Chain Reaction Collision Snarls Traffic On The 710 Freeway
By Jackawa Jackson | March 10, 2010
Just after 1:00 pm on the afternoon of March 10, 2010, Long Beach Fire Department units were called to the northbound 710 freeway north of PCH to a 4-vehicle pileup. Engine 13 arrived on scene to find a Coca Cola van had impacted the rear of a Cal Trans van, which, in turn collided, with the rear of two other vehicles including a larger Cal Trans truck and an SUV. A total of 6 people were injured including 2 with moderate injuries and 4 with minor injuries. Four of these were Cal Trans workers. The crew from Truck 1 used the Jaws of Life to cut the driver of the Cal Trans van from the wreckage of his vehicle. All but one of the 6 patients were transported to local hospitals. 2 of the northbound lanes of traffic were shut down for a period of time. The cause of this accident is currently under investigation. A total of 22 firefighters responded to this incident.
Topics: Incidents | 26 Comments »
Battalion Chief Dave Kean Highlighted In The Press Telegram
By Jackawa Jackson | March 10, 2010
Click the link below to view the Press Telegram article highlighting Battalion Chief Dave Keen over seas in Iraq.
http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_14642047?source=rv
Topics: News | 27 Comments »
Elderly Couple Killed In Early Morning Blaze
By JJohnson | March 8, 2010
At 2:30 am this morning, units from the Long Beach Fire Department responded to a smoke investigation call at the corner of 5th Street and Grand Avenue. Engine 4 was on scene within 2 minutes and reported heavy fire and smoke coming from both the front and side of the single story home. They quickly radioed to our dispatch and “Pulled the Hook” which is a term the LBFD uses to turn this incident a full structure fire response. Engine 4 kept the fire from spreading to the home next door while the other units arrived shortly after the call for additional resources was made. Engine 8 was next on scene along with Engine 2 and they began an aggressive fire attack and search for victims. Truck 1 along with Light Force 14 went to the roof to ventilate the house to make it easier for the crews down below. Rescue 14, Rescue 10 and Battalion 2 were also on scene.
Due to the time of the call, there was a greater risk of people inside sleeping or trapped. Crews did encounter “Pack-Rat” conditions which made extinguishment much more difficult. It took crews about 20 minutes to knock down the fire. Unfortunately there was an elderly male and elderly female who were rescued from the house, but were pronounced dead on scene. Also 1 cat died in this fire, but a dog who was taken by animal control appeared okay. There were 30 total firefighters involved with this fire. 1 firefighter injured his back, however his injuries didn’t require any medical care.
The fire is under investigation at this time.
Units on scene: E4, E2, E8, LF14, R14, R10, T1, BC2, PIO4
Topics: Incidents | 27 Comments »
Pedestrian Struck By Light Rail
By Jackawa Jackson | March 3, 2010
Just after 8:30 on the morning of March 3, 2010, Long Beach Fire Department units responded to the corner of 1st Street and Long Beach Blvd to a report of a pedestrian who had been struck by the light rail. Engine 1 arrived on scene to find a female, who appeared to be in her 40’s, pinned beneath the train. All rail traffic as well as vehicle traffic was shut down to this area of Long Beach Blvd. It took fire crews, including the Long Beach Urban Search and Rescue Team, approximately 10 minutes to remove the injured patient from beneath the train. She was transported in critical condition to a local hospital with severe head trauma. It is unclear, at this time, how the woman ended up on the tracks. The cause of this accident is currently under investigation.
Topics: Incidents | 32 Comments »
Long Beach Crash Units Plug A Fuel Leak On A C17
By Jackawa Jackson | March 1, 2010
At 5:21 pm on the evening of February 19, 2010, Long Beach Fire Department units responded to a C-17 with a fuel leak from a malfunctioning fuel ditching valve. The plane was in flight at the time of the emergency although no fire was reported. The aircraft landed safely and all flight crewmembers were evacuated without injury. LBFD crash units, T7 and Boeing Fire units provided spill containment and plugged the fuel leak, utilizing highly specialized equipment, making it possible to tow the aircraft back to the Boeing facility for repairs. There was approximately 75-100 gallons of Jet-A Fuel that had leaked onto Taxiway Bravo at Delta. The scene was turned over to Boeing Fire and Airport Security for further cleanup of the spill area. Boeing Co. had their own private environmental company that was to perform the clean up. A total of 23 apparatus and 51 personnel initially responded to this call.
Topics: Incidents | 23 Comments »
