Fire crews battling a fast-moving house fire in central Los Angeles faced a frightening moment Saturday when a firefighter fell several feet from a ladder — an incident captured on video and quickly spread online.
According to the New York Post, the dramatic footage, widely shared from the Citizen app, shows Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters working high above the ground as they attacked a blaze at a residence in the Arlington Heights neighborhood.Â
A hook ladder had been positioned against the second story of the structure, while other firefighters stood on an aerial ladder extended from a fire engine.
As one firefighter attempted to move from the aerial ladder toward the roofline, he suddenly lost his footing.
The video captures the firefighter slipping and dropping several feet, prompting audible gasps from bystanders watching the tense rescue effort unfold.
Despite the alarming fall, fire officials said the firefighter was fortunate. According to ABC7 Eyewitness News, he suffered only minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
The fire itself broke out just after 5 p.m. at a home located on South Wilton Place, prompting an immediate response from multiple LAFD units. Flames were reported on the second floor of the building, where crews focused their efforts to prevent the fire from spreading further.
The property involved is a five-bedroom, two-bath residence with an estimated value of about $2.3 million.
Signage displayed in the front yard suggests the building may have also been used as a place of worship. The sign identifies the property as the Southern California Somang Church, a Presbyterian congregation led by Pastor Tae-jung Ji.
Firefighters were able to bring the flames under control in roughly 20 minutes, according to ABC7. Officials said no neighboring structures were damaged during the incident, and there were no reports of civilian injuries.
While the cause of the fire was not detailed, the incident underscored both the dangers firefighters face during routine calls and the quick coordination required to manage emergencies safely.
