May 7, 2021
Here’s the latest news impacting Los Angeles Firefighters…
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Beloved carpenter killed in South LA commercial building fire
A beloved carpenter was killed Tuesday morning when a fire erupted at a commercial building in the Central-Alameda area of South Los Angeles, officials said. Friends of the victim said the talented carpenter was known to work late hours and often slept at his business. Los Angeles City firefighters were called to the 1800 block of East 57th Street, located near Long Beach Boulevard just after midnight. Arriving firefighters said the building was fully engulfed and threatened nearby buildings in the industrial area. A neighbor at an adjoining business told firefighters the carpenter was known to spend many nights at his business and used a map to help pinpoint where the carpenter usually slept. Firefighters went into the burning building to save him. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Presenting UFLAC's 2020 LAFD Year in Review
On behalf of the approximately 3,400 Firefighters of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF Local 112 (UFLAC), we are proud to present the 2020 Los Angeles Fire Department Year in Review. 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 book helps to tell the story of our dedicated First Responders who continued to protect lives and property in Los Angeles while risking their own safety during an extraordinary year. In 2020, our Firefighters and Paramedics responded to more than 444,000 emergency calls for service throughout Los Angeles - an average of 1,213 calls per day. As an all-risk fire and rescue agency serving more than four million people, the LAFD is one of the busiest fire departments in the country and 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 the publication.
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UFLAC, LAFD, and Stevens Nation Join Forces to Support ALS Awareness
UFLAC, LAFD, and Stevens Nation have joined forces to promote and support ALS Awareness during the month of May. As you know, we recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and participate in "Movember" during "No Shave November" to bring awareness to men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Now it is time to raise awareness for all those diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), including one of our own Firefighters, Eric Stevens. Eric was diagnosed with ALS a month after getting married. His hope is to shed light on this underfunded disease, start a dialogue, and motivate people in power to make changes that allow terminally ill patients to have access to treatments that are still in trials but are proven to be safe. Stevens Nation is advocating for patients who don’t have a year or two to wait for treatment to have access to this medical care that might drastically reduce their suffering. For more information, please visit https://stevensnation.com and follow #AxeALS and #PushForTreatment on social media.
Click HERE to order your ALS Awareness Gear
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Man Found Dead in Rancho Park Community House Fire
Fire struck a house Saturday evening in the Rancho Park area of Los Angeles and firefighters found a man dead inside. The fire was reported at 8:37 p.m. at 10544 W. Louisiana Avenue, said the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Brian Humphrey. Flames were showing when 26 firefighters arrived at the single-story, 1,418-square-foot house, Humphrey said. “During fire attack, they discovered one adult male within the home beyond medical help,” he said. The flames were out in 22 minutes, he said.
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Venice woman loses home, dog in fire as neighbors blame growing homeless encampment
A home in Venice was destroyed and a dog was killed in a fire early Wednesday morning. While the cause remains under investigation, neighbors are pointing to growing homeless encampments in the area, including one near the home. The fire was reported at 3:55 a.m. at the one-story bungalow on Clubhouse Avenue. It took 26 firefighters 18 minutes to put out the flames, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Neighbors described the distressing scene and efforts to rescue the dog trapped inside.
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Photo courtesy of @hillsofla |
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100 firefighters extinguish Eagle Rock commercial building fire
It took more than 100 firefighters 39 minutes to put out a greater alarm fire that engulfed a single-story commercial building Saturday night. The fire was reported at 9:17 p.m. in the 4300 block of Eagle Rock Boulevard near York Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department's Brian Humphrey. One unit in the building, which is being demolished, was well-involved in flames when firefighters arrived, Humphrey said. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was under investigation, he said.
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Fire burns home on Tampa Avenue in Tarzana
It took 41 Los Angeles firefighters 24 minutes to extinguish a blaze late Friday at a single-story home in Tarzana. A knockdown was declared at 9:45 p.m. for the fire on the 6200 block of Tampa Avenue, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to a nearby structure, Humphrey added.
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L.A. City, County Firefighters Battle Brush Fire in Angeles Forest in Tujunga
Los Angeles city and county firefighters have stopped the forward progress of a brush fire in the Angeles Forest in Tujunga at one-and-a-half acres of grass. The fire started near 2131 Stonyvale Road and was reported at 3:44 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The fire caused the Stonyvale Picnic site to be evacuated, officials said. The Los Angeles City Fire Department sent both ground and air resources, including water-dropping helicopters, to help county firefighters battle the blaze, fire department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.
