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LAFD’s Glenn L. Allen honored on the red carpet at the Oscars. Rescue Me, Backdraft’s Jack McGee says Allen helped his wife.

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Previous coverage of FF Glenn Allen here, herehere & here

Jack McGee is a former FDNY firefighter who is well known to firefighters for his roles in Rescue Me and Backdraft. At the Academy Awards yesterday after his recent part in The Fighter, McGee was wearing his firefighter’s badge covered with a black stripe in honor of Firefighter Glenn L. Allen of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Allen was buried on Friday after being killed a week earlier when the ceiling of a burning Hollywood Hills home collapsed. In the video above, McGee explains how Firefighter Allen had helped his injured wife, Stephanie McGee, who had fallen during a hike.

Live coverage, funeral for Firefighter Glenn L. Allen, Los Angeles Fire Department

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Home where LAFD’s Glenn Allen died is now a crime scene. Was to be backdrop for reality show. Funeral today.

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Live coverage of funeral for Firefighter Glenn Allen underway here & here

Previous coverage of this story here & here

The LAPD made it clear yesterday that arson has been ruled out in the fire last week that killed Firefighter Glenn Allen. But the circumstances surrounding the death of the 61-year-old Los Angeles firefighter’s death are still a part of an investigation that involves homicide detectives. The home is considered a crime scene with police on the scene around the clock.

News reports indicate that one angle being explored is the role the construction of the 12,500-square-foot home played in this tragedy. The home was to be the backdrop for a German reality TV show starring Heidi Klum similar to ”America’s Next Top Model”.

Here’s what the Los Angeles Times reports:

Sources told The Times that there is no evidence that the fire was intentionally set, but investigators are trying to determine whether the recently rebuilt house was constructed properly and in a sound and legal manner.

More from KTLA-TV:

The fire appears to have started near a fireplace and then extended into the attic, according to L.A. City Fire Deputy Chief Mario Rueda.

Officials say arson is not a factor and apparently a plastic line in the home’s sprinkler system burned through and filled the ceiling with water.

The LAPD’s robbery-homicide division is now in charge of the investigation, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Building and Safety Department and the L.A. Fire Department.

“The city of Los Angeles has stringent building codes, and those building codes are made not only to protect residents, but also to protect our firefighters,” LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told KTLA. “So we’re looking into what exactly was the situation at that house.” 

One community activist has already moved ahead to the next step and written a column considering the possibility that corners were cut to provide yet more mind numbing television. Click here for that opinion. 

As news about the direction of the investigation broke, people gathered for a vigil last night at Fire Station 78 in Studio City to honor Firefighter Glenn Allen. That story is below. Firefighter Allen will be buried later today.

Firefighter Glenn L. Allen, Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD photo of Firefighter Glenn L. Allen.

Previous coverage of the fire in Hollywood Hills

Just after noon today Firefighter Glenn L. Allen passed away at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center. The 61-year-old Allen was a 38-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department and was to celebrate the birth of his first grandchild this week. According to news reports his daughter is expected to give birth to a boy on Saturday.

Here is the announcement from the LAFD News and Information Blog:

It is with great sadness that the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department inform you of the in Line of Duty Death of Los Angeles Firefighter Glenn Allen.

On Wednesday February 16, 2011, at 1119 hours ten fire companies, one heavy rescue, one USAR unit, seven rescue ambulances, seven battalion command teams, one division command team, three EMS battalion captains, and one arson unit responded to a reported structure Fire at 1546 North Viewsite Drive in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles.

While Firefighters were performing their sworn duties, a partial ceiling collapse occurred, causing injury to four Los Angeles Firefighters and two Los Angeles County Firefighters. One of the injured Los Angeles Firefighters later succumbed to his injuries at 1215 hrs on Friday, February 18, 2011 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

As dictated by Fire Department policy, a formal and detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact nature of the cause of injuries sustained, as well as the precise cause and manner of the Firefighters death.

The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department thank you for your kind words and sentiment at this time of overwhelming sorrow and immense loss.

The Allen Family and the Los Angeles Fire Department has received a tremendous outpouring of support during this difficult time. Your Firefighters wish to thank you and express our deepest appreciation for all the kind words and gestures that have been provided.