Dramatic Fire Erupts in Brentwood High-Rise Apartments
The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 8:37 A.M. on January 29, 2020 to 11740 Wilshire Blvd in Brentwood, where firefighters arrived to rescue over a dozen victims while fighting the fire.
As firefighters overhauled what they thought would be their only high-rise structure fire of the day (which began at 6:30 A.M. at 11601 Wilshire), they were alarmed to hear a very similar address come over their radios. Another structure fire was dispacted at 8:37 A.M. to 11740 Wilshire, with reports of "jumpers."
Crews just a few hundred yards away from this second dispatch tossed their equipment back in the apparatus and quickly responded down the block to find a 26-story residential high rise with fire blowing out of 7th story windows, and a man clinging to the side of the outer face of the building (who had not yet jumped, despite the reports). Truck 92 spotted their apparatus near the side of the building, placed their ground jacks (truck stabilizers), and extended the 100-foot aerial ladder to its maximum length. The tiller member of Truck 92 rode the tip of the aerial up to the patient, coming just close enough to reach him and effected the rescue, saving the man from the untenable room he had escaped from. LAFD's Airborne Task Force responded by air and assisted with evacuations from the roof, along with help from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. In a coordinated effort, crews rescued a total of 15 people from the rooftop of the high-rise.
Firefighters ascended the interior stairways to find the 7th floor burning with a very hot and well-entrenched fire, fueled by high winds. Firefighters bested the flames in 73 minutes. In total, LAFD sent 335 personnel by ground and air to battle the blaze. Ultimately, 11 civilians and 3 firefighters sustained injuries during the course of the fire. One patient was in grave condition, while another was critical. Four patients were treated/released on scene, and LAFD Firefighter-Paramedics transported the remaining to area hospitals.
This high-rise was last inspected in June of 2019 and found to be in compliance with fire code regulations at that time. It was built in 1961, before fire sprinklers were required in this type of occupancy.
A total of 339 occupants were evacuated and the building was "red-tagged" (deemed unsafe on all floors) by Department of Building and Safety. Firefighters and law enforcement assisted residents with retrieving medications and other immediate needs from their residences. Crews have been working all through the night of the 29th and all day on the 30th, so far, to restore the building to a safe and livable condition. In the mean time, Barrington Plaza owners reserved blocks of rooms at several local hotels and updates can be found at BarringtonPlaza.info, or on their telephone hotline at 310-479-4191. A temporary shelter has been set up at Westwood Recreation Center, as well.
Arson investigators are working closely with LAPD to determine the cause of the fire. The investigation is active and ongoing. Investigators are combing through debris, examining evidence, and questioning witnesses in an effort to uncover facts surrounding the ignition of the fire.
Dispatched LAFD Units: E293 T93 E88 RA59 RA19 E60 E5 E263 T63 BC18 BC4 E43 RA37 E269 T69 CM42 E26 E69 E58 E61 E109 E41 E288 T88 E51 E67 E68 E99 E227 T27 E278 T78 E226 T26 E294 T94 T5 E205 E235 T35 E239 T39 E215 T15 E290 T90 EM9 BC10 UR88 UR27 HR3 E89 BC5 RA92 E81 H0F H0C H0D T73 E273 E35 H5 H1 HA5 HA1 E37 E90 RA90 RH114 BC9 RA43 RA63 RA88 RA60 RA99 RA29 RA78 RA95 RA97 RA23 EM4 EM18 AR1 EA1 RM2 E39 RM3 BC14 BC17 BC12 HA4 H4 HA3 H3 AR9 PH1 BC11 CM52 CM43 CL1 AR17 MD1 E6S E5S DC2S AR11 E233 T33 E52 E229 E278 T78 T61 E261 E62 E63 RA892 T95 E295 T37 E237 T92 E292 E19 E59 RA837 RA857 RA19 TL1 FR9 CE59 RA23 HL7 HL9 PI3 FR82 FR64 AP65 FR91 RA71 BC701 AR5 AR12 EM13 EM55 RA58 EM2 CE43 CM3 CS227 CS226 AR2 E36 E2 T64 E264 T10 E210 E3 E38 E23 E9 T87 E287 T20 E220 T66 E266 RA837 RA92 RA10 RA801 E98 E73 E15 T60 E260 T11 E211 T89 E289 T12 E212 RA257 E64 T48 E248 RA34 E94 T85 E285 E37 T37 E237 T37 E237 E37 T92 E292 AR17 H6 HA6