Investigators Seek Cause of Intense Blaze at Los Angeles Church

LEIMERT PARK - A multi-agency fire investigation is underway to determine the cause of a blaze that heavily damaged a southwest Los Angeles church early Friday morning.

The fire was reported to the Los Angeles Fire Department at 1:54 AM on April 26, 2013. Firefighters arrived quickly to 4909 South Crenshaw Boulevard, where they found heavy fire inside the Bethesda Temple Apostolic Church.

The combination of a steeply pitched roof, high ceilings and the volume of fire, lead firefighters to quickly transition to defensive operations. Nearly 100 firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Ralph Terrazas, had the flames extinguished in just 50 minutes. A well-coordinated effort by firefighters limited the blaze to the 86 year old building of fire origin. No injuries were reported.

Twenty-nine additional LAFD personnel were called to the scene over the next fourteen hours, to assist in salvaging items from the sanctuary and supporting the investigation.

With clergy expressing a strong interest in maintaining Sunday services, firefighters helped churchgoers set up for worship in the community center next door. "This church is a cornerstone of the community", said Fire Captain Jaime Moore, adding "we're doing everything we can to help them get back on their feet".

Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $2 million ($1.5M structure & $500,000 contents). Pursuant of protocol, the fire remains the focus of an active investigation by the multi-agency House of Worship Arson Task Force, which has yet to declare a cause for the blaze.

Dispatched Units: E66 E294 E94 T94 RA94 RA894 EM11 BC18 E15 DC1 T66 E266 E34 E26 T26 E226 E215 T15 EM9 BC11 T27 E227 E27 UR27 RA27 RA927 UR88 BC5 E10 AR1 E233 T33 E11 AR11 AR17 RT59 RA867 AR9 E94 BP94 AR17 T94 E294

Submitted by Katherine Main, Spokesperson
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Television Station Salutes LAFD Cadet Carlos Herrera

LOS ANGELES - This week's KABC-TV Cool Kid is "fired up" about his future, and he's looking to help his community any way he can. Carlos Herrera wants to be a firefighter, and he's off to a great start. He volunteers at Los Angeles Fire Department Station 94 as part of the LAFD Cadet Program.

KABC-TV Reporter Danny Romero tell's us more...

The Los Angeles Fire Department is proud of Carlos and all those age 14-20 who participate in the LAFD Cadet program. To learn more, visit:

firecadet.org

To meet more KABC-TV Cool Kids, click here.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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8 Injured When 3 Vehicles Crash in South L.A.

CRENSHAW CORRIDOR - On a quiet Sunday afternoon, residents were abruptly startled by sounds of three vehicles colliding at King Blvd, just East of Crenshaw Blvd. Los Angeles Firefighters rapidly treated and transported eight patients, five of which suffered serious injuries.

Summoned by numerous 9-1-1 calls, at 4:19 PM on, May 6, 2012, the Los Angeles Fire Department swiftly dispatched 54 personnel, under the command of Battalion Chief Alicia Welch, to safely manage the scene on the 3500 block of Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, where two sedans and one SUV crashed. Fortunately no victims were trapped or required extrication with hydraulic prying tools.

The injured patients, ranging from 16 years-old to 57 years-old, were taken to strategic regional hospitals in a fleet of LAFD ambulances. The incident, including the cause and the surrounding circumstances, remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Dispatched Units: RA894 E94 RA34 RA94 T94 E294 RA34 RA866 RA826 EM11 EM1 EM9 BC18 RA66 RA68 EM1 EM9 RA26 RA14

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Man Found Dead in Los Angeles Condominium Fire

BALDWIN HILLS - Los Angeles Fire and Police Investigators are seeking the cause of a Baldwin Hills area fire Sunday morning, in which a man was found dead.

Security officers at the gated Cameo Woods condominium complex near Baldwin Hills first reported the fire at 11:45 AM on October 9, 2011, bringing a swift response by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

LAFD crews quickly navigated the 27 acre complex to find smoke showing from one downstairs unit of a two-story residential fouplex at 5823 Bowcroft Street. A well coordinated effort by 48 Los Angeles Firefighters confined the fire to the unit of origin. They extinguished the blaze in just 17 minutes.

During fire attack, firefighters discovered the remains of an adult male within the burning structure. Beyond medical help, he was declared deceased at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

According to Battalion Chief Robert Nelson, "the home was fitted with a smoke alarm, which was functioning at the time of fire". He added there were no security doors, window security bars or obvious non-fire factors to impede the man's egress. The 62-year old dwelling was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.

A positive identification of the deceased man to include his age, as well as the cause, time and manner of his death, will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated.

Dispatched Units: E294 T94 RA894 RA43 E58 E68 E34 E292 T92 EM2 BC18 BC11 E29 RA94 EM14 AR2 AR11 AR39 AR7 RA94 T94 E294

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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