Tag Archives: Burbank Fire Deparntment

Burbank Fire Knocks Down Attic Fire and Save The House

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Burbank Fire Department was called for smoke inside a house in the 800 Blk of Valencia Street at 5:02 pm, Thursday, as the units were responding to the assignment, got upgraded to a structure fire.

Burbank Fire Captains Jim Goldstein and Capt Frank Quinones confer with Battalion Chief Edmondo St. Cyr. ( Photo by Ross A Benson)

Burbank Engine 11 was first on scene reporting light smoke showing from the eves of the single-story residents. The property owner was outside and reported no one was in the house, as firefighters moved into the house and the additional equipment arriving was given assignments by the Incident Commander Battalion Chief  Edmondo St Cyr. 

The fire was near the Burbank Glendale border so the assignment included  Glendale Engine 27 and a Truck Company.

Truck eleven’s crew took to the roof to ventilate ( cut holes in the roof to allow the heat to escape)  as Glendale’s truck company took salvage covers into the house to cover furniture and valuables. 

The fire was knocked down quickly with minimal damage and is under routine investigation as to the cause. 

There were no injuries to firefighters and an estimate of damages was unavailable. Burbank Police closed a couple of intersections during the emergency. 

 

Burbank Fire Department Upgrades Dispatch System to Improve Response Time

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Verdugo Fire Dispatch Center ( File Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Beginning at 5 am on Tuesday, May 12, The Verdugo Fire Communications Center (VFCC) implemented a brand-new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software system, the City of Glendale Fire Department announced in a press release Tuesday morning.

The announcement arrived following a two-year development process between the VFCC and the 13 fire agencies it serves, including the Burbank Fire Department (BFD). The previous dispatch system had been in place for 30 years and, although it provided a dependable transmission medium for the BFD, both the quality and quantity of information able to be delivered was restricted. 

Whereas the old system relied on radio data modems to communicate, the new CAD software transmits information through innovative measures which will improve messaging and response times throughout the community.

“The new system transmits data through a private and secure cellular “data tunnel”, which allows for critical information to be transmitted quickly between our dispatch center and field units,” Burbank Deputy Fire Chief Danny Alvarez said.  “Essentially, the new CAD improves the flow of information between callers, dispatchers, fire stations, and mobile units. Additionally, enhanced mapping features provide better situational awareness for our field units and more effective response.”

In their press release, the City of Glendale Fire Department included statistics of California 9-1-1 response times. The state answers 9-1-1 calls in less than 15 seconds 95% of the time, while The Verdugo Fire Communications Center beats this figure by responding to emergency calls within 15 seconds 99.58% of the time. 

Introducing the advanced CAD software will only serve to improve this already-impressive statistic through a strong automatic vehicle location (AVL) arrangement. 

File Photo by © Ross A Benson

“The old CAD system would dispatch units based on pre-identified fire blocks,” Alvarez said. “The new system has an improved AVL system that allows for the CAD to quickly identify the closest unit to the incident, regardless of fire block. The new system also has enhanced mapping features and internet capabilities, which provides better situational awareness for responding units.”

The improved CAD system has emerged in a timely manner when all city units are striving to meet the community’s needs during the global COVID-19 epidemic.

“The Burbank Fire Department is working diligently along with all City departments to continue to provide a high level of service to the City of Burbank during this unprecedented global emergency,” Alvarez said. “Providing for the safety of our employees and our community remains our top priority.” 

 

Burbank Fire Department Makes Quick Knockdown of Late Night House Fire

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Photo by © Ross A Benson

Burbank Fire Department responded to a reported house fire near the intersection of Hampton and Scott Road at 1:05 am. while fire crews were on there way Verdugo Fire Dispatched told the responding units that they were receiving many calls.

Burbank Engine 11 was first on scene reporting a well involved single-story residence with heavy fire from the rear, as additional fire equipment arrived on scene hose lines were laid and the Truck company went to the roof to prepare to ventilate.

Battalion One Kenet Robertson asked for additional equipment along with a Glendale Battalion Chief to respond to act as the Safety Officer, bringing the assignment up to 4 Engines 2 Truck companies a Paramedic Ambulance and the Air Utility.

Photo by © Ross A Benson

Firefighters started getting water on the fire and a couple of propane takes exploded shortly thereafter. Now with a number of firefighters on the scene battling the fire, they started to get a handle on the blaze and called a knockdown some 20 minutes later.

