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Saturday, May 08, 2010 | 
Multiple 911 calls were received in rapid succession prompting a quick dispatch of firefighters to a three-story Center-Hallway apartment building over a parking garage. Smoke could be seen two blocks away as firefighters approached, they arrived within three minutes to find fire lapping out of the second-story of this 60' x 300' building and some occupants jumping out of second-story windows. Firefighters sprinted into action providing ladders to assist those in need and deployed handlines to aggressively attack the flames while performing a primary search. Additional firefighters were immediately summoned to assist battling the blaze.
The 42-unit apartment complex was in compliance with the city's Dorothy Mae Ordinance including hard wired smoke alarms, smoke-activated magnetic fire doors and automatic sprinklers in the parking area, all of which assisted in saving lives. This serves as a good reminder for all to never block open fire doors as this allows smoke and fire to travel and impede occupants from escaping in an emergency.
One unit was completely destroyed by flames and five others were damaged. Over 150 firefighters extinguished the blaze in just 28 minutes however 13 persons received injuries, two of which were in critical condition. There were no security doors, window bars or obvious non-fire factors to impede the victims from exiting the home.Firefighters remained on scene for over five hours, protecting the homeowners belongings from additional damage during the salvage and overhaul operations. The total dollar loss was estimated at $255,000 ($180,000 structure and $75,000 content). The cause is under investigation and the American Red Cross assisted any displaced occupants.
Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
10 comments:
It appears in the photo that the apartment building is fairly new. Does it still need to comply with the Dorothy Mae Ordinance, or do other fire code requirements take its place. And if so, what are those fire code requirements? I think fire prevention systems are key to saving lives coupled with having a well trained fire department like you.
Were any of the companies that would have been dispatched to this incident "browned out"? If so which ones?
Thank you
Good job. What was the placement/ assignments of the 1st arriving companies
@Anonymous 10:20,
We strongly agree that the daily success of your LAFD relies heavily upon well implemented fire prevention systems and well trained firefighters.
The City of Los Angeles Fire Code is indeed a living document that develops over time.
While the burning building Erik wrote of benefitted greatly from adherence to a Fire Code strengthened by the legendary Ponet Square Hotel and Dorothy Mae Apartment blazes - among others, the actual City of Los Angeles Ordinance you mention, can only be cited (for purposes of enforcement) on specific pre-1943 structures.
Thank you for allowing us to clarify the matter. To review the many aspects of our contemporary Fire Code applicable to this building and fire, we welcome you to view:
lafd.org/code.htm
@Anonymous 1:36 and;
@Anonymous 2:27
Though the fire was in Fire Station 11's District and Truck 11 was the first LAFD unit to indicate arrival at the fire, I sadly don't have a tactical worksheet for the incident in front of me at this time.
The most accurate and authoritative answer to your questions will come directly from the Incident Commander. We therefore welcome you to contact Assistant Chief Michael Little directly.
I hope this information proves helpful to each of you. Thanks for visiting the LAFD News & Information blog.
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
Brian,
Are you not allowed to publish which companies were browned out (closed)that would have responded to the fire? You can run the occupancy address for the initial dispatch assignment and see what companies are recommended. You can also plug in a request for 2 or 3 additional Task Forces, and RA's and see what is recommended. The public has the right to know.
Thanks
Anonymous 2:01,
Thanks for the note. LAFD company closures (scheduled or impromptu) like nearly everything we do, is indeed a matter of public record.
Lest there be minsunderstanding, I have on countless occassions mentioned and referred others to the UFLAC database (set any date you please) of scheduled company closures for a reasonably accurate view of what is/was anticipated.
What is also quite public, but often not understood - including by many LAFD members, is that I'm not in the PSO office every hour of every day :)
For those who are unaware, I'm assigned to LAFD's 'B' Platoon, but am working at home today to address the horrific backlog of e-mail and other projects that despite my best intentions, just don't fit into a normal work shift.
Hence, my mention of not having a tactical worksheet in front of me to describe who arrived from where, when and what they were originally assigned to do, and if indeed they fulfilled that assignment and then the many follow-up phone calls to determine how it was done, to what effect and conclusion.
I sadly also don't have access to the FCCS-II (LAFD computer-aided dispatch database) from home.
In the case of the questions above...
To be accurate (I don't believe in best guess), we sadly cannot rely on the static situation of 'all units in their quarters' (too many assumptions), but instead would need to roll back the clock to secure multiple datasets for the 'real-time' status and location of each and every assigned unit and their variable at the time they were summoned.
It's certainly not rocket science, but it is time consuming and something I can't do from home.
My suggestion therefore remains that an official and knowing answer for the questions above (or in fact any matter) about the fire is readily available "without the middleman" _right now_ by contacting the Incident Commander directly. If you are hesitant to do so, simply mention that I referred you.
In case the earlier link is not handy, the published phone number to the Division 1 Office is (213) 485-6291. You and the other persons above have every right to have your questions answered promptly, accurately and completely. Engaging in direct dialogue with Chief Little and/or his designated subordinates remains the single best way to get an answer to the thusfar mentioned:
"placement/ assignments of the 1st arriving companies"
"...the companies that would have been dispatched to this incident..."
...and most importantly: the question that I cannot answer - the effect of such (if any) upon the management of the incident.
I hope this information helps. It sounds as though you may be on the job. If that's the case, please pick up the phone and we can chat on a future 'B' Shift.
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
Brian,
Thanks as always for going above and beyond and answering blog posts and comments on your days off. Hopefully the Firefighters Union (UFLAC) and other interested parties will pursue a fact finding mission regarding this incident and will provide the appropriate information to the Fire Commission, City Council and the Mayor. Thanks again for all that you do.
Anonymous 6:38,
You are welcome and no worries.
Like others on the job, I'm happy to help when I have something meaningful and accurate to share, but sadly haven't a clue (yet) about the minutae of that C-Shift fire above what my colleague Erik Scott offered.
I'm hoping that some of the people above took an opportunity to contact Chief Little directly - or that they'll give me a ring at the PSO Desk on a B shift to help me figure out how I might be of further assistance.
Respecfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
Property Information
Assessor's ID No. 5153-009-021
Site Address 255 LOMA DR
LOS ANGELES CA 90026
Property Type Multi-Family Residential
Region / Cluster 09 / 09440
Tax Rate Area (TRA) 12706
Recent Sale Information
Latest Sale Date
Indicated Sale Price
2009 Roll Values
Recording Date 07/27/1999
Land $293,389
Improvements $1,087,139
Personal Property $0
Fixtures $0
Homeowners' Exemption $0
Real Estate Exemption $0
Personal Property Exemption $0
Fixture Exemption $0
(I have a question regarding my property tax payment)
Property Boundary Description
FLETCHER TR SUB OF POR OF BLK L OF COLINA PARK TRACT POR OF SD TRACT
Building Description(s)
Improvement 1
Square Footage 25,661
Year Built / Effective Year Built 1989 / 1989
Bedrooms / Bathrooms 42 / 42
Units 42
Anonymous 11:40,
As you have shown (and once before?) in our comments, one can use the information from our LAFD on-line reports to query a variety of public databases, including those of the Los Angeles County Assessor and the City of Los Angeles Planning Department.
While we're not necessarily opposed to such 'copy and paste' contributions, we'll admit that our staff and readers gain vastly more when such contributions are offered with your personal comments, thought and perspective.
The data above is likely accurate and no doubt relevant - but we are sadly left to wonder exactly what it was you were seeking to say.
Thanks for visiting the LAFD News & Information blog, but one source source for information about Los Angeles.
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
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