LAFD: Los Angeles Firefighters Major Emergency Structure Fire Caused By Dry Christmas Tree Fire #CaFire

Thursday, December 26, 2013

LAFD: Los Angeles Firefighters Major Emergency Structure Fire Caused By Dry Christmas Tree Fire #CaFire

NORTHRIDGE - Los Angeles Firefighters battled a Major Emergency Structure Fire that destroyed a family's two story house on Christmas Eve.

On December 24th, 2013, just before two AM, the Los Angeles Fire Department was called to 19641 West Citronia Street. Firefighters arrived quickly to find a nearly 4,000 square foot home fully involved in flames.

During the aggressive fire attack the intense flames caused a partial roof collapse. 108 Firefighters all under the command of Battalion Chief Thomas Ottman had the blaze completely extinguished in just 41 minutes.

The fire displaced a mother and her 2 children who were away at a family gathering when the fire occurred. Although, the home was a complete loss, no one was injured during the fire.

Investigators determined the source of the fire to have been a dry Christmas tree, which had been purchased before Thanksgiving and had not been watered. This tragic loss is an important reminder of Holiday and Christmas tree fire safety.

LAFD Firefighters from the local fire station delivered toys to the Northridge Family to replace presents destroyed by the fire.

The monetary loss was estimated at $700,000 ($500,00 structure & $200,00 contents).

Dispatched Units:E70 RA70 E107 RA107 E104 E296 T96 EM15 BC15 E8 E103 E273 T73 BC17 RA104 E28 E287 T87 DC3 EM17 BC10 T88 E288 UR88 E89 UR89 RA89 RA889 BC14 AR2 T93 E293 T87 E287 T90 E290 E98 E105

-- Katherine Main

"Serving with Courage, Integrity and Pride"

Public Service Officer

Emergency Public Information (EPI) Center
Los Angeles Fire Department
500 East Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

213.576.8938

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CFN - California Fire News 2013

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Thursday, December 26, 2013