LBFD Kids Beach Fest Day
By Steve Yamamoto | August 20, 2010
On the morning of Thursday, August the 19th, 2010 the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) was in attendance at Millers Children’s Hospital to participate in the annual “Beach Fest Day” which is part of the LBFD Kids Program. The mission of the program has always been to enhance the lives and well being of the chronically ill children at Millers Hospital through smiles and laughter. This year about 17 on-duty and off-duty firefighters spent time with young patients escorting them around to various activities that were set up in the large tropically themed conference room.
The event transformed the room into an enormous tropical beach setting that included a backdrop of a very large screen that had projected fish swimming amongst a coral reef. Members from LBFD Kids and Millers Hospital greeted the children wearing straw hats and leis. From there the children would go to various stations that had everything from face painting, to ring tossing, to even a unique and exciting bubble show. The DJ also held a hula-hoop contest to those brave enough to take on the challenge. To fit the theme of the event, there were also Polynesian dancers, professional big wave surfers, and even a real pirate from a major Hollywood film in attendance for the kids to talk to and take pictures with. For those who got hungry from all of the activities, food and beverages were also provided for everyone as well as some very decorative fruit displays that looked amazing.
Once again this marked another successful year at “Beach Fest.” A sincere Thank You to Captain Greg Curiel for once again organizing the event and to all that volunteered to make this day a success.
For more information on this event or future programs through the LBFD Kids Organization, please contact Captain Greg Curiel.
Topics: Events | 17 Comments »
LBFD and Boeing Firefighters Practice Downed Firefighter Rescue Techniques
By Jackawa Jackson | August 18, 2010
On the morning of August 17, 2010, firefighters from Long Beach Fire Department joined firefighters from Boeing Fire Department for a joint exercise at the Boeing building number 15. This structure is an enormous warehouse-like facility that has been used for aircraft manufacture. Various scenarios were set up by proctors in order to test firefighter’s abilities to handle rapidly changing condition on the fire ground. RIC team operations and large area search practices we also employed. RIC stands for rapid intervention crew and is used in the event a firefighter should become trapped or seriously injured in the course of an emergency. It is customary for on scene units to perform a thorough search of a fire building for persons trapped by flames. In the case of the incident RIC team deployment, firefighters will be searching for one our own members who has become a victim of the incident.
In one of these scenarios, initial fire crews were met with a large volume of fire inside of a warehouse. Firefighter’s masks were covered with a plastic material in an effort to obscure their vision and provide a feeling of working in a smoky environment. Shortly after the initial interior attack the incident commander received an emergency call that there had been a large-scale roof collapse with one firefighter trapped in the rubble. Immediately, the incident’s RIC team was deployed to find and rescue the downed first responder. Rescuers were forced to use power saws to cut through debris as they made their way to the trapped firefighter. During the rescue, all members needed to maintain crew accountability as well as monitor their own air usage. Once the injured firefighter was located, he was provided fresh air, freed from debris and dragged to safety. As with any fire rescue, all efforts required coordination between units assigned to fire attack and those assigned to RIC functions.
Topics: Training | 42 Comments »
Priscilla Gillott Retirement Celebration
By Jackawa Jackson | August 13, 2010
Priscilla Gillott is retiring after more than 20 years of dedicated service to the City of Long Beach. Please join us a we celebrate Priscilla’s retirement.
DATE: Thursday, September 9, 2010
TIME: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
PLACE: LBFD Training Center (outdoors)
COST: $15 per person (includes Javy’s Tacos and a gift)
RSVP by September 2, 2010
For questions or to RSVP call (562) 570-2505
Make check payable to Pat Kadoguchi (memo-Gillott Retirement)
Mail to: Long Beach Fire Department
Attn: Gillott Retirement
3205 Lakewood Blvd
Long Beach Ca 90808
Topics: Events | 19 Comments »
Recent Crown Fire Video
By Jackawa Jackson | August 11, 2010
On the evening of July 29, 2010, a strike team from the Long Beach Fire Department was deployed to the fast moving Crown Brush Fire. Units operated for three days on the fire line protecting structures and stemming the tide of destruction wrought by this blaze.
Video footage by Howard Raishbrook
Topics: Incidents, Video | 21 Comments »
Fatality Motorcycle vs. Vehicle Collision
By Jackawa Jackson | August 10, 2010
Just after 7:00 PM on the evening of August 4, 2010, units from the Long Beach Fire Department responded to the intersection of Columbia and Santa Fe to a report of a vehicle vs. a motorcycle. Once on scene, Engine 13 crewmembers determined that they actually had multiple patients injured in the collision. Sadly, the 21-year-old male rider of the motorcycle was killed by the force of the impact. 4 other teenage occupants of the vehicle were transported to local trauma centers with various injuries. A total of 12 fire department personnel responded to this incident.
Topics: Incidents | 25 Comments »
