Presence of Smoke Alarms Questioned in Fatal West Adams Blaze
Posted by admin | Posted in Fire News | Posted on 12-05-2010
Tags: Adams, Alarms, Blaze, Fatal, Presence, Questioned, Smoke, West
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On Monday, March 22, 2010 at 12:17 AM, 7 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 4 Arson Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 56 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Ralph Ramirez, responded to a Civilian Fatality Structure Fire at 2610 South Ridgeley Drive in the West Adams area of Los Angeles.
Firefighters arrived quickly to discover smoke from the top floor of a 50′ x 25′ second-story single family residence above a parking area secured in an improvised manner with multiple sheets of plywood.
During initial fire attack, firefighters discovered the lifeless body of a 77 year-old male in a small ground floor annex to the rear of the home. Without vital signs of life and beyond medical help, he was declared deceased at the scene.
A swift and well coordinated assault by firefighters confined the blaze to the second floor and attic on the north side of the home. The fire was extinguished in just 32 minutes, and no other injuries were reported.
The presence of smoke alarm(s), their functional status and role at the time of the fire could not be immediately determined.
There were no obvious non-fire factors impeding the victim’s egress. The home’s security doors – including one near where the man was found, were equipped with legally compliant single cylinder deadbolt locks that required no key, tool or special skill to exit.
The home was not equipped with residential fire sprinklers.
A positive identification of the deceased man, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of his death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $200,000 ($150,000 structure & $50,000 contents).
The cause of this midnight blaze remains under active investigation by Los Angeles Police and Fire Department Investigators.
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
Fatal West Virginia Fire – Helmet Camera
Posted by admin | Posted in Advice & Tips | Posted on 12-05-2010
Tags: Camera, Fatal, Fire, Helmet, Virginia, West
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Eric Derham Submitted Text and Video
Website: www.pfc22.com
Description: quad runs a Fatal working house fire on Keys St in Keyser, WV. Engine 221 transfers to fill Company 33 Station 1. On 5/6/2010 in the early morning hours, Squad 22 was dispatched for mutual aid to Mineral County WV for a working house fire on Keys St. Squad 22 responded with 4 Volunteers and A/C Derham. Early reports of one subject trapped inside the residence. The first arriving engine company from 33 pulled an attack line to make entry into the house. Chief 33 (Paitsel) had the Keys St Command. One subject was pulled from inside the residence and EMS crews began CPR on the victim. Squad 22 arrived on the scene and was given the assignment to check the basement area and to control utilities. The squad crew check the basement area but found no fire or extension. The utilities were also shut off to the residence. The crew then reported to the first floor and assisted with fire attack and overhaul operations. Squad 22 remained on the scene for
approximately 3 hours. Units on the scene were: Engine 33, Truck 33, Squad 33, Utility 33, Engine Rescue 23, Engine Tanker 38, Engine Rescue 39, Squad 22, Truck 24, EMS 57, Chief 36 (Bever) and Keyser PD.
Location: Keyser, WV Mineral County Keys Street