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Fire Damages Detached Garage in Sunland
Fire ripped through the detached garage of a home in Sunland Thursday evening, causing damage to two vehicles and some overhanging tree branches before being extinguished. Firefighters responded at 9:23 p.m. to 10714 Plateau Drive, near Foothill Boulevard, and found the structure fully involved with fire and flames threatening nearby trees, according to Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
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Woman arrested in multi-vehicle crash on 101 Freeway that left 2 dead, including 15-year-old
A 20-year-old woman has been arrested in connection to a four-car crash in Sherman Oaks that left two people dead, including a 15-year-old boy. The California Highway Patrol says Bianca Lopez was driving eastbound on the 101 Freeway near Van Nuys Boulevard when she rear-ended a box truck just after midnight Saturday. She was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries. The CHP said alcohol was determined to be a factor in the crash. The impact caused both vehicles to lose control and crash into the center divider wall of the freeway. The box truck then entered the westbound lanes and was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
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Photo by Raphael Richardson |
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8,000 gallons of diesel fuel spills after tanker truck overturns on freeway onramp near Wilmington
A double-tanker big rig hauling thousands of gallons of diesel fuel overturned Friday on an onramp to the 110 Freeway in the Wilmington area, spilling part of its cargo but resulting in no injuries, authorities said. The rig overturned about 12:55 p.m. on the Harry Bridges Boulevard onramp, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. "The big rig double tanker was carrying a total load of 8,000 gallons diesel fuel cargo when it overturned on the freeway onramp," Brian Humphrey of the LAFD said. "The leak from one compromised tank has stopped, as the tank contents are now below the `tear' in that ... tank." Firefighters contained the spilled diesel fuel, but about 200 gallons of the liquid may have entered the storm drain system before they arrived on scene, Humphrey said. It was unknown how many gallons spilled.
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Griffith Park Air Rescue of Two Hikers
Two Griffith Park hikers, a man and a woman, had to be air-rescued after getting stranded on a near vertical cliffside in the park.
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3 people wounded in shooting after argument at Sherman Oaks bar
Two men and a woman were shot after an argument at a Sherman Oaks sports bar early Sunday morning, Los Angeles Police Department officials said. Police responded to reports of shots fired around 1:30 a.m. at the bar in the 13600 block of Ventura Boulevard. The shooting came after three people became involved an argument with someone. Two men in their 20s and a woman, around 30 years old, ended up suffering gunshot wounds, according to police. They were all taken to hospitals in stable conditions, including one of the victims who was taken to the hospital by a friend.
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Off-Duty LAPD Officer Struck in Sherman Oaks Shooting, Suspect In Custody
Bloodied and handcuffed, but still able to stare straight at the camera, firefighters loaded a man suspected of shooting an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer Wednesday afternoon in Sherman Oaks. It all unfolded around 1 p.m. in the underground garage of an apartment building in the 5200 block of Vesper Avenue, police said. Investigators said the officer and a woman were walking down to his personal vehicle when he noticed the suspect sitting inside the car. “The officer realizes that inside this vehicle he typically secures his bulletproof vest as well as other equipment including a fire arm,” Chief Michel Moore said. Investigators said the man put on the officer’s vest and grabbed the officer’s duty firearm. That’s when the officer, who was also armed, confronted the man, and a gun battle broke out.
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Man Climbs to Top Of 150-Foot Construction Crane Off Hollywood Boulevard
A man has been safely taken into custody after climbing a 150-foot construction crane off Hollywood Boulevard. Police and firefighters were called to the 4850 West Hollywood Boulevard at about 6 a.m. in response to a single patient behavioral emergency – a man who climbed a construction crane. It’s not clear why he climbed the approximately 150-foot crane, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The man was safely lowered to the ground at about 9:30 a.m., according to fire officials. He was not injured.
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Man found dead beneath San Pedro coastal cliff
A man was found dead after apparently falling off a cliff at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro Monday afternoon, officials said. Crews were on scene at the park at 1 Point Fermin, known for its lighthouse, by 4:15 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department said in an alert. Firefighters found the man halfway down the precipice and set up a high-angle rope rescue in an attempt to bring him back up, LAFD said. But as officials reached the man near the bottom of the cliff, they realized he was dead.
