Uploaded April 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Over one hundred Los Angeles City Firefighters battled flames for several hours at a Downtown Los Angeles clothing supply Friday morning, protecting nearby businesses from the intense heat, during a Major Emergency structure fire.
A 9-1-1 call was placed to the Los Angeles City Fire Department at 5:09 AM on Friday, April 5, 2024, reporting a structure fire on the 1400 block of South Main Street. Firefighters found a one-story commercial building with smoke showing, and forced entry through large metal roll-up doors. Crews advanced hose lines into the building and ascended ladders to the roof, but the heavy fire load continued to feed the intensity of the growing flames.
At the order of Incident Commander, Battalion Chief Adam Knabe, crews retreated from the roof and exited the building. Firefighters set up defensive operations, and continued the fire fight from the exterior of the building only, using ladder pipes, portable monitors, and hose lines from adjacent rooftops.
As the fire burned hotter and hotter inside, the roof failed and part of it fell inward. This gave firefighters better angles and access with their hose streams. Firefighters continued to flow water for several more hours, focusing their efforts on keeping the neighboring structures cool.
After four hours and 12 minutes, 120 firefighters eliminated the flames set deep within the commercial space. The building was a total loss and LAFD Heavy Equipment was required to tear apart the rubble and allow firefighters to cool hot spots buried within the pile of debris. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Over one hundred Los Angeles City Firefighters battled flames for several hours at a Downtown Los Angeles clothing supply Friday morning, protecting nearby businesses from the intense heat, during a Major Emergency structure fire.
A 9-1-1 call was placed to the Los Angeles City Fire Department at 5:09 AM on Friday, April 5, 2024, reporting a structure fire on the 1400 block of South Main Street. Firefighters found a one-story commercial building with smoke showing, and forced entry through large metal roll-up doors. Crews advanced hose lines into the building and ascended ladders to the roof, but the heavy fire load continued to feed the intensity of the growing flames.
At the order of Incident Commander, Battalion Chief Adam Knabe, crews retreated from the roof and exited the building. Firefighters set up defensive operations, and continued the fire fight from the exterior of the building only, using ladder pipes, portable monitors, and hose lines from adjacent rooftops.
As the fire burned hotter and hotter inside, the roof failed and part of it fell inward. This gave firefighters better angles and access with their hose streams. Firefighters continued to flow water for several more hours, focusing their efforts on keeping the neighboring structures cool.
After four hours and 12 minutes, 120 firefighters eliminated the flames set deep within the commercial space. The building was a total loss and LAFD Heavy Equipment was required to tear apart the rubble and allow firefighters to cool hot spots buried within the pile of debris. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

![LAFD Foundation Valor Awards 2025 - Coleman, Field, Roberts, Sebourn
[Video credit: LAFD Foundation / Valor Awards 2025]
Under the lights of Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation hosted its annual VALOR Awards on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, bringing together city leaders, corporate partners, and community members to recognize firefighters for their courage and service.
The 2025 ceremony opened with a VIP reception, giving guests the rare opportunity to meet LAFD personnel, view firefighting apparatus up close, and watch exclusive demonstrations highlighting the department’s life-saving capabilities. As the sun set over Chavez Ravine, attendees took their seats on the infield for dinner and the start of the evening’s formal program.
VALOR is the Foundation’s signature event, an annual tradition honoring men and women whose decisive actions, expert training, and selfless commitment have protected lives across and beyond Los Angeles. This year’s honorees were celebrated through a series of video presentations and personal stories, each underscoring the weight of the split-second decisions firefighters make on the city’s toughest days.
2025 Honorees
Medal of Merit:
Captain I Daniel Lievense
Engineer Matthew Lievense
Captain I Christopher Sebourn
Special Commendation:
Firefighter III Armen Chalian
Firefighter III Joseph Coleman
Firefighter III Kari Field
Firefighter III Darren Lloyd
Firefighter III Daniel Nakamura
Engineer David Roberts
Firefighter III Andrew Talley
Unit of the Year:
Critical Incident Planning & Training Section (CIPTS)
The annual VALOR Awards celebrate not only the heroism of individual firefighters, but also the vital role of the LAFD Foundation in empowering them, ensuring that our city’s first responders have the tools, technology, and support necessary to protect our city’s four million residents. LAFD Foundation Valor Awards 2025 - Coleman, Field, Roberts, Sebourn](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mfLtqsCulv0/mqdefault.jpg)








