December 31, 2021
Here’s the latest news impacting Los Angeles Firefighters…
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UFLAC Mourns the Loss of Active-Duty Captain I William R. James.
The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department have been deeply saddened by the death of active-duty Captain I William R. James. Captain James began his LAFD career on October 23, 2000. He was assigned to Fire Station 85, "C" Platoon, in Harbor City at the time of his at-home passing on December 11, 2021. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son. The funeral mass can be viewed HERE.
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Firefighter Injured During Large Commercial Structure Fire
LAFD responded to reports of a commercial structure fire in the area of 1888 S. Main St. First responders arrived on scene and located a large vacant medical building with heavy smoke showing. Soon after, heavy flames tore through the roof. Firefighters continue to battle the out of control flames nearly 2 hours after the initial report. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. As of now, there is one minor firefighter injury. The injured firefighter can be seen in the back of an ambulance getting his vitals taken by paramedics. He was transported to a local area hospital with an ankle injury.
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Firefighters Rescue Man from Abutment Above LA River as Water Flows
Firefighters Thursday rescued a man who was stranded on an abutment above the flowing Los Angeles River in the Winnetka area. The man was located near the 6600 block of Winnetka Avenue. With coordination by LAFD Swift Water Rescue Team, firefighters raised the patient up to street level with a litter basket operation. Firefighter paramedics then evaluated the patient before he was taken to a local hospital.
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Firefighters Extinguish Blaze at Woody’s BBQ On West Florence Saturday, Cause Under Investigation
A smoky fire damaged a South Los Angeles barbecue restaurant Saturday evening. The fire was reported at 6:52 p.m. at Woody’s BBQ, 1958 W. Florence Ave., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Margaret Stewart. Video from the scene showed thick black smoke billowing from the 2,500- square-foot building when firefighters arrived. Firefighters had trouble forcing entry into the burning building, Stewart said. “Once they made entry, they were able to quickly locate the seat of the fire and 31 firefighters extinguished the fire in 18 minutes with no injuries reported.” Firefighters also prevented the flames from reaching the attic, she said.
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Firefighters Rescue Dog from Apartment Fire in Mid-Wilshire Area
Firefighters rescued a dog while knocking down a fire Saturday in one unit on the first floor of a two-story apartment building in the Mid-Wilshire community of Los Angeles, authorities said. Firefighters dispatched to 6105 W. Drexel Ave. at 10:20 a.m. had the blaze out within 18 minutes, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The condition of the dog was not immediately known.
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Fire Damages Residential Building in Winnetka Area
A fire damaged a residential building in the Winnetka area today, but no one was hurt. Firefighters sent to the 20200 block of West Cantara Street at 12:20 p.m. extinguished the flames in the three-story building in about 35 minutes, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. “Firefighters quickly and safely evacuated a mobility impaired female resident from a unit adjacent to the fire,'' Humphrey added. The structure was described by the LAFD as an apartment building or town home consisting of two occupied floors above a ground-level garage.
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LAFD Puts Out Fire Inside Auto Part/Body Shop in Arlington Heights
Firefighters knocked down a fire Sunday inside one unit in a row of commercial units in Arlington Heights. The blaze occurred inside one unit housing an auto parts/body shop at 3219 W. Washington Blvd., according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. The department dispatched 45 firefights to the scene and extinguished the flames in 23 minutes, Stewart said.
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Firefighters Knock Down Attached Garage Fire at Home in San Pedro
Firefighters Saturday knocked down an attached garage fire at a single-story home in San Pedro, authorities said. Firefighters dispatched to 829 W. Hamilton Ave. at 10:45 a.m. had the fire out within 11 minutes and were able to prevent the blaze from extending into the residence, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
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Firefighters Put Out Flames in RV That Threatened Building
Firefighters Saturday put out flames in an RV that was parked near a commercial building in Pacoima before it could damage the structure. The fire was reported at 12:48 p.m. at 13730 W. Desmond St., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Margaret Stewart. The well-involved fire exposed a row of commercial units, Stewart said. The first responding fire company was able to put out the fire in about 12 minutes, she said.
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Fire Damages Unit in Two-Story Apartment Building in Hollywood
Firefighters Saturday knocked down a fire in one unit on the first floor of a two-story apartment building in Hollywood. Firefighters dispatched at 10:16 a.m. to 1442 N. Formosa Ave. quickly quelled down the fire, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department. “Despite initial reports of someone in the unit, both the primary and secondary search found no occupants,” Stewart said. “No injuries were reported.”
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Firefighters Quell Blaze at Commercial Building That Was Also a Previous Burn
Firefighters in South Los Angeles Saturday knocked down a blaze at a vacant single-story commercial building that was also the site of a previous burn, authorities said. Firefighters dispatched at 6:42 a.m. to 254 W. Gage Ave. had the fire out within 12 minutes of their arrival, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
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Koreatown Fire Extinguished in 26 Minutes
An auto fire that extended to a one-story single-family home in Koreatown Thursday has been knocked down. Fire crews were called at 4:53 a.m. to 216 N. Mariposa Ave., where they found the 1,415-square-foot home in flames, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire in 26 minutes. It took 33 firefighters to knock the blaze down, Prange said.
