A special ceremony was held in downtown Los Angeles last Tuesday afternoon to mark the 100th and 101st "safe surrender" babies at county hospitals and fire stations.
The program, which started in 2001, allows a person to a surrender an infant no more than three days old to a fire station or hospital without the risk of prosecution, provided the baby shows no signs of abuse.
Two weeks ago, officials said someone left a newborn boy at a Torrance hospital, making him the 100th infant surrendered. Two days later, they say a baby girl was surrendered at a hospital in Downey.
County officials, firefighters and hospital workers who participate in the safe surrender program, along with parents who have adopted safe surrender babies, were at the ceremony to celebrate the milestone.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
CPSC: Harbor Freight Tools Recalls Cordless Drill Due to Fire and Burn Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Cordless Drill
Units: About 108,000
Importer: Harbor Freight Tools, of Camarillo, Calif.
Hazard: The black trigger switch on the 19.2v cordless drill can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Harbor Freight Tools has received one report of a drill overheating and burning through the handle of the unit, which resulted in a consumer receiving a minor injury.
Description: This recall involves Harbor Freight Tools Cordless Drills, model number 96526. The drills are blue and black and have a black trigger switch. They have a 19.2v rechargeable battery pack. The drill's model number is located on a yellow label on the left side of the drill. "Made in China" appears in black and red lettering on a yellow warning sticker located on the right side of the unit.
Sold at: Harbor Freight Tools stores nationwide, via catalog and online at www.harborfreight.com from April, 2008 through May 2012 for between $27 and $30.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled drill immediately, remove the rechargeable battery and contact Harbor Freight Tools to receive a free replacement drill.
Consumer Contact: Harbor Freight Tools; toll-free at (800) 444-3353, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or www.harborfreight.com and click on Recall Safety Information under Customer Service for more information. Consumers can also email the firm at recalls@harborfreight.com
Left side view of the drill
Right side view of the drill
Drill and separated battery pack
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The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in
receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to
this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same
product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.govCPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, go online to: SaferProducts.gov, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing and speech impaired. Consumers can obtain this news release and product safety information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.
CPSC: Toro Mowers Recalled For Fuel Leak Fire Hazard
Toro Riding Mowers Recalled Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.Name of Product: Toro® Z Master® Riding Mowers
Units: About 2,600 in the U.S. and 31 in Canada
Manufacturer: The Toro Co., of Bloomington, Minn.
Hazard: The traction drive belt can wear through the mower's fuel tank and cause fuel to leak, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Toro has received five reports of incidents. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves 2012 Toro Z Master Commercial 2000 Series ZRT riding mowers. The mowers are red and black. "Toro" and "2000 Series" are printed on the side and "Z Master Commercial" on the front of the mowers. The model and serial numbers are on a metal plate located at the front of the mower, below the seat, on the left-hand side. The following models and corresponding serial numbers are included in this recall: model number 74141 with serial numbers ranging from 312000101 to 312000784; model number 74143 with serial numbers ranging from 312000101 to 312000887; and model number 74145 with serial numbers ranging from 312000101 to 312001178.
Sold at: Toro dealers nationwide from January 2012 through August 2012 for between $7,700 and $8,700.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled mowers immediately and contact a Toro dealer to schedule a free repair and/or to check if the repair has already been made to the mower. Toro has contacted registered owners of the recalled mowers.
Consumer Contact: Toro; toll-free at (855) 493-0090, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or online at www.toro.com and click on Product Recall Information on the bottom right-hand side of the page for more information.
Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1727
2012 Toro Z Master Commercial 2000 Series ZRT riding mower, model 74141
2012 Toro Z Master Commercial 2000 Series ZRT riding mower, model 74143
2012 Toro Z Master Commercial 2000 Series ZRT riding mower, model 74145
Model and serial numbers located at the front of the mower, below the seat, on the left-hand side.
