An early morning blaze in Sylmar today killed an unspecified number of chickens and damaged horse stables and other property, authorities said.
The fire originated in the horse stables and wooden chicken coops of a single-family home in the 14600 block of Bledsoe Street about 1 a.m. and spread to a nearby property, damaging a mobile home, parts of a garage and three parked vehicles, said Capt. Daniel Curry of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
About 25 firefighters extinguished the blaze in 30 minutes, said department spokesman David Ortiz.
It was not immediately clear how many chickens died in the fire, said Battalion Chief Joe Foley, but TV news reports said 300 chickens, turkeys and ducks were killed.
No other injuries to people or animals were reported.
A smoke alarm was credited Tuesday night with saving a Fresno family from injury in a fire that burned a house on the 2400 block of South Roughrider Avenue.
The Fresno Fire Department estimated the damage at $80,000. Firefighters said electrical wiring sparked and set off flames in the attic that spread to the roof.
First-Hand Account:
“E-8 was first in and my crew and I on E-7 were second in. When we arrived we had heavy charged smoke and fire blowing from the windows of the garage. We made entry to perform a primary and interior fire attack. The fire was intense from the garage and self vented through the roof soon after our intitial attack.
I ended up in the attic for the next few minutes. The firewall maintained its integrity and we finally got a good knock down. The first truck company finally opened the garage door and a fan was placed at the door. The garage was heavily packed with stored items. We spent
a good 3-4 hours there performing salvage and overhaul.”
A stove-top fire at the Head Start Program on the 1500 block of North Weber Avenue caused no injuries Tuesday to 11 workers on the job there, but caused an estimated $130,000 in damage, the Fresno Fire Department reported.
Firefighters were called at 9:54 a.m. School was not in session, but work was going on in the kitchen. Firefighters and police evacuated the building, and firefighters contained flames to the kitchen and attic.
Heat and smoke also damaged nearby rooms.
First-Hand Account:
“There was pretty good fire damage to the kitchen and real good heat damage to a good area just outside of the kitchen, the class rooms and an adjacent office. Smoke filled the building and most everything will be affected by the smoke or water damage from firefighting and a broken pipe. Fire was knocked down quickly and a heat hole was cut really fast. Salvage operations were speedy but not sure what was going to be “salvaged” due to the heat, smoke and water damage.”
City Manager Gordon Palmer said Tuesday that he is reconsidering his week-old proposal to close a firetruck company and to lay off 11 police officer trainees, negotiating with police and fire officials about alternative measures to reduce Stockton’s $23.5million deficit.
The City Council late Tuesday put off a hearing on the matter, affording Palmer time to review - and perhaps revise - his recommended package of spending cuts before the council acts on it, likely next week.
“There’s one more week to basically try to work it through,” Palmer said.
“They’re trying to find a way not to do the layoffs, and I’d just as soon not if we can avoid it,” he said.
Similarly, the Fire Department has sought to maintain Truck Co. 4. Palmer said last week that the elimination of the truck company - though not a station - could save $1.7 million.
Dave Macedo, president of Stockton Professional Firefighters Local 456, said Tuesday that he presented a proposal to Palmer and was lobbying council members for support.
“I’m expecting some kind of counterproposal back form them sometime today,” he said.
Macedo declined to detail his proposal but said, “It’s basically salary concessions and some concessions in uniform allowance.”
Firefighters anticipating a raise next year could defer that, he said, saving the city about $3.3 million.
Fire Chief Ron Hittle, who said last week that he had no alternative but to recommend the truck company’s elimination, said the union’s effort was encouraging and that the truck perhaps could be saved.
“We’re doing our best,” he said.
Mayor Ed Chavez said it is “way too early” to tell whether trainee layoffs or the truck company’s elimination could be avoided.
“We’re still working with some of the departments on coming up with alternatives, and we haven’t nailed those down,” he said. “I would say that we have to be open to all possibilities.”
In a separate budget action, the council voted Tuesday formally to adopt its voluntary buyout program, authorizing the administration to pay departing employees one week’s pay for each year of employment, up to $50,000.
