-two persons from the bus and train were taken to nine area hospitals by LAFD ambulance. They included 31 men and women who sustained minor injuries and were described as being in good condition, as well as one man who took ill, being described as in fair condition.

The collision is being investigated by Los Angeles Police Department, with assistance of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which provides contract policing services to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), a countywide transit agency.

Dispatched Units: E10 RA10 E9 T9 HR56 EM11 BC1 E15 T10 E210 RA9 RA209 RA14 EM3 RA17 EM13 RA4 RA810 RA809 RA814 RA821 RA803 E14 E17 E215 T15 E221 T21 SQ21 DC1 BC11 EM5 EM9 RA13 RA21 RA3 RA25 RA2 RM3 HR56 RA811 RA846 RA826 RA829 RA20 RA804 RA834 RA844 RA850 RA27 MT3 E3

[ video ]

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Los Angeles Firefighters Attack Downtown Blaze

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - A large fire broke out today in a one-story commercial building in downtown L.A. Over 100 Firefighters extinguished the blaze before anyone was hurt.

Image courtesy KTLA-TV. Used with permission.

Just after 1:30 p.m. Firefighters arrived at 1221 Hope Street to find heavy smoke pouring out of a 150' x 75' pre-1933 structure.

Firefighters rapidly forced entry and made their way through dark, smoky conditions, bringing hose-lines to the seat of the fire. Truck Companies simultaneously performed strategic vertical ventilation with chainsaws on the roof.

Due to the aggressive attack of Los Angeles Firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Gutierrez, the flames were extinguished in just 34 minutes.

The front portion of this 7,000 square-foot building was filled with artwork by Terrell Moore, the rear portion had a plant growing operation.

The dollar loss is estimated at $300,000 ($200,000 structure and $100,000 contents). The cause of this Greater Alarm fire is under active investigation.

Dispatched Units: E210 E10 T10 E9 T9 RA209 E3 RA803 SQ21 EM18 BC13 BC1 E15 RA810 DC1 E13 E215 T15 E4 E226 T26 EM1 BC11 T27 E227 E27 RA27 UR88 BC5 E11 T11 E211 BC18 BC2 MD1 EA1 RA13 RA15 RA4 EM11 RT40 AR7 AR2 SU1

(VIDEO)

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

South Los Angeles Inferno Takes Two Lives

SOUTH LOS ANGELES - One woman died and firefighters later recovered the remains of another person, from the aftermath of an arson blaze that took place Friday morning at 1026 East Vernon Avenue in South Los Angeles.

The fire was reported at 5:51 AM on Friday, March 2, 2012, bringing the swift response of 67 Los Angeles Firefighters, who discovered well-entrenched flames throughout an abandoned and apparently secured 50' x 50' one-story residential-business conversion.


Despite fire-induced physical compromise of the clearly vandalized wood-frame and stucco structure that included a basement, the report of one or more persons trapped inside led LAFD crews to relentlessly search the flame-filled premises, with firefighters quickly discovering, rescuing and providing care to a critically injured woman - who later died at an area hospital.

The fire was extinguished in just 32 minutes.

Despite credible reports that a second person seen earlier with the woman had fled prior to the Fire Department's arrival, the LAFD immediately deployed a specially trained cadaver search dog and handler to scour remnants of the building, which was destroyed by the fast-moving fire.

Returning to the debris-filled scene in the two days that followed, neighborhood firefighters were able to uncover evidence of human remains on Sunday morning. They then devoted themselves to working alongside Coroner's officials and Investigators in seeing that the victim was removed and handled with the utmost of dignity and respect.

No other injuries were reported.

A positive identification of the deceased - to include their age and gender, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of their deaths will be determined by the County of Los Angeles Department of Coroner.

LAFD Investigators, who enlisted the aid of an accelerant detecting canine, determined the fire to be a deliberate act. Monetary loss from the fire has yet to be tabulated.

Those with information regarding this double-fatality blaze are encouraged to contact the LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section directly at (213) 893-9800.

(video)

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Firefighters Prevent Flames From Destroying South L.A. Hardware Store

SOUTH LOS ANGELES - An outside fire involving flammable construction materials quickly spread inside a South Los Angeles hardware business on Saturday night, but an hour-plus effort by Los Angeles Firefighters spared 95% of the firm's inside inventory from damage.

Reported as a rubbish fire to the rear of 205 West Florence Avenue at 9:24 PM on January 7, 2012, the flames had spread to threaten a one-story row of businesses at 155 West Florence Avenue as the first Los Angeles Fire Department crew arrived.

