Confined Space USAR Drill With Long Beach Gas & Oil
By frhayes | August 13, 2008
On Wednesday, August 13, 2008, Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) and Long Beach Gas Department conducted a four-hour joint exercise at 4th St. and Loma Ave (front of Fire Station 4).
The purpose of the exercise was to build a working relationship at the first responder level of both departments and to practice confined space rescue procedures.
The exercise involved several units and personnel from both departments including Long Beach Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) units.
The exercise consisted of two scenarios involving a Gas Department employee injured inside an underground vault who was rescued and treated by Fire Department resources.
Employees from both departments stated that the exercise provided valuable training, and agreed to conduct regularly scheduled joint department training in the future.
Topics: Events | 27 Comments »
Simulated Hazardous Material Drill at the Long Beach Post Office
By frhayes | August 12, 2008
On Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 8:00 P.M. Battalion Chief 3, Engine and Hazardous Material unit 24, Engine 17, and Engine 19 participated in a “Simulated” hazardous material incident at the Long Beach Post Office on Redondo Avenue.
The basic scenario was that a protective system in the processing center had detected some type of hazardous material. The processing center was then shut down and notifications for assistance with this issue were generated from the Post Office. Units from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) assisted with security and crowd control, while members from the fire department initiated their activities.
Units from the LBFD set up protective areas, evacuated employees from the facility, decontaminated, and treated “Simulated” patients that may have been exposed to a hazardous material.
With the Post Office a (Federal Agency) and the LBFD a (Local Governmental Agency) working together during this drill, it shows the proactive approach that we are all working together to ensure that our city is a safe place to work and live in.
Topics: Events | 26 Comments »
Fire Prevention Task Force Deployment
By frhayes | August 11, 2008
On Friday, August 8, 2008 at approximately 6:30 A.M. Engine 13 responded to the report of a fire alarm activation at a recycling plant on the West side of the city. Upon arrival Engine 13 discovered a sheared hydrant in front of the dispatch location, which had caused the alarm activation. The hydrant was sheared completely off of the spool flange and required the Post Indicator Valve (PIV) to shut off to control the water flow, which in turn eliminated the fire protection sprinkler system. During the course of the incident Engine 13’s crew entered the recycling plant facility to assist with the silencing of the fire alarm and reactivation of the system. During this procedure the crew observed a potentially high fire hazard, and with no fire protection systems in place requested a Fire Prevention Team to respond to assist with this issue.
This property consisted of a moderate sized warehouse and a two-story office building in the front. The facility processes plastic bottles acquired from recycling plants, sorts them by color and makes them into flakes, which are bagged, stored and trucked to our port, then shipped via container vessel to their plant in China. This process alone presents a significant potential fire hazard, however in addition to this the inspection team documented numerous conditions that could endanger workers, and firefighters who might respond during an actual fire.
Some of the dangerous conditions encountered were high piled storage without adequate clearance below the sprinkler system, and even if the sprinkler system worked to it’s fullest capacity the heat produced from the burning plastics would most likely not be able to hold a fire in check. Minimal aisles widths were encountered, some of the exits were partially blocked; pad locked, or completely inaccessible. There were flammable liquids and gases, along with chemicals stored in the interior, and a large LPG tank was located behind high stakes a plastic flakes. Due to these conditions the facility has been “Red Tagged” the Fire Prevention Team is actively working with the compliant business owners to rectify all of the fire safety hazards to ensure safe building, and working conditions are put into affect.
This incident is a great example to show that there are dangerous facilities that exist within the city and procedures that are present that could put our members in extremely dangerous conditions. Engine 13 and the Fire Inspection team were able to identify these conditions under ideal conditions: in day light hours, with no fire present. This situation should serve to remind us all of the dangers of our chosen profession, and the value of station crews working with the Fire Prevention Bureau to ensure safe working conditions for employees, and eliminating some of the dangers we might encounter during an emergency situation.
Topics: Incidents | 33 Comments »
Retired Firefighter Picnic
By frhayes | August 6, 2008
On Saturday August 2, 2008 the annual retired Firefighters picnic sponsored by Local 372 and the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) Honorees Association was held at the LBFD Training Center.
This was the 21st anniversary of the event with over 200 people in attendance, 124 retired Firefighters enjoyed the food provided and seeing friends that they had worked with during their careers. Prizes were awarded in numerous categories, some of those being, longest retired, and furthest traveled to attend the event.
Topics: Events | 33 Comments »
Fire Station 24 Grand Opening Video
By frhayes | August 5, 2008
Long Beach’s newest fire station – the first in 22 years – was dedicated and opened Tuesday, May 6, 2008, on Terminal Island in the Port of Long Beach by city officials and firefighters with a traditional ceremony and tour. The location of Fire Station 24 is at 111 Pier S Avenue (Northwest of Ocean Boulevard and the Terminal Island (47) Freeway).
An Honor Guard raised the flag, bagpipes played, and firefighters conducted the ceremonial “push-in” of a fire truck into the firehouse bay, signifying the final effort to make Fire Station No. 24 operational.
The event began at Approximately 10:15 a.m. Guest speakers included Mayor Bob Foster, past Harbor Commissioner President Mario Cordero, City Manager Pat West, and Fire Chief Dave Ellis, followed by tours and a display of fire trucks, fire apparatus and equipment.
Built with Port of Long Beach funding, the station will house an Engine Company and a Hazardous Materials apparatus. “This station will provide the Long Beach Fire Department with an important base in the midst of the Port, and provide for improved service to the tenants in the Port, as well as the entire community” said Fire Chief Dave Ellis.
“This new fire station will improve safety and security not just for the Port, but for all of Long Beach,” said Mario Cordero, Past President of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. “The Port is proud to be a partner with the Long Beach Fire Department in upgrading and expanding its fire facilities.”
The video of the event is provided compliments of LBTV8.
Topics: Video | 24 Comments »