Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Eric Vasquez has a $108,000 salary, but last year he took home a sweet extra $50,000 in vacation pay. That number must have seemed awfully suspicious to the city, because they have put Vasquez on administrative leave while they investigate his case, according to the Daily News. more ›

Last month, it was discovered that firefighters had allowed porn star Charley Chase to borrow their truck for a video that shows Chase flashing people around town. There was an investigation to discovered what had happened, but because of a loophole, no one was punished. So Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Brian Cummings took this as an opportunity to come clean about some racy photos of his own, according to the Los Angeles Times. more ›

Ride for 9-11 deploys tomorrow morning from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Historical Society Museum located at "Old Fire Station 27" in Hollywood. This cross-country 3308-mile bicycle ride honors and preserves the memories of those lost in the terrorist attacks, those who made the "ultimate sacrifice." more ›

130 firefighters responded to a rainy day blaze on Sunday just before 8:00 a.m. in a Sherman Oaks strip mall. According to Sherman Oaks Patch at least seven businesses suffered severe damage in at the Sherman Oaks Plaza including Tochal Market and Deli, Sherman Oaks Beauty Supply, Smart for Life Cookie Diet, and Got Muscle? Nutrition. more ›

Local cyclists on the Tuesday Night Bicykillers Bike Ride were giving a "no-show" rider a hard time on the Midnight Ridazz forum, but when they heard the rider's excuse, it left them apologizing and genuflecting. Here's what happened Tuesday night, a personal account from the rider, Mark Oshiro, himself: more ›

Waking up at 5:30 a.m. and being rushed out of your downtown Wilshire Grand hotel room is not the ideal experience for your Los Angeles stay. However, better safe than sorry when the 10th floor of at least 80 people was evacuated due to pepper spray being released. In an e-mail alert, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Ron Meyers said 20-30 people were evaluated with none needing treatment or transport to a local area hospital. People complained of eye and throat irritation. more ›

Update 7:00 p.m.: Sepulveda is still shut down and now crews expect to open it around 9 p.m. tonight. more ›

Last year, Los Angeles firefighter Tennie Pierce sued the city and won $2.7 million for being victim of a hazing prank in which a Latino firefighter put dog food in his spaghetti. The prankster and his two white captains were punished, but the captains, who did not spike the food, were treated more severely by the department, leading to yet another lawsuit. more ›

• Newly elected state speaker, a Democrat named Karen Bass who was raised in Los Angeles, has made friends on both sides of the aisle, the LA Times said. She is the first African-American to assume the top spot and has some pretty lofty goals, including providing healthcare and improving education. Wait, those are things EVERY politician should be doing.
• Of course, by now you know all about the L.A. Marathon. But you may not have heard that the Los Angeles Fire Department treated 73 participants; transporting 23 of them to area hospitals. None of the injuries were life-threatening, they said.
• What's one of the best part about Spring Training? Rumors! The Daily News reports that Nomar could play a "handful of games" at shortstop this season. Just four more weeks until Opening Day.
• The blood in my veins is Dodger Blue, but the color of my face when driving to games is sometimes red. So, I applaud the City Council for at least broaching the possibility of public transportation to Dodger Stadium late this week.\
• An El Segundo woman warded off an attacker last night with pepper spray as he pinned her to the ground straddling and fondling her. She reached for the pepper spray and ran away, gagging and coughing.
• But her weapon of choice would not have worked if she was a reporter at the Daily News. Yesterday, we told you that the Daily News laid off 22 staffers earlier in the week. Today, the list of the fireds was published. The deceased includes Alex Dobuzinskis, a great reporter who covered Glendale and Burbank and the News' lone Washington D.C. reporter.
• The newspaper business is not the only one hurting these days. Nearly 1,600 teachers could lose their jobs as Orange County's 28 school districts scramble to find ways to cut from their operating budgets amid a mounting state budget crisis.
• Is Hillary Clinton being subversively endorsed by Saturday Night Live? Last week, SNL feature a skit parodying the media's "love affair" with Barack Obama and last night, they had Clinton on the show getting two minutes of free campaign air time. SNL has not officially endorsed Clinton, but should media outlets allow candidates a free shot at advertising? If NBC allowed Obama two free minutes, don't you think the Clinton camp would be the ones needing a pillow?

