Fire Blotter: String of House Fires

The responded to a variety of emergency calls during the week of Oct. 23-29. The following is a breakdown of incident types for this period:

Fires: 4
EMS/Rescues: 57
Hazardous Materials: 1
Good Intent Calls: 3
Service Calls: 10
False Alarms: 17
Total Incident Count: 92

Sunday, Oct. 23:

At 4:24 p.m., Engine 105 and Rescue Ambulance 105 responded to a child in a minor entrapment in the 500 block of South First Avenue. Fire Crews found a child with a finger stuck between a bicycle chain and sprocket. Firefighters used a bolt cutter to cut the chain and extricate the finger. Paramedics assessed the patient’s hand and the parent stated she would follow up with the child’s pediatrician.

Monday, Oct. 24

At 2:51 a.m., Engine 105, Engine 106, Truck 105, Rescue Ambulance 105, Rescue Ambulance 106, Battalion 105, with units from Monrovia Fire Department, was dispatched to a in the 200 block of West Camino Real Avenue with victims reportedly trapped. Firefighters arrived on scene to witness smoke and fire surging through the front window of a fully involved single story single-family dwelling.

Firefighters immediately began suppression operations, including a thorough search and rescue operation that determined all residents had evacuated the structure. Firefighters battled the blaze for approximately 20 minutes, achieving knock down shortly after 3 a.m.

The occupants of the home were evaluated by Arcadia Fire Paramedics, but refused treatment or transport to the hospital. One family member was later transported by private vehicle to the hospital.

The Fire Department conducted overhaul operations and cleared the scene at 5:41 a.m. The fire loss was estimated at $150,000 to the structure and $100,000 in contents. The origin of the fire was in a bedroom. The fire was determined to be accidental in nature, started by cigarettes in the bedroom.
The last Arcadia unit cleared the scene at 5:41 a.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 25

At 7:18 a.m., Engine 105, Engine 106, Engine 107, Truck 105, Rescue Ambulance 105, USAR 106, Battalion 105, with units from Monrovia, Burbank and Glendale Fire Departments, responded to a.

Upon arrival, firefighters witnessed a well-involved structure fire with smoke and flames engulfing a detached 4-car garage behind a two-story single-family dwelling. Suppression crews immediately began suppression operations, fighting the blaze for approximately 30 minutes to achieve knock down shortly before 8 a.m. No other structures were damaged during this incident.

Glendale Fire Department Hazardous Material Unit investigated the scene for potential hazardous material contamination and to determine the causes of the multiple minor explosions. All containments on scene were determined to be normal products of combustion.
The fire appears to be accidental in nature and remains under investigation.

Total loss is estimated to be approximately $150,000, including two vehicles that were destroyed in the fire. No firefighters or civilians were injured.

Wednesday, Oct. 26

At 10:55 a.m., Engine 105, Engine 106, Engine 107, Truck 105, Rescue Ambulance 105, with units from Pasadena and Los Angeles County Fire Department, responded to an apartment house fire in the 1100 block of

Firefighters investigated a first floor unit with light smoke showing from the outside. Upon entering the apartment, fire personnel witnessed smoke and fire emanating from a well-involved bathroom. Immediate suppression operations were conducted, resulting in confinement of the fire to the room of origin and extinguishment within ten minutes. Paramedics evaluated the occupant, who refused treatment.

The fire appears to be accidental in nature, caused by overheating of combustible materials in close proximity to an active wall-heating unit. Total loss is estimated at $10,000. No one was injured during this incident.

Thursday, Oct. 27

At 10:11 a.m., Engine 106 responded to a vehicle fire in the 400 block of South Drake Avenue. Fire crews found a smoldering fire in the cab of a tow truck under the driver seat. The driver of the tow truck had extinguished the fire with a garden hose from a nearby resident. Fire crews continued with extinguishment and overhauled the area of ignition and combustion. The cause of the fire was determined to be an electrical problem. There were no reports of injuries.