With additional firefighters on the way, LAFD personnel tenaciously attacked the flames, which took stubborn hold in the attic of a heavily remodeled 150' x 200' one-story building that housed a hardware store.

Decades of remodeling hampered the battle, as firefighters encountered highly compartmentalized spaces, a double roof and multiple types of construction - that led a portion of the building to collapse.

Despite these challenges, firefighters held the flames to the attic and outside property, sparing valuable inventory. It took the combined effort of 107 LAFD personnel just 75 minutes to extinguish the fire.

No injuries were reported.

Fire loss to Jalisco Hardware was limited to $275,000 ($200,000 structure and $75,000 contents). The cause of the after-business-hours fire remains under active investigation.

Dispatched Units: E33 E233 T33 E264 T64 RA833 RA33 E57 E46 SQ21 EM11 BC13 BC11 E9 E15 E266 T66 DC2 E14 E215 T15 EM9 BC4 T3 E203 E5 RA5 UR88 BC1 RA803 UR3 AR1 RT59 E21 E226 T26 EA1

(photos/slideshow)

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Nine Injured when Blue Line Train and Car Tangle South of Downtown L.A.

LOS ANGELES - A Long Beach bound Metro Blue Line light rail train collided with a car just south of Downtown Los Angeles today, injuring four persons in the automobile and causing five Blue Line passengers to later seek hospital care.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was called to the collision near Flower Street and 18th Street just north of the Washington Boulevard Corridor at 2:52 PM on Friday, November 25, 2011. Arriving promptly, LAFD crews soon determined the four vehicle occupants had suffered only minor injury.

While preparing to transport the four to a nearby hospital for further evaluation, Paramedics were approached by five riders from aboard the train seeking attention for subjective and sundry medical complaints.

After a further assessment of those persons and others aboard the train, a total of nine injured - all in good condition, were taken by Fire Department ambulance to a trio of area hospitals.

Though personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Transit Services Bureau were summoned to the scene, the collision investigation is being handled by the Los Angeles Police Department and Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials.

Dispatched Units: E15 E215 T15 E9 RA9 HR56 EM11 BC1 E29 RA10 RA803 RA9 RA809 EM11 EM2 BC1 RA15 RA810 RA814

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Woman Succumbs to Burn Injuries from House Fire in South LA

SOUTH LOS ANGELES - An elderly female occupant succumbed to burn injuries from an unintentional house fire on Tuesday, November 15, 2011.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived on-scene within just three minutes to find heavy smoke showing from a single-story residence at 526 Jefferson Boulevard. 

Forcing entry into the residence, firefighters encountered intense flames among "pack rat" storage of personal belongings, yet pushed on relentlessly to search all parts of the fire and smoke-charged home for a physically handicapped woman reportedly trapped in the blaze. It was during this initial assault on the flames that firefighters quickly and skillfully discovered an 81 year-old female occupant located inside the 1,948 square-foot home. She was immediately extricated and provided with medical care for significant burn injuries on-scene and while being rushed to LA County USC Medical Center.

The flames were extinguished by 45 firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Carlos Calvillo, in just 12 minutes.

Along with the excessive storage that potentially hampered occupant escape, the home was fitted with window security bars and both front and back metal security doors which were locked, and required forcible entry with rotary saws. There was also no evidence of smoke alarms within the home as required by law. The century-old wood frame building was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

Sadly, the next day the woman succumbed to her injuries at the USC Burn Unit.
  

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

LAFD's Arson Counter-Terrorism Chief Michael Greenup stated, "The floor furnace was the area of origin of the fire, where numerous combustibles were located. The cause of the fire was unintentional."

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated.

Dispatched Units:

E14 RA814 RA14 E215 E15 T15 E21 T21 E221 SQ21 EM11 BC11 BC1 E9 BC13 RA15 AR1 AR7 AR3 AR12 AR9

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Two Firefighters Injured in South Los Angeles Blaze

SOUTH LOS ANGELES - Two firefighters were injured battling a major emergency structure fire in a South Los Angeles business on Sunday, August 7, 2011.

As firefighters were responding to the 6:30 PM alarm, a large "loom up" of dark smoke could be seen from blocks away.

Firefighters arrived at 121 West Florence Avenue where they found a row of one-story commercial buildings under a common roof with heavy smoke showing. Shortly thereafter, flames erupted outside the structure and careful attention was given to protecting attached and nearby businesses from flame impingement. Firefighters were strategically placed around the large structure as others forced entry inside to do battle with the intense flames.