The fire caused no injuries to civilians or firefighters and the cause of the blaze is being investigated by Burbank’s Fire investigator.

 

Fire Causes $2.5 Million in Damages to Burbank Business

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Burbank Fire received a call at 4:24 pm Monday, February 17 of a water flow alarm which means that fire sprinklers had been tripped, at 2930 North San Fernando Blvd.

The first engine arriving at the business (internet search lists the business as Paint Sundries Solution) reported a large commercial building with smoke coming from the rear.

Fire units quickly attacked the fire from inside while ventilating from the roof, with the Incident Commander calling for a second alarm at 4:47 pm.

Crews continued to fight the fire in the rear while the sprinklers inside prevented the fire from spreading to the rest of the building. A knockdown of the fire was finally called at 5:01 pm with 41 firefighters on scene

Two investigators were called to the scene to determine the cause of the fire which has still not been released.

There were no injuries and damage was reported at $500,000 to the structure and $2 million to the contents inside.

Teetering Vehicle Off of Parking Structure Gives Everyone a Scare

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A late-night incident on Thursday, August 1 could have wound up a whole lot worse.

(Photo by Ross A Benson)

Burbank fire was dispatched on a call at V.S.P. Parking at 2612 Hollywood Way, across from Hollywood Burbank Airport, for a vehicle that was halfway over the side of the parking structure with wheels spinning. A rescue response, including an Urban Search and Rescue, were dispatched.

According to Battalion Chief and Department Spokesman John Owings, arriving units “found one vehicle partially over the side on the 2nd story of the parking structure with all occupants out and no injuries.”

It is not known how the driver wound up in that position. Firefighters remained on scene as the vehicle was pulled back.

“Burbank Fire stabilized the vehicle and provided medical care to the driver. BPD (Burbank Police) called a tow truck who was able to pull the car safely from the edge of the structure,” according to Owing.

A car dangles from the parking structure at V.S.P. Parking on Hollywood Way. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

 

House Fire Quickly Extinguished by Firefighters

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(Photo by Ross A Benson)

Although the rain was coming down outside, Burbank firefighters still had their hands full with a house fire that occurred on the 2200 block of Lamer St. Tuesday afternoon around 4 pm.

According to Battalion Chief John Owings, “Upon arrival, units found a one-story residence with a small fire in the living room. The fire was quickly knocked down within minutes of arrival. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians, however, two cats were found deceased.”

(Photo by Ross A Benson)

 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

 

 

 

 

 

Woman Critically Injured After Palm Tree Crushes Vehicle

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Burbank firefighters received a call last Friday night, October 12 at 9:19 pm of a tree that had struck a vehicle at Lakeside Drive and Olive Ave. in Burbank. At the time, rain was strong in the area.

Police arrived first on scene and they discovered a Mercedes convertible that had been struck by a falling tree. The tree landed directly over a woman passenger and just missed the driver directly.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Warner Bros. firefighters arrived on scene right after police had removed both victims from the vehicle and assisted Burbank firefighters with treating both the man and woman, according to Battalion Chief John Owings of the Burbank Fire Department.

The female passenger, whose name has not been released, was rushed to a local trauma hospital in critical condition where she remains. The driver was also taken to the hospital with serious injuries. A second vehicle struck the fallen tree also.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

According to Sgt. Derek Green of the Burbank Police Department, “The driver, now identified as Jonathan Ortiz, 29, of North Hollywood, was found to be in possession of a handgun and narcotics while on parole. After being treated at the hospital, Ortiz was placed under arrest and transported to the Burbank City Jail, where he was booked for possessing a firearm while in possession of narcotics.  He is currently being held without bail by the California Department of Corrections.”

Green also reported that the occupants of the second vehicle were not seriously injured.

Police say that the cause of the accident is still under investigation with Owings adding “The cause of the tree falling has not yet been determined.”

Firefighters Work Fast to Knock Down House Fire

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Burbank firefighters received a call at 7:07 Wednesday morning, October 10, of a house fire in the 2100 block of North Brighton.

Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Burbank Police officers on patrol near Robert Lundgren Park noticed smoke a couple of blocks away and responded finding upon their arrival, a one-story house with heavy fire in the front room. 

“As a result of an aggressive attack from Burbank firefighters, the fire was confined to the room of origin and knockdown was declared at 7:20 am”, according to Battalion Chief John Owings.

