Encino Medical Building Evacuated After Fire Report
What happened
A medical office building in Encino was briefly evacuated Tuesday morning following a report of a potential structure fire. Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to the scene and, after an investigation, determined the building was safe for re-entry. The cause of the initial alarm is currently under investigation.
Why it matters
- From January 1 to September 24, 2018, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded to 27,111 dispatched automatic alarms, of which only 159 were actual fires. - Common causes for false alarms in commercial buildings include dust, steam, humidity, and insects, which can confuse smoke detector sensors. - The City of Los Angeles has an Unwanted Alarm Enforcement Program to increase enforcement and recover costs for responses to recurring faulty alarm systems. - In the event of an alarm, a building's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is typically designed to shut down to prevent the spread of smoke. - Standard evacuation procedures for commercial buildings mandate that occupants use stairwells, as elevators are automatically recalled to the ground floor and deactivated. - The LAFD tracks problematic alarm systems and has a policy to formally refer a building for inspection if it has three similar alarms in a 24-hour period or three in a 30-day period. - Following an alarm and evacuation, only the ranking fire department officer on the scene can give the "All Clear" for occupants to safely re-enter the building. - To reduce non-emergency responses, some fire departments, like Henderson, Nevada, have stopped dispatching units to automatic alarms until there is a visual confirmation of a fire, though this is not the policy in Los Angeles.
Key numbers
- - From January 1 to September 24, 2018, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded to 27,111 dispatched automatic alarms, of which only 159 were actual fires.
- The LAFD tracks problematic alarm systems and has a policy to formally refer a building for inspection if it has three similar alarms in a 24-hour period or three in a 30-day period.
Quick answers
What happened in Encino Medical Building Evacuated After Fire Report?
A medical office building in Encino was briefly evacuated Tuesday morning following a report of a potential structure fire. Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to the scene and, after an investigation, determined the building was safe for re-entry. The cause of the initial alarm is currently under investigation.
Why does Encino Medical Building Evacuated After Fire Report matter?
From January 1 to September 24, 2018, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded to 27,111 dispatched automatic alarms, of which only 159 were actual fires. Common causes for false alarms in commercial buildings include dust, steam, humidity, and insects, which can confuse smoke detector sensors. The City of Los Angeles has an Unwanted Alarm Enforcement Program to increase enforcement and recover costs for responses to recurring faulty alarm systems. In the event of an alarm, a building's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is typically designed to shut down to prevent the spread of smoke. Standard evacuation procedures for commercial buildings mandate that occupants use stairwells, as elevators are automatically recalled to the ground floor and deactivated. The LAFD tracks problematic alarm systems and has a policy to formally refer a building for inspection if it has three similar alarms in a 24-hour period or three in a 30-day period. Following an alarm and evacuation, only the ranking fire department officer on the scene can give the "All Clear" for occupants to safely re-enter the building. To reduce non-emergency responses, some fire departments, like Henderson, Nevada, have stopped dispatching units to automatic alarms until there is a visual confirmation of a fire, though this is not the policy in Los Angeles.
