LAFD 1st Interstate Bank Fire

During the late evening of May 4, 1988, and the early morning of May 5, 1988, members of the Los Angeles City Fire Department successfully battled what has proven to be the worst, most devastating high-rise fire in the history of Los Angeles. Extinguishing this blaze at the 62-story First Interstate Bank Building, 707 West Wilshire Boulevard, required the combined efforts of 64 fire companies, 10 City rescue ambulances, 17 private ambulances, 4 helicopters, 53 Command Officers and support personnel, a complement of 383 Firefighters and Paramedics, and considerable assistance from other City departments.
It is humbling and terrifying to realize how close we came to losing control of this fire!

Had it not been for the extraordinary commitment to duty, staunch determination to extinguish the fire at all costs, and unabated heroism and courage of our brave Firefighters, I am convinced that the fire would not have been contained as it was in 3-1/2 hours. In most other cities, the building could have become a charred skeleton and, even worse, Firefighters would have lost their lives. In my view, our City is blessed with the most professional and dedicated Firefighters in the world, and this is why only one civilian life was lost and only four floors were gutted.

The Department has documented specific acts of heroism for future recognition, but I feel compelled to personally thank you for performing your assigned role at the First Interstate Bank Fire. As your Chief Engineer, I have received countless accolades on you behalf from throughout the world and know that from the Department's standpoint, this was perhaps our proudest moment for revealing what our people are capable of achieving.

You share a role in this achievement and are to be commended for your courage and dedication that prevented the First Interstate Bank Fire from becoming an even greater tragedy. For this, the citizens of Los Angeles owe a tremendous debt of gratitude."


Excerpt from Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive
http://www.lafire.com/famous_fires/88...

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• LAFD
• 1st
• Bank
• Blvd
• Fire
• First
• High
• Highrise
• Hope
• Interstate
• Rise
• structure
• Wilshire

[newsgary]

That was a Code 20 Fire for the Newsmedia

[Boot4life]

whats a code 20?

[stevo03lw]

anybody else upload the movie? deere850j1 closed their account unfortunately

[Stealthguy06]

@Boot4life LA it's news worthy event. Other jurisdictions it's officer needs assistance.

[liquidus2172]

@mmitch230 wtc 7 was barely damaged by wtc 1 or 2 falling debris and yet it collapsed!!!

[mmitch230]

@liquidus2172 maybe because a 110 story building crashed into before it caught on fire...just a hunch

[liquidus2172]

how come this didn't collapse while WTC 7 collapsed due to less fire?!

[AmericanEvita]

I remember when this happened in May of 1988. I was 8 years old and I remember watching it in the news....what a trip back in time for me!...It's been interesting traveling over the years on Youtube...this, the Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991, the LA riots of 1992, ah, memories...

[HoneySiegalSurvivor]

@LOUDNESSrocks do you know what was determined to be the cause of the fire? What is in the AON CENTER?

Is Wells Fargo there?

What happened to First Interstate Bank?

Honey R. Siegal

[LOUDNESSrocks]

this building is now called "the AON CENTER"

[4649kasumi]

My dads a firefighter and he was on this fire!cool huh?

[arbcqueen]

And where did you receive your info???