LBFD Firefighter Performs Rescue to Protect the Community
By frhayes | March 24, 2009
On Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 8:00 A.M. Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) units Engine 12, Engine11, Rescue 12, BLS16, Truck 11, and Battalion Chief 3 responded to a reported overturned vehicle On the North Bound 710 Freeway, At the transition to the West Bound 91 Freeway, in LONG BEACH, CA 90805.
Upon arrival Engine 12 observed a black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) moving at approximately 20 miles per hour on an easement just off of the freeway. The driver of the vehicle was unconscious. Multiple calls received by the LBFD dispatch center reported that the driver was unconscious prior to leaving the freeway. The vehicle ultimately began doing “donuts” on the easement way, with the potential of being diverted back on to the freeway putting the public in eminent danger.
Firefighter (FF) Dotts assigned to Engine 12 waited for the opportune time to leap on to the drivers side mirror for balance, and then reached into the vehicle in front of the driver to pull the lever on the steering column, to place the vehicle into park. During this time period the vehicle was traveling at approximately 20 Miles Per Hour (MPH) and was dragging FF Dotts along the easement way with the potential of him being run over if he lost control of his grasp on the drivers side mirror.
Once the vehicle was stopped the crew of Engine 12 began evaluating the medical condition of the driver. The patient was a male approximately 40 years of age who was found to be unconscious and unresponsive. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) along with Advanced Life Support (ALS) interventions were undertaken with rapid transport to a local hospital for continued treatment. Tragically even with the quick response, coordinated rescue and rapid treatment and transport the patient succumbed to his medical condition.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is taking the lead on investigating the cause of the accident, with the cooperation of the Long Beach Police Department.
This incident occurred in council district 9 with a total of 7 apparatus and 21 personnel responding to this call.
One interview was given to Channel 5, this story will be profiled on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 6:30 and 10:00 P.M. newscasts, and there is also a video, and a write up on their web page.
Topics: Incidents | 30 Comments »
President Obama Touches Down In Long Beach
By Jackawa Jackson | March 22, 2009
At 3:00 pm on March 18, 2009, President Barack Obama touched down at Long Beach airport on-board Air Force One. This was just a short visit, as he was scheduled to speak at a town-hall style meeting in Costa Mesa at 4:00 pm the same day. Engine 9, Rescue 9, USAR 6, Haz Mat 24, all of the airport crash units as well as BC 3 and the Fire Chief were standing by for the arrival. Also on the airfield and surrounding area were a literal army of Secret Service agents and other law enforcement. The President was only on the ground for a matter of minutes before boarding Marine One (the Marine Corp helicopter designated to transport the President) and departing for his final destination. All Long Beach Fire Department units and all other agencies involved were standing on the ready in order to insure a safe arrival and departure of our 44th President.
Topics: Uncategorized | 29 Comments »
Interagency HAZMAT Drill with St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach Fire Dept, Long Beach Dept. of Health and Human Services Health HAZMAT
By frhayes | March 20, 2009
Today, for the first time Long Beach Fire Department HAZMAT, St. Mary Medical Center Disaster Resource Center and the LB Health HAZMAT team joined forces to demonstrate interagency cooperation during a chemical weapon/HAZMAT event. The goal was to show interagency capabilities and equipment to deal with mass casualties in an exposure. Today was a hallmark drill bringing teams from field response during a chemical spill or port accident together with hospitals who would get the sick patients. This event was a coordination between Captain David Segura from Long Beach Fire Department HAZMAT and the St. Mary Medical Center Disaster Resource Center team Andy Reno, Nori Readdy and Kathy Crow.
HAZMAT rigs and equipment responded to a mock event at St. Mary Medical Center for demonstration purposes and education of all teams. Members of the Long Beach Fire Dept. HAZMAT team demonstrated equipment, entry team capabilities and suited up in Level A for hospital workers to see what field hazmat response is. Members of Captain David Seguras team spoke to the groups about capabilities and response during events. Cpt. Segura warned the hospital workers that many victims or contaminated patients may flee the scene before being decontaminated. He advocated hospital readiness to prepare for an event such as a tanker truck spill, sarin gas exposure or anthrax event.
