EXPOSITION PARK - Firefighters extinguished a blaze in a room and board residential occupancy. Two people were rescued from the flames, but sadly one has passed and the other is on life support.

In the early hours of the morning on Thursday August 22, 2019, LAFD responded to a structure fire in a home that had been modified to house additional occupants. Flames engulfed most of the first floor, where firefighters kicked in the door and made entry with a hose line. As firefighters put water through the doorway to knock back the fire, other crews quickly made entry and searched the home after hearing reports that there were still occupants inside. Two patients were located, as firefighters searched through heavy smoke for viable occupants. The patients were rescued out one of the back exits, but were in grave condition. CPR was initiated in the yard of the home immediately and rapid hospital transport was provided for the man and his sister. Sadly, the man was pronounced dead at the hospital and the woman is in grave condition and is still on life support as of 12 hours later. 

One firefighter was transported to a local hospital as a precaution for smoke inhalation. This engineer, who is in charge of pumping the correct volume and pressure to the firefighters on the other end of the hose lines, was working near the engine in the street when he heard reports of multiple patients needing rescue. As an engineer of the fire department, he was not wearing a breathing apparatus because his primary duties are outside at the engine. Regardless, his water pressures were set correctly, so he ran toward the back of the structure to the door nearest the patients and assisted with the rescue and CPR. In the course of the rescue, smoke filled the area where he was assisting with the rescue and he was later taken to the hospital for oxygen therapy as a precaution. He has been released from the hospital in good condition.

Fifty-three firefighters extinguished the blaze in 34 minutes. Firefighters did not hear smoke alarms when they arrived. Occupants report that there may have been one functional smoke alarm, but many that were not fuctional. The cause is under active investigation.