With the resumption of seasonal rain, the Los Angeles Fire Department is encouraging residents to take the often simple actions necessary to protect themselves from injury and their property from storm damage.

When rainstorms impact the Los Angeles area, flood control channels, rivers and arroyos can quickly fill with fast-moving water, creating a potentially life-threatening danger to anyone who gets caught or swept away. It is against the law to be inside most flood control channels, regardless of the weather.

We urge you to visit the National Weather Service website and listen to NOAA (All Hazards) Weather Radio - or local radio and television stations - for the latest weather information and emergency bulletins.

FLOOD PREVENTION AND STORM PREPAREDNESS TIPS

• Ensure that all drains, gutters and downspouts are functioning properly. This is especially important for flat-roofed buildings.
• Keep ground-level drains and drainage areas (ditches, swales, small channels) free of debris.
• Move valuable or easily damaged items away from low-lying areas that may be prone to flooding.
• Establish household supplies (bucket, mop, towel and tarpaulin) to minimize damage from sudden leaks or stormwater seepage.
• Prepare your household to remain safe (battery powered lamps, no candles) and functional (fully charged cell phone, manual garage door operation) in the event of a storm related power outage.
• Identify and collect important documents that you may require in case of evacuation.
• Contact your insurance agent to assure that your flood and storm coverage is adequate and in effect. Confirm the 24-hour contact, policy and claim filing numbers for your insurer(s). Place that information in your cell phone and keep a printed copy in the glove box of your car.
• Review your Family Emergency Plan and prepare an Emergency Supply Kit that includes food, water, medications, flashlight, battery-powered radio, rain gear and first aid supplies.
• Consider the safety of those with disabilities or access and functional needs.
• Plan for the needs of pets at home and if you are evacuated.
• Monitor local news for the status of streets, highways and transit systems.
• Identify multiple safe routes from your home or workplace to high ground.
• Check your car's wipers, lights, tire inflation and tread wear to assure safe operation, and keep your vehicle fueled in case power is cutoff to local fueling stations.
• Be prepared to operate your vehicle safely or use public transit in conditions altered by weather.
• Establish out-of-state family contacts so that friends and relatives can determine your location and status.
• If necessary, consult an engineer or licensed contractor to design or build permanent water and debris control systems for your property.
• Landscape slope areas with plants that are fire retardant and suitable for erosion control.
• Keep sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, lumber, hand tools and other materials handy for addressing stormwater issues.

WHAT IF YOU NEED SANDBAGS?

In an effort to assist Los Angeles residents with extreme storm needs, the Los Angeles Fire Department and Bureau of Street Services are making ready-to-fill sandbags available at locations citywide. To find the Neighborhood Fire Station or Bureau of Street Services location closest to you, contact the City's 3-1-1 Ambassadors. They are pleased to direct you to the closest municipal source of sand and/or sandbags.

TIPS FOR PERSONAL SAFETY DURING A FLOOD

• Limit non-essential travel, and avoid the urge to sightsee. Remind all household members not to play or linger near flood control channels and storm drains.
• Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number-one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.
• Do not drive through a flooded area or bypass road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed-out.
• If you become stranded in your car, stay with your vehicle and move to the hood or roof if water continues to rise.
• Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. Deadly electric current can travel through water.
• Report downed power lines in the City of Los Angeles to the Department of Water and Power (1-800-DIAL-DWP) or emergency officials.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU FALL IN MOVING WATER?

• Avoid getting into this dangerous situation.
• Remain calm. Don't waste energy yelling for help after someone has spotted you.
• Get ready to be rescued.
• Try to float on your back with your legs straight and your feet pointed downstream.
• Use your legs to shove yourself away from obstructions.
• Keep your head up so that you can see where you are going.
• Watch for obstacles and debris! If a tree or other stationary object is blocking the channel, forcing water over it, try to flip over on your stomach and approach the obstacle head-on, crawling over the top of it.
• Most victims in swift water die when they get pinned against obstacles or get trapped in submerged debris and vegetation.

WHAT IF YOU SEE SOMEONE FALL INTO MOVING WATER?

