On Sunday, September 19th, 2010 at 7:59 AM, 4 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Kevin Pearson responded to a Structure Fire at 843 East 91st Street in Watts.

Firefighters arrived within four minutes to a one-story single-family-dwelling that had heavy fire showing. Jumping into action, they extended hand-lines inside the wood-framed stucco structure to do battle at the seat of the fire, while their colleagues swiftly took to the roof. Using chainsaws on this "hip" styled roof, the Truck Company had fire blowing out of the ventilation holes they cut. This released heat, smoke and gasses, which assisted another team of Firefighters to perform a detailed interior search of the 1,626 square-foot residence.
 During this search-and-rescue procedure an elderly male was found in the front room, pulseless and non-breathing. Firefighter/Paramedics earnestly provided CPR and Advanced Life Support at the scene and during transportation to a local hospital, where sadly he was later declared deceased.

Twenty-nine Firefighters confined the blaze to just two rooms, and declared a Knockdown in 14 minutes, before flames were able to damage any nearby structures. In examining the fire's aftermath, there was no immediate evidence of a functional smoke alarm within the 62-year old residence, nor was it equipped with residential fire sprinklers. There were no window bars or security doors to impair the 86 year-old male's escape. Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $55,000 ($40,000 structure & $15,000 contents). The cause of this fire is undetermined.

Submitted by - Erik Scott, Spokesman,
Los Angeles Fire Department