Recently in fire Category
EAST VALINDA -- A fire badly damaged a home early Thursday, though the residents escaped injury, officials said.
Firefighters responded to a report of a blaze about 6:20 a.m. at the rear house on a property in the 200 block of North Hambledon Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Quvondo Johnson said.
The home was well-involved with fire when firefighters arrived, however the home's residents had gotten out safely, according to fire and sheriff's officials said.
Firefighters battled the blaze for more than 20 minutes before it was extinguished, Johnson said.
The damage to the home was extensive, however a dollar-value estimate was not immediately available, officials said. The cause of the remained under investigation.
The Red Cross was summoned to the scene to help find temporary lodging for eight adults and two children displaced from the home, Johnson said.
WHITTIER -- A fire damaged a home, along with a 75-year-old pickup truck, but caused no injuries Friday, authorities said.
The blaze was first reported just after 11:30 a.m. at a house in the 14300 block of Chestnut Street, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Quvondo Johnson said.
"On arrival, we did see smoke and fire coming from a single-story, single-family dwelling," he said.
A man who lives at the home returned from a trip to the store just before firefighters arrived, Capt. Matt Arledge said. He and a neighbor were trying to control the flames with water hoses.
Firefighters extinguished the flames by 11:50 a.m., Johnson said. No one was injured.
The fire mainly scorched only one room of the home, however the house sustained smoke damage throughout, Battalion Chief Ron Cabrera said. The blaze left the home uninhabitable pending repairs.
The blaze caused an estimated $200,000 worth of damage to the home and its contents, including a 1937 Chevrolet pickup truck parked at the property, the residents, Keith and Nancy Kowalsi, had been restoring, officials said.
The couple has invested about $20,000 in the project and had planned to continue the restoration, Nancy Kowalsi said.
Additionally, Nancy Kowalski said, a chest she inherited from her mother containing china and a doll collection was consumed by the blaze.
Nonetheless, she said she was just happy no one was hurt.
"It's all stuff," she said. "It can be replaced."
Nancy Kowalski said she normally would be home at the time the fire broke out, but she was delayed at work Friday due to a malfunctioning copy machine.
The couple has lived in the home for 15 years, she added.
The cause of the fire was initially believed to be accidental, possibly caused by discarded smoking materials, officials said.
ARCADIA -- An intense fire Thursday destroyed a vacant Arcadia home that was in the process of being sold, authorities said.
The fire was first reported about 6:25 p.m. in the 1300 block of South First Avenue, Arcadia Fire Department spokeswoman Beth Stogner said in a written statement.
Both Arcadia and Monrovia firefighters responded to the blaze, which had already engulfed the home when they arrived, Stogner said.
"The structure was dangerously unstable due to a heavy interior fire load," she said. "Taking a defensive stance, firefighters extinguished the fire utilizing exterior tactics."
The fire did not spread to nearby structures, including the nearby Richard Henry Dana Middle School gym, officials said.
The cause of the fire, which caused an estimated $300,000 worth of damage, remained under investigation, Stogner said.
The home was vacant and was in the escrow process when the fire occurred, she said.
PHOTOS courtesy of the Arcadia Fire Department
SAN MARINO -- A massive fire caused an estimated $2 million worth of damage to a real estate office early Friday, authorities said.
No one was injured in the four-alarm blaze, which was first reported at 1:11 a.m. at Masters Realty, 2476 Huntington Drive, San Marino Fire Department officials said in a written statement.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation Friday, San Marino Fire Department Division Chief Rick Mayhew said.
"They're actually still trying to dig through all of the rubble to get to the actual point of origin," Mayhew said.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke pouring out of the windows of the business, officials said. They immediately called for additional firefighters and began attacking the flames.
"The extreme fire conditions inside the occupancy kept firefighters from advancing any further into the structure," the statement said.
Firefighters then called for additional backup and used large, truck-mounted hoses to control the fire before sending personnel in with handheld hoses, officials said.
