On Thursday, May 4, 2006 at 3:46 AM, seventeen Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, fifteen LAFD Rescue Ambulances, the Fire Chief, one Deputy Chief, one Heavy Rescue, two Arson Units, two Urban Search and Rescue Units, one Hazardous Materials Team, three EMS Battalion Captains, six Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, one Division Chief Officer Command Team, Emergency Air, and the Los Angeles County Health Department, under the direction of Assistant Chief Roy Kozaki, responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 2231 South Western Avenue in the West Adams/Harvard Heights area.

First units on the scene reported a five story Medical Center building with a report of heavy smoke on the fourth floor.

Ascending to the fourth floor via the stairways, Firefighters encountered a considerable amount of heavy smoke banked down below waist in the hallway leading to the fire room.

Using handlines, Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire confining it to the one room and preventing fire spread to other portion of the floor. The fire was extinguished in approximately twenty minutes.

Due to pre-existing medical condition of many patients in the Medical Center, most were immediately evacuated to a treatment area on the first floor by Firefighters for assessment and as a safety precaution. Others were sheltered in place until the incident was completely under control and then assessed.

To ensure that all occupants of the "Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center" were accounted for and assessed, Firefighters searched each room in the building.

During the incipient stage of the fire, many of the patients on the fire floor were assisted to safety by nurses prior to the arrival of the Fire Department thus preventing many injuries and possible fatalities.

After a thorough search of the building by over one hundred Firefighters and assessment of all patients and staff members, it was determined that only two of the patients were in need medical intervention and transportation by Fire Department personnel for pre-existing medical conditions.

As a result of the fire, no injuries were reported. Fire damage is estimated at $35,000. ($25,000 structure and $10,000 contents). The cause of the fire is listed as under investigation.

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Submitted by Jim Wells, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department


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