• Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Header image

MyNewsLA.comLogo

Breaking news for greater Los Angeles and Orange County

Menu

Skip to content
  • Crime
  • Government
  • Business
  • Education
  • Sports
  • Hollywood
  • Life
  • OC
  • Two-Alarm Malibu Brush Fire Ignited By House Fire 100 Percent Contained
  • Man Jumps to Death from 110 Freeway Overpass; Causes Multi-Vehicle Crash
  • Red Flag Warnings Continue amid Santa Ana Winds, Dry Conditions
  • FBI: $10K Reward for Information Leading to Return of Stolen Humvee
  • LAPD Reports 59 South L.A. Shooting Victims in First Two Weeks of 2021

Home » Crime » This Article

LAFD Marks First Use of Robot To Fight Fire in United States

Posted by Contributing Editor on October 13, 2020 in Crime | Leave a response
Share this article:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

A robotic firefighting vehicle was used for the first time in the United States to battle a major emergency fire in downtown Los Angeles Tuesday, officials said.

The fire broke out in a textile business and spread to an adjacent building, and more than 130 firefighters extinguished the flames and prevented them from spreading further.

It was reported at about 4:45 a.m. in the 800 block of South Crocker Street and was extinguished in about three and a half hours, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

One firefighter was taken to a hospital for treatment of “non-life threatening heat-related illness,” Stewart said in a statement.

“LAFD Arson Section is actively investigating the cause of the fire based on protocols due to the size of the incident,” Stewart said.

Arriving firefighters found a fire outside the building that appeared to spread into the structure, Stewart said.

Crews made their way into the building and found fire burning inside, fueled by stacks of rolled fabric, and the incident commander requested additional resources, Stewart said.

A “robotic firefighting vehicle” was used during the fire, according to Stewart.

The vehicle, call the RS3, is a remote-controlled, track-mounted robot made by Textron, and it was used in this fire to clear debris inside the structure “to facilitate a more effective attack on the fire while eliminating the need to put any firefighters at risk,” Stewart said.

Like this story? Don’t miss any breaking news from MyNewsLA.com. Sign up here for your free newsletter.

 

“The RS3 was purchased and donated to the department by the LAFD Foundation, making it the first use of a robotic firefighting vehicle in the country.”

Firefighters appeared to have gained the upper hand on the flames within about 40 minutes, but the flames spread to an adjacent building. Each building is single story, and about 25-feet-by-75 feet, LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said.

The buildings house a number of businesses, including textile companies and flower marts. One business was RB Textiles Inc., a fabric wholesaler.

“Due to the heavy amount of fire load inside of these multiple occupancies, with rolls of fabric and flower stores, we’ve been forced into a defensive operation, meaning that we pulled our firefighters from the inside out, to ensure their safety,” Scott told reporters at the scene after daybreak.

The fire was extinguished by 8:20 a.m., the fire department said.

Fire crews were expected to remain on scene for hours conducting “an extensive overhaul operation,” the LAPD reported.

LAFD Marks First Use of Robot To Fight Fire in United States was last modified: October 13th, 2020 by Contributing Editor

>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!

Follow us:
Facebooktwitterrss
Posted in Crime | Tagged fight, Fire, first, LAFD, Marks, robot, state's, United

Advertisement

Get The Latest News by Email!

Sign up here for our free newsletters. We’ll send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon.

 
FORECAST FOR LOS ANGELES
59°
Clear
Feels like: 59°F
Wind: 1mph W
Humidity: 34%
Pressure: 30.01"Hg
UV index: 0
MonTueWed
79/54°F
68/54°F
77/52°F
Weather forecast Los Angeles, California ▸

Most Popular Today

  • Man Rushed To Hospital From Traffic Crash in Laguna Hills 2,400 views
  • Coronavirus Vaccine Supply ‘Extremely Limited’ in Riverside County 1,800 views
  • Motorcyclist Killed in Irvine Crash 1,200 views
  • Riverside County Gas Prices Increase for 12th Straight Day 1,200 views
  • Orange County Rep. Lou Correa Has COVID-19 1,200 views

©2021 CalNews Inc.

Menu

  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service