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Memorial Services for Fallen Firefighter
Dear Friend of the LAFD,
Memorial services have been scheduled for fallen Los Angeles Firefighter Brent Lovrien (see article below), and we cordially invite you to two public events which will celebrate his life:
- Candle Light Vigil -
Thursday, April 3, 2008
5:00 PM
Fire Station 5
8900 Emerson Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90045 |
All are welcome at this public event, which is being held at a Fire Station near where Brent worked. Carpooling is encouraged. Interactive Map with Driving Directions: http://snipurl.com/22vyh
- Memorial Services and Interment -
Friday, April 4, 2008
9:30 AM
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
555 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
All are warmly welcomed to attend this public tribute to our fallen Brother, which will be preceded by a local walking procession to the Cathedral for public officials, uniformed Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers and EMS members. Interactive Map with Driving Directions: http://snipurl.com/22vyl =========== Following Cathedral ceremonies, a family memorial service will be held at the Calvary Chapel in Downey. At the conclusion of the Downey service, our Brother Brent will be privately interred at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. More detailed information about the walking procession and services, including accommodations and logistics for out-of-town Firefighters and apparatus will be posted soon on the LAFD News & Information blog, which is accessible at all times via: http://lafd.org/blog KINDLY NOTE: Please do not contact the Cathedral, as their staff has no information to provide. Those wishing to offer an on-line note of condolence, can share sentiments here: http://snipurl.com/22vyo In closing, please accept our thanks for your many gestures of condolence. Your words and deeds not only bring healing, but also inspiration for each Los Angeles Firefighter to live up to Brent's demonstrated standard of Courage, Integrity and Pride. Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service, Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department LAFD Home Page: http://lafd.org
LAFD News Blog: http://lafd.org/blog |
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Dear Friend of the LAFD,
The following is an updated summary of the events surrounding the death of Los Angeles Firefighter Brent Lovrien, and includes a statement regarding the investigation by Battalion Chief John Miller.
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Preliminary Review
On Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 1:57 PM Los Angeles Firefighters were summoned to investigate a "smell of smoke" inside an office supply store at 8540 South Sepulveda Boulevard in the Westchester area of Los Angeles - not far from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
LAFD Engine 5 arrived at 2:03 pm and reported an underground electrical vault explosion in front of the location, and that they would handle the situation.
At 2:16 PM, Engine 5 reported a second underground electrical vault explosion and requested additional Fire Department resources for the new incident at 8800 South Sepulveda Boulevard.
At 2:23 pm, Los Angeles Fire Department dispatchers received a telephone call reporting a structure fire at the site of the second explosion.
Engine 5, already on scene at the 8800 South Sepulveda Boulevard location, initially reported no evidence of fire. One minute later, they reported fire in a locked room, and to keep all resources responding.
Engine 95 arrived soon thereafter to investigate the source of the smoke in the locked room, an approximately 7 foot wide by 4 foot deep electrical/storage closet on the southeast, first floor corner of the two story structure.
As the Engine 95 crew sought to access the locked room, later determined to contain electrical utility meters for the building, a severe explosion occurred, causing injury to two Firefighters and one civilian.
- LAFD Firefighter Brent Lovrien
Firefighter Brent A. Lovrien, age 35, a 10 year veteran of the LAFD assigned to the 'A' Platoon at Fire Station 95 since October 2005, died shortly after arrival at the Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center, Marina Campus.
- LAFD Engineer Anthony Guzman
Engineer Anthony J. Guzman, age 48, an 18 year veteran of the LAFD assigned to the 'A' Platoon at Fire Station 95 since February 2002, suffered multiple fractures and facial trauma. He was transported to the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, and following surgery, was listed in serious but stable condition.
The civilian was treated at the scene and released.
As dictated by Fire Department policy, a formal and detailed multi-agency investigation has sought to determine the exact nature of the explosion, as well as the precise cause and manner of Firefighter Lovrien's death.
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** The following is a statement by and attributable to LAFD Battalion Chief John Miller **
"Based on our investigation, which included physical examination, numerous interviews, and the collection of physical evidence, has determined that the explosion at 8800 S. Sepulveda was the result of a fire that originated in the electrical vault located at the intersection of Sepulveda and La Tijera.
Various witnesses reported smelling odors as early as 10:00 am. It is our opinion that the fire was a result of a ground fault in an electrical conduit that was feed out of the underground vault. This ground fault resulted in a fire within the vault, which pressurized the vault with unburned products of combustion. This material, traveled through the conduit transmission corridors, approximately 250 feet that caused the initial explosion at the underground electrical vault located in front of Staples. Witnesses report the access cover of the vault traveling upwards of 20 feet in the air.
