13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

Question 1

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

VACANT BUILDING: A building that may be empty or unoccupied, but there exists an owner with an expressed interest in the building.

ABANDONED BUILDING: A building where there is no clear owner/landlord or responsible party that can be easily reached. These buildings are often not secured, poorly maintained, dilapidated, and in a dangerous condition.

Answer 1

reference

Question 2

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

Fire Department members shall notify the Floor Captain at Metro Fire Command (MFC) if they discover a vacant/abandoned property that presents a danger to firefighters.

Members should provide the following information:
occupancy address, hazard description, and any other pertinent information. The MFC Floor Captain will place a warning note (Modify Temporary Command) on the run sheet (teletype).

The information provided to the MFC shall also be entered in FPOS and the Station Journal (F-2).

Answer 2

reference

Question 3

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) is the agency responsible for the abatement of buildings which constitute a nuisance, are hazardous, or in a substandard condition.

Answer 3

reference

Question 4

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

LADBS requires fencing and posting of signs at vacant or abandoned structures to prevent entry. If field personnel discover a vacant/abandoned building that has not yet been addressed by LADBS or has been interfered with, the LADBS Code Enforcement Bureau Senior Inspector shall be notified at 213-252-3962. This is in addition to the notification to MFC described above.

Answer 4

reference

Question 5

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

The owner of such property is responsible of properly
securing the vacant/abandoned building from unauthorized public access. The placement of the placards does not relieve the property owner of the responsibility of properly securing the vacant/abandoned building from unauthorized public access as delineate in the Fire Code Section 57.20.12. Placards can be removed, with the approval of the Fire Department, if/when hazardous conditions are mitigated.

Answer 5

reference

Question 6

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

The Fire Department will place these __” x __” placards on at least two sides of this structure to alert incoming fire companies. The Fire Department will provide and install these placards at no cost to the property owner.

Answer 6

24” x 30”

Question 7

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

The Fire Department will make every attempt to minimize damage to the property owner’s structure while installing the “warning” placards. If the owner chooses to install the placards or use a private company, please have the owner notify the Fire Marshal’s office, in writing, within ___ days of the date of this letter.

Answer 7

14

Question 8

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

Placards can be obtained at both Division Offices and shall be posted by field personnel.

Answer 8

reference

Question 9

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

Placards shall be 24 inches by 30 inches minimum in size with a red background, white reflective stripes and a white reflective border with 6 inches for hazard identification symbols. The stripes and border shall have a 2-inch minimum stroke.

Answer 9

reference

Question 10

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

All that apply shall be placed directly above the placard.

4. 1 R/O – ________
5. 2 S/M – _________
6. 3 F/E – _________
7. 4 H/F – _________

Answer 10

4. 1 R/O – Roof open
5. 2 S/M – Stairs, steps and landing missing
6. 3 F/E – Avoid fire escapes
7. 4 H/F – Holes in floor

Question 11

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

Placard Location. Placards shall be applied on the front of the structure and be visible from the street. Additional placards shall be applied to the side of each entrance to the structure and on _____.

Answer 11

penthouses

Question 12

13-04 Vacant/Abandoned Buildings

Placard Symbols

White boarder with sold red center?

White boarder with sold red center with one white \ from top left to bottom right?

White boarder with sold red center with one white X in center?

Answer 12

Means that the structure had normal structural conditions at the time of marking - (not to be used by LAFD)

Structural or interior hazards exist and interior fire fighting or rescue operations should be conducted with caution

Structural and interior hazards exist to a degree that consideration should be given to limit fire fighting to exterior operation only, with entry only occurring for known life hazard.