Body found after fire erupts at commercial building near pallet yard in downtown LA

A body was found in the rubble of a commercial building after a fire erupted early Sunday morning in downtown Los Angeles, officials said. Firefighters dispatched at 2:31 a.m. to 1456 S. Long Beach Ave. reported a fire through the roof of the one-story structure with its flames threatening an adjacent pallet yard, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire was knocked down just before 4 a.m. A firefighter suffered a non-life-threatening burn injury battling the blaze and was taken to a hospital in fair condition, Humphrey said. The one-story building was the site of a previous burn.

ABC7

Hours-Long Fire Suppression Effort Saves Neighboring Businesses

The Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire early Wednesday morning, where a large blaze involved a commercial building and several vehicles. One-hundred eleven LAFD Firefighters responded to the 10900 block of West Randall Street beginning at 2:31 AM on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, where a large commercial building showed flames shooting through the roof. The fire consumed multiple nearby vehicles, vegetation and debris, and threatened several buildings. Firefighters established heavy streams from the exterior of the building (defensive operations), including aerial ladder pipes. Firefighters flowed copious amounts of water to quench the intense heat fueled by a heavy load of combustibles inside the structure, labeled as a party rental warehouse.

LAFD/CBSLA

Wind-driven vegetation fire breaks out on side of 5 Fwy in Sun Valley, spreads to nearby building

Wind-driven flames that started in vegetation adjacent to the 5 Freeway in Sun Valley spread into a metal-clad building Saturday evening and escalated into a major emergency with a battle on the ground and in the air. The blaze, which was called the Penrose Fire, was first reported at 7:39 p.m. in the 11200 block of West Penrose Street. Video captured the massive flames and a plume of smoke filling the air. The strong winds pushed the flames, causing the fire to quickly spread to buildings at a nearby auto business. The danger increased when winds carried embers across the freeway, igniting vegetation on the west side and forcing the California Highway Patrol to temporarily shut down the freeway in both directions.

ABC7/LAFD

Documentary Recounts 2020's Harrowing Structure Fire on Boyd Street

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation announces the release of Boyd Street, created in partnership with the Los Angeles City Fire Department and Full Vision Productions. Boyd Street recounts the harrowing and heroic tale of the 2020 Toy District Fire, which sent eleven LAFD firefighters to the hospital—some with life-altering injuries. The documentary details not only the day of the incident, but the months of recovery and departmental self-assessment that followed, as told through the voices of those involved. It is a story all fire departments can relate to—and learn from.

LAFD

Spark of Love Toy Drive 2022

Join ABC7, the Southern California Firefighters and Toys for Tots, along with our presenting sponsor Subaru, in celebrating the 30th year of the Spark of Love Toy Drive - the largest community toy drive in the nation.

HOW TO DONATE

1.    Drop off a new, unwrapped toys or sports equipment at your local fire station. (Subject to change anytime due to public health protocol.)

2.    Text to Give: Text "SPARK" to 24365

3.    Donate online by going to supportlafd.kindful.com to make a donation via credit card.

4.    Drop off a new, unwrapped toy or sports equipment at your local Subaru Retailer.

5.    Donate by Mail: Send checks to LAFD Foundation, Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center, 1700 Stadium Way #100, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Make checks out to LAFD FOUNDATION. Write SPARK OF LOVE in the memo line.

6.    Buy a T-shirt: ABC7 has teamed up with local muralists to create exclusive Spark of Love-inspired t-shirts. ABC7 will donate 100% of its proceeds from Snow Commerce's sale of these t-shirts to support our 30th annual toy drive. Check them out at abc7.com/shop.

ABC7

15-Year-Old Boy's Body Found in Vehicle Fire That Extended into One-Story Building

The body of a 15-year-old boy was found in a vehicle fire Sunday that spread to a nearby one-story commercial building in the Vermont Square community of South Los Angeles, authorities said. "One additional person in the vehicle safely exited prior to LAFD arrival," said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters dispatched at 4:04 a.m. to 1359 W. 54th St. had the fire out within 24 minutes of their arrival, Stewart said. "After knockdown, firefighters were overhauling the fire and located a deceased person inside the vehicle," she said.

NBC4

Fire burns Tarzana apartment building, 4 people rescued

Four units in an apartment building in Tarzana caught fire Friday, but firefighters extinguished the blazes in less than 30 minutes. The fires at the building at 18540 W. Collins St. were reported at 6:26 p.m., according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. Firefighters rescued two children and two adults down a ladder raised by the firefighting unit, Stewart continued. The department dispatched 55 firefighters to the scene who extinguished the flames in about 23 minutes, Stewart said.

CBSLA

Fire Damages One-Story Commercial Building in Jefferson Park Community of LA

Fire Sunday damaged a one-story commercial building in the Jefferson Park community of Los Angeles, authorities said. Firefighters dispatched at 5:29 a.m. to 2029 W. Jefferson Blvd. had the fire out within 39 minutes of their arrival, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. “The original fire building is a total loss, while firefighters stopped an attic fire burning in the exposed commercial building on the east side,” said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department. “The exposed building is described as a one-story commercial building with three (estimated) occupancies.”

MyNewsLA

Firefighters Extinguish Flames in Fairfax Four-Plex

It took 22 firefighters 18 minutes to put out a fire on the second floor of a two-story four-plex in the Fairfax area of Los Angeles. The fire was reported at 9:37 p.m. at 439 N. Sierra Bonita Ave., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Nicholas Prange. Smoke was showing when firefighters arrived and they had to gain access to the fire before putting it out, Prange said.

