picture from @NWSLosAngeles

{HIGH SURF ADVISORY} issued by the National Weather Service for West facing LA County Beaches effective until Saturday 12/13 @ 3pm. Full High Surf Advisory details: here

The forecast is calling for a W/WNW Ground swell in the 8-12ft range  to build in Thursday evening and continue through Saturday afternoon then fade Sunday. Minor costal flooding is possible at the high tides and very strong Rip Currents are likeley along all L.A. County beaches. Large rogue waves can topple over coastal rocks, jetties and beaches likely causing beach erosion. Please use caution while visiting the beach and always check in with a Lifeguard before ANY ocean activities.

       High Surf Safety Messages:

• Check in with a lifeguard before ANY ocean activities!

• Stay off coastal Rocks, jetties and breakwalls during High Surf Advisories

• Watch the High Surf from a safe distance and NEVER turn your back to the ocean when walking along the shoreline!

• If in doubt of the large surf, do NOT go out!

• Always swim and surf near an open lifeguard station and never swim alone!

• Teach your family how to escape a Rip Current: click here

For more information on General Beach Safety: click here

Ocean Water Quality and Storm Drain info can be found: here

 

Rain Storm Information:

 Picture from @NWSLosAngeles

According to the National Weather Service, LA County is forecasted to get 1-2″ of rain at the coast and 2-4″ for foothills and mountains. The storm will move into LA County beginning late Thursday night 12/11 and continue through Friday 12/12. A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for Los Angeles County burn areas and will be in effect until Friday evening. The heavy downpour will bring a threat of mud and debris flows near the recent burn areas in foothill communities. Possible thunderstorms are expected. Use caution and be prepared!

Thunder Storm: Lightning Safety from the LA County Office of Emergency Management

Free sand bags will be provided at all LA County Fire Stations: Map here

Rain Storm Safety:

• Never attempt to cross flooded roads. Turn around don’t drown!

• Stay away from local waterways and flood channels during storms!

• NEVER swim near a flowing storm drain at the beach.

• Reduce speeds and drive w/ caution during storms!

For up to the minute updates on the December 12th storm from all LA County Public Safety Agencies: click here

 

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 Picture from @NWSLosAngeles

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The post Holiday Safety Press Conference 2014 appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.

On January 3, at 2:04 p.m., our Department responded to a report of a person who fell from a cliff to a rocky beach in the City of Palos Verdes. The rugged location required responders to work together to effect a rescue. 

While dispatchers and Battalion 14 personnel worked with the informant to better define the location, the Lifeguard Rescue Boat conducted a shoreline search. Quint 106, Engine and Squad 2, and Copter 14 worked to search the cliffs in the area. Ultimately, the patient was located at the base of a steep slope in Bluff Cove. A firefighter paramedic hoisted down from Copter 14 while a lifeguard swam in from the boat. Due to the patient’s critical injuries, additional firefighters from Quint 106 were picked up from a nearby baseball diamond and flown to the scene. After the patient was secured for transport, a hoist rescue was performed and the patient was flown to an area trauma center for treatment. These types of incidents are great examples of the unique challenges our Department members are able to overcome with teamwork and ongoing training.

The post Teamwork in Palos Verdes Coast Rescue appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.

On this bright, cold and sunny New Year’s Day, our Department proudly participated in the 126th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade in the City of Pasadena. Each New Year’s Day close to 80 million people around the globe focus on Pasadena, California, known as “Home of the Rose Parade.” With “Inspiring Stories” selected as the 2015 parade theme, the famed intersection of Orange Grove and Colorado boulevards came alive at 8 a.m., as 40 floats, 20 bands and 18 equestrian groups were introduced to the over 700,000 spectators bundled up along the route to watch with amazement. 

Visitors were greeted by family members of the 2015 Posthumous Rose Parade Grand Marshal Louis Zamperini, the Olympic athlete best remembered for his bravery and courage as a World War II prisoner of  war. Rose Queen Madison Triplett and her court of six princesses, along with heroes, athletes, actors, children, and animals led the way. Well over 20 Bands from around the globe marched the five and a half mile route, while trophy winning floats decorated with flowers and natural materials cascaded the boulevard.

