Historic South LA church goes up in flames

Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters knocked down a fire Friday at the Crouch Memorial Church of God and Christ east of Exposition Park in South Los Angeles. Fire crews responded at 2:40 a.m. to 1001 E. 27th St. near Central Avenue, where they found the church fully engulfed in flames. The crews used hose lines outside the building to douse the flames while they contended with partial collapses during the fire fight, said LAFD spokesman Nicholas Prange. It took 66 firefighters 38 minutes to extinguish the intense flames.

Fox11

Fiery pursuit crash destroys family's South LA home

A South Los Angeles family was left heartbroken after a fire that began with a pursuit crash quickly spread to their apartment and destroyed everything inside. The pursuit driver crashed into the apartment early Saturday. Kevin Tinoco, his father, two sisters, brother-in-law, niece and nephew were inside the home when they heard the jarring sound of a car colliding with the building. "All of a sudden, you hear a big thud, kind of like a missile just hit something, like 'boom,'" Tinoco said. Security camera video from a nearby business captured the car crashing into the living room of the first-floor apartment. People inside the home ran outside and saw the driver and passengers still in the car.

NBC4

2 dogs killed, another rescued after fire erupts at Canoga Park home

Two dogs were killed and another was rescued after a fire erupted Saturday morning at a "densely packed" home in Canoga Park, authorities said. Firefighters dispatched at 7:17 a.m. to 21724 W. Napa St., just east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, had the stubborn blaze out within 30 minutes of their arrival, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. Firefighters began an "exhaustive search" of the 1,320-square-feet, single-story home and discovered one of three missing dogs alive, the LAFD's Brian Humphrey said. Firefighters provided supportive care to the dog. The other two dogs were found dead in the smoke-filled structure.

ABC7

Sherman Joined by LA Fire Chief at Fire Station Funding Event – Presents $3 Million in Federal Funds for Fire Station Improvements

Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) was joined by Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Kristin M. Crowley at Los Angeles Fire Station 88 in Sherman Oaks where the Congressman presented a check for $3 million in federal funds that he secured to help improve local fire stations and increase public safety. “Our brave firefighters courageously and selflessly put their lives on the line in service to our community,” said Congressman Sherman. “That’s why I’m proud to have secured these federal funds that will help ensure that our heroes are equipped with the adequate facilities they need and deserve to be able to continue doing their jobs as effectively and safely as possible.” “I'm smiling because the first word now that comes to my mind and my heart is you're a champion,” said Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), Kristin M. Crowleyto Congressman Sherman. “You're a champion for the LAFD, you’re a champion for first responders because you identified a need and you had the whereabouts to actually listen…we are so incredibly grateful for your work, your support, your dedication to your congressional district, but on top of that, your incredible support for our first responders.” “This money is going to go a long way,” said International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General Secretary-Treasurer and active firefighter, Frank Líma. “When you look at this Congressman standing behind us…everything in our fire service that we need, he supports going back to the 9/11 victim compensation fund, to basic collective bargaining rights, to safer staffing of adequate fire and emergency resources…there's no bigger champion for us in the fire service than Congressman Brad Sherman.” To watch the event, click HERE.

Sherman.House.gov

2023 LAFD Year In Review by United Firefighters of Los Angeles City

UFLAC is proud to present the 11th Annual Los Angeles Fire Department Year in Review. Our 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 publication tells the story of our Firefighters and Paramedics in images taken throughout 2023 when LAFD Crews responded to a record number of more than 509,000 emergency calls for service. As an all-risk fire and rescue agency that serves more than four million people, the LAFD is one of the busiest and most understaffed urban fire departments in the entire country, averaging more than 1,350 calls per day. We are honored to help showcase the dedication and commitment demonstrated by the men and women of the LAFD.

UFLAC

Photo by Brandon Taylor

Mobile Home Fire in Chatsworth Injures One

A person was injured during a fire Saturday at a mobile home in Chatsworth, authorities said. Firefighters dispatched at 2:54 a.m. to 20652 W. Lassen St. had the fire out within 19 minutes of their arrival, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. Paramedics rushed one person to a hospital. That person’s condition was not immediately known. The cause of the fire and damage estimates were under investigation.

MyNewsLA

Photo by Mike Meadows

Two Women Suffer Minor Smoke Inhalation in Valley Village House Fire

Two women suffered minor smoke inhalation during an attic fire Monday at a single-story home in Valley Village, authorities said. Firefighters dispatched at 8:59 a.m. to 11729 W. Hartsook St. had the blaze out within 19 minutes of their arrival, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. Two women at the home inhaled smoke and were transported to a hospital by paramedics.

