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
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