Elderly Rescued as 3-Alarm Hotel Fire Spreads Through Concealed Spaces
Photo by Phil McBride
photo by Phil McBride
Evacuation of elderly residents was the first priority of Los Angeles County fire fighters who battled a three-alarm fire in a historic Whittier, Calif., hotel. There was no life loss, but damage was estimated at $750,000.
The three-story William Penn Hotel, built in 1924, was once a showcase of the southeastern Los Angeles County city. Recently, the structure at 13206 Philadelphia Street in the downtown area had been a hotel for the elderly.
At 5:20 a.m. last February 5, the Los Angeles dispatching center received the alarm and dispatched Engines 28, 17,96, 59, Truck 28, Squad 28 and Battalion Chief Edward Spruill. Station 28 is less than half a mile from the hotel.
On arrival, Engine 28 Captain Jack Rideout saw people at windows on the second and third floors and coming out the front entrance.
Second-alarm response
A second alarm was immediately requested. This brought in Engines 40 and 15, Truck 49, Battalion 3 Chief Jack McNicoll and Assistant Chief James Enright.
Rideout directed Truck 28 to begin evacuation and Engine 17 to assist Engine 28 in setting up lines. As the apparatus stopped in front of the hotel, flames were visible only in room 235 on the second floor.
The captain then redirected Engines 17 and 28 to assist in search and evacuation. Rideout went to the second floor and saw that the fire apparently had not extended beyond room 235.
Meanwhile, the county fire fighters brought many people down ground ladders and led others down inside stairs. One resident in a wheelchair was brought down by fire fighters.
Los Angeles County C D. photo
Los Angeles County F I), phote
A third alarm was requested at 5:30 a.m. and Engines 25 and 102, Trucks 20 and 3, Squad 40 and Deputy Chief Ronald King were dispatched. At 5:45 a.m., a special call was made for Squad 49, Truck 27 and the Santa Fe Spring Air Bottle Unit.
Directs stream into room
Fire Fighter William Bell put a ladder to the second floor and brought down a woman leaning out the window. He then took a 1 ½ -inch line from Engine 28 through the window and into the hall, where he extinguished burning carpeting. He directed a stream into room 235 and noted that water also was being directed into the room from the outside. Another l’/2-inch line was taken in through the lobby.
The fire was knocked down and Bell made a search of the bed and floor.
Rideout was informed via radio that fire was now visible from outside at the third-floor window directly above room 235. He and others took a 1 ½ -inch line to the third floor, where fire was rapidly gaining headway.
Roof opening attempted
Cracking sounds were emanating from the interior walls. Captain Ron Creath of Truck 28, took his crew and others with 1 ½ and 2½ -inch lines onto the roof for ventilation. Fire and heavy smoke were coming out the roof-top vents.
As the roof started to soften, Spruill ordered personnel off the burning east wing and onto the west wing to start ventilation. Shortly thereafter, the battalion chief directed Rideout to remove all personnel from inside the east wing, as the roof was beginning to collapse.
Additional incoming units placed hose lines into operation, pumped into the dry standpipe system, and attempted to confine the fire. Flames now had spread into the first-floor restaurant through false ceilings.
Suppression efforts were aimed at keeping the fire from spreading to the west wing. Despite the multitude of concealed spaces and vertical and horizontal openings, there was little smoke or water damage in this wing.
One fire fighter fractured an ankle while working on an aerial ladder.
Flees burning room
It was determined that the room where the fire started was occupied by a 91-year-old man who was awakened by heat and smoke. He left his room, tried to reenter for personal belongings but was unable to get in. He then took an elevator to the lobby and was met by the night clerk, who had heard a loud popping noise. The night clerk summoned the fire department and then aroused the manager and his family, who alerted guests in the west wing.
Whittier police officers arrived prior to the fire department and assisted in evacuation. A center was established at a nearby church. Not one of the 75 elderly tenants was seriously injured or required hospitalization.
According to Dick Friend, L.A. County fire information officer, it was determined that the fire spread from the floor of room 235 up a raceway for ventilation and plumbing pipes. Above the third floor, it spread laterally, involving most of the attic over the east wing. The fire also spread laterally in a large crawl space between the first and second floors. Furniture in the room of origin was of polyurethane construction and intense heat ruptured the ceiling of that room.
The fire was declared under control by 8 a.m. □ □
