Los Angeles Firefighters battled a fast moving fire that caused significant damage to a South Los Angeles home and displaced a family of seven.

At 10:09 AM on January 17, 2016, the LAFD responded to a Structure Fire at 637 E 115th Street. Firefighters arrived on-scene to find a one-story 1,215 square-foot home with heavy smoke billowing out. The fire appeared to have began in a room centered in the house and was further fueled by medical oxygen tanks inside. Flames swiftly spread to most of the 93 year-old house and extended into the attic. 

One of the seven residents was home at the time of the fire, fortunately he was alerted by functional smoke alarms and got out in-the-nick-of-time. He suffered minor smoke inhalation and was treated by firefighters, however declined transport to a hospital. No one else was injured. A total of 32 firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Fortman, fully extinguished the flames in 23 minutes.
The home suffered significant damage from both smoke and fire and approximately 90% of all contents were lost.

Firefighters gave the family a $100 SAVE card (prepaid credit card). When a family’s place of residence is damaged, they are often in shock and confused about what to do next and many times they are left without basic necessities such as medicine or food. The SAVE program offers immediate assistance for a meal, or other vital essentials such as clothes or a place to stay the night.  

The Incident Commander also contacted the American Red Cross who further assisted the seven displaced. The fire cause was electrical in nature.

Dispatched Units BC13 E221 E233 E264 E64 E65 EM13 RA264 RA64 T21 T33 T64.