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The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in
receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to
this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same
product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.govCPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, go online to: SaferProducts.gov, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing and speech impaired. Consumers can obtain this news release and product safety information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
MAFFS News: Retardant Corrosion Requires Elevator Tail Replacement
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - With the end of a highly visible Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System season comes the not so visible, yet highly mission critical, aircraft maintenance phase.
During the 2012 fire season, Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s and crews contributed more than 2 million gallons of fire retardant dropped on wild fires throughout the United States.
Recently, while performing corrosion prevention, the 153rd Maintenance Group discovered the new MAFFS system, which releases retardant through a special nozzle in the paratroop door on the side of the aircraft, had deposited retardant on the elevator tail at the rear of the aircraft, requiring the unit to be replaced.
With the task laid out for the airmen of the 153 MXG, the behind-the-scenes maintainers started organizing their operations to get the aircraft back to flying status.
“The only way to get the job done is by working as a team,” said Master Sgt. Roger LaBarr, 30th Airlift Wing ISO dock supervisor.
This particular project involved multiple shops throughout the array of maintenance operations including: isochronicals, flight line, sheet metal, metals technician, repair and reclamation and even supply.
“Supply is part of our team,” said LaBarr. “We couldn’t do the job without them.”
Over the course of a week, quality assurance took pictures of the corrosion, supply ordered necessary parts, and repair and reclamation operated the Omni arm to remove and install the new tail.
Having so many entities to coordinate takes continuous and detailed planning.
“Section chiefs from each shop, along with plans and schedules, coordinate how the work is going to get done,” said LaBarr. “They meet two times a day to go over the workload.”
The installation of the new elevator tail was accomplished thanks to the team members from all aircraft maintenance aspects.
“This was an intense process,” said LaBarr. “We hadn’t done this type of project in a long time and we couldn’t have done it without teamwork.”
Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/98603/153mxs-post-maffs-maintenance
During the 2012 fire season, Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s and crews contributed more than 2 million gallons of fire retardant dropped on wild fires throughout the United States.
 |
| The 153rd Maintenance Squadron performs maintenance on a C-130 at the ISO dock Nov. 4, 2012. The C-130 was used as part of this year’s Modular Airborne FireFighting System missions |
With the task laid out for the airmen of the 153 MXG, the behind-the-scenes maintainers started organizing their operations to get the aircraft back to flying status.
“The only way to get the job done is by working as a team,” said Master Sgt. Roger LaBarr, 30th Airlift Wing ISO dock supervisor.
This particular project involved multiple shops throughout the array of maintenance operations including: isochronicals, flight line, sheet metal, metals technician, repair and reclamation and even supply.
“Supply is part of our team,” said LaBarr. “We couldn’t do the job without them.”
Over the course of a week, quality assurance took pictures of the corrosion, supply ordered necessary parts, and repair and reclamation operated the Omni arm to remove and install the new tail.
Having so many entities to coordinate takes continuous and detailed planning.
“Section chiefs from each shop, along with plans and schedules, coordinate how the work is going to get done,” said LaBarr. “They meet two times a day to go over the workload.”
The installation of the new elevator tail was accomplished thanks to the team members from all aircraft maintenance aspects.
“This was an intense process,” said LaBarr. “We hadn’t done this type of project in a long time and we couldn’t have done it without teamwork.”
Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/98603/153mxs-post-maffs-maintenance
Friday, November 30, 2012
SF Bay Area Sandbag Locations. #CaFlood #CaWx #CaRain
PARTIAL LIST COMPILED FROM NEWS SOURCES AND WILL BE UPDATED AS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED
SAN FRANCISCO
- Dept. of Public Works, 2323 Cesar Chavez Blvd. (7 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
SAN MATEO COUNTY
City of Burlingame beginning Thursday, November 29th through Sunday, December 2, 2012. Sand bags will be available to citizens free of charge on California Drive, Burlingame and Rhinette Avenue, Burlingame.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
Oakland
- Municipal Service Center, 7101 Edgewater Drive
- Drainage Division Facility, 5921 Shepherd Canyon Road.
20 sandbags and 50 feet of plastic sheeting available to each household and business.
