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Fire Incident Reports

February 21, 2008

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Two killed in L.A. trailer fire

Department: LAFD - [Los Angeles, California]

On Friday, February 15, at 5:12 AM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Arson Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 44 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Richard Markota, responded to a Civilian Fatality Fire near 16929 Sherman Way in Van Nuys.

Responding to the many calls of passersby and following a large column of smoke to the location, Firefighters arrived quickly to the rear of a one-story row of multi-tenant commercial occupancies to discover a parked 26' travel trailer fully engulfed in flames.

It took first-arriving Firefighters just 21 minutes to fully control the fire, which destroyed the trailer and all belongings within, but was prevented from causing any more than superficial damage to the nearby businesses.

During the final phase of extinguishing the trailer, Firefighters discovered the remains of an adult male, who was believed to have been using the unattached and non-motorized recreation vehicle as a makeshift residence.

Later that morning, while combing through incinerated debris and moving the toppled remnants of a refrigerator and stove to assist in the investigation, the burned body of a second adult male, as well as the remains of a pet canine were found by Firefighters. All three were declared deceased at the scene.

The presence of a smoke alarm, as well as physical and other factors that may have prevented the egress of the victims, was not able to be immediately determined.

LAFD personnel remained on scene for nearly 11 hours to complete a primary field investigation and assist the Coroner's Office with the discreet and dignified removal of human remains.

A positive identification of the deceased men, as well as the cause, time and manner of their deaths will be determined by the Coroner's Office.

Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $40,000. The cause of the blaze remains under active investigation.

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