Abatement of Illegal Garage Conversions. For more info www.firechannel.org/blog

1. December 14, 2007
Martin Luther King Avenue
Long Beach, CA

2. Garages are for parking vehicles not families!
Patrick Wills, Captain/Investigator
LBFD Arson Unit

4. The Fire
 December 14, 2007.
 Central Long Beach.
 Martin Luther King Avenue near 10th
Street.
 911 call of a fire with children trapped.

6. The Fire, continued
 Firefighters rescue the Aviles sisters from
the burning structure, unconscious and in
full cardiac arrest.
 Location is identified as an “illegally”
converted garage apartment.

7. The Location
 Four car garage structure with two garages
converted into apartment living space.
 Located at rear of property at the alley.
 Garage is one of three structures on
property.

10. Living Room

11. Kitchen Area

12. The Investigation, continued
 The fire is caused by a small portable
electric heater in the living room.
 Faulty wiring is a contributing factor.

13. Portable Heater

14. The Investigation, continued
 No smoke detector(s) present.
 No exit window in bedroom.
 No heating.
 Multiple additional building and fire code
violations.

15. The Investigation, continued
 No valid permits for garage conversion.
 No plans or plan review of location prior
to conversion to living space.
 No site inspection by City of Long Beach
before or after conversion completed.

16. The Victims
 Jasmine Aviles, 9 yrs.
 Jocelyn Aviles, 7 yrs.
 Stephanie Aviles, 6 yrs.

17. The Aviles Sisters

18. The City of Long Beach Speaks
 Requires the property owner to remove
all illegal renovations on the property.
 Requires the property owner to return
the structure to it’s original use as a
garage.
 The Aviles Law is drafted on December
14, 2010 to the Long Beach City
Council.

19. Renovated Garage 2008
Returned to original and intended use

20. 2007-2012
 Since the tragic fire of 2007, Long Beach
Inspectors have identified more than 650
illegal garage conversions or unsafe
occupancies.
 Fines total $ 270,000.

21. City Wide Problem

22. The Aviles Law
On April 5, 2011 the City of Long Beach
Council through Councilman Dee Andrews,
adopted the “Aviles Law.” Dedicated to the
memory of the Aviles sisters and to further
educate the public and property owners as
to the dangers of illegal garage conversions.