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February 10, 2023

Here’s the latest news impacting Los Angeles Firefighters…


Feature

Mar Vista fire: 2 adults, cat found dead in house

Two people and a cat were found dead in a house after a fire in Mar Vista early Wednesday morning. Los Angeles firefighters responded to a 1,096-square-foot residence on the 3500 block of South May Street at 2:22 a.m. that was fully engulfed in flames, a department spokesman said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in 22 minutes, and during a search of the property afterward, they found a man, woman and cat, all deceased. Officials said the man and woman were between 60 and 70 years old. The fire may have started in the kitchen, according to the L.A. Fire Dept., then burned into the living room.

CBSLA/LAFD


Firefighters find dead man inside burned RV in San Fernando yard

One man was found dead following an RV fire in the back yard of a San Fernando house Monday morning. Los Angeles firefighters responded to a report of an RV fire next to a converted garage on the 600 block of Hagar Street at 5 a.m. Monday. Firefighters found a recreational vehicle in flames parked in the back yard of a house. A nearby converted garage was threatened by the flames, according to the Los Angeles Fire Dept. Three people escaped from the garage unharmed. Firefighters extinguished the flames and discovered the remains of an adult male in the RV. No other injuries were reported.

CBS


Person in custody after massive Westlake apartment complex fire

One person was taken into custody Thursday evening in connection with a massive structure fire inside a two-story apartment building in Westlake. Calls about the fire came in around 5:15 p.m. at a building located on the 2800 block of 7th Street, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Fire Department. Prior to the fire breaking out inside the complex, an LAFD engine was already on scene to support an LAPD operation. The call was upgraded to a structure fire response after one of the firefighters saw smoke coming from a window. Heavy flames were showing in both the second floor and attic, and additional resources were requested. In total, more than 100 firefighters responded to the scene, the Fire Department said.

KTLA5/LAFD


Homes evacuated, sinkhole forms after water main bursts in Hollywood

A water-main break spouting a massive geyser of water damaged a bungalow and a fire truck Thursday night. Crews were sent to the 6000 block of W. Fountain Avenue at around 9:30 p.m. Thursday after receiving reports of flooding. When they arrived, they found a geyser of water shooting 70 feet into the air, according to Los Angeles Fire Department. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews were on scene and had reportedly shut down the water an hour later, but flooded streets remained. Water service was restored Friday. Several homes in the area were evacuated as a precaution as a large sinkhole began to open in the area.

CBSLA/LAFD


UFLAC Fire Foundation Scholarships Awarded

The UFLAC Fire Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to support Firefighters and their families, is proud to announce another round of scholarship award winners. This scholarship grant is available to any active Firefighter and their immediate family to assist in their educational and career pursuits. This pool of applicants was the most that we have ever received and in response to the large turnout, the Foundation voted to increase the number of scholarship recipients this cycle by adding five grants.

 

UFLAC Fire Foundation scholarship and grants were awarded to the following individuals:

Brandon S. Smith

Dean E. Hirsch

Kayla J. Ferreras

Sarah G. Kemp

Roy W. Egizi

Katlyn P. Hamm

Jordan T. Handy

Ashlyn D. Quinn

Luke K. Vargas

Emily S. Arellano

Tyler L. Serrano

Isabella N. Fortini

Leanne E. Grant

Presley E. Jones

Matt Pritchard

 

We're proud to support our Firefighters and their loved ones in pursuing their academic and professional goals. Congratulations to all of our winners! Pictured is Kayla Ferreras and her family. Kayla is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

UFLAC Fire Foundation


Fire Watch

Fire Destroys 7-Eleven, Laundromat at Hollywood Strip Mall

A 7-Eleven and laundromat were destroyed early Thursday in a fire at a Hollywood strip mall. The fire in the 1800 block of North Cahuenga Boulevard, just south of Franklin Avenue, was reported at about 2 a.m. The fire burned for almost 90 minutes before flames were extinguished. No injuries were reported. A 7-Eleven employee was inside the store when a customer said the laundromat next door was on fire. He said he told customers to leave the store as flames got closer. Details about how the fire started were not immediately available.

NBC4


Firefighters knock down greater alarm fire at Chase Bank in Van Nuys

Firefighters early Saturday knocked down a greater-alarm fire at a single-story bank in Van Nuys, authorities said. Firefighters dispatched at 6:25 a.m. to Chase Bank, 6400 Sepulveda Blvd., had the blaze out within 41 minutes of their arrival, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. “The business, Chase Bank, was not yet open for the day and no one was present,” said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department. “LAPD are responding to the scene to secure the building.” The blaze began as an outside fire that extended into at least one room of the single-story structure. The fire extended into the attic and additional resources were requested, raising the incident to greater alarm status.

