Blaze Hurts 12, Destroys 3 Homes

In what fire officials described as a small version of the disastrous 1985 Baldwin Hills blaze, a fast-moving fire swept up a hillside north of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon, destroying three homes, injuring 12 people and causing $850,000 in damage.

Eleven firefighters and one civilian were injured in the fire, which appeared to be deliberately started, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said.

The occupants of the three destroyed homes along the 3900 block of Elderbank Drive, who escaped unharmed, made frantic but futile attempts to hose down their back decks or pull their cars out of the garage. Throughout the Montecito Heights neighborhood, dozens of residents also hosed down their roofs and shrubs.

“I smelled the smoke and ran out to the deck and fire was coming right at me,” said Emily Gochis, 59, who had lived at 3920 Elderbank Drive for 15 years. “I tried to get the hose, but the wind came up. Before I knew it, the back of the house was burning. I just ran.”

Perfect for Disaster

Battalion Chief Thomas Mc Master said the fire “was like a mini Baldwin Hills,” a reference to the July 2, 1985, blaze that raced up a hillside near Crenshaw Boulevard, destroying 48 homes and killing three people. “We had perfect conditions for a fire--a steep, brush-covered hillside with houses at the top and a hot day.”

He said “matches probably started this fire” and added that arson investigators were on the scene. No arrests had been made as of late Saturday.

Six of the injured firefighters were taken to Queen of Angels, White Memorial and Good Samaritan hospitals, where they were treated for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation before being released. The other five were treated at the scene for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. The civilian, whose identity was withheld by fire officials, was treated for smoke inhalation, shortness of breath and eye irritation at White Memorial Hospital.

The fire started at the foot of a hill along Montecito Drive about 2:30 p.m., when temperatures in the area were in the low 90s.

By the time fire companies arrived the three homes were engulfed in flames. The fire had jumped over Elderbank Drive and had begun to burn up another hillside, headed toward homes on Paige Street, fire officials said.

Obscured by Smoke

“There was so much fire and smoke on this street you couldn’t see,” Capt. Doug Hjelm said. “Three houses were already burning. All we could do was save the others.”

About 140 firefighters and at least two water-dropping helicopters contained the blaze to the three homes, officials said.

Fred Bridemore, 79, of 3934 Elderbank Drive, was loading laundry in his car when he smelled smoke.

“Before I knew it the whole hillside was burning,” Bridemore said. “I tried to get my car out of the carport but the flames started licking the walls. It was so hot I figured if I didn’t get out I’d burn to death.”

Bridemore, who built his three-bedroom home in 1946, said he has lost everything “but the clothes on my back.”

“I don’t know if I can rebuild or not,” he said. “I guess I’m going to have to start over again.”

Emily Gochis, who lived next door to Bridemore, sat on the curb next to the ruins of her home, trembling and crying. In her hands she held charred jewelry--a watch, a leather band and a ring.

“This is all that’s left, all that’s left,” she said. She had lived in her home for 15 years. “I don’t know where I’m going to live now. I don’t know if my fire insurance will cover everything.”

A firefighter saw her on the curb, put his arm around her and said, “Ma’am, I’m so sorry we couldn’t save your house. I’m so sorry.”

Don Herman, the owner of the third house at 3910 Elderbank Drive, nervously laughed at the site of his home. The chimney and one garage wall was all that was left standing. His new Chrysler convertible was charred black and smoldering.

“I guess I’m in a state of shock right now. My God, it all happened so fast,” he said. Herman was downstairs when he smelled smoke, ran to the back of the house and saw the pine tree above his $170,000 home engulfed in flames.

“I could have gotten the car out, but I didn’t. I just grabbed the dog and left. I don’t even have my wallet,” he said. He lost two other cars in the blaze.

“I guess this is all going to hit me when I want to go home, take a shower and change clothes,” Herman said.

Annette Carter, who lives next door to Bridemore, said when the fire broke out she ran up the street, pounding on her neighbor’s door, shouting for them to get out.

“It was so smoky, I couldn’t see across the street,” she said.

Many residents offered their homes, food and clothing to their neighbors who had been burnt out. Fire officials said the Red Cross was notified to assist the fire victims with emergency needs.