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Electrical vault explosion injures 4 in Hollywood area, triggers power outages
An explosion caused by an electrical vault injured four people and triggered power outages in the Hollywood area early Tuesday morning, fire officials said. The blast was reported about 1:35 a.m. at 6198 Franklin Avenue near the 101 Freeway, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department alert. Two people were taken to a hospital, one in serious condition and another in moderate condition, according to LAFD. The other two people declined transport to hospitals. Fire officials warned that the explosion may have knocked out power for some residents in the area.
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Tracking coronavirus vaccinations in California
Experts say about 85% of Americans will need to be vaccinated to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control. This page tracks California’s progress toward that goal using data from state and federal authorities.
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LAFD Foundation Presents Valor Awards 2020
The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation’s annual Valor Awards Ceremony celebrates and honors community heroes with the presentation of the Medal of Valor and other department awards – each with a unique and moving story highlighting their bravery, courage and commitment to the city. Captain II Kenneth Willahan received the department’s highest honor, Medal of Valor, for rescuing a pregnant woman and her small child from roaring river rapids while he was on vacation with his family. Three firefighters were honored with the Medal of Merit and another received a Special Commendation for courageous actions during other emergencies.
The LAFD and the LAFD Foundation hosted an on-field ceremony at Dodger Stadium honoring:
Fire Station 9, Station of the Year Award
Firefighter III Cody Crippen, Letter of Special Commendation
Firefighter III/Paramedic Wes Manning, Medal of Merit
Engineer Robert Medrano, Medal of Merit
Captain I Rob Scott, Medal of Merit
Captain II Kenneth Willahan, Medal of Valor
CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), Community Impact Award
Farmers Insurance, Corporate Impact Award
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Remembering Our Fallen Brothers & Sisters |
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Captain
Arthur Stecher
Deceased: 5/1/2021
Appointed: 7/15/1947
Assignment: FS 100
Retired: 7/1/1977
Captain
Edward R. Villavicencio
Deceased: 4/30/2021
Appointed: 5/12/1962
Assignment: FS 98
Retired: 6/28/1993
Captain
Theodore C. Foor
Deceased: 4/18/2021
Appointed: 5/19/1958
Assignment: FS5
Retired: 12/13/1979
Captain II
Earl A. Seddon
Deceased: 4/17/2021
Appointed: 5/19/1958
Assignment: FS49
Retired: 10/19/1986
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Engineer
Oral J. Hogan
Deceased: 4/14/2021
Appointed: 11/7/1959
Assignment: FS80
Retired: 6/29/1990
Assistant Chief
Frank W. Borden
Deceased: 4/9/2021
Appointed: 11/7/1959
Assignment: Training Division
Retired: 1/7/1996
Fire Inspector I
Lee S. Lewis
Deceased: 4/7/2021
Appointed: 12/14/1980
Assignment: FPB Film Unit
Retired: 5/31/2018
Engineer
Donald J. Brown, Jr.
Deceased: 3/30/2021
Appointed: 2/1/1955
Assignment: FS8
Retired: 6/1/1978
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Paramedic
Douglas E. Brown
Deceased: 3/28/2021
Appointed: 1/1/1955
Assignment: EMS Bureau Staff Assistant
Retired: 8/4/1985
Captain
Donald M. Eakin
Deceased: 3/26/2021
Appointed: 2/20/1971
Assignment: FS94
Retired: 10/23/1989
Fireman
Ronald A. Kredell
Deceased: 3/12/2021
Appointed: 9/23/1957
Assignment: FS38
Retired: 11/29/1984
Captain
John M. O’Neill
Deceased: 3/7/2021
Appointed: 2/4/1961
Assignment: FS15
Retired: 12/3/1981
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UFLAC’s 2020 LAFD
Year In Review
On behalf of the approximately 3,400 Firefighters of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF Local 112 (UFLAC), we are proud to present the 2020 Los Angeles Fire Department Year in Review. 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 book helps to tell the story of our dedicated First Responders who continued to protect lives and property in Los Angeles while risking their own safety during an extraordinary year.
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In 2020, our Firefighters and Paramedics responded to more than 444,000 emergency calls for service throughout Los Angeles - an average of 1,213 calls per day. As an all-risk fire and rescue agency serving more than four million people, the LAFD is one of the busiest fire departments in the country and 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 the 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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