The resulting pressure from this explosion causes smoke to travel back down the corridors to the electrical vault at Sepulveda and La Tijera. During this time, smoke is traveling in all directions and follows the underground electrical conduit to the electrical room at 8800 Sepulveda. This combustible smoke accumulated in the confined area of the electrical room. When Firefighter Lovrien attempted entry into the room, a spark was generated when the composite blade of the rotary saw struck the locking mechanism of the door.
There was no evidence of any fire, electrical problem, natural gas leak or incendiary devices found in the room. Investigators have concluded that unburned combustible gases, from a fire in the electrical vault located in the street at the front of the building, accumulated in the electrical room. These products of combustion reached its explosive limit and was ignited by a spark from the forcible entry attempts."
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Additional updates are anticipated in the coming days. For the latest information, please visit and bookmark:
http://lafd.blogspot.com/2008/03/los-angeles-firefighter-killed-in-line.html
http://lafd.blogspot.com/2008/03/memorial-services-announced-for-fallen.html
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/ Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
LAFD Home Page: http://lafd.org
LAFD News Blog: http://lafd.org/blog
~~~~~~~~~~~~ original anouncement below ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One Firefighter Dies and One Injured in Explosion
in Playa Del Rey
Explosion With Firefighter Fatality
8800 S. Sepulveda Bl.
Playa Del Rey
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
TIME: 2:20 PM
INCIDENT #: 0692
On Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 1:57 PM, 15 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 6 Arson Units, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Rehab Unit, 2 Helicopters, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Command Post vehicle, Emergency Lighting, and a variety of other support staff, all under the direction of Deputy Chief Mario Rueda responded to an Explosion at 8800 S. Sepulveda Bl. in Playa Del Rey.
It is with great sadness that the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department share word of one, City of Los Angeles Firefighter dying today in the line of duty. Firefighters were summoned to investigate smoke in the 8800 block of South Sepulveda Boulevard in the Westchester area of Los Angeles - not far from Los Angeles International Airport.
As firefighters arrived, they discovered a manhole cover blown loose from an underground electrical vault. The area was cordoned off, restricting civilian access to protect the lives of bystanders should another blast occur. Approximately 15 minutes after arrival, another manhole blast occurred, creating additional concerns from the incident commander.
At approximately 2:20 PM, additional Firefighters were dispatched to an office building several hundred feet down the street on a reported structure fire. Upon arrival, Firefighters entered the building to investigate the source of the smoke. While attempting to enter a locked utility room, an major explosion occurred, causing severe injuries to two male Firefighters and minor injuries to one civilian An immediate request was made for two air ambulance's to transport the critically injured Firefighters to local hospitals.
Firefighter Brent A. Lovrien, age 35, a 10 year veteran of the LAFD assigned to the 'A' Platoon at Fire Station 95 since October 2005, died shortly after arrival at the Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center, Marina Campus. Engineer Anthony J. Guzman, age 48, an 18 year veteran of the LAFD assigned to the 'A' Platoon at Fire Station 95 since February 2002, suffered multiple fractures and facial trauma. He was transported to the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, where he remains in serious but stable condition following surgery.
Preliminary reports indicate the two incidents were related. The civilian was treated at the scene and released. As dictated by Fire Department policy, a formal and detailed multi-agency investigation is underway to determine the exact nature of the explosion, as well as the precise cause and manner of the Firefighters death. The dollar loss is still being tabulated.
Ron Myers
Firefighter/ Specialist
Public Service Officer
E.P.I. Center
Los Angeles Fire Department
200 North Main Street, Room OCD-E423
Los Angeles, CA 90012 USA
Fax: (213) 485-2708
LAFD E-Mail: Ron.Myers@lacity.org
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LAPD Response To Firefighter Killed In Line Of Duty
The men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department extend our support and sympathy to our brothers and sisters in public safety at the Los Angeles Fire Department. The colleagues of fallen Firefighter Brent A. Lovrein, along with his family and friends, are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
Firefighter Lovrein died tragically in an explosion that rocked a Westchester business district on Wednesday, March 26, 2008. Firefighters from Station 95 were opening a metal-clad door on an electrical equipment vault to check for smoke when the blast occurred, killing Lovrein and injuring a second firefighter, Engineer Anthony J. Guzman. A civilian received minor injuries as well. An LAFD investigation is underway to determine the exact nature of the explosion, as well as the precise cause of Firefighter Lovrien's death.
The LAPD knows all too well the pain and sadness that accompany a loss of this nature. Our hearts are with the LAFD now and always.
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The latest information about this incident, as well as details
regarding memorial services will be offered via the LAFD News & Information blog, that can be accessed anytime via LAFD.ORG -- > http://lafd.org
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/ Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
LAFD Home Page: http://lafd.org
LAFD News Blog: http://lafd.org/blog
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