Authorities continued battling the blaze for more than two and a half hours, fire officials said.
"Due to the effective actions all firefighters on scene, the fire was contained to the occupancy of origin, thus preventing any losses to the adjacent business," according to the written statement.
The neighboring business attached to Masters Realty sustained only minor damage, Mayhew said.
In addition to the San Marino Fire Department, officials from the Los Angeles County, San Gabriel, Alhambra, Arcadia, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Monterey Park and Glendale assisted with the fire.
The fire departments make up a cooperative team of agencies that often works and trains with each other, Mayhew explained.
"They did an outstanding job, Mayhew said. "They work really well together."
Andy Michael Troncale
4/8/1959 - 1/23/2012
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
Wonderful husband, father, son and friend, Andy Michael Troncale lost his valiant battle with cancer on January 23, 2012 at the age of 52.
Born to parents Steve and Evelyn Troncale and raised in Covina, CA, Andy graduated from Covina High School in 1977 and attended Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, CA, where he studied fire science. Andy later earned his Bachelor Degree from Cal State Long Beach.
Andy developed an interest in the fire service early in life and began his career as an explorer with Los Angeles County Fire Department at the age of 16. He worked for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for a brief time before being hired by the Arcadia Fire Department in 1979. Andy received several awards during his career, including the City
of Arcadia Exceptional Service Award and Arcadia Fire Department Firefighter of the Year.
As a senior Captain, he embodied the finest qualities of a true firefighter. Andy served the citizens of Arcadia with honor and distinction for nearly 30 years, retiring from the Arcadia Fire Department in 2009 after being diagnosed with advanced stage colon cancer.
Andy's smile and sense of humor endeared him quickly to all who crossed his path. His greatest love was his family. He married the love of his life, Debbie (Clark) in 1986 and had three sons, Clark, Chad and Clint. He also loved animals, especially his dogs Cocoa and Gigi.
Andy's interests included model trains, fishing, baseball, football, hockey, weightlifting and bicycle riding. Andy enjoyed cooking Italian food using family recipes and was a barbeque expert.
Andy is predeceased by his mother, Evelyn, and his brother, Steven. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Debbie, and their three sons, Clark (22), Chad (20), and Clint (17), his father, Steve, sister, Paula, in-laws Robert and Diane Clark, brothers-in law, nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, January 29, 2012 from 4:00 - 7:00 (Rosary at 5:00 pm) at Douglass & Zook Chapel of Remembrance Funeral Home, 600 E Foothill Blvd, Monrovia, CA 91016.
Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, January 30, 2012, at 10:00 am at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 370 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA. Interment will follow at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Andy Troncale Benevolent Fund by mail through the Los Angeles Firemen's Credit Union, 815 W Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041 or online at www.firefamilyfoundation.org.
- Courtesy of the Arcadia Fire Department
Pasadena Fire Department firefighters doing their thing at a chimney fire Sunday night in the 900 block of South Madison Avenue.- Courtesy of Jamie Nicholson, PFD Volunteer
Sunday's blaze was the second chimney fire handled by the PFD this week.
PFD spokeswoman Lisa Derderian reminded residents to check their chimneys annually, and that now is an especially important time to do so, as recent windstorms may have caused extra debris to accumulate.
WEST COVINA -- An attic fire late Thursday cause more than $200,000 in damage to a home but injured no one, officials said.
The fire was reported about 9:15 p.m. in the 700 block of East Merced Avenue, West Covina Fire Department firefighter/paramedic Scott Gilmore said.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the roof vents and eaves of the home, the firefighter said.
Nineteen firefighters extinguished the fire in about half an hour, he said.
The blaze was determined to have originated with the homes chimney, Gilmore said. It appeared some recent construction at the home may have created a breach in the chimney that allowed flames from the home's fireplace to get into the attic.
Officials estimated the fire cause $175,000 worth of damage to the home and $50,000 to the home's contents.
