Mid Morning Fire Displaces Family of Four

Sunday, May 25, 2008 | Posted by LAFD Media and Public Relations

On Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 10:08 AM, 6 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, DOT and DWP, all under the direction of Battalion Chief Jeffrey Marcus, responded to a Structure Fire at 8746 N. Owensmouth Av. in the Chatsworth area.

A "loom up" verified reports of a structure fire in the area. The first Firefighters arriving on scene found a fully involved auto fire in the carport located below the apartments. Firefighters responded promptly, advancing hoselines to extinguish the fire source. Firefighters assigned to check for extension on the floor above, found the apartment charged with heavy smoke from the lapping flames and quickly assisted in the final extinguishment of the fire.

It took forty seven Firefighters nineteen minutes to bring the fire under control and call a knockdown. Four LAPD officers and one female civilian were treated and transported in stable condition to area hospitals for minor smoke inhalation. The cause of the morning blaze is undetermined. The dollar loss was estimated at $155,000 ($80,000 structure, $75,000 contents). The Red Cross assisted a family of four (2 adults, 2 children) with relocation.

(photos)

Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department

 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

it's time for the LAFD to stop saying"loom up" on the radio enroute to structure fires. "loom up" is for brush fires. It makes us sound amateurish and unprofessional when we say "loom up". I mean how many times has that loom up ended up being an auto or rubbish fire. I'd say about 90% of the time. Tighten it up people!!!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008 3:28:00 PM  
LAFD Media and Public Relations said...

Anonymous 3:28,

While it is clearly an 'inside baseball' conversation, I appreciate your polite and passionate comment.

While someone of my rank and responsibility cannot tell others what to say, we can (regardless of rank or assignment) strive to lead others by communicating publicly and within our workplace in a jargon-free fashion.

Precious few expressions of jargon in the LAFD workplace are concise, specific and adequate enough to fully convey information as easily as the use of plain language - and this includes the almost constant use of 'loom-up', an expression that is without formal definition and almost unknown to those outside of our Department.

To that end, I will personally continue to avoid that expression in my media interviews and written reports, and will kindly ask you and others to make me aware of any needless jargon that may creep into my verbal and published endeavors.

In closing...

While comments to this blog are not the most appropriate place for Firefighter conversations about daily operational issues, I was pleased to publish your comment because another LAFD Public Service Officer did indeed introduce the term 'loom up' into the above report, and while somewhat pointed, your comment was polite.

I would encourage you to contact staff within our Training Division, particularly the LAFD In-Service Training Section, to share your concern about the need and benefits of plain expression.

Fraternally Yours in Safety and Service,

Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department

Thursday, May 29, 2008 1:15:00 PM  

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