Representatives from the LB Public Health Department including Mitch Yamada spoke to hospital groups on field safety, detection and health dept. field response. Long Beach Dept. of Health and Human Services works regularly with LB Fire HAZMAT in technical issues such as determining what the chemical is the public has been exposed to.
Kathy Crow from St. Mary Medical Center demonstrated mass casualty decontamination for hospitals and showed the decontamination trailer and capabilities of the Disaster Resource Center. Hospitals represented for the drill were St. Mary Medical Center, St. Francis Medical Center and Community Hospital of Long Beach who demonstrated their capabilities with hospital staff donning Level C suits with PAPR. Other participating hospitals who observed for the day were California Hospital, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Pacific Hospital of Long Beach. Each hospital spoke to LBFD about their specific decontamination capabilities and location of their decon facilities at each hospital. The goal is to eventually incorporate the entire Long Beach Area in an operations plan for response capabilities for resource sharing and patient safety.
Similarities and differences in capabilities of all teams were discussed and operational capabilities were shared amongst agencies. This was the first of hopefully many annual events where fire and hospital work with health hazmat in awareness level operations training. Drills such as today show interagency cooperation in disaster preparedness in the Long Beach area. Public safety is key for all these participating departments and training together works towards our goal of keeping our neighborhood safe.
Topics: Events, News | 26 Comments »
LBFD Chili Cook Off At The Rock Bottom Brewery 2009
By frhayes | March 18, 2009
LONG BEACH — More than $5,000 was expected to be raised by this year’s 13th annual Fire Chief Ale Chili Cook-off and Silent Auction fundraiser, held at Rock Bottom Brewery.
The fundraising began Feb. 19, when Long Beach Fire Chief Dave Ellis tapped the first keg. This year’s recipe was a lot hoppier than brews in the past, and had a smooth and slightly sweet finish.
In addition to the ale and Thursday night’s chili cook-off — which saw patrons sample 10 different recipes for a suggested $5 donation — the restaurant also held a silent auction with sports memorabilia, coffee gift sets, makeup and fine-dining opportunities.
“Who can pass on firefighters and beer?” said Sandra Diaz, a teacher in town for a convention.
“The last two were so spicy I might need some of those firefighters to come and rescue me,” she added with a laugh.
Money raised at the annual event is used to benefit the Fire Department’s regular charities through its Friends of the Firefighters organization, which includes LBFD Kids, Long Beach Junior Lifeguards and the Long Beach Fire Museum.
There’s also a little thing called bragging rights, which were earned by Long Beach Fire Station No. 6, located in the Port of Long Beach, this year.
Fire Capt. Tom Crewse said the winning recipe was similar to the chili served every year at the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade, but there were some slight tweaks that included hand roasting some of the chilies and the addition of Chorizo, a flavorful Mexican pork sausage.
The winning dish will be replicated and served at the restaurant and the winning station was given an entire keg of beer-not to be used while on duty, of course.
Topics: Events | 34 Comments »
LBFD Rescue Boat Comes To The Aid Of A Stranded Trawler
By Jackawa Jackson | March 17, 2009
On Tuesday March 17, Long Beach Fire Marine Operations received a distress call from the Skipper of a 70 foot 90 ton trawler with two people on board. The skipper reported that he had lost all power and was in danger of going aground in Alamitos Bay Marina. LBFD Rescue Boat 3 quickly responded to the distress call and located the trawler blowing down towards Alamitos Bay Basin 2. The Crew from Rescue Boat 3 quickly secured the vessel by side-tying to the vessel and eventually towing the trawler to its dock. The Long Beach Fire Department’s Marine Safety Division provides around the clock emergency services which include; ocean rescue, emergency medical services, boating safety enforcement, marine environment responses and marine firefighting.
Topics: Incidents | 23 Comments »