The 2015 equestrian units outfitted in eye-catching costumes and handcrafted tack remain a crowd favorite trotting in groups or pulling beautifully decorated carriages. One of those stunning units was led by none other than Fire Chief Daryl Osby aboard a Percheron-drawn 1907 American La France steam engine. Accompanying the Chief were 27 Los Angeles County firefighters, including those honored this year for acts of bravery and heroism on the job, our Honor Guard team and members of the Firefighters Emerald Society.

The Chief’s ride was built in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the old Ahrens Fire Engine Plant, and was originally placed into service in Portland, Oregon, as Engine 13.  This second class steam engine produced 700-800 gallons of water per minute and was pulled by three horses. For the Rose Parade, the engine was beautifully decorated with a gorgeous array of fresh red, orange and pink roses draped from fresh holiday garland.

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On January 7, the Health Hazardous Material Division (HHMD) opened their doors for the first time to the public, providing insight to guests into one of the largest hazardous materials programs in California. Hazardous Material Specialist (HMS) Supervisor Ken Smith spearheaded this event, along with HMS Supervisor Mario Tresierras, to improve awareness and educate the community about how to keep their home and community safe.

Under the direction of Division Chief Bill Jones, HHMD protects the health of the public and environment throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties, as well as the City of Santa Monica, from accidental release and improper handling, storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous materials or waste. HHMD is part of the Fire Department’s Prevention Bureau and is comprised of several sections, which include Inspection, Special Operations, Emergency Operations and Administration/Planning.

Hazardous Materials Specialist Deirdre Williams led guests through an exploration of the Division’s site, showcasing the Emergency Response Coordinator who dispatches emergency calls to the field. Guests were able to peruse the lab where various materials are researched and tested. Each section provided a booth to display research, completed projects and new technologies used in the field.

Recognized as an outstanding example of leadership, coordination, partnership and outreach, HHMD was presented with the Secretary’s Award for Environmental Achievement by the State of California Environment Protection Agency on February 4, 2014. An honorable feat due to this award historically only awarded to individuals, the entire HHMD team was acknowledged for showcasing their leadership not only within the Fire Department but also with other agencies.

“HHMD regulates and monitor approximately 25,000 cites that require inspection by their 40 inspectors,”explained Karen Codding, assistant chief of the Special Operations Section. “In the Inspection Section, inspectors permit and inspect facilities that handle hazardous materials and generate waste. Using their education, training, and experience in chemistry, manufacturing processes and industrial hygiene, inspectors assess and ensure compliance with use, storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste.”

The Special Service Section is composed of three units.  The Cal-ARP Unit administer the California Accidental Release Program to ensure that risk management plans reduce the likelihood of accidental release of hazardous substances from businesses such as oil refineries, chemical plants and refrigeration facilities. The Site Mitigation Unit reviews and approves assessment and mitigation work plan for sites contaminated with hazardous substances. This team oversees and ensures the work of private environment consultants on such finished products as the Citadel Outlets located in Commerce, which was once a tire and rubber plant. As a leading member of the Los Angeles City, County and federal environmental strike forces, the Investigation Unit investigates criminal complaints, performs criminal surveillance, collects and evaluates evidence, including interviews with informants, and preparing, serving and executing search warrants.

The Emergency Operations Section provides 24- hour response to hazardous material incidents throughout the County, as well as preparing for possible events that involve chemical, biological and radioactive materials. The Administration/Planning Section, along with its two units (Technical Services Unit and Data Operations Unit), provide administrative, technical, educational and operational support for all HHMD sections.

When asked about the reason of this event Jones stated, “People know what lifeguards do; they know what firefighters do. They should know what HHMD does. It is important for the public to know what we do and the significance it has to their health and safety.”

The post HHMD Opens Doors to the Public appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.

LOS ANGELES – JANUARY 15, 2015 – The Los Angeles County Fire Department is saddened to report that this morning at 7:01 a.m., one of our Ocean Lifeguard Specialists Brian Kutil, age 42, tragically passed away. He was a 20-year veteran of the Lifeguard Division and died during our annual 500-meter recertification swim exercise at Mira Costa High School in the City of Manhattan Beach. He was immediately treated by L.A. County lifeguards, along with Manhattan Beach Fire Department paramedics, and transported to Little Company of Mary Hospital. Despite heroic efforts by all involved, he was pronounced dead.

“All of us are shocked by this terrible early morning news,” said Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and his Fire Department family. Please keep everyone in your thoughts as we mourn his tragic loss.”