- City Fire Stations
Limit of five sandbags per household can be picked up at the following fire stations: 3,6,7,8,10,16,17,20,21,26 and 28 .
Pleasanton
- City of Pleasanton Service Center, 3333 Busch Road
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
East County
- Byron Airport, 500 Eagle Court, Byron
- Antioch Fairgrounds, adjacent to Delta Raceway – 1201 West 10th Street, Antioch
- Ambrose Park and Recreation Center / CCC Family Service Center, 3105 Willow Pass Road, Bay Point
West County
- West County Detention Facility, 5555 Giant Highway, Richmond
Central County
- Contra Costa Fire Protection District, Station 4, 700 Hawthorne Drive, Walnut Creek
- Across from Contra Costa County fuel station, 2467 Waterbird Way, Martinez
MARIN COUNTY
San Anselmo
- Sunny Hills Drive at the tennis courts across from the Red Hill Shopping Center
NAPA COUNTY
Napa
No self-service sandbag operations underway at this time, service will be provided if any kind of Flood Watch or Warning is issued for the City of Napa section of the NapaRiver or its tributaries inside the City.
Regularly- scheduled self-service sandbag operation will take place this Saturday, December 1, at the Corp Yard at 770 Jackson Street from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sand and sandbags are provided at no charge to those who wish to keep them on hand this winter in case of flooding. Residents should bring a shovel and gloves and be prepared to fill and transport their own bags.
SONOMA COUNTY
Petaluma
- Northern end of Hopper Street, near Shamrock Materials
Residents and business owners can help themselves to the sandbags as needed.
OT: Feds deny oyster farm lease renewal in California
Feds deny oyster farm lease renewal in California
JASON DEAREN - Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- An historic Northern California oyster farm along Point Reyes National Seashore will be shut down and the site converted to a wilderness area, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced on Thursday.
Salazar said he will not renew the Drakes Bay Oyster Co. lease that expires Friday. The move will bring a close to a yearslong environmental battle over the site.
"After careful consideration of the applicable law and policy, I have directed the National Park Service to allow the permit for the Drakes Bay Oyster Co. to expire and to return the Drakes Estero to the state of wilderness that Congress designated for it in 1976," Salazar said in a statement.
Salazar visited the oyster farm last week and said he did not make the decision lightly.
Point Reyes National Seashore was added to the national parks system by Congress in 1962, and protects more than 80 miles of California coastline.
The Interior secretary also has the power to lease the park's lands for dairy and cattle-ranching purposes. Currently there are 15 beef and dairy ranches operating along the Point Reyes seashore. Those ranches will remain open under the decision Thursday.
Oyster farm owner Kevin Lunny, whose family also operates one of the cattle ranches, said he was disappointed by the decision and was still trying to figure out his next move. He had been asking for a 10-year extension of his lease.
"This is going to be devastating to our families, our community and our county," Lunny said. "This is wrong beyond words in our opinion."
He said Salazar called to tell him about the decision.
Lunny bought the oyster company in 2004, knowing the lease expired in 2012. But his lawyers felt an extension could be negotiated, so he decided to take on the fight.
The company will have to remove its property from park land and waters within 90 days. Because the lease was set to expire, the company gets no compensation for the decision.
Salazar did not stop all commercial activities in the park. He sought to extend the terms of the cattle ranch leases from 10 to 20 years.
"Ranching operations have a long and important history on the Point Reyes peninsula and will be continued at Point Reyes National Seashore," he said.
Environmentalists and the National Park Service said the farm's operations threatened nearby harbor seals and other native species. The area is a key pupping site for the seals.
The oyster farm had many powerful allies who fought vociferously on its behalf. Many hailed the oyster operation as an example of sustainable aquaculture and the local foods movement.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and the National Academy of Sciences claimed park officials were trying to get rid of the oyster farm by exaggerating its negative impacts on the environment.
On Thursday, Feinstein said she was extremely disappointed by the decision by Salazar that will put 30 people out of work.
"The National Park Service's review process has been flawed from the beginning with false and misleading science," she said in a statement.