The Los Angeles Fire Department is responding to a call regarding a possible jumper onto the 110 Freeway Northbound at Stadium Way. A week ago today, someone committed suicide by jumping onto the 101 Freeway at Wilton Place. more ›

This month at LAist, we've been covering breakfast in our Wake Up LA series helping you explore new morning nosh options. On Saturday, there's a one-time breakfast event that we highly encourage you to attend -- one that continues the spirit of giving that exemplifies a man who gave his life for the people of this city. In honor of fallen LAPD SWAT member Randall Simmons, from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the LAPD & LAFD Recruitment Expo, a ten-dollar pancake breakfast will provide direct help to his family and support the recovery of Officer Veenstra, who was injured during the gun battle two weeks ago today. more ›

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UPDATE, 11:30 A.M.: The Daily News reports there was no water main rupture as originally indicated in the early alerts by the fire department. "... we believe we have water that has seeped below this residence on the upper street going down to the lower street and, unfortunately, has dislodged the foundation and the solid ground and is starting to slide." LAFD Battalion Chief Richard Markota told ABC7 in a pre- dawn interview according to the newspaper. more ›

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Update, 5:05 P.M.: One of the patients is in critical condition according to ABC7 on air news. The Los Angeles Fire Department reports that the all patients are from the bus including the driver. more ›

The Los Angeles Fire Department is reporting a five-car pileup on the 101 north freeway at Barham over the Cahuenga Pass. Luckily, the three injuries are minor, but that means three blocked lanes and a Sigalert. more ›

A Metro bus collided with two cars this afternoon, injuring twelve. "Four patients transported to area hospitals with minor injuries, eight were treated and released at the scene," Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman d'Lisa Davies said in a text alert. more ›

The Los Angeles Fire Department is reporting a "water main rupture with pavement damage" on West Cahuenga Blvd. in the community of Cahuenga Pass. The street is passable, however, traffic is expected to be rerouted once the Department of Water & Power arrives on scene. For now, though, the DWP is stuck in traffic, so that won't happen right away. There will likely be delays this afternoon going over the pass in either direction, prepare your patience or thank the gods you took the Red Line subway to work today. more ›

At 11:13 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department alerted of a small helicopter has crashed at the southbound 110 Freeway and Century Blvd. One person was dead on board the fiery crash. Fire officials are describing it as a "small, private type, possibly home made type" aircraft. more ›

The 4th St. bridge and 3rd Street is closed between Alameda and Central due to an explosion at 637 E. 3rd St. Unknown in nature at this point, the explosion left one LAPD officer with minor injuries who was transported to the hospital. Another officer in the patrol car was not hurt. more ›

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The Los Angeles Fire Department is reporting a two story apartment building with fire showing from the attic that began shortly before 2:30 p.m. at 5449 6th St. between Detroit St. and La Brea Ave. CBS2 reports:

Flames engulfed a two-story apartment building near Park La Brea Tuesday, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the air and forcing residents to evacuate, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. The fire broke out near the intersection of Detroit and Sixth streets, d'Lisa Davies of the city Fire Department said. At least 85 firefighters were on scene, but more were being called. [CBS2]

At 10 a.m. this morning, a big rig carrying a cargoload of tires collided with a sedan causing the southbound 5 Freeway to shut down for hours. Read the full story on LAist from earlier today here. More photos of the incident after this post's jump.
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A big rig carrying a cargoload of tires collided with a sedan around 10 this morning on the 5 Freeway south of 4th Street, causing a two-hour-long shutdown of the major arteries through Downtown and a blaze that was apparently visible from over 20 miles away. more ›

As the dark settled over Los Angeles last night, we awoke to an unfortunate number of deaths. Any number is sad -- especially four. more ›

Okay, so yesterday the Bank Heist set aflame, but thanks to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire did not put the restaurant/club in the NoHo Arts District our of business, only affecting the second floor club area (a smaller bar and full service restaurant are on the first floor). They opened last fall, but never had a grand opening, which was and still is officially scheduled for February. Owner Kat Johnson tells the LA Times that the bar will re-open soon. (h/t Eater LA) more ›

No, there was not a bank heist today in North Hollywood, as there was 11 years ago, the old bank building turned into restaurant/club on Lankershim Blvd., near the NoHo Red/Orange Line stops, is on fire. At 7:13 a.m. this morning, the fire was reported. One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation.

The fire burned between floors and in the attic area, said Ron Myers of the Los Angeles Fire Department. After about 40 minutes, firefighters determined that it was too dangerous to battle the flames from inside the building and went into a "defensive mode" outside the structure, Myers said. [NBC4]

As of 12:30 a.m. tonight, 10,300 LADWP customers went without power throughout the city, primarily due to downed wires from the weather, according to a press release from the city agency. more ›