Media Contact:

LACoFD LIFEGUARD DIVISION

Lifeguard Section Chief Chris Linkletter

(310) 939-7200

 PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

Captain Thomas Richards

(323) 881-2413                                                                                                                                                       

 # # #

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To honor the family and friends of Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Brian Kutil, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department will provide a flag service and memorial service.

Flag Ceremony Details:
Location:      Los Angeles County Beaches & Harbors Administrative HQ/ RBHQ in Marina del Rey
13837 Fiji Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292

When:         Thursday, January 22nd, 10AM

Parking:      Fisherman’s Village,
13737 Fiji Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
**LA County Beaches and Harbors will waive parking fees in Fisherman’s Village**

Memorial Services Details:
Location:    Dockweiler Beach just South of the Youth Center

When:        Saturday, January 24th, 10AM

Parking:     Dockweiler Youth Center (Hyperion and Vista Del Mar)
12505 Vista Del Mar
Los Angeles, CA 90245

 Brief Bio:

 Please join us is in using the hashtag #RIPBrian to share messages on all Social Media.

Feel free to use the below photos to honor Brian’s legacy!

The post Memorial Service Information for Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Brian Kutil appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.

2014 has been the busiest year on record for the Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Division. Beginning January 1 through December 31 2014, Los Angeles County ocean lifeguards have performed 15,851 ocean rescues. This year’s count broke the previous mark of 14,096 set back in 1997. This is the largest number of rescues in the history of our organization. Lifeguards performed 6,181 more rescues than our 20-year average in 2014. Three main weather-related reasons account for the increase.

 “For one, the lack of rain and extended periods of unseasonably warm weather this year brought an increase of activity to L.A. County beaches,” said Acting Chief Lifeguard Steve Moseley. “Secondly, the frequency of larger than normal surf created beach erosion causing inshore holes along our shoreline. The combination of consistent surf and inshore holes caused rip currents to form more frequently along our coast. Thirdly, ocean temperatures in L.A. County have been unseasonably warm for most of the year. Ocean temperatures rarely fell below 60 degrees in the winter months, and have hovered near 70 degrees and above from early spring through November.”

According to Moseley, the Lifeguard Division has reached an important milestone as 2014 has been the busiest year on record for the Lifeguard Division.

“This milestone is one that we can proudly celebrate today and positively reflect upon in the years to come. I would like to commend the men and women of the Lifeguard Division for their hard work and service to the public,” he said.

For the Lifeguard Division’s full statistics Report for 2014 follow the link: 2014 Lifeguard Statistics

The post L.A. County Lifeguards Break Record for the Highest Number of Ocean Rescues in a single year in 2014. appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.

On Thursday, January 15, our Department lost a leader and true hero, Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Brian K. Kutil. Kutil joined our Department as an Ocean Lifeguard in 1994. He worked many years as an Ocean Lifeguard Recurrent (part time) at Santa Monica South, where he shined as a leader amongst his peers. During this time, Kutil was introduced to ocean paddling by his lifeguard friends and exceeded in this sport.

He was born on November 19, 1972, and grew up in the city of El Segundo. It was during his high school years that he found his passion for the water, and excelled as a swimmer and water polo player. As a sophomore in college, he was a Junior College all-American, and excelled as a distance swimmer with his main event being the 1650 yard freestyle.

In April of 2001 he was promoted to the position of full time Ocean Lifeguard Specialist (OLS) at Dockweiler Beach. He was later positioned in El Porto, where he continued to make a positive impact on the community. Kutil also was stationed at Bay Watch Marina Del Rey and Cabrillo and saved countless lives over his career as a lifeguard.

“I got the chance to spend a lot of time with Brian during the summer. He was a great lifeguard, but boating was his actual calling,” said fellow Ocean Lifeguard AJ Lester. Kutil’s favorite place to paddle was at Marina Del Rey.

Kutil was loved by all his fellow lifeguards. He had a great talent for making people laugh and brightening up their day.

“He could have us all laughing on a rescue boat, but as soon as we got the 911 call, he was the guy you wanted backing you up” says Lester.

Another colleague, Captain Kenichi Haskett remembers Kutil’s amazing characteristics. “He was charismatic and friendly, but also very reliable and dependable. He genuinely spent time with the newly hired lifeguards to train them and help ease their way into the lifeguard culture. He was very well respected and loved by his peers and captains for his open demeanor.”