MyNewsLA

Firefighters extinguish fire at abandoned, 2-story hotel in Hollywood

Firefighters Sunday knocked down a structure fire that damaged an abandoned two-story hotel in Hollywood. The fire erupted at around 3:15 a.m. in the 1500 block of Schrader Boulevard, prompting dozens of firefighters to respond, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Fire Department. They say that it took 127 firefighters just over an hour and a half to fully extinguish the heavy fire that was in the basement, ground floor, and attic of the structure. It was fully-contained just after 4:50 a.m.

CBSLA/LAFD

Structure Fire in Mid-Wilshire Area Knocked Down

An attic fire at a vacant and boarded-up strip mall in the Mid-Wilshire area was knocked down Wednesday with no reported injuries. Firefighters were sent to the 5500 block of West San Vicente Boulevard around 1:25 p.m. Wednesday regarding an attic fire in the one-story mall with light visible smoke, according to spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

MyNewsLA/LAFD

Cars intentionally torched by arsonist in Southern California neighborhood

An arson investigation is underway after several cars were torched in Los Angeles’ Chinatown neighborhood overnight, police confirmed to KTLA. Neighborhood residents who live between North Bunker Hill Avenue and Bartlett Street awoke at around 4:30 a.m. Sunday to flames engulfing several of their cars parked at the curb. “I get outside and it’s like the world is on fire,” Daniel Finnerty told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff. “The apocalypse is happening in my front yard.” Residents who spoke with KTLA said it’s not uncommon to come across scenes like this, random and destructive fires, but this time someone was targeting people’s cars. 

KTLA5

No Injuries Reported as Firefighters Extinguish Blaze in Boyle Heights RV Cluster

In the early hours of the morning in Boyle Heights, a fire tore through a cluster of RVs, causing significant damage but fortunately no injuries. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the blaze was reported at 03:35 AM at 608 N Mission Road. Fire crews worked diligently, with 20 firefighters battling the flames for nearly an hour before declaring the fire extinguished. Authorities have confirmed that at least eight RVs were affected by the fire. The incident required a coordinated response from several firefighting units, including FS 2, Batt 1 and others from the Central Bureau. Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that "it took 20 firefighters 47 minutes to extinguish the flames, which damaged or destroyed at least eight RVs." The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and as of now, there have been no reported injuries related to this incident.

Hoodline

36 Firefighters Knock Down South Los Angeles House Fire in 19 Minutes

A fire at a one-story house in South Los Angeles was extinguished in 19 minutes Wednesday evening.

Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters responded at approximately 10:25 p.m. to 8764 S. Hobart Blvd. east of Western Avenue ,where they found the home engulfed on flames. After several failed attempts to enter the house, they gained entry through the roof and began to knock down the flames, said LAFD spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz. It took 36 firefighters to extinguish the fire. Crews will remain at the scene overnight for overhaul work.

MSN

Vacant Hollywood Home Damaged in Fire

Firefighters went from the offensive to a defensive battle Sunday morning while working to put out heavy flames that were showing from a vacant Hollywood home. The fire was reported at 1:03 a.m. at 1816 N. Wilton Place, according to the Los Angeles fire Department’s Nicholas Prange. Heavy flames were showing from the two-story craftsman-style house when firefighters arrived and took up offensive positions in and on the house, Prange said. “For a portion of the fire, firefighters retreated into the defensive mode and fought the fire from the exterior only, transitioning again inside the structure to finish extinguishing the flames in hard-to-reach areas,” Prange said. It took the 70 firefighters 49 minutes to put out the flames, he said.

MyNewsLA

SUV explodes in Los Angeles parking lot after man lights cigarette

A Toyota SUV exploded in a Los Angeles shopping plaza parking lot late Thursday night. SkyFOX was over the scene near the intersection of Van Nuys Boulevard and Sherman Way in the Van Nuys neighborhood where a white Toyota 4Runner was completely destroyed. According to LAPD, they were called to assist the fire department with crowd control. They were then advised of the explosion. Officials say a man, who was living in the car, lit a cigarette and had a propane tank inside the vehicle. The combination caused the explosion. The man suffered minor injuries and is expected to survive.

