Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
LAFD History: First Interstate Bank Fire
Built in 1974, the 62 story, 852-foot-tall building was (at the time) the tallest building in the US, west of Chicago.
At 10:37PM on May 4, 1988, the Los Angeles Fire Department's Operations Control Dispatch Section (O.C.D.) received three separate 911 calls from persons outside of the First Interstate Building reporting a fire on the upper floors. The fire protection systems in the building had been shut down earlier for maintenance.
Two minutes later, while en route, Battalion Chief Don Cate reported a large 'loom up' and when he arrived on scene, he ordered more resources and set about establishing the incident structure.
It is the ultimate testament to the dedication of Your LAFD that this fire was stopped and the only loss of life occurred prior to LAFD arrival.
In the words of the Chief Engineer (Fire Chief) Donald Manning
"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 video (pardon the quality) provides insight into what Your firefighters faced that night and the courage it took to prevail.
For more details on this incident:
Executive Summary: bit.ly/FirstInterstateFire
Air Operations Summary: bit.ly/AirOpsFirstInterstate
Grapevine Magazine: bit.ly/GrapevineFirstInterstate
LAFD History: First Interstate Bank Fire
Built in 1974, the 62 story, 852-foot-tall building was (at the time) the tallest building in the US, west of Chicago.
At 10:37PM on May 4, 1988, the Los Angeles Fire Department's Operations Control Dispatch Section (O.C.D.) received three separate 911 calls from persons outside of the First Interstate Building reporting a fire on the upper floors. The fire protection systems in the building had been shut down earlier for maintenance.
Two minutes later, while en route, Battalion Chief Don Cate reported a large 'loom up' and when he arrived on scene, he ordered more resources and set about establishing the incident structure.
It is the ultimate testament to the dedication of Your LAFD that this fire was stopped and the only loss of life occurred prior to LAFD arrival.
In the words of the Chief Engineer (Fire Chief) Donald Manning
"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 video (pardon the quality) provides insight into what Your firefighters faced that night and the courage it took to prevail.
For more details on this incident:
Executive Summary: bit.ly/FirstInterstateFire
Air Operations Summary: bit.ly/AirOpsFirstInterstate
Grapevine Magazine: bit.ly/GrapevineFirstInterstate
