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    Architect charged with death of LA firefighter

    Associated Press – Wed, Feb 15, 2012

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — The architect of a Hollywood Hills mansion where a ceiling collapsed and killed a firefighter during a blaze was charged Wednesday with involuntary manslaughter as a result of his shoddy work, prosecutors said.

    Gerhard Becker, 48, was charged after investigators found grossly negligent construction at the newly built, 12,500-square-foot home, authorities said. Bail was set at $2 million.

    Becker left the country after last year's fire and was arrested when he flew from Spain to Los Angeles on Saturday. He remained jailed and, if convicted, could be sentenced to up to four years in state prison.

    It could not be immediately determined if Becker had a lawyer.

    Police Chief Charlie Beck said at a news conference that he was not aware of other cases in which shoddy building work led to involuntary manslaughter charges.

    "It's certainly rare," Beck said.

    Becker, a German citizen, was the designer and main contractor for the three-story home that caught fire on Feb. 16, 2011. The reality TV show "Germany's Next Top Model" had been set to film there.

    The blaze was started by a fireplace inside the home that was designed only for outdoor use, prosecutors said. The flames burned through a plastic sprinkler pipe and filled the attic with water until the ceiling collapsed on 61-year-old firefighter Glen Allen. Five other firefighters also were injured.

    Allen died two days later. The firefighter-paramedic had nearly 40 years with the department and was less than a year away from retirement.

    Allen was the first city firefighter to be killed in the line of duty since March 2008, when Brent Lovrien died in an explosion near Los Angeles International Airport as he investigated an earlier blast that blew manhole covers into the air.

     

    2 comments

    • Retired Marine
      Retired Marine  •  Palm Springs, California  •  3 mths ago
      How can you blame the arcitect?? I do believe that the building plans were submitted to the city. The building department inspected every aspect of the project and no one had anything to say about any problems with the plans or the project. The fire department also had to give clearance to the project. ALL of the cities departments are to blame, not the arcitect. Do more investigating of the cities departments.
      • jet
        jet 2 mths ago
        I agree. If it was not up to code and approved they are to blame. If he skirted the code he is.
    • Suit of Flames
      Suit of Flames  •  3 mths ago
      Boo hoo, ah fought a fire and now ah am dead; why take the job if you are only going to sue later?
      • jet
        jet 2 mths ago
        Dead men don't sue.
     Post a comment
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