LBFD TF6 USAR Metro Rail Drill on Pacific Ave.
By JJohnson | March 23, 2010
Units from the LBFD, Compton FD, LAFD and the LACo SO attended a Metro rail drill on Pacific ave, between 8th and 9th streets. The drill was organized by LBFD TF6 as part of their monthly USAR Training and was presented by the Field Instruction staff at LA/LB Metro rail. The 3-hour drill that was given on 3 separate days, was attended by over 150 personnel (approximately 120 of those being LBFD members). The drill included instruction by, and discussion with, Metro rail staff and hands on training that included the use of air bags and various other pieces of USAR and basic Truck company equipment to lift and stabilize the train(s).
Topics: Incidents | 38 Comments »
Off Duty Long Beach Firefighter Steve Wiggs Heralded as a Hero This Morning For Helping His Neighbors in the City of Westminster get Out of A Fully Involved House Fire
By frhayes | March 16, 2010
Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD), off duty Firefighter Steve Wiggs is being heralded as a hero this morning after assisting his neighbors in Westminster with getting safely out of a “Fully Involved “ house fire. Local news outlets, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), and his neighbors all are saying that what he did helped en sure that no one was seriously hurt, and that everyone got out safely.
Firefighter Wiggs contacted this morning working his regular duty shift today at LBFD station two said “It was No Big Deal, I was taking my trash out and saw heavy black smoke from a neighbors home, I went to the residence and found the Son of an elderly neighbor that I knew lived there and asked him if she had gotten out safely!!”. He indicated that he was not currently sure if in fact she had safely made it out of the house yet.
Firefighter Wiggs armed with this information took a garden hose into the structure to keep the fire in check, having to exit and re-enter the structure numerous times due to the extensive smoke build-up. In fact he had to hold his breath as long as possible each time he re-entered the building so that he did not subject himself with being overcome by the smoke and carbon monoxide accumulation. Eventually Firefighter Wiggs received information that everyone was safely out, so he left the firefighting efforts to those with the proper safety gear that he sorely lacked.
Firefighter Wiggs made the comment that “ The (OCFA) responded very quickly and did a great job fighting the fire” the Incident Commander of the incident made sure that Steve and the elderly women were both medically evaluated to make sure that the were OK. No medical treatment was required for either of them, currently the OCFA is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
Topics: Incidents | 23 Comments »
Fire Erupts On Board An Occupied 50-Foot Sailboat In Alamitos Bay
By Jackawa Jackson | March 12, 2010
Just before 2:30 on the morning of March 12, 2010, Long Beach Fire Department units responded to reports of a boat fire in Alamitos Bay. LBFD Rescue boat 1 found a 50 foot sail boat at the end of Gangway 16 with a large volume of fire in the cabin area and on the main deck. Rescue boat 1 attacked the fire with their monitor (a large water cannon mounted on the front of the boat) and went onboard to open up the cabin area. Engine 4 deployed a hand line from the dock and used that to knock down the fire in the cabin area. There were two occupants on board, a 63-year-old female and a 66-year-old male. Rescue 14, transported the 63-year-old female to Community hospital in mild to moderate distress, suffering from smoke inhalation. The 66 year old male was examined for very minor burns to his face but did not wish to be transported and was released on scene. A resident from an adjacent slip suffered burns to his hand while attempting to put out the fire with a garden hose. The vessel was estimated at $180,000 value and is most likely a total loss. RB1 towed the boat to the isolation dock and the cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no other reports of injuries or damages.
Topics: Incidents, News | 33 Comments »
Fire Station 12 Groundbreaking Celebration
By JJohnson | March 11, 2010
On Saturday, March 6th, 2010 the ground was broken for the new Fire Station 12. Mayor Bob Foster, Vice Mayor Val Lerch, the Redevelopment Agency and the Long Beach Fire Department all took place in the big event. Although the rains did come and dampen the event, there was still a great turnout. Truck 11 was there and displayed the American Flag while the council members and others spoke about this new station.
The current location at 6509 Gundry, which has been there since the early 1930’s, is to small for the crews that work and live there. It is outdated and the neighbors don’t like to hear the sirens at 2am in the morning. The new location, which will be at 1199 East Artesia Blvd. and Orange Avenue, has much better access for crews to drive in and out of. It is also located on a major street and not in the neighborhood.
The new station will be modern and have all the proper accomodations for both male and female firefighters. It will also have a community room which can be used by the public for special events. Construction is set to begin within a month or so and could take up to 14 months to finish.
Topics: Incidents | 21 Comments »
SUV Ends Up In The LA River, Female In Critical Condition
By JJohnson | March 11, 2010
On Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 7:30 A.M., Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) units responded to a reported Injury Traffic, with an overturned vehicle in the Los Angeles River, off of the North bound lanes at the seventh street bridge, LONG BEACH, CA 90813.
The first arriving LBFD Unit Rescue One (1), confirmed the vehicle in the water causing the subsequent request for additional resources to manage the incident. A Unified Command (UC) was established on the Seventh Street Bridge with the LBFD, LBPD, CHP, and other local, state and federal agencies. The Land based UC coordinated operations with the LBFD Marine Safety division, to deploy their dive team in an attempt to locate the vehicle and rescue any victims inside. The first divers entered the water in approximately twenty-five minutes from the time of dispatch. The depth of the water searched was approximately fifteen feet; with almost zero visibility, and a strong current present.
The initial search operations were conducted by “Feel” and forcible entry was required to enter certain areas of the vehicle, an infant car seat was located during this operation which further re-enforced the initial information that there might be multiple victims in the vehicle. The vehicle was found sitting on the bottom of the river on its wheels with the rear hatch facing to the East when a single female victim, approximately twenty years of age was rescued from this location. She was pulled up onto a Rescue Boat and immediately transferred to land based Firefighters and Paramedics who began Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and other Advanced Life Saving (ALS) procedures.
Subsequently law enforcement through their investigative process was able to make contact with the victim’s relatives who confirmed that she should be the only occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The single victim was transported from the scene to a local hospital for continued medical treatment. Approximately one hour after the incident reports are that she is in “Critical Conditions, responding to treatment with her family at the hospital”.
The vehicle was removed from the river using a large “Wrecker” with the coordinated effort of the Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) team and the dive team working together to complete a safe and efficient operation. A secondary check of the vehicle was conducted on shore with other water based resources checking “Down Stream” to en sure that there was only one victim. Currently the LBPD and the CHP are conducting a joint investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Information on the victim will be forth coming on the direction of the family either through a direct representative or through the hospital.
This incident occurred near the downtown of Long Beach with a total of 22 apparatus and 43 personnel responded to this call, from the LBFD in addition to other partnering agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.
Topics: Incidents | 47 Comments »
