ENCINO - The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) extinguished structure fire that claimed two lives and hospitalized six, including one firefighter.

Just before 9:00 PM on August 28, 2014, firefighters responded to 5330 Lindley Avenue to find a three-story center-hallway apartment/condo building over a parking structure, with one unit on the third floor well involved in flames. An aggressive attack ensued and additional firefighters were quickly requested.

Over 100 firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Al Valle, fully extinguished the flames in just over one hour.

A total eight civilian patients were evaluated. Sadly an elderly male and female were determined dead, most likely due to asphyxiation from smoke. Five others required transport to local hospitals and one declined transport. Lastly, one firefighter suffered a hand injury and was transported to a local hospital in Fair condition.

A positive identification of the deceased, as well as the cause, time and manner of their death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. There were no security doors or bars on windows to impede egress. This is the 19th and 20th civilian fatality related to a structure fire in LAFD's jurisdiction in 2014.

The Mayors Crisis Response Team assisted those affected by this traumatic incident and the American Red Cross assisted with those displaced.

The cause of the fire is under active investigation by the LAFD Arson Section and the estimated dollar loss is being tabulated.

Hard wired Smoke Alarms were located however they did not appear to be functional. Friday morning August 29, 2014, firefighters will canvas the neighborhood as part of the LAFD’s Smoke Alarm Field Education (SAFE) Program, distributing free smoke alarms and fire safety information.

Dispatched: E83 RA83 E293 T93 E100 RA100 E288 E88 T88 EM17 BC17 BC10 E84 RA73 DC3 RA88 E103 E290 T90 EM15 BC15 RA90 RA39 RA104 EM14 E273 T73 E39 E90 E237 T37 EM9 UR88 T89 E289 UR89 E27 BC5 RT83 RA909 E87 E305 T105 AR2 RA72 RA105 AR10 AR11 AR21

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

SOUTH PARK - Los Angeles Firefighters battled a blaze in a small duplex, that gravely injured a man on August 11, 2014.

 © Image by OnScene.TV

Just before 1:30 AM, the Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned to 237 W. 50th Street to find an approximately 500 square-foot duplex on fire. Firefighters performed a quick and aggressive attack on the flames with hose-lines while colleagues performed vertical ventilation on the roof with chainsaws to remove hot smoke and gasses.

During an initial rapid search inside, a man was located in the hallway. Firefighters extricated the pulseless and non-breathing man, rendered immediate CPR and Advanced Life Support medical aid on scene. He was transported to a local hospital in grave condition. Due to the outstanding efforts of Firefighter/Paramedics along with seasoned hospital staff, the patients pulses were regained, however he remains in grave condition. No one else was injured.

A total of 40 Firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Kristin Crowley, fully extinguished the flames in 20 minutes, confining them to the unit of origin.

Two hardwired smoke alarms were located inside the residence, however they were non-functional. The home was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers and there were no obvious factors to impede the man's escape.

As LAFD Investigators combed through smoldering debris, firefighters canvassed the neighborhood as part of LAFD's Smoke Alarm Field Education (SAFE) Program, and distributed 30 free smoke alarms and fire safety information. Over a half dozen non-functional smoke alarms were located in the neighborhood. The LAFD thanks First Alert for graciously donating smoke alarms.

Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $100,000 ($75,000 structure & $25,000 contents). An estimated $264,000 in property damage was saved by firefighters.

LAFD Senior Arson Investigator David Liske stated the cause of the early morning blaze was from a "smoker/cigarette fire".

Did you know? Every year, almost 1,000 smokers and non-smokers are killed in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. You can make a difference!

FireSafeCigarettes.org

Dispatched Units: E46 RA246 RA846 E233 E33 T33 E21 T21 E221 SQ21 EM11 BC13 BC11 E15 RA46 RA33 AR2 AR11 AR21

UPDATE: The 60 year-old gravely injured man, sadly was pronounced dead at a local hospital August 12, 2014. This marks the seventeenth Structure Fire related fatality in LAFD's jurisdiction this year, which is a high number of fatalities in a short amount of time. Many if not all of these deaths likely could have been averted had there been functional smoke alarms present.

Last year there were a total of 20 Structure Fire related deaths.

(VIDEO)

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department