On Friday, September 16, 2005, at 0429 hours, (4:29 a.m. PDT), seventeen companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, one Deputy Chief, one Assistant Chief Officer Command Team, four Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, two Battalion EMS Supervisors, six LAFD Rescue Ambulances, one Hazmat Squad, three Arson Units, and other Fire Department resources and city agencies, under the direction of Assistant Chief Jeffery Mottram, responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 1655 West Adams Boulevard in the West Adams area.
First units on the scene reported a large, two-story, vacant Victorian style single-family dwelling, well involved with fire. Using handlines, Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire while simultaneously conducting an initial search and rescue operation.
During firefighting operations, the west wall of the structure collapsed onto two Firefighters. An Emergency Traffic Alert was immediately initiated for the down Firefighters and an intense rescue operation was started.
Briefly trapped by the collapsed wall, the Firefighters were quickly rescued by the Rapid Intervention Company and other nearby Firefighters and taken to a place of safety for evaluation. One Firefighter suffered a broken right leg and left arm and the second Firefighter suffered first degree burns to his chin, left ear, and substantial bumps and bruises; both were transported to California Hospital in stable condition.
With the integrity of the structure compromised, an Emergency Traffic Alert was issued to withdraw all Firefighters from within and around the involved structure. Firefighters immediately withdrew from the structure and took up a defensive position on the exterior of structure and used heavy stream appliances to knock down the fire.
The fire was extinguished in fifty-one minutes. No other injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is listed as under investigation. Fire damage is still being tabulated.