To resolve the dispute over the seals, more than $1 million in taxpayer money was spent on environmental assessment studies, according to records. That study was used by Salazar to make his final decision.
California's other senator, Barbara Boxer, voiced support for Salazar's choice, saying he made his decision based on science and law.
Conservationists rejoiced at the move, saying it will return one of the few coastal wildernesses in the country to its natural state.
"Protecting Drakes Estero, America's only West Coast marine wilderness park, will restore health -- and hope -- for the ocean and for the interests of all of the people of this country," oceanographer Sylvia Earle said.
Source: AP - Link
Note: The Lunny Family has been friends with my family for many years.
How Recent Marijuana Legislation Could Affect Fire Department Policy
How Recent Marijuana Legislation Could Affect Fire Department Policy
Nov. 19, 2012 by Dominick Swinhart in Mutual AidAmidst the fervor of the race for president, voters quietly weighed in on two state initiatives (although they're getting more press now that national elections have quieted down).
In Washington, voters considered I-502, the so-called "marijuana reform" initiative. Medical marijuana has been legal in the state for years; this initiative would completely legalization of the drug. The state would be allowed to tax and sell it, and anyone over the age of 21 could buy it. If passed, marijuana theoretically would be no more difficult to buy than alcohol.
In the months leading up to the election, opponents bought ads in newspapers and on television that warned of catastrophic societal impacts if the law was passed. The voters of Washington apparently didn't believe it, and on Nov. 6, they approved the law by a wide margin. Colorado voters passed a similar law on election night.
Since election night, I've received several e-mails from colleagues around the country wondering how our department is going to implement strict restrictions on marijuana usage among firefighters now that its use is legal by state law. The simple answer is we aren't and we have no plans to.
In discussing the potential impact with our human-resources department, it's likely we'll treat firefighter marijuana use the same we do alcohol. As long as you're not letting it affect your job, getting in to legal trouble because of it, or showing up to work under the influence, there's likely no issue my administration or municipality is going to have with it. The voters have said it's to be treated no differently than alcohol, so why should I?
Also, it's quite unlikely we could create a policy to ban something that's completely legal outside the walls of the fire station. We could certainly tell them they can't do it on duty (just like alcohol), but once they go home they fall under societal laws. I'm told there could be an issue with employees who require a commercial driver's license and marijuana usage due to federal regulations, but firefighters in Washington aren't required to have one, so this won't be an issue in our department.
We're still in a little bit of an unknown period right now in Washington before the law takes effect. Marijuana still is illegal under federal law. Most observers agree, however, that while the federal government could likely take down sellers if they wanted to, they can't force the state to arrest and prosecute users. Indeed prosecutors around the state are beginning to drop most pending marijuana possession cases and have indicated they won't accept any more so long as the possession meets state law.
Some national pundits are saying this movement by Colorado and Washington could slowly transform marijuana laws across the entire country. Fire chiefs around the country should be prepared if a movement begins in your state. We don't plan on changing the way we do business or placing more restrictions on our firefighters. What would you do?
Dominick Swinhart is the fire chief of the Camas-Washougal Fire Department in Camas, Wash.
Source:
LACoFD Fire Camp Graduation:
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department Will Train 700 Inmates Per Year through Inmate Fire Camp Training Facility
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Inaugural Inmate Fire Training Camp Class Graduates |
On Monday,
November 19, 2012, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the
Los Angeles County Fire Department held a graduation ceremony for the
first two classes of inmates assigned to the newly-formed Inmate Fire
Camp Training Facility.
The Inmate Fire Camp Training Facility is a
joint venture between the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and
the Los Angeles County Fire Department. These inmates are part of the
State Realignment Plan (AB109), which places lower security level
inmates who are non-violent, non-serious crime and non-sexual offenders
in the custody of local law enforcement agencies. Many of the inmates,
who would normally fill the ranks of state inmate wildland fire crews,
are now in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
To help fill the vacancies in the five Los Angeles County inmate fire
camps, the Sheriff’s Department was tasked with selecting, screening,
and physically training the first 110 inmates chosen for the program in
two phases.