Fox11

Los Angeles Firefighters Subdue Stubborn Sawtelle Blazing Attic in 31 Minutes

Blaze busters in the Sawtelle neighborhood were up against a fiery foe yesterday afternoon when a one-story commercial building went up in smoke. According to a brief by the Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire at 2301 S Federal Avenue started around 3:01 PM and had firefighters switching to offensive mode to tackle the light smoke that was emanating from the building. They had to quickly and efficiently to quash the flames that had taken a stronghold in the attic of the large industrial structure. The official LAFD statement indicated smoke showing from a one-story commercial building as crews arrived on the scene. It was a tough battle for the responders that required full engagement. It was 31 tense minutes for the Los Angeles Fire Department as they worked their way through the blaze.

Hoodline

Rapid LAFD Response Extinguishes Atwater Village House Fire in 26 Minutes, No Injuries Reported

Early this morning, Atwater Village was awakened by the roar of a structure fire that consumed a one-story home on Boyce Avenue; however, thanks to the rapid response of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the blaze was successfully extinguished without any reported injuries. LAFD reports indicated that it took 30 firefighters a swift 26 minutes, beginning at 6:02 AM, to douse the flames that had fully engulfed the residence upon their arrival.

Hoodline

Firefighters Extinguish Overnight Blaze at Abandoned East Los Angeles Home, No Injuries Reported

Early this morning, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) firefighters tackled a fierce blaze that engulfed a deserted home in East Los Angeles. The fire, which was first reported at 2:05 AM at 3214 Whiteside St, drew a substantial emergency response with the first 32 LAF team members working rapidly to quell the flames that were tearing through the one-story structure, as per details from the LAFD alert. The firefighters, upon arrival, were met with heavy fire visible from the boarded-up building and promptly shifted to defensive firefighting operations, remaining exterior to avoid the dangers lurking in the unstable interior, the department required 24 minutes to respond, confine, and finally extinguish the fire by 2:29 am no injuries were reported, and the cause of this incident is still under investigation by authorities.

Hoodline

Flames Damage Garage and ADU of Vermont Square Home

Flames damaged a second-story residence and the garage below at a property in the Vermont Square area of Los Angeles Saturday. The fire was reported at 9:20 p.m. Saturday at 4712 S. Budlong Ave., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Brian Humphrey. It took 36 firefighters 21 minutes to put out the flames that started outside the garage and extended into the attic of the accessory dwelling unit, Humphrey said.

MyNewsLA

LA Firefighters Extinguish Canoga Park House Fire Sparked by Outdoor Trash Blaze

Flames erupted in a Canoga Park neighborhood yesterday when an outdoor trash blaze leaped to a nearby home. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the incident, which was indexed as INC#1049, began around 2:11 PM at 7708 N Eton Avenue. Firefighters went on the offensive to tackle the fire which had extended into a one-story single-family dwelling. The LAFD alert reported that the blaze started as a rubbish fire before threatening the structure. Fire Station 72, along with other Valley Bureau units, were dispatched to the scene in Council District 3. Battalion Chief Jennifer Middleton noted that there was a swift response from the fire crews to contain the spread.

Hoodline

2 dead following fiery single-car crash in Wilmington

Two people are dead after the car they were in crashed and erupted in flames in Wilmington. The crash happened around 2 a.m. at the intersection of Alameda Street and Pacific Coast Highway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a single vehicle engulfed in flames. The fire was quickly extinguished but two bodies were found inside the car.

ABC7

Young mother fatally pinned against building by speeding Los Angeles driver

A 33-year-old woman is dead after the driver of an SUV jumped the curb during an unsafe turn and crashed into a building, pinning the victim against the structure in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Vermont Square on Tuesday. Calls about the fatal collision at 1354 W. 46th St. came in just after 4:30 p.m., according to officials with the Los Angeles Fire Department. “I’ve seen many of these,” Los Angeles Police Detective Gerald Chavarria said. “I believe she was instantly killed. Police say the victim, Lisbeth Estrada Rodriguez, a young mother and business owner from the neighborhood was walking home when she was struck by 31-year-old Dwight Williams who made an unsafe turn at a high rate of speed before slamming into the innocent woman.

KTLA5

Wrong-way driver crashes into cars and big rig on 405 Freeway in chaotic chase

A wrong-way driver in a van crashed into a big rig and two other vehicles on the 405 Freeway in West Los Angeles at the end of a police pursuit that began early Friday morning in Venice. The pursuit started after officers responded to a call about a woman causing a disturbance in a Venice neighborhood. After officers responded, the woman backed a white van into patrol cars, leaving two officers hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. A resident told NBCLA the woman, whom the resident described as homeless, was screaming throughout the night outside an apartment complex and harassing neighbors.

