Woman Dies in Silver Lake Apartment Blaze
Friday, August 17, 2018
LAFD Spokesperson: Brian Humphrey
SILVER LAKE-
A woman was found dead Friday evening in her Riverside Drive apartment, following a fire.
The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned by the first of several 9-1-1 calls reporting a fire at 7:36 PM on August 17, 2018 at the Riverglen Apartments, 2850 Riverside Drive in Silver Lake.
Firefighters arrived quickly to find a 173,042 square-foot four-story apartment building of three-occupied-floors above one level of parking, with fire showing from one third floor (middle level) apartment.
The first of 34 assigned LAFD firefighters made their way to the well secured apartment and forced entry, only to be confronted with excessive storage that hampered both firefighting and their concurrent search of the premises. The crews persevered, confining the fire to apartment of origin, extinguishing the flames in less than fifteen minutes.
During their attack on the flames, firefighters discovered the body of an elderly woman who was sadly beyond medical help, and determined to be dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
During their attack on the flames, firefighters discovered the body of an elderly woman who was sadly beyond medical help, and determined to be dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
Though the apartment unit was equipped with a functional smoke alarm that was sounding on firefighters arrival, the building did not feature optional residential fire sprinklers. Firefighters however, were able to spare the building's 159 other apartments from any direct fire damage.
A positive identification of the dead woman, as well as the cause, time and manner of her death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Volunteers from the Mayor's Crisis Response Team were requested to assist family, neighbors and friends of the deceased. They were joined by American Red Cross volunteers in assisting one or more residents who later stated a need for temporary placement assistance.
Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated, while the cause of the blaze remains under active investigation.
Dispatched LAFD Units: BC5 E20 E220 E235 E35 E56 EM11 RA20 RA35 RA850 T20 T35 AR1 PI2