Phase one consisted of several months of arduous physical training. During this time, the inmates were under constant supervision by nine Sheriff’s Deputies and two Sergeants. On average, the inmates hiked three to six miles a day throughout the hills and fire trails surrounding the 2,600 acre Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic. During their down time, many of the inmates participated in education-based incarceration classes and also had the opportunity to earn their General Education Diploma (GED). Additionally, 60 inmates have participated in a state-approved culinary and safe food handler’s class, receiving a certificate which should aid them in obtaining a job in the food industry upon their release.
Phase two consisted of an intensive two-week, 80-hour, training program which encompassed fire behavior, fire line safety, the use of hand tools and daily written tests. The Fire Department has a long history of educating and providing experience to fire camp inmates. The training program emphasized teamwork and dedication to serving the community. Once trained, 14-man crews are available to respond to fire lines and other natural disasters. “We instilled in them the same sense of preparedness and orderliness that we have in the fire service,” said Fire Chief Daryl Osby.
Phase one consisted of several months of arduous physical training. During this time, the inmates were under constant supervision by nine Sheriff’s Deputies and two Sergeants. On average, the inmates hiked three to six miles a day throughout the hills and fire trails surrounding the 2,600 acre Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic. During their down time, many of the inmates participated in education-based incarceration classes and also had the opportunity to earn their General Education Diploma (GED). Additionally, 60 inmates have participated in a state-approved culinary and safe food handler’s class, receiving a certificate which should aid them in obtaining a job in the food industry upon their release.
Phase two consisted of an intensive two-week, 80-hour, training program which encompassed fire behavior, fire line safety, the use of hand tools and daily written tests. The Fire Department has a long history of educating and providing experience to fire camp inmates. The training program emphasized teamwork and dedication to serving the community. Once trained, 14-man crews are available to respond to fire lines and other natural disasters. “We instilled in them the same sense of preparedness and orderliness that we have in the fire service,” said Fire Chief Daryl Osby.
“Just like our paid fire camp crews, we helped them build the camaraderie and pride that comes from being part of a team. We hope that these new skills and outlook will go with these inmates as they are released from the program and rebuild their lives.”
Fire camp inmates receive a two for one sentence reduction, as well as $1 per day. When inmates are assigned to a brush fire they receive an additional $1 per hour.
The Sheriff’s and Fire Department expect to train 500 to 700 inmates per year in this program. Sheriff Baca strongly believes that “by combining education-based incarceration with fire camp training and experience it will aid in reducing the recidivism rate. Providing inmates with the tools to learn skills and work towards a goal will ultimately benefit them when they enter back into society,” said Sheriff Baca.
Source: LASD
LACoFD to Train 700 Inmates Per Year through Fire Camp Program
Los Angeles County Fire Department will now be training between 500-700 inmates for our
fire camps each year due to the passage of California Assembly Bill 109
(AB 109) on April 5, 2011. Under this bill, local law enforcement now
has the ability to manage lower level offenders in smarter and more
cost-effective ways as a means of lowering prison overcrowding and
helping to rehabilitate inmates into society. On October 15, Camp 12
personnel began the task of training the first class of 100 State
inmates on fire behavior, fire line safety, fire line hazards and use
of hand tools, as well as standards of behavior and professionalism.
"We have to instill in them the same sense of preparedness and
orderliness that we have in the fire service, but we only have two weeks
to do it," says Fire Captain Hall Stratton, who serves as one of the
instructors. "We cover the same ground that we do for the paid crews,
but reformatted for a different audience."
Among the challenges our personnel face in teaching inmates include
working with an audience who may or may not have graduated high school
and, in some cases, may not be able to read or write.
"Our only requirement is that they speak English, because they have
to be able to follow verbal commands," says Stratton. "But on the fire
line they don't have to read or write. Just because they can't read or
write doesn't mean they're not good for the fire crew, because they may
be the strongest guy on the crew."
