National Public Safety Telecommunications Week
By Steve Yamamoto | April 11, 2011
The Long Beach Fire Communications Center is celebrating NPSTW from April 11th to the 16th. This annually celebrated event is sponsored by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and will honor the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the 9-1-1 callers. Our dispatchers here in Long Beach are unique in that they are required to be Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) certified. This allows them to provide life-saving first aid and CPR instructions to the 9-1-1 callers before our Firefighters arrive on scene.
Long Beach Firefighters will be providing lunch for our dispatchers in celebration of NPSTW and in honoring these hard working individuals.
Topics: Events | 33 Comments »
3rd Alarm Strip Mall Fire
By Admin | April 6, 2011
On April 5, 2011 at 1:03 am, Firefighters from the Long Beach Fire Department responded to reports of a house fire. Upon arrival, Engine 3 encountered heavy smoke coming from the north side of a strip mall. Firefighters made entry into the La Lune Restaurant and started an aggressive interior attack looking for the seat of he fire. The fire appeared to be in the ceiling towards the rear of the structure. It eventually burned thru the roof. The fire was controlled at approximately 2:09 am with hose lines, large ladder pipe nozzles and defensive roof operations. The restaurant sustained heavy fire and smoke damage and the joining two units suffered roof, ceiling and smoke damage.
The cause and origin of the fire are currently under investigation by LBFD Fire Investigators. No Injuries are reported.
3rd alarm fire with a total of 20 Fire Department apparatus and 74 personnel responded to this incident. Cooperating agencies included LBPD, Water Dept. Gas Dept. and Edison. This incident took place in the 6th Council District.
Topics: Incidents, News | 171 Comments »
Miracle Dog Rescue on Good Morning America
By Admin | March 23, 2011
Topics: Video | 25 Comments »
Lightning Strike at Recreation Golf Course
By Matthew Dobberpuhl | March 21, 2011
This morning at approximately 8:54 am, Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) Engine 4 responded to a call for a tree fire at Recreation Park Golf Course. Upon arrival they were directed to a large pine tree located between the 7th and 8th fairway. A golfer had reported smoke from a fire that had been smoldering in the branches approximately 30 feet up the 80-100 foot tree. It appeared that the tree had been struck by lightning. Firefighters from Engine 4 laddered the tree, cut down the affected branches and extinguished the fire.
The Long Beach Fire Department would like to remind the public that during a thunderstorm care should be taken to avoid the following:
- Natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area.
- Hilltops, open fields, the beach, or a boat on the water.
- Isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas.
- Anything metal—tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs, and bicycles.
For more information on the hazards associated with thunderstorms and steps you can take to protect yourself please go to: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/thunderstorm/
Topics: Public Safety | 28 Comments »
Twin Engine Plane Crash
By Steve Yamamoto | March 16, 2011
This morning at approximately 10:30 am, units from the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) were called to the scene of a private twin-engine Beech Craft King Air Turbo-Prop plane that had crashed during takeoff at the Long Beach Airport. The LBFD units arrived on scene within one minute at the Southwest corner of Runway 30 where they found the wreckage of the plane on fire. The units quickly utilized water and foam from both their bumpers and top turrets to extinguish the blaze within two minutes. Firefighters then quickly used specialized extrication methods and tools to swiftly gain access into the twisted remains. Once access was gained, Firefighters found that there were a total of six souls onboard; five that perished in the crash and one that was alive. They immediately extricated the critical patient and began treatment before transporting the patient to a local hospital.
The cause of the plane crash is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Media inquires should be directed to 562-570-2607 until 4:00pm and 562-408-8199 after 4:00pm. This incident occurred in the 5th Council District and is being handled by units from the Long Beach Airport, Long Beach Police Department, and the Long Beach Fire Department. Commercial and general aviation operations at the Long Beach Airport continue uninterrupted. The Coroner’s Office will release the names of those who lost their lives in the crash once identification has been confirmed and next of kin have been notified.
Topics: Incidents | 33 Comments »
