Burbank Trash Fee Hike; Glendale blaze
Catching up from the weekend...
- In case you haven't heard, Burbank homeowners will be seeing a $1.61 hike in trash fees beginning July 1. That's an 8 percent hike. It's because of operations expenses -- read fuel and salaries. Leader
- Meanwhile, firefighters battle stubborn blaze in South Glendale Residence
On Monday, June 25, 2007 at 5:11 AM, 6 Companies of Glendale Firefighters, 1 Rescue Ambulance, 1 Air Utility and the Arson Investigation Unit under the direction of Battalion Chief Corey Creasey responded to a Structure Fire at 1814 Vassar Ave. in South Glendale.
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Glendale Engine 22 arrived on-scene and discovered heavy smoke to ground level throughout the neighborhood impeding their vision to identify the actual location of the incident. Upon further investigation, a fire was located in an abandoned single story, single family residence in the 1800 block of Vassar Ave. In attempt to gain entry, firefighters encountered a security fence around the perimeter of the property as well as security bars on doors and windows of the structure. Utilizing fire axes and rotary saws, firefighters were able to gain entry onto the property and into the structure within minutes of arriving on-scene. With heavy fire visible from the basement and extension into the main living areas of the structure, Engine Company firefighters coordinated an aggressive attack by extending hose lines to initiate fire attack as Truck company members performed vertical ventilation and forcible entry.
Knocking down the fire in the basement area, firefighters advanced onto the first floor discovering fire extending into several rooms as well as traveling through the walls. Concerned with structural fatigue as a result of the basement involvement, firefighters “sounded” as they advanced through the interior performing fire attack and primary search duties. Weakened floor members were located and identified by firefighters avoiding potential floor collapse that could result in injury to firefighting personnel.
Completing primary search no occupants were located in or around the structure. It took the members of the Glendale Fire Department just 28 minutes to report a knockdown of the fire at 5:29 AM. Extensive overhaul was performed by firefighters to confirm extinguishment of the structure and contents. No civilian injuries or fatalities occurred; however, one firefighter was injured during suppression operations and received a back injury. The early morning fire is suspicious and Arson investigators are currently working to determine the actual cause. Damage assessment report indicates $220,000 to the structure and $0 contents. Duration of incident was 4 hours and 48 minutes.