Outside of work, Kutil enjoyed surfing and traveling to exotic surf locations with fellow lifeguards and friends. He would spend a lot of time with his nephews, taking them to the zoo and attending his eldest nephews wrestling matches. Kutil also spent a lot of time with his father, and enjoyed playing billiards with him every week. Kutil is survived by his mother and father, along with his sister and three nephews.

The shock of Kutil’s sudden death continues to resonate within our Department and the community. He was beloved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed by his Fire Department family.

The post Paying Tribute To Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Brian Kutil appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.

On Wednesday, January 28, Class 232 of the Los Angeles County Paramedic Training Institute (PTI) graduated at El Camino Community College in Torrance. PTI is a division of the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency, and the EMT-P training program is a collaborative effort between the highly qualified, full-time PTI staff and El Camino Community College. Our Department acknowledges the great sacrifice and hard work by these young men and women. Congratulations and welcome to Class 232: Michael Devine, Tyson Farwell, Michael Mcerlean, Brian Noss, Joe Pena, Christopher Polanco, Christopher Toomey, Sean Travis, Paul Watts, Kevin Welsh, and Matt Williams. We wish you the best as you take this exciting next step in your careers as fire fighter paramedics!

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LOS ANGELES – February 5, 2014 – Los Angeles County Fire Department ocean lifeguards and Manhattan Beach Fire Department Personnel performed a dramatic rescue operation to try to save a man who fell from the Manhattan Beach Pier and into the ocean, along with the two Good Samaritans who also jumped in to save him.

At 1:22 p.m. today, lifeguards received A 911 call from South Bay Dispatch and joined Manhattan Beach firefighters at the end of the pier to search for the victim. Two Good Samaritans nearby heard the man screaming for help and jumped off the pier in an attempt to rescue him. A life ring was thrown into the water from the end of the pier to help keep all three victims afloat. Two firefighters jumped off the pier to help all three, followed by additional Lifeguard units to help bring the victims to shore. Paramedics performed CPR on the original victim, who was unconscious by that time. He was transported to a local area hospital in critical condition.

The two firefighters who jumped in to help the victims were Manhattan Beach Firefighter David Schwarting and Fire Captain Dave Shenbaum. Captain Shenbaum also serves the local community as a recurrent Los Angeles County Ocean Lifeguard. His dual skills as a firefighter and lifeguard were instrumental in effecting the best possible rescue for these victims.  The cause of this incident is currently under investigation by the Manhattan Beach Police Department.

Official Release: Pier Rescue News Release 1.5

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In an effort to be proactive, Hazardous Materials (HM) teams within and adjoining the County of Los Angeles have been planning to meet and train together. They all recognize the potential for a major hazardous materials incident, such as terrorism, that would require more resources than any one agency can handle. Fire Captain Tony Duran credits the Department’s HM Team members for the idea, as it was suggested prior to his arrival into his position as Hazardous Materials Coordinator in April 2014.

The multi-agency collaboration has begun with recent meetings between our Department and Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Santa Fe Springs, Vernon, Burbank, Ventura County, Torrance, Ontario, Anaheim, Downey Fire Departments, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the 9th Civil Support Team (USA-Reserve/ANG).

“We are entering the grassroots effort with many future meetings in the planning stages,” says Duran.

Duran and Fire Captain Greg Hitchcock have been collaborating with neighboring HM units to compare equipment and experiences. Meetings through the FIRESCOPE HM subcommittee involve sharing ideas, such as recognizing the potential for a HM incident in jurisdictions that have little to no HM response capability. FIRESCOPE has developed a “typing” format to allow any agency to request a “typed” HM team to deploy to their region for assistance. This process would be identical when agencies request “Type I or II engine” companies for wildland incidents.

“Occasionally HM teams are requested to incidents that overwhelm local resources.  The concept of FIERSCOPE is simply a plan for agencies to help each other out,” says Fire Captain Brad Haldeman of the Orange County Fire Authority. “Regional training is necessary to evaluate the compatibility of equipment and to ensure that mutual aid responders are qualified to meet the needs of the incident objectives. The advantages of training with a variety of departments provide opportunities for fresh ideas among responders and operational consistency on calls.”

Duran hopes to schedule future drills and exercises with all agencies involved so that when the teams meet on an incident they will understand each other’s procedures and strengths. Improving relationships and building a working rapport with all agencies to facilitate the inevitable disaster that requires a multi-jurisdictional response is just as important.

