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High Rise Fire Critically Injures One

Thursday, August 31, 2017
Interior view of fire room with broken window
Sprinkler prevents 9th floor fire from spreading
Photo Credits: Creative Commons Licensed For Your Use: LAFD Photo | David Ortiz
Los Angeles-

Fire on the 9th floor of Sheraton Universal Hotel was stopped from spreading but critically injured one person.

At 12:37PM, on August 30, 2017, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 10600 W Universal Place.  Upon arriving, firefighters found smoke in the lobby of the Sheraton Universal hotel (26 stories).  Alarm indicators in the Fire Control Room alerted firefighters to activation of the sprinkler system on the 9th floor.  The 302,399 sq ft structure, built in 1968, was undergoing rennovations and no guests were staying on the 9th floor.  Crews began ascending the stairs, carrying high-rise hose packs and forcible entry tools. They encountered heavy smoke but no fire and moved forward with an investigation.  Firefighters located the fire unit and found a contents fire being held in check by a sprinkler.  They quickly extinguished the fire while additional members performed a search of the unit and nearby rooms for any possible victims.

In the room adjacent to the fire unit, firefighters found an unconcious, adult male in grave condition.  All focus centered on getting the patient down to the lobby and administering advanced life saving medical treatment.  Firefighters performed CPR while providing rapid transport to a local trauma center.

The potential danger of a high-rise fire initially raised this incident to a Major Emergeny level, with over 115 firefighters working under Assitance Chief Surgey Tomlinson.  However, once the fire was extinguished, it was scaled down and an extensive salvage and overhaul operations began.  Water from the sprinkler system cascaded down from the 9th floor to the lobby.  Firefighters remained on scene throughout the afternoon, working to protect property and remove the immediate water hazard.  

The cause of the fire is under active investigating by the LAFD Arson and Counter-Terriorism Unit.  One male firefighter was transported in fair condition with a non-traumatic medical illness and was later released from the hospital to recover at home.

Incident Photo Gallery

Dispatched units:E86  E76  RA76  E60  T60  RA860  E278  T78  BC14  BC5  E90  H2  H4  H5  E39  T39  T27  E227  E82  E27  E97  E288  T88  CM42  E289  T89  EM12  BC12  BC10  BC18  BC11  E61  RA60  RA78  CL1  EM12  EM18  AR12  AR2  EM14  E211  T11  T39  E239  HU59  AR13  PH1  RA82  RA60  PI1  PI2  E260  

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