West Adams Apartment Fire Injures Two and Displaces 14

WEST ADAMS - Quick actions by building staff and rescue efforts by LAFD limits injuries at apartment fire in a senior and disabled living facility.

On August 14, 2013 at 1:15 pm Los Angeles Firefighters were called to 2455 South St Andrews Place in the West Adams district. The LAFD arrived quickly to find black smoke billowing over an eight story apartment structure. Building security informed arriving fire companies of an active fire on the fifth floor.

Firefighters ascended quickly through a stairwell and encountered pressurized heavy black smoke in the fifth floor hallway. Hose lines were pulled from ground level through an adjacent unit to attack the fire. Firefighters made an aggressive attack on the fully involved unit. A swift evacuation of ambulatory residents and rescue of the disabled on the fifth floor was simultaneously performed. During the firefight, flames threatening balconies above the blaze were quickly addressed and the fire confined to the involved unit. Under the command of Battalion Chief Joseph Klein, 123 firefighters extinguished the blaze in just 46 minutes.

Initial concerns for the occupants of the residential apartments initiated the call for eight LAFD rescue ambulances. However, an established and practiced building evacuation plan limited injuries. Facility staff was conducting an orderly evacuation of residents living on the two floors above the fire upon arrival of the LAFD. During the firefight it was established the safest plan for residents living in the floors below the fire, was to shelter in place. Upon extinguishment of the blaze a systematic and coordinated evacuation of all residents was executed. Using the established list of disabled residents, firefighters rescued occupants requiring assistance.

Occupants were evacuated to a courtyard behind the building where staff accounted for all residents. Of the five occupants assessed by the LAFD, four were evaluated and did not require further care. One adult female was transported to an area hospital in serious condition. One firefighter sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported in fair condition. 

The unit consumed by fire and the nine other units with smoke damage were deemed uninhabitable, displacing 14 residents. The American Red Cross was called and assisted in relocation of the displaced residents. The cause of this blaze was determined to be accidental in nature. Dollar loss was estimated at $125,000 ( 100,000 structure and 25,000 contents)

Dispatched units: E26 RA826 E34 E15 T15 E215 SQ21 T29 RA29 EM11 BC11 BC18 E10 T26 E226 E294 T94 E46 DC1 EM13 BC13 T3 E203 E3 UR3 RA3 RA803 UR88 BC1 RA2 RA10 EM5 RA66 T66 E266 E229 E227 T27 BC5 E66 RA837 E94 E211 T11 AR1 EA1 RT59

Submitted by Katherine Main, Spokesperson
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Fire Rips Through Mid-City Craftsman, Displaces 20

MID-CITY - At 1:17 pm on October 4th, 2011 LAFD resources responded to a reported "Structure Fire" at 1625 West 24th Street in the Mid-City Area of Los Angeles. Task Force 26 was first on-scene and noted heavy smoke coming from the rear of a two story, four-plex.

Based on the size and type of occupancy, additional companies were immediately requested by Battalion Chief Richard Rideout, as Firefighters quickly ensured that the residents of all four occupancies were out of harm's way. It was later determined that the blaze had started in the basement of the approximate 1,800 square-foot structure. The fire quickly ripped through both floors, eventually making its way into the large attic space of this 104 year-old, Craftsman-style residence.

With several areas of the structure compromised, the 76 Firefighters on-scene, had their hands full. In fact, the blaze was so intense that a portion of the roof collapsed only minutes after LAFD resources arrived. Thankfully, there were no injuries and after a firefight that lasted nearly 40 minutes, the Incident Commander declared a "Knockdown."

The four-plex was home to a total of 20 residents (10 adults and 10 children) that will require assistance from local Red Cross, for shelter and other essential needs. Initial dollar-loss estimates were placed at $450,000 for structural damage and $75,000 for its contents. The cause of the blaze is under active investigation by the LAFD's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section.

DISPATCH UNITS:
E226 E26 T26 RA26 E13 RA844 E215 T15 E11 SQ21 EM11 BC18 BC1 E29 RA826 RA15 E211 T11 E10 DC2 EM14 BC5 BC11 MD1 EA1 RT59 AR1 RA868 E210 T10 E66

Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LA Firefighters Battle Residential Blaze In West Adams Area

On Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 4:34 PM, 13 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 6 Arson Units, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 106 Los Angeles Fire Department Personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Richard Rideout responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 2410 South 6th Avenue in the West Adams area of Los Angeles.


A column of black smoke was visible as Firefighters raced from their quarters, arriving at a two-story single-family-dwelling to find heavy fire extending out of the second floor. Fire crews mounted a rapid and offensive attack while making strong headway to locate the origin of the blaze. As they aggressively fought the flames, a simultaneous search for victims went underway.


Aided by Firefighters swiftly extending ground ladders to the steep roof of the 1700 square foot residence to perform strategic vertical ventilation with chainsaws, flames were held to the second story and attic. The blaze was fully extinguished in just twenty minutes. 


Fire teams soon discovered an adult on the second floor without vital signs of life. A positive identification of the individual, as well as the precise cause, time, and manner of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

Five members from the Mayor's Crisis Response Team responded to give assistance, and provide information and contacts to help the victim's daughter deal with this terrible crisis.

The first arriving Engine company did not hear Smoke Alarms sounding, however the presence, functional status, and role of smoke alarms within the home could not be immediately determined. There were window security bars in the rear of first floor, although they did not appear to impair the occupant from escaping. The 74 year-old Tudor-style home was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

The cause of the fire is under active investigation and monetary loss is still being tabulated.


Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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