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Firefighters Put Out Kitchen Fire in Montecito Heights Apartment
Firefighters put out flames Saturday in the kitchen of an apartment in the Montecito Heights area of Los Angeles. The fire was reported at 4:43 p.m. at 4201 N. Via Marisol, near Bud Wiener Park, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Margaret Stewart. Smoke and flames were showing from the second floor of the three-story apartment building, Stewart says. The firefighters had the flames out in 12 minutes and contained the flames to the kitchen, she said.
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LAFD Knocks Down Fire in Commercial Building
A fire in a vacant commercial building was knocked down by firefighters Friday near the Harvard Park area of Los Angeles. The fire inside the building at 1753 W. Florence Ave. was reported just before 9 p.m., according to spokesman Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire was on the second floor of the building, Prange said.
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LAFD Knocks Down Duplex Fire in Fairfax
Firefighters knocked down a fire inside a duplex Sunday in the Fairfax area of Los Angeles. The blaze inside one unit in the duplex at 823 N. Orange Grove Ave. was reported at 5:53 p.m., according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. The department dispatched 19 firefighters to the scene and extinguished the flames in about 21 minutes, Stewart said.
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Firefighters Put Out Garage Fire That Extended into Attic in Wilmington
Firefighters Sunday knocked down a detached garage fire in the rear of a single-story home in Wilmington, which partially extended into the structure’s attic, authorities said. Firefighters dispatched at 10:26 a.m. to 426 N. Neptune Ave. had the blaze out at 10:43 a.m., said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
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1 person killed, several others injured in multi-vehicle crash on southbound 5 Fwy in Los Angeles
One person was killed in a crash involving multiple vehicles on the southbound 5 Freeway in Los Angeles Friday morning. The crash was reported around 8 a.m. at Stadium Way near the 110 Freeway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Two big rigs and at least seven other vehicles were involved in the collision. At least six other people were injured, three of which were taken to the hospital. The condition of those injured was not immediately available. Firefighters had to physically pull at least one person who was trapped in the wreckage.
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Two Killed in Westchester Accident
Two people were killed in an auto accident in Westchester tonight. Firefighters responded to 6830 W. Manchester Ave., near the Westchester Golf Course, between Sepulveda Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue, at 9:36 p.m. where they found the vehicle the victims were in apparently struck the median, said Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters will remain at the scene and coordinate with the Los Angeles Police Department to help remove the victims from the vehicle, Prange said.
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Man In Critical Condition, Another Injured After Being Struck by SUV in Mid-City Area
Two men were injured Tuesday after being struck by an SUV in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles before the vehicle smashed into a retaining wall. The accident was reported at about 2 p.m. in the 6000 block of West Cadillac Avenue, near Ballona Creek, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Fire officials said one of the men suffered “severe lower body trauma” and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The other man suffered only minor injuries and was evaluated at the scene.
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Tracking coronavirus vaccinations in California
Experts say about 85% of Americans will need to be vaccinated to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control. This page tracks California’s progress toward that goal using data from state and federal authorities.
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California Fire Map & Tracker
An interactive map of wildfires burning across the Bay Area and California.
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Remembering Our Fallen Brothers & Sisters |
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Captain I
William R. James (Active)
Deceased: 12/11/2021
Appointed: 10/23/2000
Assignment: FS 85
Fire Inspector I
William L. Marion
Deceased: 12/11/2021
Appointed: 4/20/1963
Assignment: Tractor Company
Retired: 11/16/1979
Captain
Carl L. Long
Deceased: 12/7/2021
Appointed: 4/13/1968
Assignment: FS 26
Retired: 8/8/1995
Fireman
Jerry L. Brittenham
Deceased: 11/19/2021
Appointed: 11/2/1963
Assignment: Arson Section
Retired: 2/10/1983
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Apparatus Operator
Michael C. Surber
Deceased: 11/5/2021
Appointed: 1/6/1973
Assignment: FS 69
Retired: 2/15/2005
Firefighter II
Harold G. Lackey
Deceased: 11/12/2021
Appointed: 2/3/1958
Assignment: FS 2
Retired: 2/18/1985
Captain II
Richard A. Smith
Deceased: 11/5/2021
Appointed: 9/1/1962
Assignment: FS 26
Retired: 6/28/1995
Fire Inspector II
Thomas R. Smith
Deceased: 11/2/2021
Appointed: 6/12/1971
Assignment: FPB Construction Services
Retired: 6/16/2002
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Captain
Gary D. Peck
Deceased: 10/31/2021
Appointed: 3/10/1962
Assignment: FS 102
Retired: 10/3/1991
Fireman
Fred E. Miller
Deceased: 10/26/2021
Appointed: 11/24/1962
Assignment: FS 88
Retired: 7/1/1972
Captain
George McConnell
Deceased: 10/15/2021
Appointed: 5/19/1958
Assignment: FS 24
Retired: 4/13/1986
Fireman
Pat M. Murphy
Deceased: 10/12/2021
Appointed: 6/16/1953
Assignment: FS 85
Retired: 3/26/1983
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UFLAC’s 2020 LAFD
Year In Review
On behalf of the approximately 3,400 Firefighters of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF Local 112 (UFLAC), we are proud to present the 2020 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 book helps to tell the story of our dedicated First Responders who continued to protect lives and property in Los Angeles while risking their own safety during an extraordinary year.
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In 2020, our Firefighters and Paramedics responded to more than 444,000 emergency calls for service throughout Los Angeles - an average of 1,213 calls per day. As an all-risk fire and rescue agency serving more than four million people, the LAFD is one of the busiest fire departments in the country and we are ready to answer any call that may come our way. 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.
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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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