Uploaded April 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The Los Angeles Fire Department discovered a man dead inside a burning Sun Valley home Wednesday evening.
The fire was first reported to 9-1-1 at 4:04 PM on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 on the 7500 block of North Craner Avenue in Sun Valley. Firefighters arrived and discovered fire showing toward the back of a 1,238 square-foot one-story home built in 1961.
The first 30 arriving LAFD firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Jason Getchius, mounted a bold and well-coordinated attack on the flames, taking just 13 minutes to fully extinguish the fire. It was then they discovered a man's body. Beyond medical help, he was determined dead at the scene.
No other injuries were reported.
Due to fire damage, the presence of smoke alarms and their functional status at the time of the fire could not be immediately determined. The 63-year-old house was not equipped with optional residential fire sprinklers.
A positive identification of the dead man, as well as the cause, time and manner of his death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The specific cause of the fire remains under active investigation.
The Los Angeles Fire Department discovered a man dead inside a burning Sun Valley home Wednesday evening.
The fire was first reported to 9-1-1 at 4:04 PM on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 on the 7500 block of North Craner Avenue in Sun Valley. Firefighters arrived and discovered fire showing toward the back of a 1,238 square-foot one-story home built in 1961.
The first 30 arriving LAFD firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Jason Getchius, mounted a bold and well-coordinated attack on the flames, taking just 13 minutes to fully extinguish the fire. It was then they discovered a man's body. Beyond medical help, he was determined dead at the scene.
No other injuries were reported.
Due to fire damage, the presence of smoke alarms and their functional status at the time of the fire could not be immediately determined. The 63-year-old house was not equipped with optional residential fire sprinklers.
A positive identification of the dead man, as well as the cause, time and manner of his death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The specific cause of the fire remains under active investigation.






![LAFD Foundation Valor Awards 2025 - Captain I Daniel Lievense, Engineer Matthew Lievense
[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 - Captain I Daniel Lievense, Engineer Matthew Lievense](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7zkOAEV4uZ8/mqdefault.jpg)