Multiple ladders were rapidly tilted against the structure from all angles allowing firefighters assigned to truck companies to reach the roof and begin vertical ventilation using chainsaws. Moderate amount of smoke began pouring out of the holes as the chainsaws sunk in and continued to cut. Firefighters inside searched through the dark to reach the seat of the fire. As the fire ripped through the attic, a portion of the roof collapsed on one side, preventing firefighters to continue to make entry from that area.

Firefighters raced the clock as they worked intensely to stop the spread of the flames and save the adjoining businesses along with their contents.

The fire appeared to have started in southwest side of the commercial building and ran up to the attic where it quickly traveled northeast. A total of four businesses, selling furniture, carpet, mattresses and cabinets were damaged. Shortly thereafter the smoke began to lighten as firefighters started to gain the upper hand, then worked on saving the contents of the business. Due to the aggressive work, an offensive attack was used and there was no need to pull firefighters out into a defensive mode.

The building created additional challenges to firefighters due to having an unusual double roof on the northeast side described as an arch truss with 1x6 straight sheeting below, and a corrugated metal roof approximately six feet above.

A total of 166 Los Angeles Firefighters were able to fully extinguish the flames in just 43 minutes by confining the blaze to the building of origin. An additional 40 personnel were summoned to assist in a complete overhaul of the burned premises during the nearly sixteen hour operation.

One firefighter received second degree burns to his hands and another firefighter was taken ill during overhaul operations. Both men were transported to local hospitals where they were treated and released to remain off-duty.

An initial estimate for fire loss was placed at $1,000,000 ($600,000 structure & $400,000 contents). The cause of the fire remains under active investigation.

Dispatched Units: E233 E33 T33 RA33 RA833 E57 E64 T64 E264 SQ21 EM2 BC13 BC1 E9 E221 T21 E46 E66 E14 E215 T15 E210 T10 DC2 EM9 BC18 T3 E203 E3 RA5 UR88 BC4 E21 T66 E266 RA3 UR3 RM2 EM6 RT40 E210 T10 E65 E26 T9 AR1 EA1 RA848 RA57 RA264 EM9 E85 UR85 RA85 T85 E285 E94 E295 T95 E29 T26 E226 E63 T94 E294 E5 T61 E261 T33 E233 E95

(slideshow) (video)

Submitted by Erik Scott and Brian Humphrey, Spokesmen
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

L.A. Firework Injury Places Girl's Eyesight at Risk

SOUTH LOS ANGELES - Doctors in Los Angeles were striving late Monday to save a girl's eyesight following a horrific injury caused by an illegal firework during a private Independence Day celebration.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 10:52 P.M. on Monday, July 4, 2011 to 617 West 42nd Place in South Los Angeles, where they encountered a 12 year-old girl with severe eye damage.

According to witnesses, the girl had been in front of a home using a sparkler - also illegal in Los Angeles, when another person discharged an illegal 'firecracker-like' device near her face, impaling her right eye.


A team of six LAFD crew members worked in unison to stabilize the injury while providing emotional care to the patient and her family, then quickly transported the girl to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where a team of experts awaited to provide her care.

Los Angeles Police Officers will investigate circumstances of the injury. The personal use of any firework, including so-called "safe and sane" devices has been illegal in the City of Los Angeles since World War II.

Dispatched Units: E14 RA833 RA15

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Blaze Injures 1 Firefighter & Damages Structures Downtown

On Sunday, May 29, 2011 at 1:25 AM, 14 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 7 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Emergency Air, 1 Emergency Lighting, 1 Rehab Utility, 1 Rehab Air Tender, DWP and LAPD all under the direction of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 1171 East 10th Street in the Wholesale District of downtown Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived to find a large outside fire exposing the rear of two buildings, a tall warehouse connected by a division wall to a one-story building separated into an approximate half dozen, 50' x 100' individual stores containing party supplies.

Firefighters made forcible entry with rotary saws through multiple rolling steel doors into the warehouse to allow fire attack teams inside the unoccupied structure. Simultaneously, their colleagues swiftly took to the conventional bridge truss roof to perform vertical ventilation. Firefighters utilized heavy hose streams and ladder pipe operations to pour large amounts of water in the open lots where additional products were intensely burning, however the fire attack remained offensive. Flames also damaged one section of power lines, pole to pole, causing them to fall.

The first arriving 110 firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze in one hour and eight minutes before any civilians were injured. One Firefighter assigned to a Truck Company suffered back injury and was transported to a local hospital in fair condition.

The total dollar loss is estimated at $195,000 ($120,000 property and $75,000 contents). The cause of the early morning blaze remains under active investigation.

(slideshow)

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source