Fire Rips Through Encino Mansion; Injures 2 LAFD Captains & 2 Firefighters

ENCINO - Over 100 Los Angeles Firefighters battled a huge blaze raging at an Encino home that injured two Captains and two Firefighters on October 30, 2013.

At 3:44 PM the LAFD received multiple 9-1-1 calls for a Structure Fire burning at 4440 Balboa Boulevard, south of Ventura Boulevard, in the hills northeast of the Encino Reservoir. As firefighters hurried up curvy narrow roads, a daunting plume of smoke could be seen in the distance, prompting responding firefighters to radio, "Loom Up", alerting the additional resources responding there was a working fire. They arrived to find a large three-story above ground Tudor style home at the end of a long steep private driveway with heavy fire on the third story. Additional resources were immediately requested as firefighters began a relentless aggressive interior fire attack.

Some firefighters had to hike equipment a 1/4 mile uphill to the structure and utilize chainsaws to strategically cut several holes in the sturdy wood shake shingle roof to reduce heat, smoke, fire and gases inside the structure. Additional firefighters ensured no one was inside the burning structure by performing a rapid search and rescue of the 7,779 square-foot home. A group of firefighters formed a Rapid Intervention Company and stood by with Firefighter/Paramedics in the event any of their own needed immediate rescue. Additional companies ensured flames didn't spread to nearby structures or brush, while others protected and saved what the homeowner referred to as "important belongings" in his home office. Firefighters long and relentless attack forced them to utilized entire air bottles, then go outside the blaze to get new bottles so they could reenter the fight.

Over 125 firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Patrick Butler, fully extinguished the flames in two hours and 20 minutes. The Los Angeles Fire Department remained on scene through out the night.

Two fire Captains, one with a significant extremity injury and the other with dehydration, and two Firefighter/Paramedics, one with chest pain and the other with a moderate extremity injury were transported to local hospitals. Only one firefighter was released back to duty that day, the others required further evaluation and treatment. No civilians were injured. Two pet dogs were found beyond medical help on the third floor.

The cause of the afternoon blaze is considered accidental in nature but remains under active investigation. The estimated dollar loss is still being tabulated.

Dispatched Units: E83 RA83 E88 T88 E288 RA88 E109 EM9 BC17 BC10 E100 E293 T93 E39 E93 T39 E239 DC3 EM11 BC15 UR88 T27 E227 UR27 E3 BC5 RA827 E273 T73 E90 RA93 RA100 EM4 H0D H5 EM10 E87 E298 T98 AR2 EA1 RA99 RA39 RM3 E12 E289 T89 E98 E60 RA73 RT83 RA90 T37 E237 BC10 T5 E205

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

LAFD Handles a Haz-Mat Fire in San Fernando

SAN FERNANDO - The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) including a Hazardous-Materials (Haz-Mat) Team battled a small fire on October 30, 2013 in a one-story commercial building that prompted a precautionary evacuation of three city blocks. Three people suffered minor injuries.

At 9:09 AM the LAFD responded to a Chemical Investigation inside a one-story commercial building at 1133 Celis Street, doing business as Envision Life CALIFA. The owner had accidentally spilled a 55-gallon drum of 50% percent hydrogen peroxide solution, a strong oxidizer (a 3% solution is common for medical use). It slowly began reacting with the petroleum products in the carpet and approximately one hour into the incident it spontaneously combusted. Smoke and gas began to emit from the structure. The scene was upgraded to a Hazardous-Materials incident and additional personnel were immediately requested.

Firefighters then ensured all occupants were out of the structure, took immediate precautions with Self Contained Breathing Apparatus to protect themselves from any harmful smoke, and evacuated nearby businesses as a precaution. Additional crews made a swift interior fire attack and strategically cut holes on the roof for ventilation. The flames were quickly extinguished and the water runoff was contained so as not to affect the environment. Over 75 firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Don Frazeur, handled the incident.

A total of three city blocks were evacuated as a precaution while the extensively trained hazardous materials firefighters assessed the severity of the problem. The evacuated area was scaled down in the afternoon, but some evacuations were still in effect near the business while arrangements were made to dispose of the hazardous material. The incident was soon declared "static" and turned over to the building owner, the City of San Fernando, and the Los Angeles County Health Haz-Mat department.

A total of three men suffered minor injury, all declined to be transported for hospital treatment. The 64-year-old owner of the business was treated for burns to his hands; a 36-year-old man was treated for smoke irritation; and a 30-year-old man was treated for eye irritation.

The cause was considered accidental and the dollar loss was estimated at $40,000 ($20,000 structure and $20,000 contents).

Dispatched Units: T75 E275 E87 SQ87 BC702 JT5 JT6 BC722 RA875 RA75 E287 T87 E94 E95 EM15 E98 E298 T98 E7 DC3 BC12 T94 E294 HM94 HM75 SQ95 RA87 RA894 DC1 AR1 BC15 AR2 E39 E289 T89 RA81 RA70 EM10 EM17 RA94 RT83 RA83 E90

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Panorama City Apartment Fire Kills Woman and Injures 3

PANORAMA CITY - Firefighters quickly extinguished an apartment fire, where a woman was found deceased and three others were injured, on October 28, 2013.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was alerted of a Structure Fire at 8:39 AM with reports of a person possibly trapped inside. Firefighters quickly arrived to 8816 Tobias Avenue to find a seven unit, two-story apartment building with smoke pouring from second story and one unit fully involved in fire.

Due to an aggressive attack, a total of 39 firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Jack Wise, fully extinguished the fire in just 14 minutes. The bulk of flames were confined to the unit
of origin.

Sadly, during the initial Search and Rescue of the unit on fire, a 42 year-old woman was found in the hallway beyond medical help, and was determined dead. Three people suffered non-life-threatening smoke inhalation and were transported to local hospitals in Fair condition; two were brave Police Officers assisting in evacuation and the third was a 14 year-old boy, son of the deceased.

In examining the fire's aftermath, there was no immediate evidence of a functional smoke alarm within the residence due to fire damage. There was a front security door but no window bars to impair egress of the 52-year old residence, which was not equipped with fire sprinklers.

The scene was preserved for LAFD Arson Investigators and LAPD to closely examine the cause of the deadly fire. The fire remains under active investigation and the monetary loss is still being tabulated.

A positive identification - to include the age and gender - of those who died, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of their deaths, will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

Dispatched Units: E81 RA881 RA81 E90 E275 T75 E298 T98 EM12 BC12 E98 E7 RA98 AR2 AR7 DC3 AR9 E98 T98 E298

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department