Upstairs Bedroom Fire on Olive
By Steve Yamamoto | January 8, 2011
At approximately 11:20 pm on Friday, January 7, units from the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) responded to a call for a house fire on the 4400 block of Olive Ave. Truck 11 arrived on scene within five minutes and saw that there was a moderate amount of black smoke coming from the second story window. Truck crews quickly laddered the roof and ventilated it with their chainsaws to relieve the immense heat and smoke inside. The Firefighters below initiated an aggressive interior attack with their hoses after making their way upstairs and through the front door. Once the fire was located in the back bedroom it was knocked down within 14 minutes of the call. Fortunately the bedroom door had been closed and prevented the fire from spreading throughout the upstairs unit. The occupant of the home made it outside safely and no injuries were reported. Although this fire was confined to the one bedroom of the unit, damages were estimated at around $50,000 and the occupant was displaced until repairs could be made. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
There were a total of seven Fire Department apparatus and 21 personnel operating on scene of this fire that took place in the 8th Council District.
Topics: Incidents | 34 Comments »
Second Alarm Locust Fire Video
By Admin | January 4, 2011
Topics: Video | 18 Comments »
Second Alarm Fire Destroys Home on New Year’s Eve
By Matthew Dobberpuhl | January 3, 2011
At 6:36pm on New Year’s Eve, Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) Dispatch received a call for a structure fire at 1870 Locust Ave in the Sixth Council District. Engine and Truck 7 arrived within four minutes and found heavy smoke and flames pouring out of the second floor windows of a two story, single family dwelling. They initiated an aggressive interior attack and encountered such intense heat that the Captain and both firefighters suffered first and second degree burns to their ears and neck. They were transported to St. Mary’s where they were treated and released back to Station 7. Truck 7 used their aerial and roof ladders and cut several holes in the roof to reduce heat and improve visibility inside the structure. The fire was knocked down within 30 minutes.
The fire originated in the second floor or attic area and destroyed those levels of the house. There was significant water damage to the first floor. Three people were in the structure at the time the fire started. All were able to get out on their own with no injuries reported. Red Cross was requested to assist the five displaced residents.
LBFD equipment that responded to this fire included 7 Engines, 2 Trucks, 2 Paramedic Ambulances, 3 Battalion Chiefs, 2 Arson Investigators, a Public Information Officer and a Fire Prevention Officer. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Topics: Incidents | 22 Comments »
2010 Toy Drive Recap – Where do the toys go?
By Matthew Dobberpuhl | December 30, 2010
Many people often wonder what happens to the toys that they leave in the Spark of Love cardboard boxes placed throughout the city during the Christmas season. Where do they go? Will my donation make it to a needy child? Am I really making a difference?
Every toy that is placed in one of these boxes or is dropped off at a Long Beach Fire Station is picked up and taken to the LBFD Toy Warehouse. There the toys are sorted and placed on shelves so that they may be given to a boy or girl of the appropriate age.
The task of sorting through the countless requests and trying to determine how best to distribute the toys that have been donated is monumental. Volunteer “elves” work tirelessly at the warehouse to ensure that no request is left unanswered.
It’s a very big job trying to sort through all the requests and match the right child with the right toy. Our elves pack up boxes and bags and deliver them to needy families and churches in the area that have asked for help. Toys are also delivered during events held annually at the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Reef Restaurant, and during the Code 3 Toy Drive. A total of 521 children and 27 large groups such as Homes for Battered Women and the Boy and Girls Club were given toys this year.
In these tough economic times we have seen a dramatic surge in requests for toys. This is where YOU can make a difference. No donation is too small. Every toy makes a difference in the life of a needy child. Please consider joining the cause next year by helping out in some way.
Special thanks to all those that helped make this Christmas a little merrier for the disadvantaged children in our community.
Topics: Events | 34 Comments »
Bedroom Blaze on Myrtle Ave.
By Steve Yamamoto | December 29, 2010
At about 6:15 pm on December the 27th, units from the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) were called out to an apartment fire at the 1800 block of Myrtle Ave. Upon firefighters arrival they encountered a one story, multi family dwelling with heavy smoke and fire coming from a back unit bedroom. Engine Companies began an aggressive interior fire attack with their hoses while the Truck Company laddered the roof and vertically ventilated the structure with their chainsaws to remove trapped smoke and heat below. The fire was quickly knocked down and a primary search revealed no victims inside the heavily charred unit. Luckily the occupants were not home at the time but the unit did sustain heavy smoke and fire damage.
A total of 7 people were displaced from two units – 4 adults and 3 children. The American Red Cross was also notified to assist with sheltering for the displaced and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. There were a total of nine Fire Department apparatus and 24 personnel operating on scene of this fire that took place in the 6th Council District.
Topics: Incidents | 32 Comments »