NBC4

Pedestrian struck, killed by Amtrak train in North Hollywood

A person was struck and killed Saturday morning by a southbound Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Train in North Hollywood, authorities said. Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched at 9:44 a.m. to 6900 Vineland Ave., just north of Vanowen Street, where the victim was pronounced dead at the scene, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. The deceased person was not immediately identified. None of the approximately 150 people aboard the intercity passenger train were injured, according to the Fire Department.

ABC7

Human Remains Unearthed by Hiker in Los Angeles' Tujunga Wash, Cause of Death Under Investigation

A hiker in the Shadow Hills area of Los Angeles stumbled upon a human corpse lodged in the bed of the Tujunga Wash flood control channel. The body was discovered early Thursday morning at around 8:30 A.M. in a remote slice of the San Fernando Valley, notorious for its dry washes and sudden floods. The Los Angeles Fire Department was on the scene to assist in recovering the remains, with no immediate details on the cause of death or whether the police suspected foul play. The hiker, who has not been identified, reported the find to authorities, but as of yet, there is no identifying information regarding the victim, including gender and age, KTLA reports. Further complicating matters, the body was found in conditions that obscured its characteristics, making immediate identification a challenge.

Hoodline

8 injured, including 4 children in Sylmar multi-car crash

Eight people, including four children, were injured in a multi-vehicle collision at a three-way intersection in Sylmar Thursday that left one of the vehicles overturned. According to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey, the crash occurred shortly before 3 p.m. in the 14900 block of West Hubbard Street. At least four vehicles were involved in the crash. "Though seatbelts were used, some of the children were improperly restrained," Humphrey said in a statement, adding that there were no child car seats being used, and least two of the children were sharing one seatbelt. “Thankfully, none of the passengers were ejected from the vehicle(s)," Humphrey said. Two adults were taken to hospitals in serious condition. Four children between the ages of 6 and 12 were hospitalized with minor injuries, he said.

CBSLA

7 Evaluated, 2 Hospitalized after Multiple Vehicle Collision in South-central Los Angeles

A multiple-vehicle collision snarled traffic in Historic South-Central Los Angeles on the evening of May 28th, leaving seven people requiring medical evaluation and two rushed to the hospital. The crash involved four vehicles and occurred at 491 E 42nd Place, as confirmed by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). The firefighters arrived at the scene at around 7:29 p.m. and managed the situation without the need to extricate any of the individuals involved.

Hoodline

Severe Vehicle Collision in Van Nuys Ends in Traffic Gridlock and Urgent Rescue Effort

Chaos erupted on the streets of Van Nuys yesterday as a severe traffic collision left motorists gridlocked and one person fighting for their life. At approximately 5:14 PM, two vehicles collided at 6230 N Sepulveda Boulevard, trapping an individual inside the wreckage. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the incident, which snarled traffic for hours and prompted an advisory for drivers to seek alternative routes. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department alert, the impact of the crash required emergency personnel to work diligently to extricate the trapped victim. "Two vehicle collision with one person trapped," the LAFD statement read. Both northbound and southbound lanes of Sepulveda Boulevard between Victory Boulevard and Erwin Street were shut down during the rescue and investigation, leading to a congestion nightmare for a motorists caught unawares.

Hoodline

Six Injured in Pacific Palisades Rollover Accident on Sunset Boulevard

A rollover car accident on Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades yesterday has left six people requiring medical attention. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded to the incident at approximately 5:49 PM near 17010 W Sunset Bl, as confirmed by the department's alert. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find a vehicle that had overturned, though fortunately, there were no individuals trapped within the wreckage.

Hoodline

Los Angeles Firefighters Perform Technical Rescue of Two Victims Trapped Underground on Bonsall Avenue

The Los Angeles firefighters extracted two individuals trapped below street level. According to a Los Angeles Fire Department statement, the incident occurred on May 16th at 1150 S Bonsall Avenue, where first responders found one victim with leg injuries. The initial report came through at approximately 1:16 P.M., detailing the grisly scene where a person was trapped below grade. The rescue operation quickly escalated when firefighters, maneuvering through the precariously tight space, stumbled upon another victim. The LAFD updated their initial report by 02:00 P.M. to confirm the extraction of both patients. They were subsequently rushed to an area hospital, though their conditions remain unknown at this time.