LA Daily News


Fire at Hyde Park Bungalow Extinguished

Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire at a one-story bungalow in the Hyde Park neighborhood Wednesday evening. The fire was reported at 10:40 p.m. and firefighters responded to 3556 W. Slauson Ave., west of Crenshaw Boulevard, with flames showing from the bungalow, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange. It took 16 firefighters nine minutes to put out the fire.

MyNewsLA


Fire in Palms Burns Vehicle, Damages Interior of Building

A fire that appeared to have started in a dumpster and damaged a vehicle was contained and extinguished Thursday evening at a two-story apartment building in Palms. Firefighters were called at 10:12 p.m. to 3765 S. Vinton Ave., north of Venice Boulevard, where they were able to determine that the fire started or near a first-floor carport in a dumpster and moved to the vehicle, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange. Although some smoke did affect the upper floor, firefighters were able to contain the flames before they made it inside any of the units, Prange said.

MyNewsLA


First Responder News

Lake Balboa crash: Female Honda driver killed; male Corvette driver dies, passenger severely injured

A speeding Corvette ran a red light and crashed into a Honda Accord in Lake Balboa early Wednesday morning, killing the Honda driver. The Corvette driver later died in the hospital. A passenger was severely injured. Two vehicles collided at 6400 N. Balboa Blvd. at Victory Blvd. at about 3:46 a.m., according to the L.A. Fire Dept. A Chevrolet Corvette was traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Balboa when it collided with the Honda Accord traveling eastbound on Victory, according to LAPD Lt. Matthew Bielski. The Corvette drove through a red light, police believe. The female Honda driver, its sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene.

CBSLA


Driver killed in 2-car crash at Winnetka intersection; 1 vehicle ends up in front yard of home

A man was killed in a violent two-car crash Thursday morning at an intersection in Winnetka, officials said. The collision occurred shortly after 6 a.m. at Winnetka Avenue and Nordhoff Street, where one of the vehicles ended up in the front yard of a nearby home. One of the drivers, a man believed to be in his 20s, was gravely injured and initially trapped inside his sedan, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters used power tools "to disentangle him from the badly damaged vehicle," but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity was not immediately released.

ABC7


Man's Dead Body Found in Car with Leaking Propane Bottles in Venice

A dead body of a man who had apparently died of accidental asphyxiation from leaking propane bottles was found inside a car in Venice late Wednesday night, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said. The man, who LAFD believed to be an unhoused man approximately in his 70s, was reported unresponsive at 8:42 p.m. at 601 E. Venice Blvd. LAFD officials said small camping-style propane bottles connected to a heat lamp were found in the vehicle. "While the exact circumstances are unknown, it appears to have been an unhoused man who was trying to stay warm in an enclosed space and, sadly, succumbed to accidental asphyxiation," said LAFD spokesperson Nicholas Prange.

Venice-Mar Vista Patch


3 people hurt, 2 critically, in Reseda vehicle crash

Three people were injured, two critically in a Reseda crash Sunday. The crash happened at 6800 N. Lindley Ave., at the corner of Vanowen Street, around 6:10 p.m., said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. Two people became trapped in the vehicle and required extrication, Humphrey said. Those two were hospitalized in critical condition. The third person suffered minor injuries, he said.

CBS


Driver Rescued After Falling 100 Feet Down Cliff in Beverly Crest

The Los Angeles Fire Department rescued a woman after her vehicle fell 100 feet down into an embankment Saturday afternoon. A 35-year-old woman was found outside of the vehicle. No other passengers were in the vehicle and no one else was trapped inside. The woman is said to be in "at least serious condition." The rescue operation was reported at the 8000 block of Mulholland Drive.

NBC4


Man, Woman Seriously Hurt in Sunland Crash

Two people sustained serious injuries in a two-car crash in Sunland Thursday morning. Rescue crews pulled a 45-year-old man and 75-year-old woman from their cars following the wreck on the 8600 block of West Foothill Boulevard, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. The man was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, while the woman was in serious condition. NBC4’s NewsChopper4 helicopter showed the aftermath of the wreck, which happened just before 10 a.m. Two sedans could be seen with major front-end damage, both near a bus.

NBC4


Worker rescued after falling 20 feet in Woodland Hills

A construction worker was injured after falling approximately 20 feet into a concrete hole in Woodland Hills Monday morning, authorities said. The accident happened just before 8 a.m. at the Kaiser Permanente campus at 5601 N. De Soto Ave. Sky5 video showed firefighters using an aerial ladder truck to hoist the victim out of the hole and then transfer him into an ambulance. His injuries are not life-threatening, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

KTLA5


USC science building is reopened after explosion injures one person

An explosion at a science building at USC injured one person Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The explosion was reported at 4 p.m. at the three-story building at 923 Bloom Walk, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said. The USC Department of Public Safety said a gas leak had occurred at the Neely Petroleum Building. The building was evacuated, and one person — who left the building on their own — was injured, according to fire officials. The person was taken to a hospital with unknown injuries.

