Suspicious Blaze Injures Two Los Angeles Firefighters

EAST HOLLYWOOD - A suspicious blaze in an abandoned two-story home sent a pair of Los Angeles Firefighters to the hospital Sunday morning with painful but non-life threatening injuries.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 8:30 AM on June 23, 2013 to 714 North Kenmore Avenue, where they discovered fire on the second floor and attic of an unoccupied 1,744 square-foot two story home.


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Forty-six LAFD personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Joseph Klein forced entry into the minimally secured building, confining flames within the unfurnished residence in just 19 minutes.

During a tenacious attack on intense flames, two Los Angeles Firefighters sustained painful first- and second-degree burns to their ears and necks. In fair condition, the men were taken by LAFD ambulance to Torrance Memorial Medical Center for specialized burn care, where they were treated and released to remain off-duty.

No other injuries were reported.

Loss to the 99 year-old vacant wood frame home was limited to the structural value of $100,000. The fire is presently categorized as suspicious, and remains the focus of an active LAFD investigation. Those with information about the fire are asked to call the Los Angeles Fire Department's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section directly at (213) 893-9800.

Dispatched Units: E6 RA6 E52 RA52 E220 T20 E235 T35 E13 EM11 BC11 BC5 E29 AR2 E82 EM13 AR9

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Injury, Death and Destruction Follow Shooting, Major Emergency Fire

HOLLYWOOD - Gun-shots fired in a relatively quiet neighborhood today, resulted in multiple victims, a Major Emergency Structure Fire and two deaths. No Fire or Police were injured.

At 12:41 PM on Thursday, February 16, 2012, LAPD Officers accompanied by Los Angeles Firefighters responded to a reported shooting at 517 North Harvard Boulevard. Upon arrival, they were greeting by three adults: one 34 year-old male and two 38 year-old females, all suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. A domestic dispute in the nearly 100 year-old single family dwelling, may have precipitated the gunfire. Acting without hesitation, the Officers and Firefighters rapidly extracted all three individuals from the residence, before discovering a quickly developing fire at the rear of the structure.

Adding to the chaos, were reports that the shooter was still in the residence and may have been holding one additional victim. The potential of this incident brought a swift and heavy response, with 150 Firefighters pouring into the Hollywood neighborhood.

The inherent risks of the incident were carefully considered by the Unified Command. With a reported shooter-at-large and a now, fully-developed structure fire, the safety and security of all personnel became the primary objective. With Firefighters unable make an interior fire-attack and untenable conditions in the structure eliminating the probability of survival, it was determined the best course of action was to let the fire burn itself out.

Hoselines were placed on each side of the approximate 2,600 square-foot home, as were armed LAPD Officers to provide force protection to Firefighters. The strategy was to prevent the fire from extending to the adjacent exposures by simply controlling it.

Full-extinguishment came 2 hours and 30 minutes later. Unfortunately, the discovery of two bodies also came, by way of our LAFD Cadaver Search Dog and its handler. They were aided by two others canines from Ventura County Fire Department. One of the bodies is believed to have been the shooter, of unknown age. Both bodies will be positively identified by the LA County Department of Coroner, as will the exact cause of death.

  

The three injured adults were all transported in critical condition to local hospitals. Both the fire and the crime scene are part of an active, joint investigation by the LAFD's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section and the LAPD. While dollar-loss estimates were not yet available, the structure was a total loss. There were no reported injuries to LAFD or LAPD personnel.

Dispatched Units:
E11 RA6 RA20 T29 E29 E229 EM11 BC5 E61 RA82 RA41 RA56 EM2 EM9 E82 E235 T35 E227 BC11 BC2 BC13 DC2 E27 T27 UR3 RA3 HR56 UR88 BC1 UR27 RA827 E211 T11 E6 E15 E220 T20 SQ21 CM3 RA4 AR7 RA52 RA78 H2 E21 E3 E12 E202 T2 E226 T26 EA1 RT59 E56 AR1 RA867 RA867 E90 AR3 AR10 E91 RM2 SU1 AR36 E2 T12 E212 T3 E203

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Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department

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Smoke Alarms Help Save Family From Burning Apartment

EAST HOLLYWOOD - A family of five abruptly awoke to the sound of their smoke alarms echoing through their apartment, alerting them of a fire. This life saving sound provided them the necessary time to call 9-1-1 and escape through a second-story window.

Just before 6:30 AM on January 19, 2012, Los Angeles Firefighters quickly arrived in a little over three minutes to find smoke showing from the second story of a two-story apartment building located at 811 North Mariposa Avenue. Firefighters performed a rapid Search and Rescue operation to find anyone inside the smoke filled residence, but they were already out...

Upon detection of the fire, the family immediately called 9-1-1, then got out and stayed out! They were unable to exit the front door due to smoke & flames, therefore they broke out a window from their second-story apartment and threw a mattress outside to the ground, in anticipation of having to jump. Neighbors assisted by placing aluminum "painters ladders" to the window allowing the mother, father and three daughters to safely exit the 46 year-old building.

A total of 39 firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief A. Ward, worked hard and fast to extinguish the flames in just 13 minutes. The fire was confined to the unit of origin, before it had a chance to spread to any of the dozen attached units. The cause of the fire was electrical and appears to be accidental in nature. The dollar loss is still being tabulated, and the American Red Cross assisted with the displaced family.

Every year in the United States, about 3,500 people die in home fires. Most of these deaths occurred in homes that didn’t have a working smoke alarm.

Fortunately, due to early detection from functional smoke alarms, no one was seriously injured or killed in this morning's incident.

Your Los Angeles Fire Department asks, "If a fire breaks out in your home while you are asleep, how will you know?"

Smoke and heat rapidly build, making every second count. A smoke alarm is constantly on alert, scanning the air for fire and smoke 24/7. Remember, Smoke Alarms not only protect your family but can help save the lives of firefighters who would otherwise have to risk their lives by searching a burning home for residents.

Lastly, don't forget to prepare and practice your fire escape plan twice a year with everyone in your household, including children and people with disabilities.

Dispatched Units: E52 RA52 E6 RA6 E235 T35 E82 E227 T27 EM11 BC11 BC18 E29

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Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Man Found Dead in Hollywood House Fire

HOLLYWOOD - Sadly a man was found deceased tonight inside a residence that was on fire.




The Los Angeles Fire Department was called at 8:29 PM on Thursday, July 21, 2011 to

739 North Mariposa Avenue in Hollywood, where they found heavy smoke showing from the second story of a single family dwelling.

The first of 44 firefighters initially dispatched to the scene quickly extended hoselines inside the 3,269 square-foot residence, extinguishing the flames in just 16 minutes – only to discover a 69 year-old male. Beyond medical help, he was determined dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

The bulk of the flames were in one room on the second story, which was described as "packrat” like conditions. There were no smoke alarms present within the residence. Monetary loss from the blaze in the 98-year old non-fire sprinklered home is estimated at $45,000 ($25,000 structure & $20,000 contents).

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

The cause of the fire remains the focus of a joint investigation by Los Angeles Fire and Police Department Investigators.

Dispatched Units: E52 RA52 E6 RA6 E235 T35 E227 E27 T27 T20 E220 EM14 BC5 BC11 E29 AR2 DC2 AR23 AR17

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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