LA MIRADA -- A home was gutted by a fast-spreading fire early Saturday, however its residents escaped harm thanks to a smoke detector, authorities said.
The blaze broke out about 8 a.m. on Sabine Drive, between Gabbett and Tanfield drives, Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Greg Lombardo said.
Two men were asleep when the fire ignited, he said. One was awakened by a smoke detector and alerted the other before both got out of the home.
The home was already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived just a couple of minutes later, the captain said.
The home was largely gutted, he said, however firefighters were able to salvage many valuables from the home.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation, however it was believed to have originated in a room addition to the home before spreading throughout the structure.
WHITTIER -- A couple were left homeless Thursday night after a fire that started in the kitchen destroyed the home they were renting.
Whittier police Sgt. Dominic Iraldo said damages were estimated at $250,000 to the structure and $75,000 to the contents. He said no one was injured.
The fire was reported just after 11 p.m. in the 5300 block of Carley Avenue. He said arriving officers saw the fire rapidly spreading throughout the residence.
The fire began in the kitchen while one of the residents was cooking Thursday night.
"She turned away from the stove approximately two minutes. When she returned, the stove was ablaze," he said.
The woman thinks the cooking grease caught fire, according to Iraldo.
She also told police she saw an oven mitt hanging above the stove catch fire then fall onto the stove.
"When she realized there was a grease fire she put water on it. (She said) she put it out," Officer Hugo Figueroa said.
Figueroa said the woman and her boyfriend walked out of the house because the kitchen was full of smoke. But when they were outside, he said the couple realized the fire hadn't been extinguished.
Los Angeles County firefighters knocked down the blaze at 11:31 p.m.
Police said the Red Cross was helping the residents find shelter.
- Ruby Gonzales
VALINDA - Officials have released the name of a 73-year-old man who died in a house fire on Christmas Day.
Jim Dan Clark, 73, was pronounced dead at the scene of Sunday's 7:55 p.m. fire at his home in the 1800 block of Aileron Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Chief of Operations Craig Harvey said.
An autopsy was planned to determine Clark's cause of death, Harvey said.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation Tuesday, Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion Chief Ken Douglass said.
Firefighters led by LACFD Station 26 arrived to find "smoke and fire showing from a single-family residence," Douglass said. They used "offensive" tactics to beat back the flames.
When they entered the home through the front door, they found the living room "fully involved" with fire, he said.
After extinguishing the flames, "the victim was found in the kitchen during a primary search," the battalion chief said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The single-story house was destroyed by the blaze, according to sheriff's officials.
The West Covina Fire Department's Engine 4 assisted with the fire, Douglass added.
Because the fire involved a death, detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau are taking part in the investigation, authorities said.
The handling detective could not be reached for comment early Tuesday.
ROWLAND HEIGHTS - Firefighters putting out a two-story house fire Monday night discovered more than 500 marijuana plants being grown there.
Authorities late Monday night found more than 500 marijuana plants growing in a home in the 18000 block of Villa Clara Street in Rowland Heights, said Sgt. Tim Robarge of the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff's Station.
The fire department received a call about a structure fire at 10:49 p.m., said Andre Gougis, supervising dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Firefighters found the second floor on fire. About 25 firefighters knocked down the blaze at 11:19 p.m.
Fire officials notified the sheriff's Walnut/Diamond Bar station about the pot plants at the house.
Each room had plants that were being grown at different stages, Robarge said, adding that a majority of the house had been converted to be a grow house, with various lights, filters and electrical jerry rigging.
"That's probably what caused the fire," Robarge said of the electrical wiring.
Authorities believe the house was being rented, but it has not been confirmed, Robarge said.
One person was injured as a result of the fire.
The investigation is ongoing.
- From staff reports
Authorities late Monday night found more than 500 marijuana plants growing in a home in the 18000 block of Villa Clara Street in Rowland Heights, said Sgt. Tim Robarge of the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff's Station.