• Do not go into the water after the victim.
• Do not try to pull the victim out with your hands, rope or similar device. Do not attach anything to yourself and toss it to a victim in the water. The force of the current will pull you in.
• If possible, throw a floatation device to the victim, such as a boogie board, Styrofoam ice chest, basketball or other unattached object.
• Immediately call 9-1-1.
• Tell the 9-1-1 operator that someone fell into the channel and is being swept downstream. Say that "swift water rescue teams" need to respond.
• Give accurate information about where and when you saw the victim and what the victim was wearing.
• Though members of your Los Angeles Fire Department are specially trained and equipped to respond to water rescues, not every victim survives. We therefore remind you that when it comes to swift moving water: 'Stay Away and Stay Alive!'

WHAT IF YOU WITNESS STORM DAMAGE?

City of Los Angeles residents should call 3-1-1 or (213) 473-3231 to report potholes, downed street trees, inoperative traffic signals, clogged street drains and any storm-related property damage requiring an inspection or action by City of Los Angeles officials.

WHAT IF YOU EXPERIENCE STORM DAMAGE?

If, despite your best efforts, you become a victim of storm or floodwater damage, please visit LAFD.ORG for helpful flood recovery tips.

IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE ACCIDENTLY CHANGED THIS TEMPLATE, PLEASE LET ERIK or BRIAN KNOW ASAP.


PLEASE __*COPY* AND PASTE__ THIS ENTIRE TEXT ***IN HTML*** INTO A ___NEW POSTING___ AND THEN EDIT.

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Community name written in all Caps then a space and a -.
Example: NORTH HOLLYWOOD -
(To find the community name, place the incident address into maps.yahoo.com, then zoom out 3 times and look for the community name. Each neighboring community is differentiated in a slightly different color.)

After writing the community name in one or two sentences provide the reader all they need to know regarding the topic. The basic information.

Describe in chronological order the events of the incident in short paragraphs. What firefighters saw and did.

Remember to include the date, address, how long it took to knockdown and by how many firefighters, the cause, estimated $loss, and dispatched units.

Tips: Don't use two words if one will do. Spell the number out if it is one digit and use the numbers if it is two digits or more. Example: Three. 55.

Submitted by Katherine Main, Spokesperson Los Angeles Fire Department Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

An early morning inferno destroyed a large apartment building under construction and severely damaged two nearby high-rise buildings. 
The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 1:20 AM on December 8th, 2014 to 906 North Fremont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles, where firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy fire showing from a 200' x 900' seven story building under construction. Two stories were concrete while the remaining 5 floors were exposed lumber.
The massive blaze could be seen from all over the city and 50 foot flames lengths caused the closure of all North bound lanes of the 110 Freeway.
250 Firefighters under the command of Deputy Chief Joseph Castro battled the fire defensively utilizing large hose streams from the ground and aerial ladders from above. The intensity of the flames quickly ignited several floors of a 16 story adjacent high-rise. Although Firefighters battled intensely, 221 North Figueroa was heavily damaged. Another building located at 313 North Figueroa threatened by fire was saved by the hard work of Firefighters.
The bulk of the fire was knocked down  in just over 90 minutes. Firefighters managed flair-up and worked with LAFD bulldozers for nearly 24 hours to fully extinguish the deep seeded smoldering lumber.
In the wake of this Major Emergency structure fire, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section requested the assistance of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Response Team (NRT) to aid in the cause investigation.
Due to the extensive damage and the significant monetary losses, the LAFD asked the ATF to activate the NRT. As a result, approximately 20 ATF agents and specialists will arrive in Los Angeles to join LAFD Arson investigators and local ATF special agents at the scene.
The investigation will begin when all Agencies and Investigators are present, it is anticipated this will be Wednesday December 10, 2014. 

As you know, winter storms are moving across the Southern California area starting late Monday night, bringing significant rainfall, gusty winds and thunderstorms to Los Angeles through Wednesday.

Moderate to heavy rain is predicted to spread quickly into Los Angeles by early Tuesday morning. Rainfall amounts with this storm could be very impressive. There is potential for 1.0-2.0" for coastal and valley areas and 2.0-5.0" in the foothills and mountains.

As usual, an area of special concern with the storm will be the possibility of flash flooding with mud and debris flows around any recent burn areas.

Firefighters are preparing and so should you!