More than 90 employees have applied for the buyout. Among them is Chavez’s wife, Barbara, who was hired in 1998. The mayor, who recused himself from Tuesday’s vote, said Barbara Chavez has yet to decide whether to take a buyout.
The city anticipated it could spend $3.2million on incentive pay through the buyout program but save $6.2million through June, though only $3.3million of that savings would benefit the general fund, the account in deficit, officials said. Officials expected annual savings in future budget years of as much as $12.4million.
West Coast 911 Story source - Written by Stockton Record
On Monday, October 27, 2008, at 08:37, two engine companies and one ladder truck of the Bullhead City Fire Department, along with three rescue ambulances, the Training Division Chief and the EMS Division Chief responded to a reported residential structure fire. The fire was under the command of Battalion Chief Craig Stephenson.
Before engines arrived on the scene, dispatch was relaying “neighbors state mom and two kids could be home.” The first engine on scene laid a hose from the hydrant to the engine. This fire was an defensive fire due to the large amount of fire as firefighters arrived. The engineer on the first engine activated his deck mounted nozzle and quickly dispersed 300 gallons of water on the front of the residence.
Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire with three 1 ¾ hose lines. The added room to the south had no windows to access the fire. Power tools were used to cut holes.
While still working the fire, the mom arrived home and stated all their children were in school.
The American Red Cross was called to the home to assist the family with a place to stay clothing and food. Mom, Dad and the three children now have nothing, as the home and contents were a total loss.
Two Investigators were called in to investigate the cause of the fire. Their investigation is continuing.
Story and photos submitted to West Coast 911 by:
Photos and Story by Larry Tunforss, Public Information Officer
Bullhead City Fire Department
Here is a video of two Fire Apparatus responding to a call and colliding with one another in St. Louis.
It is a stark reminder of why we must pay attention to intersection signals and communicate/coordinate with other responding vehicles.
VICTORVILLE - A two-alarm fire at a commercial warehouse at Southern California Logistics Airport sent one person to the hospital with second-degree burns to his arms and head, officials said.
More than 30 firefighters and seven engines responded to the former World of Leisure pool table manufacturing plant in the 13500 block of Phantom Street at about 10:19 a.m. Friday, according to Division Chief Sid Hultquist of the San Bernardino County Fire Department in Victorville.
It appears the fire broke out when employees of the company were dismantling an old spray booth inside the 5,000-square-foot building, according to Hultquist, but the exact cause of the fire is under investigation.
It is not certain if the burn victim was also helping in the dismantling process, officials said.
The victim was treated at the scene for burns to one arm and to his head, then transported by American Medical Response ambulance personnel to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, fire officials said.
Less than a dozen employees were inside the building when the fire broke out, officials said.
World of Leisure employees declined to comment.
The building had recently been sold, and employees from the pool table manufacturing company were moving items out of the warehouse in preparation for the new owners, Global Access, officials said.
The fire was knocked down shortly before 11 a.m., officials said.
Firefighters were able to contain most of the damage to half of the warehouse, and managed to save thousands of dollars in merchandise and office records, according to authorities.
Fire personnel from Apple Valley Fire Protection District, San Bernardino County Fire and SCLA Fire Rescue were on scene.
Story and Photos by VV Daily Press / Beatriz E. Valenzuela and JAMES QUIGG
West Coast 911 news tip from SBcoFD Firefighter J. Kern
On Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 5:16 AM, 9 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 61 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Charles Butler, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 3609 South Gramercy Place in the Jefferson Park area of Los Angeles.
Firefighters arrived quickly to discover heavy fire showing from a vacant combination one and two-story residence, with intense flames extending to adjacent homes.
Los Angeles Firefighters tackled the blaze in less than 40 minutes, but not before the fire had consumed the building of fire origin ($300,000 structure & $5,000 contents) and done $150,000 structural damage to an immediately adjacent single family home to the south at 3613 South Gramercy Place.
The massive flames also caused $10,000 in strucutral damage to a single family home to the north at 3605 South Gramercy Place, and demolished a 1998 Ford Explorer parked nearby ($5,000 loss).
Thanks to bold and timely action by LAFD responders, other homes and vehicles in the neighborhood were spared fire damage.