“The recent meeting with Ventura and LACoFD HazMat teams was instrumental in continuing to build strong working relationships between our neighboring agencies,” says Fire Captain/HazMat Specialist Stan Ziegler of the Ventura County Fire Department. His colleague, Firefighter/HazMat Specialist Aimin Alton also shared his recent experience regarding the benefits of the collaboration that was in display during the Mission Incident in Santa Paula that occurred last November:

“When assigned to an Air Monitoring team at a High Risk Facility directly downwind of the incident, I  heard that LA County HazMat was requested. A quick text message confirmed that Task Force 150 and HazMat Captain Duran were on their way up. Captain Duran is known to many of our HazMat Technicians and Specialists,” he says. “Some of our personnel have taken classes with him at HazMat Continuing Challenge in Sacramento and the Crude Oil by Rail Class at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center in Pueblo, Colorado. He’s also taken some classes here.  When Task Force 150 showed up at the facility, I recognized about half of the team as having helped teach my HazMat Specialist class at Del Valle. This in itself was reassuring. Having that facial recognition without a doubt helped ease the transfer of assignments between our teams.”

Later that day Task Force 150 was sent into Oxnard to evaluate some possibly contaminated vehicles and belongings that had traveled from the original site while our Regional Ventura County Team was working the original location. Also, that same day, another unrelated hazardous materials call was received in the Thousand Oaks area and a Los Angeles City HazMat team came in and provided Mutual Aid.

“That day alone, we had HazMat teams from the Naval Base Ventura County Fire and Rescue, LACoFD, LAFD, Oxnard City Fire, Ventura City Fire and Ventura County Fire all working multiple incidents in our County. It’s not hard to imagine a how a HazMat incident could become increasingly dynamic and require the efforts of many teams throughout Southern California. Familiarity between our teams helps strengthen the collaborative spirit, which helps us do our jobs better and safer,” says Alton.

The recent hazardous materials training involving the use of live ammonia held this past January at the Del Valle Regional Training Center invited many of the agencies mentioned above. Teams were able to network with other jurisdictional teams during this training. Duran also highlighted a previous railroad disaster drill, where Task Force 105 worked with OCFA HazMat Task Force to mitigate a simulated railroad derailment with leaking Bakken crude oil.

There are many more training sessions planned, including the 9th Civil Support Team and HMTF 105 in April. Another involves railroad training with the Burlington Northern – Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway, to which Duran has invited other HM teams to take advantage of the opportunity coming up in March.

“My vision is that each of the teams will become comfortable enough with each other to act seamlessly at a major disaster involving hazardous materials to quickly and effortlessly control and mitigate the hazards for the safety of the public, to themselves and each other,” says Duran.

The post Hazardous Materials Teams Train Together to Improve Response appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.

On Sunday, February 8, at 5:48 a.m., the doorbell rang at Fire Station 45 in the City of Lakewood. At the door was a 40-year old man holding a newborn baby girl. The man had found the newborn abandoned near the Lakewood Mall and brought her to the fire station. Although this event did not meet the criteria of a Safe Surrender, the life of this little girl was saved. She was evaluated by firefighters and found to be in good medical condition.  She was taken to a local hospital for further medical evaluation, and will be placed into a loving adoptive home.

In order for a newborn to be considered a Safe Surrender, a parent or adult with legal custody needs to surrender the baby at any hospital or fire station in Los Angeles County. The law requires that a parent or guardian can surrender the baby three days old or younger without fear of arrest of prosecution for child abandonment. For this reason, this newborn baby girl will not be considered a Safe Surrender case, but an abandonment.

Hospitals and fire stations are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, are are staffed with medical professionals, which is why they were selected to be the best locations for Safe Surrender sites. When surrendering a baby, the guardian or parent is asked to voluntarily fill out a medical history form with no names required. The baby undergoes a medical exam when surrendered at a hospital or fire station. Parents and guardians are also given an opportunity to reclaim their baby within 14 days by calling the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

On Tuesday, January 27, at 9:28 p.m., our Department did welcome a Safe Surrender baby, when a woman surrendered a newborn baby boy to Fire Station 57 in the City of Southgate. The child was fully clothed and wrapped in a blanket. Paramedics assessed the newborn and found him to be in outstanding health. This was an excellent example of a Safe Surrender. While working in our communities, please continue to spread the word about the Safe Surrender Program, reminding residents about this viable option for ending newborn abandonment.  Remember “No Shame. No Blame. No Names.”

