LAFD Battles Suspicious Wilmington Hotel Fire Where Residents Jump From Windows to Escape; 1 Dead, 15 Injured.
Wilmington - Los Angeles Firefighters battled a blaze that broke out April 2, 2015 a hotel, killing a man and injuring 15 other people, including some who leaped
out of windows in a desperate effort to escape intense flames.
At 3:13 AM your LAFD responded to a Structure Fire at 111 East C Street. Firefighters arrived on-scene in less than three minutes to find fire blowing out of the two-story 20-unit Wilmington Hotel and occupants jumping from the second story.
Firefighters immediately laddered the building to assist occupants from the second floor and additional firefighters began an aggressive fire attack inside and performed a systematic search for any trapped victims. Rapid medical aid was provided to the injured on the ground.
Over 100 firefighters, under the command of South Bureau Commander Daren Palacios, extinguished the blaze in 50 minutes. Sadly one adult male was determined dead on scene. In addition, a total of 15 patients were injured: 12 were treated and transported (all adults + 1 child), 10 with minor injury and two with moderate to serious injuries. Three patients declined transport to the hospital. The injuries were predominately to the lower extremities from jumping out the second story, no burns.
There were 29 occupants in the hotel at the time of the fire. The non-injured displaced occupants were assisted by LAFD, Red Cross and Council Member Joe Buscaino.
LAFD Arson Investigators are combing through the debris to determine the cause, which remains under active investigation and is deemed suspicious. Today's fatal fire marked our 3rd Fire Fatality for 2015 and the second structure fire-related. At this time last year we were at 13.
Functional smoke alarms were found.
Dispatched: AR1 BC1 BC11 BC13 BC18 BC4 BC6 DC22 E10 E112 E15 E205 E211 E221 E248 E264 E266 E285 E36 E38 E48 E49 E5 E85 EA2 EM1 EM11 EM13 RA101 RA112 RA264 RA36 RA38 RA5 RA85 T11 T21 T48 T5 T64 T66 T85 UR5 UR88.