(Photo by Ross A Benson)

 

Burbank Police Officers on the scene reported the house appeared to be vacant. 

There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians and the cause is under investigation.

 

 

Burbank Firefighters Quickly Take Care of House Fire

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Burbank fire received a report of a roof on fire in the 700 block of East Valencia on Friday, August 17 at 3:43 pm.

Upon arrival, Engine 11 reported heavy smoke coming from the attic vents in the house and proceeded to lay a line to start fire attack while Truck 11 arrived on scene and started to vent the roof.

Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Once they vented the roof, the fire could be briefly seen before being doused by the quick acting firemen. Other firefighters quickly entered the residence with tarps to spread over the furniture to help protect it from smoke and water damage.

Incident command asked for an additional paramedic unit and two more engines to help with manpower. Glendale’s Truck 21 also responded and assisted at the scene as part of the mutual aid agreement between the cities.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

 

Battalion Chief Kenet Robertson called a knockdown of the fire at 4:09 pm while crews continued to work on salvage at the scene.

There were no injuries reported and the damage amount has been listed at $100.000.00 to the structure and $75, 000 to the contents. The cause of the fire was not reported a witness at the scene noted that there was workman working at the house at the time the fire started.

Burbank Police Officers Checking on a Restraining Order Arrive to Shots Being Fired UPDATED

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(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

UPDATED Sat Evening at 9:00 PM

Burbank Police held a press conference Saturday afternoon, June 16, to release additional information related to the incident that occurred Friday evening, June 15, in the 1500 block of North Niagara Street.

Burbank Police released the suspect’s name as Gilberto Siose, a 50-year-old man from Los Angeles. Siose was placed under arrest and booked for attempted murder, arson of an inhabited dwelling and an outstanding warrant for a traffic violation related to driving under the influence, according to Sergeant Derek Green in a press release. He is currently being held on a $6,045,000 bail.

The police reported that the suspect was involved in an incident earlier in the week in Glendale. during which he allegedly assaulted the same woman whom he targeted Friday night.

Burbank Police reported that the suspect had a relationship with one of the women rescued from the house. They also said the suspect had once lived in the house at one time.

Siose allegedly used a handgun to force his way into the home, reported Green. Once inside the home, he “fired several gunshots and deliberately set fire to household combustibles.”

The fire burned for some time until the police could provide protection for the firefighters.

“The fire spread quickly and completely destroyed the home,” added Green.

Burbank police rescued some animals from the house including rabbits and cats. They are being treated by the Burbank Animal Shelter but a few of those animals are deceased.

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Burbank Police responded to a reported restraining order violation around 10:23 Friday night in the 1500 block of Niagara Street. When the first officers arrived they heard shots being fired from the rear yard.

They approached the house and found three individuals inside the home those same officers also saw a fire was started in the front living room. They assisted the individuals out of the house after breaking a window. The officers confirmed with the people they brought out that shots had been fired, and the suspect was still in the area.

Assisting the ground units was the Burbank Air Support helicopter and they observed a suspect fleeing the rear yard. A perimeter was set up and additional resources were requested. Burbank Police SWAT team along with K-9’s from Burbank and Glendale were deployed and  Pasadena and the City of San Fernando assisted with maintaining the perimeter where the suspect could have fled.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

The Burbank Fire Department was called and with the protection of police officers with shotguns worked on extinguishing the house fire that was consuming the whole house.

Once Burbank Fire had a majority of the fire knocked down they retreated to a safe zone until officers could locate the suspect.

At approximately 3:15 a.m. the next morning officers with the aid of several K-9s located the suspect hiding in a rear yard in the 1400 block of Catalina Street. The suspect did not comply with directions from police and K9s were deployed. The suspect was taken into custody after being bit on his arm. He was transported to a local hospital to be treated prior to being arrested and booked.

During the incident, no shots were fired by any police officer, and Burbank Fire Department returned to the house to extinguish any remaining fire.

Burbank police detectives along with a fire investigator will remain on scene through the day continuing their investigations.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

The streets of Burbank were protected by Burbank Airport Police along with officers from the City of Pasadena. They answered routine calls that continued to come into the police dispatch center including some alarm calls and a traffic accident involving a drunk driver.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burbank Police Detective Bureau at 818-238-3210. If you wish to remain anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS
(8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” or by using the website
www.LACrimeStoppers.org.

Additional pictures have been included in this gallery. (Click any picture to enlarge it.)