VIDEO: Person in custody after massive Los Angeles apartment complex fire

One person was taken into custody Thursday evening in connection with a massive structure fire inside a two-story apartment building in Westlake. Calls about the fire came in around 5:15 p.m. at a building located on the 2800 block of 7th Street, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Fire Department. Prior to the fire breaking out inside the complex, an LAFD engine was already on scene to support an LAPD operation. The call was upgraded to a structure fire response after one of the firefighters saw smoke coming from a window. Heavy flames were showing in both the second floor and attic, and additional resources were requested. In total, more than 100 firefighters responded to the scene, the Fire Department said. The building was fully evacuated and firefighters worked their way through the building to ensure that no people were trapped inside.
KTLA-TV CW 5 Los Angeles

Napa County opens new Carneros fire station

PHOTOS: Napa County’s rural Carneros region finally has a bigger, better fire station located in an area southwest of the city of Napa that has had some high-profile emergencies. This is the area where the 2017 Partrick Fire raged. Busy Highway 12/121 linking Napa and Sonoma counties has had some road-shutting accidents requiring fire department response. No longer will firefighters use what looks like a small metal shed for a station. The new $2 million, 1,900-square-foot station is also basic, but has things the old station lacked — two bays instead of one for fire engines and equipment, as well as an office and a restroom.
Napa Valley Register

Fresno Fire Department says number of fires decreased since last year

A string of recent fires have kept Fresno fire crews busy during the past week, but even with the recent fire activity, officials with the department said numbers show fire activity has gone down from last year. Fresno fire’s Jonathan Lopez told us today that compared to last year at this time, the number of fires in the City of Fresno has gone down; this includes fires that are suspected to be homeless related fires or warming fires. Lopez said that last year at the end of January there were a total of 682 fires and this year that number has been cut in half. We are at the end of the month and they have documented 394 fires so far for 2023. These are numbers for all fire types within the city, one of their more recent incidents was an apartment fire a couple of days ago on east Tyler and North First Street.
KGPE-TV CBS 47 Fresno

2 dead in San Jose crash where car burst into flames

Early Friday morning, the San Jose Police Department investigated a solo car accident in the area of Cottle Road and Blossom Hill Road that killed two people. Around 4:20 a.m., police responded to the scene where they found a Hyundai Sedan, reported stolen Thursday, occupied by a juvenile male driver and two passengers. Officers said the car had crashed into a light pole on the southeast corner of the on-ramp to Blossom Hill Road. The car was reportedly speeding northbound on Cottle Road when it crashed. The crash caused the car to burst into flames, according to officials. Officers said the driver suffered non-life threatening injuries while a male passenger was pronounced dead at the scene and a female passenger was taken to the hospital where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
KRON-TV MyNetworkTV 4 San Francisco

Multiple Merced businesses impacted by fire

Damages are being assessed after a late-night fire burned several Merced businesses. The fire chief says crews were called out just after 10 pm on Main Street at H Street as flames spread in three buildings. At least one business is a total loss, with the roof and surrounding walls weakened from the flames. All units from the City of Merced, as well as Merced County fire crews and a local trucking company were on hand to monitor the fire. PG&E was also on scene. There's no word yet on how this fire started.
KFSN-TV ABC 30 Fresno

Man dies after fall at Port of Los Angeles

A man was killed after falling roughly 50 feet from top of a ship at the Port of Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the 2500 block of S. Navy Way around 4:45 p.m., initially for a rescue operation. When firefighters arrived on scene, however, they found that the man had been gravely injured. “Firefighters/Paramedics initiated resuscitative measures, but sadly, the man was beyond medical help,” LAFD said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials say the man fell from the superstructure of the ship onto the deck below. The circumstances are under investigation. The Los Angeles Port Police will be investigating the incident. The United States Coast Guard has also been informed.
KTLA-TV CW 5 Los Angeles

People impersonating fire inspectors in Stockton

In Stockton, there is a possibility that people are impersonating fire inspectors, the Stockton Fire Department said in a Facebook post. The fire department said that city fire inspectors will have a city identification badge as well as be in uniform. They will also identify themselves and state the reason for their visit. If the person refuses to show their city identification badge, the fire department suggests not allowing them to inspect your business. The fire department said that the Stockton Fire Prevention Bureau knows about this issue.
KTXL-TV FOX 40 Sacramento

Region: 2022 fire season lighter than feared, but 2023 challenges loom

Fire chiefs from around the West Coast gathered Wednesday to reflect on the 2022 fire season and look ahead to the dangers presented in 2023. Last year, Southern Oregon and Northern California were spared the worst. Officials say additional rainfall as a result of La Nina helped keep wildfires to a minimum in the Northwest. "There are complex variables that all impact what the fire weather situation looks like and we try to distill it down to something understandable. It's very useful data not just for fire service professionals to prepare for the upcoming fire season but also for our communities," Western Fire Chiefs Association Interim Deputy Director Bob Horton said. One factor fire officials say helped is the loosening of COVID restrictions.
KTVL CBS/CW+ 10 Medford

Lathrop: Extra cent pays for 9 firefighters, 5.5 police officers

The extra penny that shoppers in Lathrop paid on every dollar spent in town went a long way last fiscal year. According to the status report for the fiscal year that ended on June 30 of last year, Measure C funding paid for 5.5 police officers – two community impact team deputies, an administrative sergeant, a school resource officer, a detective, and half of a traffic deputy (the general fund paid the other half) – as well as the staffing for the Lathrop Generations Center. Measure C funding also paid for capital improvement projects like the installation of crime deterrent cameras, a citywide fiber network, a fence around the skate park, and a new floor for the Lathrop Senior Center. And police weren’t the only public safety element funded by the extra penny paid on every dollar.
Manteca Bulletin

Firefighters contain structure fire in Redding

PHOTOS: The Redding Fire Department has provided more information on the commercial structure fire that damaged the Paint Mart in Redding. At approximately 9:53 p.m. Wednesday, firefighters from the Redding Fire Department responded to a fire alarm in the Paint Mart building on Larkspur Lane. Upon arrival at the scene, crews reported a single-story commercial building with heavy smoke showing from the structure. Firefighters took up a defensive attack on the fire and a second alarm response was requested. The Redding Fire Department says that it took approximately 40 minutes to get knockdown on the fire and crews remained on scene for another four hours to conduct mop-up operations. Authorities say that there was major damage to the interior of Paint Mart and the contents within were a total loss.
KHSL-TV CBS 12 Chico

Officials: Oaths to 7 firefighters mark growth, progress in Suisun

Brian Kermoade started his career in the city Fire Department more than two decades ago – as a volunteer. Kermoade on Tuesday – along with three captains and three engineers, including the first full-time female firefighter – took an oath of office as the department’s new division chief of training. Kermoade holds a doctorate in contemporary organization and management business practices, an educational resume that started with an associate degree in liberal studies, a bachelor’s in communications studies and a master’s in business administration. Chief Brad Lopez said the department has experienced a 42% increase in calls for service over the past five years, and noted since 2019 – and supported by Measure S resources – has graduated from a basic life support agency to an advanced life support agency, “providing for a more effective response to fires and a greater level of emergency medical care to our citizens.”
Daily Republic