The post Little Lives Continue to be Saved Through Safe Surrender appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby is recognized as the first African-American Fire Chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, carrying on the tradition that began with his father, Robert Osby, who served as the first African-American Fire Chief of of the cities of Inglewood, San Jose, Oceanside, and the second African -American Fire Chief of the City of San Diego. 

Osby demonstrates integrity, teamwork, caring, commitment, community and courage as a firefighter and leader of our organization. In May of 1984, he faced a tough choice when he entered the fire service, “having grown up seeing some of the discriminatory and unfair practices my dad endured.” Osby overcame these obstacles to become a role model to young African-Americans and joined the fight against discrimination and segregation as former president of the Los Angeles County Stentorians, founded in 1954 by Los Angeles area firefighters. As a mentor and community leader, Osby has actively engaged in the Department’s Fire Explorer Program.  He also directs three youth foundations, including the Junior Firefighter Youth Foundation, Youth for Excellence Foundation and Fire Fighter’s ABC’s. Committed to cultivating professional diversity, the Chief actively participates as a member of the National Forum for Black Administrators, the Associations of Black County Administrators, Black Chief Officers Association and 100 Black Men.

Participation in Harvard University’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government, as well as the National Preparedness Leadership Program, Dillard University’s Executive Development Program, and the Martin Gang Institute for Intergroup Relations at Loyola Marymount University, confirms his commitment to excellence. He is also a California State Certified Incident Commander and Chief Officer.

Thank you Chief Osby for your leadership and service to the fire service, Los Angeles County residents, and our organization. We salute you!

The post Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby: Making History appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.

This past January, the Department’s Dispatch center dispatched a record-breaking number of calls. An average of 1,039 calls dispatched each day made this the busiest January in the history of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The total number of calls dispatched during the month was 32,218 compared to January 2014, when there were approximately 30,000 calls sent out. Since 2010, Dispatch has experienced a 12 percent increase in call volume.

The Dispatch center for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Photo by Doug Morrisson.

“Everything from the weather pattern shifts to population growth to budget problems for other agencies requiring us to send resources outside our boundaries for assistance have led to these high amounts of calls in January,” says Supervising Fire Dispatcher Kerry Crabtree, who oversees CAD-related statistics.

The total number of calls dispatched each year has been steadily increasing since 2002. The center dispatched 313,259 calls in 2012; 317,958 calls in 2013, and 339,699 calls in 2014.

With all these calls, our dispatchers remain calm, cool and collected while assisting the public. The Dispatch center is staffed with 15 dispatchers during the day and 13 at night, with only four or five of these assigned to call-taking duties. Those dispatchers are handling an average of 8-10 calls per hour that require dispatch along with routine calls that come in to the center. Our dispatchers have been able to quickly and effectively respond to all of these calls. With their hard work and consistency, they continue to provide the best for our community!

Top photo by Doug Morrisson.

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The Recruitment Unit is responsible for educating the public on how to join the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s ranks. This includes informing job seekers on the hiring process and pairing potential candidates with members of the mentor cadre.

“We are the face and the mouthpiece of the Department to the general public,” says Fire Captain Brent Burton, who ensures that the Department is highly visible at career fairs, job fairs, college fairs, community festivals and career presentations at schools. The Recruitment Unit staff receives help from Fire Fighter Specialist Kelley Abadie, assigned to Fire Station 61, who leads the mentoring program, and Student Worker Gwen White, who assists with routine business.

In 1989, Burton was a firefighter with three years in the Department, when he was detailed to the Recruitment Unit. He worked under the guidance of the late Retired Assistant Chief Floyd Hoffman, who founded the Department’s Recruitment Program. Working alongside Hoffman, Burton found his calling and has continued the tradition of great work in Recruitment. His goal is to grow the unit into a renowned operation, like the City of New York Fire Department High School for Fire and Life Safety.

Burton hopes to hire more staff and continue to create more programs like his Future Firefighter Program (FFP), an educational program designed for high school youth at Morningside High School in Inglewood. The FFP focuses on job readiness and preparation for students who are interested in becoming a firefighter or paramedic, and provides hands-on training with actual tools and equipment that firefighters use. Students who have completed the program have gone on to take their CPAT and apply for firefighter positions in the Department.