Instilling professionalism, camaraderie and teamwork is also part
and parcel of fire line training. Thankfully, the Sheriff's Department
personnel at the Wayside Honor Rancho Facility, where Camp 12 is
located, spent the last seven months preparing the inmates for our fire
camp training.
In addition to cleaning up and repainting several of
their rundown buildings with Fire Department artwork and logos for
classroom space, nine Sheriff's deputies also spent time getting the
inmates physically fit for the arduous work involved in being on the
fire line.
"A huge part of building a fire crew is building the camaraderie and
pride, and the Sheriff's went a long way into creating that," says
Stratton.
"To have the crews already have some of that instilled in
them, and be physically ready as well, helps us to concentrate on fire
business."
In order to qualify for being part of a fire crew, the inmates need
to be categorized as non-violent offenders and not be convicted of
committing arson. Part of the incentive of working on a fire crew for
these inmates not only includes having their sentence cut in half, but
also being able to have a possible career when they are released. "While
our Department does not hire convicted felons, others do and I have
heard from some inmates who have gone on to have careers with the United
States Forest Service or CAL Fire," says Stratton.
While the Sheriff's Department had more time to prepare for the
influx of inmates, our personnel had less time to create the lesson
plans, quizzes and other teaching aids for their classes. However,
Stratton, as well as Fire Captains Bernard Deyo and Mark Mihaljevich,
along with Fire Fighter Specialists Joe Spindler, Jason Toshack, Greg
Waters and Damian Ybarra, and Fire Suppression Aides Michael Scavarda,
Nathan Sotro, Brandon Weiner and Joshua Zavala, each took on a subject
and started to develop the curriculum for this unique audience.
"We had two goals when we set out how to build this program," says
Stratton. "One: Everything we teach them we reinforce over and over
again. And two: Never sit in the classroom for more than an hour. Always
do something physical so that they're able to be on a crew and start
swinging those tools tomorrow if they have to."
Our personnel are particularly grateful for the hard work the
Sheriff's Department put in to get the first class ready for training.
But for the Sheriff's deputies, it's all in a day's work. "It's a team
effort," says Sheriff's Deputy A.J. Ayala, who was a smoke jumper prior
to joining Los Angeles County, and understands the challenges
firefighters face. "We get the bodies into shape and you take over the
training.
In the end, we have the same goal – get the inmates rehabbed,
get them skilled and get them out of the system."
|
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Calif. dept's argue over who rescued 2 injured hikers #SMEM
The Pasadena Fire Department says the LA County Fire Department tried to take all the credit for the Rescue
By Brian Charles
Daily News of Los Angeles
ALTADENA, Calif. — There's a tale associated with the Eaton Canyon rescue of two injured hikers.
And, like most stories, the details depend upon who is writing the history.
In a Sheriff's Department press released issued late Monday night, deputies reported that the L.A. County Fire Department put two injured hikers on a helicopter and flew them to safety after the pair were saved by the sheriff's Altadena Search and Rescue team.
On Tuesday morning, the Pasadena Fire Department gave a differing version of events. Officials said city firefighters carried the injured hikers from the falls, and Pasadena paramedics drove them to Huntington Memorial Hospital.
When media outlets began reporting the sheriff's version of events, it set off a flurry of emails within the Pasadena Fire Department seeking to correct things.
"This is not right," Pasadena Fire Capt. Robert Taylor wrote to spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. "(County Fire) would not fly (patient) out. Too much risk for gain in their words.
This is not the first time (Pasadena) got no recognition for (a) difficult rescue," Taylor concluded.
Sheriff's Spokesman Steve Whitmore said the department won't get into a "he said, she said" battle with a smaller agency.
"We send out press releases when our people do outstanding jobs," Whitmore said. "Here is what's important: The people got saved."
So what did happen?
The incident began with a 5:45 p.m. 911 call Monday that alerted authorities to two injured hikers near Eaton Canyon Falls. The spot is near where several other accidents and fatalities have occurred.
The hikers, both women, fell from the edge of the waterfall and slammed onto the rocks 20 feet below, Derderian said.
