On Thursday, March 2, 2006 at 3:55 PM, fifteen Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, five LAFD Rescue Ambulances, one Arson Unit, two Urban Search and Rescue Units, one Hazardous Materials Team, one EMS Battalion Captain, five Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, and two Division Chief Officer Command Teams, under the direction of Assistant Chief John Ware responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 149 South Manhattan Place in the Hancock Park/Wilshire Center area.

First units on the scene reported a two-story, 40' x 100', wood/stucco center hallway apartment building with heavy smoke showing from the second floor and fire through the roof. Initial reports indicated that residents maybe trapped on the fire floor.

Firefighters taking handlines to the second floor via an interior stairway immediately encountered heavy smoke in the hallway. As Firefighters made an aggressive attack on the interior fire, additional Firefighters were assigned to the Roof Division for ventilation and to the Search and Rescue Group to rescue trapped or
injured occupants.

Using aggressive fire attack procedures with handlines and effective strip ventilation to prevent or stop fire spread, it took Firefighters approximately twenty-seven minutes to extinguished the fire.

Occupants of the structure safely self-evacuated prior to the arrival of the Los Angeles Fire Department. During Firefighting operations, one Fire Captain suffered a back injury and transported to a local hospital in good condition.

Firefighters rescued a dog and several cats from the second floor and the City's Department of Animal Services was called to care for the pets.

As a result of the fire, one apartment unit was destroyed and fifty occupants will be displaced until further notice. The American Red Cross was requested to assist four occupants with placement.

The cause of the fire is listed as under investigation and fire damage is estimated at $200,000. ($150,000 structure and $50,000 contents).

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Submitted by Jim Wells, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department