On Monday, December 13, 2010 at 7:01 AM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief J. Castro responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 636 N Kingsley Dr. in Southeast Hollywood.

Arriving quickly, the first company discovered heavy smoke showing from one unit on the first floor of a two story apartment type house. Just as fire personnel arrived, reports came in that individuals may still have been trapped somewhere in the structure. Firefighters swiftly went into action on scene, extended handlines, and making forced entry to locate the source of the smoke while initiating a primary search for the possible victims.

The building was well involved with fire, threatening structures just a short distance to the north of the occupancy. Fortunately, one adult female and two teenage females had already made it safely out of the incident, all were treated on scene for minor injuries.

The aggressive and well-coordinated efforts of over eighty Los Angeles Firefighters confined the fire to the structure of origin and brought the flames under control in less than 21 minutes. Fire loss to building is estimated at $45,000 ($25,000 structure & $20,000 contents). The cause of this blaze is still under an active investigation


Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department