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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on February 25, 2011 at 2:52pm

http://citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&a...
Did Firefighter Glenn Allen Die Because of a Reality Show?
A 61year-old veteran LAFD firefighter [Link] died trying to save a huge, glamorous, television location house which was slapped together in a hell of a hurry during the latter part of 2010.


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/02/scene-of-ceiling-coll...
Hollywood Hills mansion where firefighter died declared a crime scene

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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on February 25, 2011 at 4:36pm

Regardless whether or not it was a reality show house, it was a mega-mansion that now has grown from the original 6,000 to over 12,000 square feet. These homes are no different than some of the commercial structures we protect, except it's a residential occupancy with significant occupancy hazards. These hazards are compounded at night due to both occupancy issues, the size and potential impact on our departments manpower and equipment availability considering everyone is doing more with less.

Personally, I was incensed, listening to the owner/architect/designer and the guy who was inside the structure commenting about how there was a 30-minute delay by the LAFD arriving after he placed the call to 911. There is no way, especially in Los Angeles that there would ever be a 30-minutes delay responding apparatus to a structure fire.

During the TV interview, the owner/architect never mentioned the fatality nor the injured firefighters who were snookered by a fire in his house. A firefighter is killed trying to save this guys house and he has the audacity to complain on the local television news station that the fire department took their time responding to the incident. Really? Something isn't right here and I am so glad the the arson investigators, LAPD detectives and district attorney's office are coordinating their efforts to see why this happened, who was at fault and how to prevent this from happening again.

Who would have ever thought that the attic sprinkler system had been compromised, flooding the attic space and eventually the ceiling came crashing down on the unsuspecting firefighters below who were using extra-long pike poles to reach the ceiling. They never had a chance.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on February 25, 2011 at 6:01pm

Tom, I've been following this since FFN posted the audio from the incident last week. I also work in SoCal and know the retirements system intimately having just retired last year (Age 57). I have read that the guy was a 38-year veteran which would have made him 23 when he started. If one works 33 years (CalPers), you get 3% per year of service so at 33.33 years of service, you would have 100% of your income. Anytime worked after that is a wash and you are basically working for free in my mind. But for some, and with LAFD, it's not uncommon to have 60+ year old firefighters on the job. You can no longer discriminate someone based on age as to whether or not they can do the job. There are physical requirements but Glenn obviously passed them every year. Remember, at age 61, he was pulling ceilings to gain access to the attic...

For some, like Glenn, they were afforded a lot of time to share our craft and trade with a lot of folks who worked with him over his 38-year career with the LAFD. Listening to the FFN provided live feed from the funeral this morning, I learned just how special this firefighters was in so many ways. I only wish I could have had the opportunity to have known and learned from him like 100's of LAFD firefighters have. You can tell he is very much endeared by his department.

The day after he passed away, and the day the crew was reporting back to work their 24-hour shift, all the crew members made the decision to not take the day off and be by themselves, but instead with each other, as a crew. This is truly a band of brothers. About the coolest thing I heard was about his Glenn's wife, she joined her husband's crew for lunch to be with his crew and give them her support. This is a very special woman and a very special man that is now with his Lord. He was a Christian man, which has provided peace for his wife and family.

In regard to the movie prop thoughts, this was a real house, not a movie prop. This is bad news because the investigation is looking at how the house was constructed, who finalized it and if there were any deficiencies.

The owner/architect/contractor pushed folks to get things done in time for the reality show using a 6-month time frame according to a contractor who was interviewed on television. THis is what may be in question by the LAPD detectives, LAFD arson investigators and the DA's office. This may turn out to be a building code violation for a residential structure that just so happens to be over 12K square feet, including an indoor swimming pool... This story will be continued. Something is missing here.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Murphy on February 25, 2011 at 7:27pm

May God bless, and keep you Glenn Allen, and the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Stay safe.

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