January 24, 2020
Here’s the latest news impacting Los Angeles Firefighters…
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Dozens of Patients at 7 Schools Treated After Delta Flight Drops Jet Fuel While Returning to LAX
Dozens of people at seven schools in the Los Angeles area were treated for minor injuries after a plane with mechanical issues dumped a load of jet fuel while returning to LAX for an emergency landing on Tuesday, officials said. Thirty-one patients at the school complained of minor injuries after Delta Air Lines Flight 89 dropped fuel over the playground, officials said. The patients were triaged on the campus, which is about 14 miles east of Los Angeles International Airport. The Los Angeles Fire Department also responded to two schools, Jordan High School in Florence-Firestone and 93rd Street Elementary School in Green Meadows, officials with the Los Angeles Fire Department later confirmed. Sixteen people were treated for minor injuries at the two L.A. campuses. And in Downey, the city Fire Department evaluated seven patients who had minor injuries at Gallatin preschool.
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10th District Vice President Frank Lima, Adam VanGerpen, Rich Fields, IAFF General President Harold Shaitberger, Steve Addleman, Phil Dominguez, and Dave Riles pause for a photo during the ALTS.
Photo courtesy of UFLAC.
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UFLAC Leaders Attend IAFF ALTS
Earlier this month members from UFLAC were honored to attend the International Association of Fire Fighters' 2020 Vincent J. Bollon Affiliate Leadership Training Summit (ALTS) and the Ernest A. “Buddy” Mass Human Relations Conference (HRC) in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Offering some 140 workshops, five pre-conference events, 23 information sessions and the opportunity to network with other affiliate leaders from across the United States and Canada – this conference provides attendees the opportunity to gain the skills and expertise to be a more effective union leader.
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The fire station on the front lines of California's homelessness crisis: 'We're trying to stop the bleeding'
Paramedic Scott Lazar, a 16-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, is used to treating the same person, sometimes on the same day, on Skid Row. "Deja vu, yeah, it's every day down here," Lazar told "Nightline" as he treats a man for an overdose, as he did just the day before. Over five months, "Nightline" got an exclusive look at life at Lazar's LAFD Station 9, rare access to the day-to-day operations of this team and a glimpse into daily life for this city's most vulnerable. Station 9 is one of the busiest fire stations in the country, receiving an average of 80 calls a day -- mostly to treat those living on the street in L.A.'s well-known Skid Row.
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Heavy Flames Force Suspect To Jump Out Of East Hollywood Apartment Building During Standoff
An hours-long standoff came to a wild end in East Hollywood late Sunday night after a man allegedly set an apartment building on fire and then jumped out to escape the flames. The incident first began at around 8:45 p.m. when Los Angeles police responded to a domestic disturbance at an apartment building in the 1100 block of New Hampshire Avenue. Officers responded to find a man, wanted for a possible assault, barricaded inside. The building, along with several others nearby, was evacuated. The suspect then began to set things on fire, which prompted L.A. Fire Department crews to be called to the scene. A little after 11 p.m., Sky2 captured footage of the man being forced to jump out of the building due to heavy flames exploding from the windows. LAFD crews extinguished the blaze, but not before it destroyed a ground-floor unit. No other apartments were damaged and no one else was hurt.
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Firefighter Hurt While Battling Blaze At Wilmington Restaurant
A firefighter was hurt early Friday while battling a blaze at a Wilmington restaurant and dance hall that has been closed for renovations. The fire broke out at about 4:30 a.m. at Salon Mexico on Anaheim Street, near Pioneer Avenue. The fire caused a partial building collapse. One firefighter was hurt and was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire was declared out in less than 20 minutes, but the structural integrity of the building is being assessed. The restaurant and dance hall has been closed for renovations. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
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Engine 58 Handles Freeway Ramp Auto Fire
LAFD Engine 58 positions their apparatus to protect the scene from traffic, while being far enough away from the fire for safe pumping. One firefighter pulls a hand line, dons face piece, and connects to his SCBA air supply while he waits for water. Auto fires can react violently to water application (many modern cars are made with magnesium components), therefore full protective gear is required when fighting an auto fire.
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Early Morning Fire Destroys Vacant Home In Vermont Knolls
An early morning fire destroyed a vacant home but was quickly extinguished, early Wednesday morning. Authorities responded to reports of a structure fire burning in the 900 block of West 75th Street in the Vermont Knolls area around 12:23 AM. Units arriving on scene located a vacant single-story engulfed in flames and initiated an aggressive fire attack. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within 11 minutes but the home was substantially damaged. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
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Firefighters Work a Structure Fire at a San Fernando Home
LAFD Firefighters are battling a structure fire on the 900 block of N MacNeil St in San Fernando, where they are trying to overcome heavy fire conditions, with excessive storage inside and a steep pitch to the roof.