During fireground operations, one firefighter sustained a fractured ankle. He was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where following treatment, he was released to remain off-duty.
No other injuries were reported.
Overall loss from the fire is estimated at $470,000. The cause of the blaze remains under active investigation.
West Coast 911 News Story Source - LAFD Press Release
By Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department warmly welcome you to join civic and community leaders, including Fire Chief Douglas Barry, at the public dedication and grand opening of the LAFD’s newest Neighborhood Fire Station.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
New Fire Station 84
21050 Burbank Boulevard
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
We are pleased to offer an interactive map with driving directions, and encourage you to consider public transit when visiting this new facility, which is now in service protecting the communities of Woodland Hills and Warner Center.
Following Saturday’s dedication ceremony, there will be food and entertainment as well as a chance to tour Southern California’s newest Fire Station. All members of the community are welcomed to this family-themed public event.
Serving the southwest San Fernando Valley, new Fire Station 84 replaces a cramped and inefficient fifty-nine year old building deemed deficient in seismic safety, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, Building Code, ADA and separate gender accommodations.
Built in 1949 on Canoga Avenue just south of Ventura Boulevard, the 3,230 square-foot former fire station was truly a fire ‘house’ with an adjacent apparatus building (barn) meant to serve a then largely agricultural community surrounded by rolling hills.
The former Fire Station was designed to house no more than four male firefighters and one limited-role (now antique) fire apparatus. The addition of Firefighter/Paramedics and mixed gender crews in recent years brought the challenge of housing at least 6 men and women per shift in cramped quarters and the need to park the Paramedic Ambulance outdoors.
Because the property beneath old Fire Station 84 was too small to support a new or revamped facility, Proposition F of November 2000 now provides an efficient and appealing long-term asset for the community.
Groundbreaking for the new station on Burbank Boulevard took place on September 9, 2004. The $16.1 million facility was first opened for public service on September 18, 2007.
Situated on approximately two acres of land, new Fire Station 84 consists of a 15,250 square foot Station House, a 6,000 square foot Apparatus Storage Facility and a 2,500 square foot Multipurpose Room. The new station was expressly designed to support Department and community needs for decades to come, and is expected to serve as an operational base for the LAFD’s popular Support Service Volunteer Program.
The energy efficient seven-bay facility features an important “drive through” feature that prevents the need to block traffic on Burbank Boulevard when rehousing vehicles.
The ability of Fire Station 84 personnel to host community functions and training events in the new station’s community room will allow Neighborhood Firefighters an even closer and more productive relationship with those they proudly serve.
West Coast 911 Source - LAFD Press Release
The men and women of the LAFD look forward to seeing you and your family on Saturday, November 1, 2008. Don’t forget your camera!
By Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
On Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 1:49 AM, 4 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, the Crisis Response Team and the LAPD, under the direction of Battalion Chief Richard E. Markota, responded to a structure fire with a civilian fatality at 15043 W. Otsego St. in the Sherman Oaks area.
As Firefighters arrived on scene, they found a single family residence, approximately 1200 square foot, with heavy smoke and fire coming from the garage area. As Firefighters initiated the deployment of handlines to fight the fire, they were alerted that a wheelchair bound adult and 2 children could possibly be trapped inside the structure. A vigorous primary search was initiated to locate the unaccounted for occupants. A female, 38, was found alone inside the converted living area. She was removed from the structure and pronounced at the scene.
It took 32 Firefighters 19 minutes to call a knockdown on the fire. The dollar loss was estimated at $120,000 [$60,000 structure, $60,000 contents] and the cause is under investigation. The Crisis Response Team was called to assist the family members with their loss. On preliminary inspection of the converted garage, there was no indication of working smoke alarms or smoke detectors installed.
West Coast 911 Story source - LAFD Press Release
Written by d’Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department
On Monday, October 27, 2008, at 08:37, two engine companies and one ladder truck of the Bullhead City Fire Department, along with three rescue ambulances, the Training Division Chief and the EMS Division Chief responded to a reported residential structure fire. The fire was under the command of Battalion Chief Craig Stephenson.
