On Friday, June 2, 2006 at 12:34 PM, sixteen Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, three LAFD Rescue Ambulances, one Rehab Unit, two Hazardous Materials Teams, two EMS Battalion Captains, one Command Post unit, four Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, one Division Chief Officer Command Team, Deputy Chief Mario Rueda, and a variety of additional support staff under the direction of Assistant Chief Donald Austin responded to a Aircraft Fire at 7100 World Way at the Los Angeles International Airport.

Airport Crash Companies arrived on scene within a minute of dispatch to find an American Airlines Boeing 767 with a fire in the number 1 engine. The plane, parked near hangar number two, was not in service at the time of the fire and was undergoing routine maintenance and engine checks. Firefighters immediately applied firefighting foam and were able to control the fire within sixteen minutes.

At the time of the fire, the aircraft engines were running while the plane was parked at a blast wall adjacent to the American Airlines hangar. During the engine run up, a failure of the number one engine caused a brief fire and scattered debris throughout the area.

After extinguishing the fire, firefighters were confronted with a significant fuel leak from the damaged engine. Foam was used to cover the fuel on the ground to prevent ignition and reduce the possibility of a larger conflagration.

Firefighters and airport personnel worked in concert to offload remaining fuel, limit the fuel from reaching storm drains, and render the situation harmless. Using dikes, vacuum trucks, and de-fuelers, the 10,000 gallons of fuel were successfully offloaded and contained.

Airport personnel inspecting the adjacent runway and Taxiways discovered debris related to this aircraft. At the request of the National Transportation Safety Board, Runway 25R and Taxiways B and C were closed for several hours until the investigation and collection of the debris could be accomplished. Fortunately, Air Traffic Controllers were able to make the necessary adjustments and prevent disruptions to local air traffic.

Over 100 Firefighters participated in the seven hour event, suppressing the fire, managing the Hazardous Materials spill, mitigating the exposure, and providing support during this incident. The plane sustained significant damage to the left wing, fuselage, and tail section.

Damage estimates, as well as the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the engine failure, is currently under investigation. There were no injuries reported

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Ron Myers, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Tags: LA, Los Angeles, LAFD, Los Angeles Fire Department