LA Times


Arleta street reopens after closure due to ‘sudden soil erosion’

A quarter-mile stretch of Branford Street in Arleta was temporarily closed due to “sudden soil erosion and pavement disruption below the roadway,” the Los Angeles Fire Department said. The closure included all lanes in both directions of West Branford Street between between Arleta Avenue and Beachy Avenue, the LAFD said in an alert. The closure was declared at about 5:15 p.m. Monday after workers at an excavation project near the Pacoima Diversion flood control channel reported the erosion, but as of Tuesday morning, the street had reopened.

KTLA5


1 person in critical condition after accident involving Metro Gold Line in Highland Park

One person was taken to the hospital in critical condition after an accident involving the Metro Gold Line Sunday in Highland Park, authorities said. Crews with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the incident, at 202 North Avenue 59, at around 4:50 p.m. “There was no extrication required, the patient was clear of the train,” LAFD said in a news release. The circumstances leading up to the accident are currently unknown.

KTLA5


National News

Firefighters’ union mounts legal push against ‘forever chemicals’: ‘It stops now’

The International Association of Fire Fighters called on Monday for the elimination of protective gear that contains “forever chemicals,” saying swift regulatory action is needed to address the toxic substances. The union — which has more than 333,000 members — announced that it has retained the services of three nationally recognized law firms to pursue these goals, and to help members and their families seek compensation for related illnesses. The toxins in question — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — are known for their presence in both jet fuel firefighting foam and the gear worn by firefighters and rescue workers. They are also common in a variety of household items, such as nonstick pans, cosmetics and waterproof apparel. These cancer-linked compounds are notorious for their ability to linger in the human body and the environment.

Fox4


In Remembrance
Remembering Our Fallen Brothers & Sisters

Engineer

Myron "Mick" H. Davis

Deceased: 2/3/2023

Appointed: 7/22/1973

Assignment: FS 36

Retired: 7/26/2008


Captain I

Robert L. Kilpatrick Sr.

Deceased: 1/20/2023

Appointed: 4/27/1975

Assignment: OCD

Retired: 6/28/2008


Engineer

Ted F. Norton

Deceased: 1/17/2023

Appointed: 11/2/1963

Assignment: FS 42

Retired: 4/19/1992


Fire Inspector II

George W. Overturf

Deceased: 1/15/2023

Appointed: 9/1/1962

Assignment: Fire Prevention Unit

Retired: 8/15/2004


Captain

Alfred E. Fisher

Deceased: 1/9/2023

Appointed: 9/23/1957

Assignment: FS 60

Retired: 6/28/1980


Firefighter II

Harry R. Hopewell Jr.

Deceased: 1/9/2023

Appointed: 1/16/1965

Assignment: Operations Control Dispatch

Retired: 8/1/1977


Engineer

Allen R. Waloch

Deceased: 1/1/2023

Appointed: 11/24/1962

Assignment: FS 27

Retired: 3/21/1993


Engineer

Gary D. Knapp

Deceased: 12/24/2022

Appointed: 4/20/1963

Assignment: FS 80

Retired: 10/23/1988


Firefighter III

James Dougherty

Deceased: 12/16/2022

Appointed: 5/15/1977

Assignment: FS 114

Retired: 5/31/2016


Captain II

Francis D. Howard

Deceased: 12/12/2022

Appointed: 2/9/1963

Assignment: FS 35

Retired: 7/20/1997


Engineer

Eugene G. Tanner

Deceased: 12/11/2022

Appointed: 4/1/1973

Assignment: FS 40

Retired: 3/31/2011


Captain II

Bruce A. Froude

Deceased: 12/7/2022

Appointed:12/19/1955

Assignment: FS 48

Retired: 5/30/1993


UFLAC’s 2021 LAFD Year In Review
UFLAC is proud to present the 2021 Los Angeles Fire Department Year in Review. UFLAC’s mission is to lead the way to protect and advocate for the health, safety, working conditions, wages and benefits of our members and their families. This publication tells the story of our dedicated First Responders who continued to protect lives and property in Los Angeles while risking their own safety during another extraordinary year.
In 2021, our Firefighters and Paramedics responded to more than 475,000 emergency calls for service throughout Los Angeles - an average of 1,300 calls per day. As an all-risk fire and rescue agency serving more than four million people, the LAFD is one of the busiest and most understaffed big city fire departments in the entire country. UFLAC is honored to help showcase the dedication and commitment demonstrated by the men and women of the LAFD. Click HERE to view the publication.
About UFLAC: Since 1918, UFLAC has been the labor organization of the proud men and women that serve as firefighters and emergency medical responders protecting the City of Los Angeles. The members of the Los Angeles Fire Department rely on UFLAC to focus on the wellbeing and safety of those that protect the lives of others. For more information, visit www.uflac.org.
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