Visit Fire Departments.com

http://www.archives.gov/preservation/disaster-response/guidelines.html

Submitted by Brian Humphreyl Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Tags: LA, Los Angeles, LAFD, Los Angeles Fire Department

On Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 12:04 PM, nine Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, two LAFD Helicopters, two Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and one Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 55 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, along with full brush fire assignments from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest, all under the direction of LAFD Assistant Chief Greg West responded to a Greater Alarm Brush Fire near 11538 W Terra Bella Street in Sylmar.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover more than an acre of vegetation burning uphill in waist high grass toward the Angeles National Forest in windless conditions.

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel were soon joined by Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest personnel in a well-coordinated battle against the flames, which impacted a "Mutual Threat Zone" for the trio of agencies.

Firefighters took advantage of tactical pre-planning and knowledge of historical fire behavior in the steep terrain to deploy ground-based personnel against the flames, which were held in place and ultimately extinguished with the help of precise helicopter water drops.

The fire, held to less than four acres, remained within the City limits of Los Angeles and was extinguished in just 50 minutes.

There were no injuries, and no structures threatened. The cause of this noontime blaze remains undetermined.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Tags: LA, Los Angeles, LAFD, Los Angeles Fire Department

Fire involving a vacant structure next to a building on the do not enter list. Another box alarm during the...

On Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 6:47 PM, nine Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, three LAFD Rescue Ambulances, one EMS Battalion Captain, four Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and one Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 62 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Greg West, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 15050 Sherman Way in Van Nuys.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover heavy smoke showing from one of thirty-five split level townhomes in a Sherman Oaks Hospital, where he was treated and released to remain off duty.

Loss from the blaze is estimated at $400,000 ($300,000 structure & $100,000 contents). The cause of the fire is listed as accidental, and attributed to carelessness with candles.

It should be noted that nationwide, candle fires have more than doubled since 1990, and that December has almost twice the number of home candle fires of an average month.

During 2004, an estimated 17,200 home structure fires started by candles were reported to fire departments in the United States. These fires resulted in an estimated 200 civilian deaths, 1,540 civilian injuries and an estimated direct property loss of $200 million.

The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department remind you to be careful with candles now and throughout the coming year.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Tags: LA, Los Angeles, LAFD, Los Angeles Fire Department