Man Injured, Pets Die in Explosive San Fernando Valley House Fire

LAKE BALBOA - An explosive fire in a San Fernando Valley home early Tuesday, killed two pets and sent the homeowner to the hospital for treatment of painful burn injuries.

The fire, reported initially as an explosion by neighbors at 7:53 AM on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, brought 38 members of the Los Angeles Fire Department to 7500 White Oak Avenue in Lake Balboa.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find a one-story 810 square-foot home well involved with fire. As LAFD crews battled the blaze, they encountered the home's sole occupant, a 72 year old man, with second-degree burns to his face and hands. Following prompt treatment by Fire Department Paramedics, he was taken by ambulance to Northridge Hospital Medical Center in fair condition.

Firefighters continued to attack the flames, discovering two cats and two dogs within - or immediately adjacent to - the burning structure. Pulled from within and away from the smoke charged residence, firefighters were able to provide oxygen, resuscitate and rescue one canine and one feline. The other two animals however, proved to be beyond medical help and died at the scene.

The fire was confined to the home and extinguished in just 18 minutes. No other injuries were reported.

Once stabilized by firefighters, the surviving dog and cat were placed in the arms of neighbors who pledged to get them to veterinary care.

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The cause of the early morning blaze has been categorized as accidental, and is attributed to a leak of combustible propane from a portable heating device used improperly within the home.

Dispatched Units: E273 T73 RA73 E100 RA100 E103 EM15 BC17 E70 T90 E90 E290 BC15

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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