All LAFD Company Officers are ensuring that their assigned Swift-Water Rescue equipment is being carried on the apparatus as well as rain gear and High Visibility Vests for safety. Firefighters are also surveying their Water Rescue Sites and reviewing River Rescue Operations with their crews. We are monitoring our sand and sandbag inventories. Each neighborhood fire station is ensuring they have a minimum of 500 sandbags and will give up to 25 bags per residence.

The LAFD is even augmenting it's staffing for Tuesday, December 2, 2014 as follows:
Two Swift Water Teams will be deployed at their designated stations (SW44) and (SW88).
Four Ready Reserve Engines (435, 469, 473 and 474) will be staffed, and Battalion Chief Aids will be added in the following Battalions: 2, 9, 14, 15 and 17.

Your Los Angeles Firefighters ask, Are you prepared?

As a result of the anticipated increased winds and lowering relative humidity, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) will pre-deploy additional resources beginning at 8:00 AM on Wednesday November 13th, 2013. These additional firefighters will be placed at select Neighborhood Fire Stations serving high hazard brush areas for an anticipated 24 hours, pending re-evaluated weather conditions.

      These Fire Stations include:

8 (Porter Ranch)
28 (Porter Ranch) 
35 (Los Feliz) 
71 (Bel Air, Beverly Glen, UCLA Campus)
77 (Sun Valley, Shadow Hills, La Tuna Canyon)
78 (Studio City / Valley Village) 
83 (Encino) 
84 (Woodland Hills)
91 (Sylmar, N/E City of San Fernando)
97 (Laurel Canyon & Mulholland Drive)
99 (Beverly Glen and Mulholland Drive)
106 (West Hills, Chatsworth Lake, Canoga Park)
109 (Encino Hills)

The specific stations and locations are based on fire experience, area access and fire potential.

Additional staffing includes:  11 Engines, 6 Brush Patrols (4x4 trucks able to access remote areas, equipped with water and hose), one Bulldozer Team, two Water Tenders (apparatus containing a large amount of water), one EIT (Firefighter Staff Assistant) for each Battalion and Division Chief, two Metro Fire Dispatchers, one Air Operations Officer and two Helitac (helicopter) members.

When fire weather conditions dictate, the City of Los Angeles may enact special parking restrictions in areas historically prone to wildfire. These are critical areas (very narrow roads, hairpin turns, and key intersections) where parked vehicles could delay citizens trying to evacuate and delay fire companies attempting to gain access during a fast moving Brush Fire.

This local declaration of parking restrictions is separate from regional forecasts from our friends at the National Weather Service.

To determine current Red Flag Alert Parking Restrictions in the City of Los Angeles, please call 3-1-1 or visit: lafd.org/redflag



You Can Help!

While terrain is readily assessed, and many hazards are managed by our annual Brush Clearance Program, the LAFD asks you to remain cognizant of local fire weather.

Your personal awareness of overall wildfire danger, combined with readiness to take quick action are key to our collective survival of brush fires.

Some have asked, "What exactly is Ready! Set! Go!?" Here's a brief explanation. Those three words can prepare you and your family for a Wildfire:

Get Ready: Help protect your property by creating defensible space around your home. That means removing brush and replacing shake-shingle roofs. Assemble emergency supplies and plan your escape routes.

Get Set: If a wildfire threatens your neighborhood, act immediately. Place valuables in your vehicle, roll up the windows and back your vehicle into the driveway. Remove flammable materials from around your house.

Go: You don't have to wait to be told to leave, but if told to do so, do it. Remember firefighters need room in which to work. By leaving, you give them the best chance to protect your property.

(Video)

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Submitted by Katherine Main, Spokesperson Los Angeles Fire Department Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

The official site for LAFD News has moved, and continues to be a work in progress. We encourage you to now visit and bookmark:

lafd.org/news

The site you are currently viewing will no longer be updated. Once the new LAFD News site is fully functional, we hope to make our former content (years 2004-2014) available for viewing here as an historical archive. We appreciate your patience during this prolonged transition.

ENCINO - The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) extinguished structure fire that claimed two lives and hospitalized six, including one firefighter.

Just before 9:00 PM on August 28, 2014, firefighters responded to 5330 Lindley Avenue to find a three-story center-hallway apartment/condo building over a parking structure, with one unit on the third floor well involved in flames. An aggressive attack ensued and additional firefighters were quickly requested.

