Deadly Fire in Koreatown

Deadly Fire in Koreatown

The folks from Foreign Family were blogging about how Western Ave was totally closed off this past Saturday afternoon (their blog post)...

Welp, apparently there was a deadly fire that took lives of one firefighter and two other victims...that does explain it though....you just dont see Western empty....ever! I haaaaate driving on that street...almost as bad as Vermont...u feel me??

(video) - http://cbs2.com/video/?id=74607@kcbs.dayport.com (lovely Sharon Tay)

source: http://lafd.blogspot.com/2008/08/two-dead-firefighter-injured-in-la.html

On Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 2:38 AM, 14 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 7 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 5 Arson Units, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 5 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 118 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Richard Warford, responded to a Greater Alarm Civilian Fatality Structure Fire at 422 South Western Avenue in the Koreatown/Wilshire Center area of Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover heavy fire in the first and second floors of a two story commercial structure, with flames spreading to the attic.

Forcing entry into the multiple businesses of the well secured building, firefighters commenced a fierce and well-coordinated attack on the blaze, while their colleagues commenced a systematic search of the non-residential premises.

As the flames were extinguished in a first-floor skin care business that had been fully involved with fire, firefighters discovered the charred remains of two persons.

During the ongoing firefight, one Los Angeles Firefighter sustained 1st and 2nd degree burns to his hands. In fair condition, he was transported to the Emergency Room at Sherman Oaks Hospital, where he was treated and released.

The fire was extinguished in just 38 minutes, and skilfully confined to just two businesses on the first floor, one-and-a-half firms on the second floor, and a portion of the attic.

No other injuries were reported.

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated.

A positive identification of the deceased - to include their age and gender, as well as the exact cause, time and manner of their deaths will be determined by the Coroner's Office.

The cause of this early morning blaze remains under active investigation by Police and Fire Department officials.