Hoodline

Los Angeles Postal Worker Rescued by LAFD after Being Trapped in Conveyor Belts at Central Avenue Facility

In a harrowing ordeal that unfolded in Florence yesterday evening, a postal employee was entrapped between two conveyor belts at the 7001 S Central Avenue facility, prompting a rapid response from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). The emergency call came in at 8:58 PM, as described in the report provided by the LAFD. The technical rescue, incident number 1682, required the expertise of the department's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team who worked diligently to free the trapped worker.

Hoodline

Injured Hiker Rescued from Topanga State Park in Pacific Palisades

A 28-year-old woman with an apparent ankle fracture was rescued Saturday from a remote part of the Temescal Ridge Trail of Topanga State Park in the Pacific Palisades. The rescue effort began at about noon, with Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters responding on the ground and in the air, the LAFD’s Brian Humphrey said. “An LAFD rescue helicopter has lowered a flight paramedic to medically assess and stabilize the patient, who will soon be hoisted along with the LAFD flight paramedic into the hovering helicopter for continuing in-flight care during direct air transport to an area hospital,” Humphrey said.

MyNewsLA

LAFD Helicopter Dramatically Rescues Injured Hiker in Griffith Park

An early afternoon hike took a painful turn for a 23-year-old man in Griffith Park today after he suffered an ankle injury, which prompted a dramatic rescue by the Los Angeles Fire Department. The injured hiker, who was trekking through a remote area near 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, was hoisted to safety by an LAFD helicopter following a coordinated rescue effort. According to the LAFD alert, the on-scene park rangers indicated the man's injury at around 11:50 AM. With narrow trails and difficult terrain, the rescue task was not simple. The LAFD personnel, hindered by the steep conditions, saw no other choice but to deploy the helicopter after ground crews had navigated the challenging paths to reach the man.

Hoodline

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national observance started in 1949 to bring attention to the importance of mental wellbeing. We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

988

Above & Beyond

Events

Firefighter III

Charles R. Simpson

Deceased: 5/19/2024

Appointed: 5/14/1984

Assignment: FS 111

Retired: 7/10/2022

Engineer

Richard L. Garner

Deceased: 5/19/2024

Appointed: 6/16/1955

Assignment: FS 93

Retired: 6/1/1980

Captain II

Dennis L. Coville

Deceased: 5/3/2024

Appointed: 5/13/1972

Assignment: FS 98

Retired: 10/20/2002

ACTIVE DUTY

Firefighter I

Jacob I. Fuerte

Deceased: 4/15/2024

Appointed: 2/12/2024

Assignment: Drill Tower 81

Apparatus Operator

Fred R. Chovil

Deceased: 4/19/2024

Appointed: 2/3/1958

Assignment: FS 69

Retired: 2/6/1985

Firefighter III

Roberto S. Sanchez

Deceased: 4/15/2024

Appointed: 2/16/1975

Assignment: OCD

Retired: 7/5/2000

Engineer

David J. Breuer

Deceased: 4/6/2024

Appointed: 9/23/1957

Assignment: FS 50

Retired: 7/11/1988

Engineer

William J. Sneeringer

Deceased: 4/5/2024

Appointed: 5/19/1958

Assignment: FS 72

Retired: 11/1/1976

Firefighter III

Randall W. Brass

Deceased: 3/30/2024

Appointed: 4/13/1986

Assignment: MFC

Retired: 3/31/2016

Fireboat Pilot

Philip M. Jungferman

Deceased: 3/28/2024

Appointed: 9/22/1947

Assignment: FS 49

Retired: 6/1/1978

Firefighter III

Randall W. Brass

Deceased: 3/23/2024

Appointed: 8/23/1969

Assignment: FS 88

Retired: 4/20/2000

Captain

A. D. Brown Jr.

Deceased: 3/18/2024

Appointed: 4/1/1957

Assignment: FS 8

Retired: 7/8/1984

UFLAC’s 2023 LAFD Year In Review

UFLAC is proud to present the 2023 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 publication tells the story of our dedicated First Responders who continued to protect lives and property in Los Angeles while risking their own safety during another extraordinary year. In 2021, our Firefighters and Paramedics responded to more than 475,000 emergency calls for service throughout Los Angeles - an average of 1,300 calls per day.

As an all-risk fire and rescue agency serving more than four million people, the LAFD is one of the busiest and most understaffed big city fire departments in the entire country. 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.