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Employee, Dog Treated After Fire Breaks Out at Pizzeria in Koreatown
An employee and his dog needed treatment after a fire broke out at a pizzeria in Koreatown on Wednesday morning. About 80 firefighters were dispatched to the 3200 block of West Wilshire Boulevard when the bottom level of a three-story structure caught fire about 3:30 a.m. Heavy smoke was showing when crews arrived at King Of New York Pizzeria Pub and attacked the fire, Los Angeles Fire Department Assistant Chief Kristina Kepner said. An employee and his dog had been sleeping in the business, Kepner said. Both were being treated for smoke inhalation. The flames were contained to one building, which was heavily damaged. “It looks like a total loss at this time,” Kepner said.
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Downtown LA Commercial Fire Hampered By Fire Sprinklers
LAFD responded to 1620 South Los Angeles Street at 2:44 A.M. on January 18, 2020. A one-story commercial building contained a fire inside being held in check by fire sprinklers. This caused excessive smoke to build up with only minimal growth of the fire. Interior fire attack companies searched for the seat of the fire in very low visibility conditions, while navigating through excessive storage of textiles. Firefighters on the roof cut holes to ventilate the structure, letting some of the thick smoke out into the early morning sky, improving conditions for firefighters inside. Ultimately, 55 firefighters extinguished the fire in 49 minutes, with no reported injuries. The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation.
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LAFD Cools Off Vacant Canoga Park Home
A vacant home located at 21055 Ingomar Street was found with fire showing in the front on the evening of January 17, 2020. Firefighters laddered the home, ascended to the roof, and ventilated the fire, as hose lines were deployed to the front of the structure and water was applied. Twenty-six firefighters extinguished the flames in 13 minutes with no reported injuries.
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Photo by Raphael Richardson
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Body Found in Water-Filled Pit in Wilmington; Investigation Underway
Crews on Thursday afternoon recovered a body found in a 30-foot deep catch basin containing water in Wilmington, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters responded to the 1600 block of North Eubank Avenue around 12:20 p.m. after a person was found dead in a “large open (water filled) pit,” according to a Los Angeles Fire Department alert. The body was located in the water “close to the shore of the pit,” the alert stated. Firefighters were assisted in recovery efforts by an urban search and rescue crew, according to LAFD. They utilized a low-angle rope rescue operation to retrieve the remains.
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Hollywood road rage incident leaves woman dead
An investigation is underway in the Hollywood area after a 26-year-old woman was killed in what police are calling an “unfortunate case of road rage,” early Tuesday. The deadly incident involved two women in a Mercedes-Benz and a motorcyclist, according to Los Angeles Police Department investigators. Police say it all began when a Mercedes reportedly hit a motorcycle around midnight on Sunset Boulevard. The motorcyclist continued to follow the Mercedes south on Sunset Blvd. to the 1300 block of North Martel Avenue. The driver of the Mercedes came to a stop and got out of the vehicle to confront the motorcyclist. At some point during the altercation, the passenger moved to the driver’s side to escape when she struck the original driver who was pinned against a tree, police said.
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Firefighters find mystery underground area in Granada Hills yard
Firefighters responding to a report of a possible sinkhole Monday in a Granada Hills front yard found something quite different. The Los Angeles Fire Department were called about 7 p.m. to the 17200 block of Kingsbury Street to examine a hole found in a front yard. LAFD firefighters dropped a pole-mounted camera into the hole and found a large underground open area, said a photographer at the scene. The home was built in 1936, according to firefighters on scene, and the underground area could be the remains of a post-World War II bomb shelter.
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Violent Crash Leaves One Dead, Another Trapped In Granada Hills
A violent crash left one person dead and another trapped, early Saturday morning. Authorities responded to reports of a rollover crash in the 10700 block of Woodley Avenue in the Granada Hills area around 12:40 AM. Units arriving on scene located a vehicle on its side with two victims trapped inside. Firefighter paramedics used the jaws of life and other tools to quickly free one of the trapped occupants before transporting her to Holy Cross Hospital in critical condition. The second occupant was pronounced deceased on scene. Initial reports indicate the solo vehicle was traveling at high speeds when the driver lost control and crashed into several parked cars. An investigation is ongoing.
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Air Ambulance Hurries Patient to Specialist
An LAFD Air Ambulance landed at Granada Hills High School in order to transport a patient to the medical care they needed. A patient with a very specific medical condition needed specialized emergency medical care that was over 20 miles away. The patient was brought to Granada Hills High School by LAFD ground ambulance and care was transferred to Fire 1 firefighter-paramedics for transport.
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Image courtesy of CSEM-EMSC
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Magnitude-3.6 quake shakes San Fernando Valley
Firefighters and police officers fanned out across Los Angeles this morning after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.6 struck two miles north-northeast of Granada Hills, but no major infrastructure damage was reported. The quake was reported at 11:41 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Caltech Seismological Laboratory. As of 12:45 a.m., “LAFD has concluded the systematic survey of the City of Los Angeles by ground and air, and is pleased to report that no major infrastructure damage was noted by our personnel in the City of Los Angeles, and that there has been no loss of life or serious injury that we can directly attribute to the… earthquake,” Prange said.
