PACOIMA - The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a small fire on Christmas Morning that sadly claimed the life of a "senior" resident at an independent-living facility.
At 10:19 am, Firefighters responded to a reported "Structure Fire" at 11060 North Norris Avenue. They quickly ascended the six-story "Pledgerville Senior Citizen Villa" and had to force-entry into a single unit on the third floor, where they found a smoke-filled apartment.
Quick work was made of the small fire that required merely a single fire-extinguisher. Unfortunately, little time was also required for the fire to have tragically claimed the life of the unit's 90 year-old, female resident. She apparently had lived alone.
The fire-fatality required the LAFD's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section to respond, where they spent most of Christmas Day conducting their investigation. The fire was deemed "accidental" in nature and Investigators stated "the most probable cause as candles...that appeared to have somehow ignited the victim's clothing." The manner in which that took place is unclear, as the fire remains under active investigation. The victim's official cause of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. Dollar-loss estimates were not yet available.
The LAFD extends their condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, for this tragic loss. Your LAFD is saddened by such incidents and finds them extremely difficult to report, especially on Christmas Day. We do so only to highlight safety and underscore the importance of exercising extreme caution anytime you are around or in use of an open flame, regardless of the source. This holds true not only through the Holiday Season, but at all times.
Friends, there are numerous articles that can be found in our archives, here, on www.fergco.co, some of which are "linked" in this article. Please take the time to review them with your loved ones. Simple steps and observance of key safety tips can help prevent tragedy from occurring.
Please allow yourselves to spend your Holiday Season with family and friends...SAFELY! And from all of us at the Los Angeles Fire Department...today, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!
Dispatched Units:
E98 T98 E298 RA898 E7 RA7 E275 T75 E91 EM15 BC10 BC12 E77 RA98 BC12 AR2 DC3 AR11 AR36
Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
Article any source
Showing posts with label candle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label candle. Show all posts
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
LAFD Offers Fire Safety Tips
With changes in the weather, we all resort to different methods to warm ourselves, our loved-ones and our homes. Your Los Angeles Fire Department asks you to please exercise extreme caution and a little common sense when doing so.
As we promote the annual "Change Your Clock Change Your Batteries" Campaign, it also offers a great opportunity to remind you all, of the inherent dangers associated with fire that may result from improperly functioning alarms in your homes.
As an example of such dangers, please view the following video that illustrates how the changes in materials being used by the furniture industry have considerably decreased the amount of time individuals and families have to exit their homes during a fire. It also emphasizes the extreme importance of having a working smoke alarm.
So we remind you: when you change your clock, you should change your smoke alarm batteries as well as the batteries in your carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, which are now required by law.
On another note of preparedness, the LAFD strongly encourages everyone to develop and practice a home safety plan. Following, are some helpful Fire Safety Tips to aid in your efforts:
Fire Safety Tips:
In the event of a fire, remember time is the biggest enemy and every second counts! Escape first, then call for help. Develop a home fire escape plan and designate a meeting place outside. Make sure everyone in the family knows two ways to escape from every room. Practice feeling your way out with your eyes closed. Never stand up in a fire, always crawl low under the smoke and try to keep your mouth covered. Never return to a burning building for any reason; it may cost you your life.
Talking about fire prevention and survival with your family, and practicing your home escape plan is something that may not be able to wait for tomorrow.
Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
Article any source
As we promote the annual "Change Your Clock Change Your Batteries" Campaign, it also offers a great opportunity to remind you all, of the inherent dangers associated with fire that may result from improperly functioning alarms in your homes.
As an example of such dangers, please view the following video that illustrates how the changes in materials being used by the furniture industry have considerably decreased the amount of time individuals and families have to exit their homes during a fire. It also emphasizes the extreme importance of having a working smoke alarm.
So we remind you: when you change your clock, you should change your smoke alarm batteries as well as the batteries in your carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, which are now required by law.
On another note of preparedness, the LAFD strongly encourages everyone to develop and practice a home safety plan. Following, are some helpful Fire Safety Tips to aid in your efforts:
Fire Safety Tips:
In the event of a fire, remember time is the biggest enemy and every second counts! Escape first, then call for help. Develop a home fire escape plan and designate a meeting place outside. Make sure everyone in the family knows two ways to escape from every room. Practice feeling your way out with your eyes closed. Never stand up in a fire, always crawl low under the smoke and try to keep your mouth covered. Never return to a burning building for any reason; it may cost you your life.
Talking about fire prevention and survival with your family, and practicing your home escape plan is something that may not be able to wait for tomorrow.
- Install smoke alarms in every room of a property. Consider networked smoke alarms that are linked together so that when one alarm sounds, all of the alarms sound. This immediate response can provide early warning no matter where the fire starts, giving more time to escape.
- Install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors on every floor and near sleeping areas. As of July 1, 2011, the State of California requires Carbon Monoxide detectors in most single family homes - and soon in every residence.
- DO NOT use grills, hibachis or portable gas camp stoves indoors, as a means to warm your homes. All are sources of poisonous carbon monoxide gases.
- Use extreme caution when using portable generators, another source of carbon monoxide.
- Test smoke alarms and CO detectors monthly and replace batteries as needed.
- Never disable alarms by removing the batteries or by covering them.
- Know two ways out of every building--your residence hall, apartment, nightclub, restaurant or movie theater. A fire escape ladder can provide an alternate exit from second- or third-floor rooms.
- Properly dispose of smoking materials in ashtrays. After parties, check chair and couch cushions for smoldering cigarettes.
- Purchase a fire extinguisher and learn how to use it BEFORE a fire breaks out.
- Use approved extension cords and electrical appliances properly. Don't overload electrical outlets.
- Never leave candles unattended and keep them away from flammable items. Be sure to extinguish candles before going to bed.
Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
Article any source
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