Over 100 firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Al Valle, fully extinguished the flames in just over one hour.

A total eight civilian patients were evaluated. Sadly an elderly male and female were determined dead, most likely due to asphyxiation from smoke. Five others required transport to local hospitals and one declined transport. Lastly, one firefighter suffered a hand injury and was transported to a local hospital in Fair condition.

A positive identification of the deceased, as well as the cause, time and manner of their death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. There were no security doors or bars on windows to impede egress. This is the 19th and 20th civilian fatality related to a structure fire in LAFD's jurisdiction in 2014.

The Mayors Crisis Response Team assisted those affected by this traumatic incident and the American Red Cross assisted with those displaced.

The cause of the fire is under active investigation by the LAFD Arson Section and the estimated dollar loss is being tabulated.

Hard wired Smoke Alarms were located however they did not appear to be functional. Friday morning August 29, 2014, firefighters will canvas the neighborhood as part of the LAFD’s Smoke Alarm Field Education (SAFE) Program, distributing free smoke alarms and fire safety information.

Dispatched: E83 RA83 E293 T93 E100 RA100 E288 E88 T88 EM17 BC17 BC10 E84 RA73 DC3 RA88 E103 E290 T90 EM15 BC15 RA90 RA39 RA104 EM14 E273 T73 E39 E90 E237 T37 EM9 UR88 T89 E289 UR89 E27 BC5 RT83 RA909 E87 E305 T105 AR2 RA72 RA105 AR10 AR11 AR21

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

VENICE  – On the afternoon of July 27, 2014, a bolt of lightning from an unexpected summer storm struck Venice Beach. LA County Fire Department  (LACoFD) Lifeguards and Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) units sprang into action to assist numerous injured people.


The first person rescued from the ocean was 56-year-old Robert Kilroy, an off-duty seasonal LA County Lifeguard and a professional chiropractor. Dr. Kilroy was pulled by his 15-year-old daughter Emily from the water in cardiac arrest. First responders began immediate CPR on Dr. Kilroy and transported him to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood. Four days later he was discharged from the hospital after making a full recovery and has returned to work and his normal everyday activities. Tragically, one individual also in the ocean at the time succumbed to his injuries.

On Thursday, August 28, 2014 the LAFD and LACoFD officials joined medical personnel from Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center to re-unite with Dr. Kilroy, to share his story and discuss the importance of Bystander CPR and ocean safety ahead of the Labor Day holiday, at the Venice Beach Pier parking lot.

“It really underscores the need for everyone to learn CPR, learn how to use a defibrillator, because you never know,” said Dr. Marc Eckstein, medical director of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

FAIRCREST HEIGHTS – A male in his 70’s, two dogs and a bird were found dead in a burning home Sunday afternoon.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 4:51 PM on August 24, 2014 to the report of a structure fire at 1568 South Point View Street in the Faircrest Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy smoke showing from the attic of a one story 1,544 square-foot home.

Access was difficult due to excessive storage in front yard, back yard, roof and throughout the 80 year old residence. During fire attack, LAFD responders discovered a man without vital signs of life, who was later determined to be dead at the scene.

Ninety-seven firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Kevin Pearson were able to fully extinguish the flames in just 31 minutes. Two dogs and a pet bird also succumbed in the fire. No other injuries were reported.

Firefighters found no evidence of functional smoke alarms inside the residence. The home was heavily damaged by the fire, and was not equipped with optional residential fire sprinklers.

A positive identification of the victim, as well as the cause, time and manner of his death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

As LAFD Arson Investigators were seeking the cause of the fire, firefighters canvassed the neighborhood as part of the LAFD’s Smoke Alarm Field Education (SAFE) Program, distributing free smoke alarms and fire safety information.

Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The cause of the blaze remains under active investigation.

Dispatched Units: E58 RA858 E68 E261 T61 RA61 E292 T92 EM11 BC18 E62 E61 E294 T94 E43 DC1 BC11 RA68 E34 E237 T37 EM1 BC1 T5 E205 E5 UR5 UR88 BC4 E26 AR2 AR1 RT59 RA892 AR11 RA894 AR21 AR13 E58 T94 E294 AR21

Submitted by Shawn Lenske, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department