4th Floor Apartment Fire Causes Extensive Water Damage
By Steve Yamamoto | October 4, 2010
At approximately 12:15 pm this afternoon, the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) responded to reports of an apartment fire at the corner of 3rd Street and Linden Ave. Upon arrival, Engine 24 discovered that there was in fact one unit on the 4th floor that had light gray smoke coming out of the window. Just as crew members pulled up to the front door, the fire had been knocked down by a dry chemical fire extinguisher. Another vital resource this building had in place was a functional fire sprinkler system.
This kept the rapidly growing fire in check to the upstairs area until the Fire Department could arrive on scene. This once again proves the effectiveness fire sprinklers in a building. Once the fire was confirmed “knocked down”, and the rooms were cleared of all potential victims, crews immediately began salvage operations to control the large amount of water damage that would take place. First they had to shut down the sprinkler system so they could replace the sprinkler head that had been activated. Then they utilized portable water vacuums and other specialized water removal tools to get rid standing water that was quickly accumulating in the fire unit and the units below. In all, there were 4 units that were affected by this fire. Some residents were displaced and The American Red Cross was called to provide shelter for those individuals.
If not for the members of the LBFD controlling the water flow and shutting the sprinkler system down, the water damage could have been a lot more extensive with numerous residents being displaced. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.
This incident occurred in the 1st Council District with a total of 16 fire apparatus and 35 fire personnel operating on scene.
Topics: Incidents | 526 Comments »
Firefighters Injured In A Collision On The 605 Freeway
By Jackawa Jackson | October 1, 2010
Just After Midnight on September 30, 2010, Long Beach fire department responded to a report of a vehicle accident on the south bound 605 freeway at Carson. While searching for the incident, Engine 5 was struck from behind by a cement pump truck traveling at a reported 60 miles per hour. Following the collision, Engine 5 was pushed forward, eventually coming to rest several hundred yards away. The 40-year-old male driver of the cement pump truck was trapped in his vehicle and required the use of the Jaws of Life to free him. All crew members onboard Engine 5 suffered injuries and were transported to local hospitals. A number of units from Long Beach Fire, Orange county Fire Authority, and LA County Fire responded to this incident.
Topics: Incidents, News | 25 Comments »
Victim Rescued from a Stuck Elevator Car in The World Trade Center
By Steve Yamamoto | September 22, 2010
At approximately 9:45 am this morning, the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) responded to The World Trade Center downtown for a report of a trapped victim on a stuck elevator car. Upon arrival, Engine 1 discovered that one female victim was indeed trapped high above the ground floor in an elevator car between the 12th and 13th floor. Task Force 6, which consists of Engine 6 and USAR 6 (Urban Search And Rescue), were quickly requested to respond for specially trained personnel and equipment. They decided that the only way they could safely rescue the victim was to do an “elevator to elevator rescue”. Two USAR Firefighters that were equipped with special harnesses, loaded onto the top of an elevator car on the 17th floor that was directly next to the elevator shaft of the stuck elevator. They then lowered that car down between the 12th and 13th floor next to the other elevator. Both Firefighters carefully moved across to the roof of the stuck elevator car with the trapped victim and lowered a small attic ladder through the access hatch. With the firefighters assistance, the victim cautiously climbed up the ladder and onto the top of the elevator car. They then moved her carefully across to the working car and after about 30 minutes from the time of dispatch the female victim was safely offloaded from the elevator onto 17th floor. The very relieved victim was then evaluated by the Paramedics of Rescue 1 for any injuries and released.
If not for the members of the LBFD and the specially trained members of the USAR Team, this person could have been stuck for a much, much longer period of time or even worse been severely injured in the rescue process due to the very dangerous environment in the elevator shaft.
This incident occurred in the 2nd Council District with a total of 7 apparatus and 17 personnel operating on scene.
Topics: Incidents | 27 Comments »
Arson Suspect Sought In 2 Separate Attacks At the Same Residence
By Jackawa Jackson | September 13, 2010
Just after 9:40 this morning, the Long Beach Fire Department received a call for a possible use of an incendiary device at an occupied residence located at 1822 east 56th Street. Once on scene, the crew from fire station 11 found evidence of a Molotov cocktail to the rear of a duplex. 1 vehicle suffered damage in the attack. The device landed within 10 feet of the structure, which was occupied at the time by 2 separate families. Fortunately, a bystander and a resident from the home were able to extinguish the fire and prevented its spread to the house. Witnesses on scene reported another Molotov cocktail had been thrown in the same location less than 2 hours before. Had either one of these incidents gone undetected, the results could have been catastrophic.
LBFD arson investigators are asking anyone with any information on this fire to contact the arson tip hot line (562) 570-2582.
Topics: Incidents | 19 Comments »
Out of Control Grease Fire Scorches Kitchen
By Steve Yamamoto | September 10, 2010
At approximately 2:40pm on September 10, 2010, units from Long Beach Fire Department responded to reports of a stove fire on the 5200 block of El Cedral St. Engine 17 arrived on scene within four minutes from the time of dispatch and noticed a decent amount of gray smoke coming from the front of the house. Upon a quick investigation they determined that they had a grease fire that was burning in the kitchen and had rapidly communicated to the upper wooden cabinets and exhaust ducting. The firefighters on Engine 17 then immediately stretched a hose line and began attacking the quickly spreading blaze with Engine 22 and Light Force 19 backing them up. They found one female victim in the rear of the home that was then evaluated by fire paramedics from Rescue 17. The victim complained of shortness of breath due to smoke inhalation and was later transported by the paramedics to a local area hospital for further evaluation. After they had fire knock down, the Truck crew went up on the roof to further assess any fire communication and damage. If not for the prompt actions of the Long Beach Fire Department crew members, this kitchen fire could have easily spread into the rest of the house and possibly to neighboring homes.
There were a total of seven fire apparatus and 22 fire department personnel that responded to this fire. One firefighter suffered minor injuries during this fire and was treated on scene. This incident occurred in the 3rd City Council District.
Topics: Incidents | 42 Comments »