The Recruitment Unit, which is part of the Department’s Leadership and Professional Standards Bureau, has traditionally focused on firefighters, with 120 firefighter recruiters working in the field; however, Burton wants to expand the scope of recruitment.

“Currently, the Department tests every three years for firefighters,” says Burton. “In the meantime, we want to continue recruiting for other positions that are hiring within the Department.”

This ambitious plan to bring on board recruiters from the Lifeguard Division, Dispatch, and Health Hazardous Materials Division will require a coordinated effort but “not impossible” according to Burton. Lifeguard Captain Ken Hassett is already helping Burton by staffing recruitment events with lifeguard recruiters.

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The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently approved a five-year award of $12,944,147 in grant funding for the Fire Department from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) International Search and Rescue Operations Cooperative Agreement. Additional funding will be made based on emergency deployment activity and funding will be increased in the form of agreement modifications.

The USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) plans and implements international disaster relief, rehabilitation, preparedness, mitigation, prevention and early warning programs, and coordinates the U.S. Government’s foreign disaster assistance program. To ensure that Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) capabilities are available when a disaster occurs, USAID has long implemented a policy of partnering with county and municipal agencies capable of providing the needed USAR operational support in a timely manner. The Department’s USAR Task Force has been selected to continue to serve as part of the Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) composed of disaster management and response specialists, and supporting equipment, in responding to international disasters.

The USAID International Search and Rescue Operations Cooperative Agreement allows the Department’s USAR Task Force to take part in international search and rescue operations and program activities. Award funds will be used to provide appropriate training and cover related costs for emergency preparedness and maintenance of the USAR Task Force. This five-year award is a continuation of previous agreements between USAID and the Fire Department dating back to 2003 for international search and rescue operations, and program activities.

The approval of this grant is consistent with the County’s Strategic Plan Goal 1, Operational Effectiveness/Fiscal Sustainability, through emergency preparedness and response efforts.

Photo: Canine Handler Fire Captain Bill Monahan and Hunter participate in a USAR demonstration. Photo by CSR Carmen Mackey.

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The Los Angeles County Fire Department is partnering with more than 200 Southern California fire departments, law enforcement and other public safety agencies to see which organization can donate the most blood in the 9th Annual Red Cross Battle of the Badges Blood Drive.

“Here in Southern California, more than 160 local hospitals depend on the Red Cross for blood donations to assist trauma victims and hospital patients,” says Fire Chief Daryl Osby. “Yet less than 3 percent of the population donates blood, leading to continual shortages of all blood types.”

As part of the blood drive, which is open to the public, the Red Cross Bloodmobile will visit the Department’s East County Training Center in Pomona from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. All are invited to attend the free event, which will also feature the Shakey Quakey earthquake simulator, fire engines on display, and hot dogs and other refreshments.

Personnel will be on hand to teach the public Hands Only CPR and demonstrate how to download the PulsePoint app. The app alerts registered users who are trained in CPR when a sudden cardiac occurs in a nearby public place.

Members of the public will be able to meet with the Department’s Recruitment Unit and learn about career opportunities with the Department.

Those interested in donating blood should contact the Public Information Office at 313-881-2411 or info@fire.lacounty.gov. Appointments can be made online by visiting redcrossblood.org and using sponsor code BADGESOCAL. Donors will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

The East County Training Center is located at 3325 Temple Ave. in Pomona.

Top photo: Inspector Randall Wright gives blood at a Battle of the Badges event.

The post LACoFD to Host Red Cross Battle of the Badges Blood Drive appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Photo via @NWSLosAngeles on Twitter

At 8:05am this morning the National Weather Service Los Angeles/ Oxnard notified the LA County Lifeguards of possible thunderstorms along the coast. Due to the risk of lightning strikes, lifeguards immediately began patrolling all LA County Beaches making notifications to clear both the beach and the near shore waters.

As the storm moved through, dozens of lightning strikes were witnessed by our lifeguards well offshore. There were no reports of any lightning strikes on any LA County Beaches.

We are in communications with the NWS and will continue to warn the public of the risks of lightning strikes as the storm moves through.

There are no *Beach Closures* at this time (11AM) as the storm has passed through.

We would like to remind the public to be SAFE during thunderstorms!

• When Thunder Roars….Go INDOORS!

NOAA Lightning Safety Messages: HERE

The post LA County Beaches Cleared Due to Thunderstorms March 3, 2015 appeared first on Los Angeles County Fire Department.