Because the incident occurred after dark, L.A. County Fire officials declined to use its helicopter to effect a rescue, Pasadena officials said.
Instead, rescue personnel from the Pasadena Fire Department, L.A. County Fire and Altadena Search and Rescue - an all-volunteer force - hiked into Eaton Canyon.
Upon their arrival at the scene, Pasadena firefighters determined that one woman was in critical condition, while the second suffered only minor injuries, Derderian said.
Eaton Canyon is partially within Pasadena city limits and parts of the well-traveled trail are in unincorporated Los Angeles County, placing it under purview of both county and city emergency personnel. Rescue efforts are joint operations, said Derderian, and credit is due to all of those who save the lives of distressed hikers in the canyon.
Ranking Pasadena officials say they are tired of mix-ups resulting from Sheriff's Department press releases. Officials said those releases often mislead the public as to who conducts forest rescues.
"In the past, they have taken credit and made it look like they single-handedly done stuff," Derderian said. "I usually just let it go."
In an email to Derderian, Taylor also implied that competition for limited government funding may lie at the root of the snafu.
"I know all agencies are fighting to keep their programs but the LACOSD public information is borderline egregious considering the amount of misinformation contained," Taylor wrote.
By Brian Charles
Daily News of Los Angeles
ALTADENA, Calif. — There's a tale associated with the Eaton Canyon rescue of two injured hikers.
And, like most stories, the details depend upon who is writing the history.
In a Sheriff's Department press released issued late Monday night, deputies reported that the L.A. County Fire Department put two injured hikers on a helicopter and flew them to safety after the pair were saved by the sheriff's Altadena Search and Rescue team.
On Tuesday morning, the Pasadena Fire Department gave a differing version of events. Officials said city firefighters carried the injured hikers from the falls, and Pasadena paramedics drove them to Huntington Memorial Hospital.
When media outlets began reporting the sheriff's version of events, it set off a flurry of emails within the Pasadena Fire Department seeking to correct things.
"This is not right," Pasadena Fire Capt. Robert Taylor wrote to spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. "(County Fire) would not fly (patient) out. Too much risk for gain in their words.
This is not the first time (Pasadena) got no recognition for (a) difficult rescue," Taylor concluded.
Sheriff's Spokesman Steve Whitmore said the department won't get into a "he said, she said" battle with a smaller agency.
"We send out press releases when our people do outstanding jobs," Whitmore said. "Here is what's important: The people got saved."
So what did happen?
The incident began with a 5:45 p.m. 911 call Monday that alerted authorities to two injured hikers near Eaton Canyon Falls. The spot is near where several other accidents and fatalities have occurred.
The hikers, both women, fell from the edge of the waterfall and slammed onto the rocks 20 feet below, Derderian said.
Because the incident occurred after dark, L.A. County Fire officials declined to use its helicopter to effect a rescue, Pasadena officials said.
Instead, rescue personnel from the Pasadena Fire Department, L.A. County Fire and Altadena Search and Rescue - an all-volunteer force - hiked into Eaton Canyon.
Upon their arrival at the scene, Pasadena firefighters determined that one woman was in critical condition, while the second suffered only minor injuries, Derderian said.
Eaton Canyon is partially within Pasadena city limits and parts of the well-traveled trail are in unincorporated Los Angeles County, placing it under purview of both county and city emergency personnel. Rescue efforts are joint operations, said Derderian, and credit is due to all of those who save the lives of distressed hikers in the canyon.
Ranking Pasadena officials say they are tired of mix-ups resulting from Sheriff's Department press releases. Officials said those releases often mislead the public as to who conducts forest rescues.
"In the past, they have taken credit and made it look like they single-handedly done stuff," Derderian said. "I usually just let it go."
In an email to Derderian, Taylor also implied that competition for limited government funding may lie at the root of the snafu.
"I know all agencies are fighting to keep their programs but the LACOSD public information is borderline egregious considering the amount of misinformation contained," Taylor wrote.
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