Tag: The Los Angeles Fire Department

LAUREL CANYON—On Friday, March 21, at 8:16 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) sent out an alert for everyone in the area between Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Terra Street, 5 Freeway, and Pierce Street was urged to evacuate. Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, located at 10736 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Pacoima.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) website on the Alert page.

A limited evacuation order INC #0486 was put in place at 7:07 p.m. following a structure fire located at 13555 W. Rimington St. in Pacoima. Sixty homes were evacuated due to a planned LAFD operation.

Reports indicate that the fire was caused by explosives (fireworks) stored in the home. The planned operation was to detonate the fireworks/explosives that were still in the partially destroyed home.

A 40-year-old man was hospitalized for burns caused by fireworks at Remington Street and Remick Avenue. The patient is reportedly in critical Condition. No one else was home at the time of the explosion. There are no other reported injuries at this time.

By Sharon

STUDIO CITY—On Friday, March 14 at approximately 11:00 p.m., two male suspects approached a 39-year-old woman as she was exiting her car in the parking garage of her apartment and shot her multiple times before fleeing the scene in their vehicle.

Reports indicate that surveillance footage captured at the scene showed the suspects leaving the scene at approximately 11:15 p.m. No description of the suspects has been released other than that they were both dressed in black clothing and were wearing black masks.

Reports indicate that the suspects were driving a silver sedan and followed the victim to her home near Lankershim Boulevard and Kentucky Drive in San Fernando Valley.

The victim was transported to an area hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics. Police who responded to the call indicated that the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and her vital signs were stable. It is not clear how many times the victim was shot. Her current condition is unknown.

By Sharon

MALIBU—On December 26, at 1:11 a.m., 911 operators received a call of a brush fire. Malibu Search and Rescue (MSAR) reported that a vehicle flew off the road and over the side of a mountain igniting a brush fire near Mulholland Drive and Stunt Road in Calabasas. Reports indicate that street car racing may be to blame for the incident.

Firefighters arrived at the scene to a quarter-acre brushfire moving upward. Firemen on land were able to contain the fire within an acre until Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Ops dropped water from above. Together, they extinguished the flames.

Reports indicate that a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer heard a man shouting for help, close to an hour after first responders arrived at the scene. The MSAR team was able to locate the injured driver who indicated that his car had been pushed off the roadway by two cars that were street racing.

The driver was transported to an area hospital by ambulance. His condition is unknown.
Officers temporarily shut down Stunt Road following the incident.

By Sharon

MALIBU—On November 6, at approximately 9:30 a.m. a broad fire was reported in the vicinity of Malibu Canyon Road and the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). According to Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) personnel, at 11:30 a.m., the fire was 15 percent contained.

Reports indicate that a home and two other structures have burned in the fire. The wind and arid conditions have spread the fire onto some acreage nearby (close to 50 acres) requiring those in neighboring homes to shelter in place.

NBC 4 first reported that two fire helicopters responded to bringing water to the scene to help quelch the flames. There are reports of low visibility due to the dense smoke. The PCH is closed to traffic in this area.

By Sharon

STUDIO CITY—On Saturday, October 19, at approximately 2:20 p.m. the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), North Hollywood Patrol responded to a radio call of an “ambulance shooting, man down” in the vicinity of the 11900 block of Chandler Boulevard. According to an LAPD press release, officers arriving at the scene discovered a male Caucasian, 40-45 years-of-age, sitting in the driver’s seat of a black Audi suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics arrived from the Los Angeles Fire Department and pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

LAPD detectives from the Valley Bureau Homicide unit have searched the surrounding area for evidence and witnesses. There is no known motive for the crime, and the suspect is still at large.

If you have more information regarding the incident or could aid detectives in identifying the suspect or any suspicious person who may have been involved, you are encouraged to call Valley Bureau Homicide detectives at (818) 374-9550. During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls should be directed to (310) 726-7700 or 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247

By Sharon

TOPANGA CANYON—On Saturday, September 28, at approximately 11:50 p.m., officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Topanga Community Police Department responded to the call of a shooting in the 8300 block of Northgate Avenue. Arriving officers discovered two victims on the ground with gunshot wounds. LAPD Valley Bureau Homicide detectives were called to the scene.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) paramedics transported both shooting victims to area hospitals for treatment. According to the press release on the LAPD webpage, “Despite life-saving measures, one of the victims succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.” The second victim was treated at the hospital and is listed in stable condition.

According to reports, the deceased is described as a 19-year-old male. His name is being withheld pending the notification of the next of kin.

There is no more information available at this time.

Detectives from LAPD’s Operations-Valley Bureau Homicide detectives are handling the investigation.

Those with more information that would aid detectives in the investigation are urged to contact Operations – Valley Bureau Homicide at (818)374-9550.

During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls may also be directed to 1 -877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477)

By Sharon

WOODLAND HILLS—On July 30, the body of a man was discovered in the bushes near the intersection of West Oxnard Street and Winnetka Avenue. First responders from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) arrived at approximately 7:00 a.m.

The victim described only as being a 40-year-old male was found with multiple stab wounds. He was declared dead at the scene.

Traffic was shut down in the southbound lanes of Winnetka Avenue between Oxnard Street and Hatteras Street for an undetermined amount of time while homicide detectives investigated the area.

Reports indicate that ABC 7 was hovering above. They were able to capture aerial footage of the perimeter officers had taped off during the investigation.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call Detective Steve Castro, Los Angeles Police Department, Valley Bureau Homicide, at (818) 374-1925. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477)

By Sharon

SHERMAN OAKS—February 6 brings reports of the aftermath of torrential rains that hit Southern California including landslides and mudslides across much of the coverage area. The mud flowed downhill into the neighborhoods in Beverly Crest and on Caribou Lane in Beverly Glen in Santa Monica, Lockridge Road in Studio City, and in Sherman Oaks bringing with it trash and debris.

The Los Angeles Fire Department rescue teams were ready to help residents who were essentially getting buried in the mud. Vehicles stuck in the mud left Los Angeles County residents stranded.

As residents were being evacuated from their homes, firefighters were there to help them escape the constant mudflow.

According to the LAFD website, La Tuna Canyon Road was under an evacuation order that was not lifted until Tuesday, February 6.

As of February 6, LAFD reported 475 mudslides, 38 buildings requiring inspections due to the mudslides, four buildings red-tagged for no entry, and nine buildings yellow-tagged for possession collection only. Several buildings located along Lockridge Rd. which had previously been tagged, were reassessed as safe for entry.

The following came directly from the LAFD website:

“The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has reported that as of 4:00 PM PT. Tuesday, approximately 6,600 customers remain without power. Due to crews around the clock, 59,000 have had their power restored since the start of the storm.”

The Department of Public Works reported 390 downed trees/branches, 441 potholes, and “963 catch basins and stormwater conveyance systems [were] cleared.”

The Los Angeles Emergency Management Department also shared the following information update on February 6 at 4:00 p.m.:

“Periods of rain, mountain snow, and possible thunderstorms will continue through this evening. A few hours of moderate rain are possible later Wednesday afternoon and night. Snow levels each day with mountain snow issues increasing. Gusty west to northwest winds will form Wednesday and continue into Thursday. Saturday through at least Tuesday will be dry and warmer.”

There are a reported 1,000 firefighters with boots on the ground to work through the storm and its aftermath.

By Sharon