The fire department received a call about a structure fire at 10:49 p.m., said Andre Gougis, supervising dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Firefighters found the second floor on fire. About 25 firefighters knocked down the blaze at 11:19 p.m.
Fire officials notified the sheriff's Walnut/Diamond Bar station about the pot plants at the house.
Each room had plants that were being grown at different stages, Robarge said, adding that a majority of the house had been converted to be a grow house, with various lights, filters and electrical jerry rigging.
"That's probably what caused the fire," Robarge said of the electrical wiring.
Authorities believe the house was being rented, but it has not been confirmed, Robarge said.
One person was injured as a result of the fire.
The investigation is ongoing.
- From staff reports
ARCADIA - Three animals died of smoke inhalation early Tuesday morning during a structure fire, according to Arcadia Fire Department officials.
The Fire Department responded to a fire at a single-story home on the 200 block of East Haven Avenue in Arcadia at 7:49 a.m. Tuesday, officials said.
Upon arriving, firefighters witnessed heavy smoke showing from the attic of the home. The fire was confined to the area and was knocked down within 10 minutes, fire department officials said.
The homeowners were not at home at the time of the incident, but the property owner was contacted and responded to the scene.
Three animals in the home were found dead after suffering from smoke inhalation, officials said. The type of animals killed in the fire was not available.
No people were injured.
The total cost of damages is about $40,000, officials said.
- From staff reports
MONROVIA -- A dog died in a house fire Thursday, however no people were injured, authorities said.
The fire broke out about 10:30 p.m. in the 200 block of East Chestnut Avenue, Monrovia police Sgt. Dan Verna said.
The interior of the home was on fire when officials arrived, however the family residing at the home had safely gotten out, the sergeant said.
Monrovia Fire Department firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, which centered in the home's living room, Verna said.
A family dog -- a Boxer -- was unable to get out of the home and died, apparently as a result of the smoke, officials said.
The home was determined to be uninhabitable, he added, and the residents stayed with local family members for the night.
The officials cause of the fire remained under investigation, Verna said. Though officials noted the blaze was most intense near the home's Christmas tree, residents reported it was not lit when the fire erupted.
BALDWIN PARK -- One dog died and another was resuscitated by firefighters following a large house fire late Wednesday, officials said.
No humans were hurt, either civilian or firefighter, in the blaze, which was reported about 10:30 p.m. in the 14700 block of Macdevvit Street, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said.
Firefighters arrived to find the house already well-involved with fire, Capt. Steve Scheidemantle said.
The home's three adult residents had gotten themselves out of the burning home safely, but reported their two pet dogs were still trapped inside, the captain said.
Firefighters went into the home and pulled out the dogs, both of which were unconscious, Scheidemantle said.
A medium-sized dog died at the scene, he said, however firefighters were able to use an oxygen tank to resuscitate a small dog pulled from the home.
A malfunctioning electrical outlet was initially blamed for the fire, though the cause remained under investigation, officials said.
The blaze caused an estimated $230,000 worth of damage to the house and its contents, authorities added. The Red Cross helped in finding temporary lodgings for the three people displaced from the home.
No humans were hurt, either civilian or firefighter, in the blaze, which was reported about 10:30 p.m. in the 14700 block of Macdevvit Street, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said.
Firefighters arrived to find the house already well-involved with fire, Capt. Steve Scheidemantle said.
The home's three adult residents had gotten themselves out of the burning home safely, but reported their two pet dogs were still trapped inside, the captain said.
Firefighters went into the home and pulled out the dogs, both of which were unconscious, Scheidemantle said.
A medium-sized dog died at the scene, he said, however firefighters were able to use an oxygen tank to resuscitate a small dog pulled from the home.
A malfunctioning electrical outlet was initially blamed for the fire, though the cause remained under investigation, officials said.
The blaze caused an estimated $230,000 worth of damage to the house and its contents, authorities added. The Red Cross helped in finding temporary lodgings for the three people displaced from the home.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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