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Big increase in firefighters proposed for California
The past three years — with massive wildfires setting records across California — have been rough on firefighters. Now, as climate change continues to warm the state and population growth pushes more people into fire-prone areas, some relief may be on the way. The state budget that Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed Friday calls for hiring 677 new full-time staff members at Cal Fire, the state’s lead firefighting agency, over the next five years. That’s an increase of 10.7% from the current total of 6,280 full-time employees who work at the agency now. Another 2,385 Cal Fire positions are seasonal employees.
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Office of Public Safety Event
On January 8, 2020 the Los Angeles Fire Department hosted Deputy Mayor, Homeland Security and Public Safety Jeff Gorell and his staff for an annual day of training (CPR and fire extinguisher use). The staff also conducted team building events utilizing firefighter skills.
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LAFD tests robotic firefighting technology
Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas says “Yesterday, I saw first hand the latest in robotic firefighting, and it was impressive! Your Los Angeles Fire Department has 6 core values (learn more at
joinLAFD.org
), and one of them is INNOVATION. We are committed to taking smart and creative risks to adapt and improve the way we tackle emergencies. Our firefighters tested the newest in firefighting technology, evaluating the potential for a role in better serving our city. We will continue to share, as we keep exploring the innovative new products that are released. As we look back just 115 years, the very first fire service internal-combustion engines began replacing steam-powered engines.
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Fire Commission Recognizes LAFD Cadet Post Advisors
Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department who serve as Cadet Post Advisors were recognized today by the Board of Fire Commissioners. Our Cadet Program serves as a top tier youth program thanks to the countless hours and dedication by these members (with no additional compensation). These individuals are sworn members of the LAFD, making a difference in the lives of those they serve on incidents day-to-day, yet they want to do more. When asked, most will tell you that they serve as Post Advisors so that they can make a difference in the lives of the youths of Los Angeles who are interested in the fire service.
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Photo by LAFD / Cody Weireter
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LA Firefighters Participate in MLK Day Celebrations
LAFD participating in the 2020 Kingdom Day Parade on MLK Day. This gathering celebrates the powerful, strong, brave, determined, inspirational leader who forever changed America.
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Remembering Our Fallen Brothers & Sisters
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Captain II
John M. Wigfield
Deceased: 01/19/2020
Appointment: 02/09/1963
Assignment: FS 80-C
Retired: 03/05/1997
Firefighter II
Robert D. Bonk
Deceased: 01/15/2020
Appointment: 09/23/1957
Assignment: FS 51-C
Retired: 06/10/1986
Deputy Chief
Albert L. Schultz
Deceased: 01/12/2020
Appointment: 01/29/1959
Assignment: Bureau of Support Services
Retired: 03/01/1984
Apparatus Operator
Don A. Nelson
Deceased: 12/27/2019
Appointment: 12/19/1995
Assignment: FS 96-C
Retired: 3/10/1986
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Firefighter II
Robert W. Reeder
Deceased: 01/09/2020
Appointment: 06/16/1952
Assignment: FS 101-A
Retired: 06/30/1980
Firefighter III
Raymond J. Babcock
Deceased: 01/05/2020
Appointment: 04/01/1973
Assignment: FS 107
Retired: 05/07/1992
Battalion Chief
William W. Cone
Deceased: 12/29/2019
Appointment: 11/02/1963
Assignment: OCD-B
Retired: 11/24/1991
Fireman
Warren P. Schmit
Deceased: 12/14/2019
Appointment: 2/20/1960
Assignment: FS 4-B
Retired: 02/01/1967
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Accelerant Detection Canine
“Major”
Deceased: 12/27/2019
Appointed: 12/14/2008
Assignment: Arson Counter Terrorism Section
Retired: 04/30/2016
Engineer
Odell Warren
Deceased: 12/19/2019
Appointment: 04/30/1960
Assignment: FS 52
Retired: 06/19/1987
Firefighter III
Raymond J. Babcock
Deceased: 01/05/2020
Appointed: 04/01/1973
Assignment: FS 107
Retired: 05/07/1992
Firefighter II
James J. O Kray
Deceased: 12/13/2019
Appointment: 01/29/1959
Assignment: FS 88-A
Retired: 03/07/1981
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2018 LAFD Year In Review Photo Book
On behalf of the more than 3,400 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers, Pilots, and Inspectors of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City IAFF Local 112 (UFLAC), we are proud to present the 2018 Los Angeles Fire Department Year in Review photo book. UFLAC’s mission is to lead the way to protect and advocate for the health, safety, working conditions, wages and benefits of our members and their families. This publication helps to tell the story of our dedicated members who protect lives and property in Los Angeles 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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In 2018, our Firefighters and Paramedics responded to more than 453,000 emergency calls for service throughout the City of Los Angeles - an average of 1,200 emergency calls per day. As an all-risk fire and rescue agency serving more than four million people, we are ready to answer any call that may come our way. UFLAC is honored to help showcase the dedication and commitment demonstrated by the men and women of the LAFD. Click
HERE
to view this publication.
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About UFLAC:
Since 1918, UFLAC has been the labor organization of the proud men and women that serve as firefighters and emergency medical responders protecting the City of Los Angeles. The members of the Los Angeles Fire Department rely on UFLAC to focus on the wellbeing and safety of those that protect the lives of others. For more information, visit
www.uflac.org
.
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