High Rise Fire Critically Injures One
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.
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
