L.A. industrial blaze injures firefighter
Department: LAFD - [Los Angeles, California]
On Wednesday, February 6, at 7:49 AM, 18 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 121 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief John Nowell, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 11281 Goss Street in Sun Valley.
The owner and one employee of Hye-Art, a woodworking firm, had reportedly just opened for business when they heard a loud 'thud' from within the two-story structure.
Investigating the sound, the men discovered flames in the upper floor of the non-fire sprinklered 100' x 50' building, and safely fled before summoning the Fire Department via wireless phone.
Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find smoke showing from the second floor of the building, which housed flammable storage and offices. Firefighters swiftly commenced a frontal assault on the fire with handlines, only to be driven back by fierce heat and flames that made the upstairs untenable.
Aided soon thereafter by the vertical ventilation of smoke and superheated gases by their rooftop colleagues, Firefighters again mounted a bold and well-coordinated offense from the front and rear of the structure, confining the blaze within the building and extinguishing the flames in just 27 minutes.
Despite his use of personal protective gear, one Firefighter sustained 2nd degree burns to both ears during the intense fire attack. In fair condition, he was transported by LAFD Ambulance to Sherman Oaks Hospital, where he was treated and released to remain off-duty.
No other injuries were reported.
Fire loss is still being tabulated. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
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