MyNewsLA

LAFD Knocks Down Apartment Fire in Hyde Park

Firefighters knocked down a fire Wednesday on the second floor of an apartment building in the Hyde Park area of Los Angeles. The blaze at 5014 S. Crenshaw Blvd. was reported at 10:35 a.m., according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange. The department dispatched 24 firefighters to the scene. They knocked the flames down in about 21 minutes, Prange said.

MyNewsLA

6 injured, 1 killed in Northridge crash

At least seven people were hurt in a three-vehicle crash in Northridge Saturday night, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. One of those hurt was killed in the crash. The crash was reported around 7:45 p.m. in the 8300 block of North Corbin Avenue, near the intersection with Roscoe Boulevard. Images from SkyFOX shows the three cars — seemingly a white, four-door sedan, a red, four-door sedan and a silver four-door sedan. The silver vehicle was upside down, and the white car had its hood taken off.

Fox11

Person Killed in Granada Hills Crash

A person was killed Sunday evening in a crash in Granada Hills. The crash at 18060 Rinaldi St. was reported at 7:19 p.m., according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. One person died at the scene, Humphrey said.

MyNewsLA

Motorcyclist killed in Van Nuys crash involving car

A collision between a motorcycle and a car in Van Nuys left one person dead Tuesday. The crash occurred around 5:05 p.m. at 5828 N. Kester Ave., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. One person, believed to be the motorcyclist, was found dead under the vehicle involved in the crash, fire officials said. No other injuries were reported. The identity of the person who died was not immediately available. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

CBSLA

Four Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash in Pacoima

Four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Sunday morning in Pacoima, authorities said. Firefighters were dispatched at 7:17 a.m. to 11160 N. San Fernando Road where one person suffered critical injuries and another suffered serious injuries, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. Two other people suffered minor injuries in the crash.

KFI

Above & Beyond

LAFD launches its first ever diversity, equity and inclusion bureau

The Los Angeles Fire Department has announced its first-ever diversity, equity and inclusion bureau, in an effort to help change a department culture historically notorious for bullying firefighters based on gender and race. Its DEI bureau will consist of three members when it officially launches in January. It will be led by Deputy Chief Stephan Gutierrez, serving as Chief Equity Officer. The launch comes around the one-year mark since its first ever female fire chief, Kristin Crowley, was appointed. "By creating this new bureau, we actually have the staff to do the work when it comes to doing a deep dive in regard to how we do business, and how we take care of each other in the fire stations and in the work environment," Crowley said.

ABC7/LAFD

How a firefighter cadet saved 79-year-old Dennis Platt’s life and became family

The Platt family in the San Fernando Valley has a lot to be grateful for this holiday season, after its robust 79-year-old patriarch, Dennis Platt, was severely injured in July 2021 when a motorist ran a red light and t-boned his truck in West Hills, leaving him unresponsive after he crawled from the wreckage. Platt’s truck was struck so hard as he drove to a store to buy paint that his dog was thrown out of an open window. Had it not been for 17-year-old Los Angeles City Fire Department cadet Leo Kaufman, who found Platt laying on the curb and administered CPR, Platt would not have celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday with his family. Their guest of honor at dinner last week was the teen who they’ve “adopted” and refer to as their angel.

Pasadena Star-News

Events

2022 VALOR Awards

VALOR is the Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LAFD) annual award ceremony honoring exemplary LAFD members for outstanding service above and beyond the call of duty. Tickets to the 2022 VALOR Awards are now on sale. Join us for an exclusive dinner experience on the field of Dodger Stadium while we honor and recognize our LAFD heroes. Visit supportLAFD.org/VALOR for more information.

Photo by Gary Apodaca

Memorial Service for LAFD Firefighter Kenneth Brink

A public memorial service and celebration of life was held for Los Angeles Fire Department Firefighter Kenneth Brink at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, California on November 18, 2022. Brink, a beloved 15 year veteran of the Department assigned to Fire Station 88 in Sherman Oaks, died unexpectedly while off-duty and at home on November 9, 2022.

LAFD

ACTIVE DUTY

Firefighter III

Kenneth E. Brink

Deceased: 11/9/2022

Appointed: 9/1/2007

Assignment: FS 88

Captain I

Duane D. Reese

Deceased: 11/8/2022

Appointed: 4/30/1966

Assignment: FS 100

Retired: 1/13/2002

Engineer

Jerold D. Freeman

Deceased: 11/8/2022

Appointed: 2/4/1961

Assignment: FS 87

Retired: 1/12/1989

Engineer

Paul R. Fulton

Deceased: 11/3/2022

Appointed: 2/3/1958

Assignment: FS 3

Retired: 7/31/1988

Captain I

Neil Nottingham

Deceased: 11/2/2022

Appointed: 4/30/1966

Assignment: FS 42

Retired:1/23/1996

Fireman

Harold E. Jensen

Deceased: 10/31/2022

Appointed: 9/23/1946

Assignment: FS 72

Retired:9/1/1971

Captain II

Jerry J. Thomas

Deceased: 10/31/2022

Appointed: 2/15/1975

Assignment: FS 12

Retired:6/30/2007

Engineer

George A. Felix

Deceased: 10/27/2022

Appointed: 12/19/1955

Assignment: FS 20

Retired: 7/31/1976

Firefighter II

Alan R. Dietz

Deceased: 10/24/2022

Appointed: 6/16/1955

Assignment: FS 107

Retired: 6/16/1980

Fireman

Allan Mac Donald

Deceased: 10/23/2022

Appointed: 5/12/1962

Assignment: FS 80

Retired: 9/15/1986

Captain

Dwayne B. Smith

Deceased: 10/22/2022

Appointed: 2/9/1963

Assignment: FS 53

Retired:8/14/1989

Captain

Ronald E. Zink

Deceased: 10/22/2022

Appointed: 6/27/1959

Assignment: FS 10

Retired:12/7/1989