Gasoline Tanker Fire
Ventura Freeway
The collision of a sedan and gasoline tanker led to a spectacular blaze on the Ventura Freeway near Glendale late in the evening on April 7, 2012, bringing the response of more than 150 firefighters from the LAFD as well as automatic aid from the Burbank, Glendale and Bob Hope Airport Fire Departments.
Firefighters arrived to find a semi-truck tanker with a twin tank trailer, carrying a capacity load of 9,000 gallons of gasoline, fully enveloped in fire. Despite the inferno and a long trail of flames, both drivers were able to flee their vehicles without injury.
Firefighters labored for 70 minutes to fully extinguish the flames and dike the flow of as much as 3,000 gallons of unburned gasoline, to prevent it from igniting or entering storm drains.
Photos by Mike Meadows, EPN and Rick McClure, EPN
LA Heat Faces NYPD at Rose Bowl
Photos by Juan Guerra, EPN – juanguerra.smugmug.com
With 60 players and a huge entourage of families and friends, New York’s Finest football team stormed SoCal to take on the LA Heat at the Rose Bowl on April 28th. Both organizations strive to fight and raise monetary donations for their selected charities. Every member of each organization volunteers their time and effort for the greater cause - on and off the field. The east coast team has dedicated its games this season to three NYPD officers lost in the line of duty over the past year.
Accompanying the New York team was their crack Pipe and Drum Corps. The bagpipers played before the game and then posed for pictures with appreciative fans. The LAFD Color Guard was also on hand for the pre-game ceremonies.
The NYPD team normally travels with their chaplain and monsignor, but he had pressing business that kept him away this trip. But this didn’t deter the monsignor from delivering a telephone blessing to the team in the locker room before the game. The only problem was that in their long wait for the important phone call, the cops were almost charged with a delay of game penalty.
In the head-to-head action on the gridiron, the first three quarters were all about defense. The score entering the fourth quarter was a stunning zero to zero.
New York finally scored but the Heat scrambled and was able to block their point after attempt. When the cops scored again and then made the two-point conversion, it was too much for the LA players to overcome. The final score was NYPD 14, LA Heat 0.
Los Angeles Heat players hail from 23 different SoCal fire agencies including the LAFD and are part of the National Public Safety Football League (NPSFL). Their next game is against the LAPD on June 2. Check out their schedule at LosAngelesHeat.org
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View more photos from this event here.
2011 Firefighter of the Year
Photos by Eric Santiago
Friends, family and scores of firefighters gathered at the Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens on March 21, 2012 for a luncheon honoring the 2011 Firefighter of the Year. The honoree, LAFRA Trustee and LAFD Apparatus Operator Doak Smith, is a 31-year veteran, assigned to Fire Station 69.
The award is presented by the Los Angeles Firefighters Association, CSFA. The coveted prize takes into account an honoree’s long-term accomplishments, as candidates are judged on an overall career and life that exemplifies the best qualities of those in the fire service.
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View more photos from this event here.
WODFF Is Kingpin At Corbin Bowl
Photos by Laura Lichter, preciouspixphoto.com
Firefighters are thanking Corbin Bowl Manager Gary Montgomery, right-hand lady Rose Thompson and the entire Corbin Bowl crew for a great evening of fun and camaraderie at the now annual event on May 6, 2012. And there were no sour apples when it came to the WODFF – the affair raised almost $10,000 to benefit firefighter families in need.
60’s-70’s teen idol Bobby Sherman posed for pictures as he does every year and a bunch of regular fire guys (and ladies too) showed up hoping to throw a few rocks. Ray Keene from FS 68 showed off his yank shot while Alex Molina (High Rise) rolled a few puddles. S&M’s Wade White left a few bed posts and 93’s Dan Curry had some problems with a railroad or two. Retired guy Pat Perry displayed his skill with the pumpkin and Bob Clark (also retired) was hoping for a blowout but had to settle for grandma’s teeth. The sandbaggers from Fire Station 82 came as a team – Doug Collins, Ryan Guzman, Chris Dupertuis and Brandon Kroner – and ended up with more flat balls and buzzards than breaks.
Keenan Porche and LAFRA Trustee Doak Smith presented Gary Montgomery and staff with a custom made Fire Axe (created by Jason Knight) for all the time, energy and effort they put into pulling off the event. After the presentation Montgomery remarked, “With the large amounts of people coming through our establishment for just the usual recreation all the time, we thought it might be nice to get involved with what we saw as a worthy cause, and that’s why we chose to help out the Widows and Orphans Fund.”
Gary and Rose were also responsible for procuring a number of cool auction items:
- A firefighter helmet with Simpsons autographs and cartoons, along with the script and DVD of the 500th episode.
- 2 VIP tickets to Ray Romano’s performance at the Mirage in Vegas including a meet and greet
- LA Racing which included a 1 hour class, suiting up and driving 20 laps
- An assortment of Dodgers and Kings tickets
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View more photos from this event here.
Vehicle Extrication
Tujunga
Companies from Fire Stations 74 and 24, assisted by Glendale FD, extricated a trapped passenger from this rollover on the 210 Fwy on May 4, 2012.
Photos by David “Doc” DeMulle’, The Foothills Paper
Structure Fire
Tujunga
On March 28, 2012 at 0800 hours, a garage fire caused by a portable heater brought in firefighters from 24’s, 77’s, and 89’s. It took 27 firefighters 26 minutes to contain and extinguish the fire. There were no injuries.
Photos by David “Doc” DeMulle’, The Foothills Paper
LAFRA Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
By Dave Wagner
Photos by David Vienna
Like to play softball? Ever played in the Lane Kemper Classic? Make it out to the first ever Over-The-Line tournament at Santa Monica Beach last summer? But most importantly, did you know that LAFD Engineer Bill Bringas is the brainchild behind both of these events? Bill is a fixture at these and other LAFRA functions throughout the year, and that is why he was present at the Saturday, March 13th luncheon to receive the 2012 Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association Volunteer of the Year honor.
LAFRA Trustee and part-time Fire Captain Dave Peters (come on! – he works at 114’s!), along with his crew, was instrumental in implementing the IAP both prior to and on the day of the event. The Air Operations gang were the perfect hosts, welcoming the guests into their station, and then surprising everyone with a tour of the facility and apparatus.
The cadre of LAFRA volunteers, both civilian and firefighters, were invited to dine with the Air Ops “B” crew, the guys from FS 90 and Battalion 10 Chief Steve Ruda. The delectable cuisine was prepared on site in the Air Ops kitchen by Chef Jason Sperber from “A Culinary Mind.” His gourmet handiwork included Chicken Milanese and a ravioli dish made from a blend of Italian cheeses which I can’t even pronounce. You may have tasted Jason’s creations at the LAFRA Open House or the LAFRA Golf Invitational banquet.
After the meal, Relief Association Vice President Juan Albarran thanked the volunteers for their hard work and dedication. He acknowledged that without their help, it would be impossible to put on many of the events which benefit the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund throughout the year.
The volunteers who have gone above and beyond were recognized by the presentation of special plaques. The 2011 Volunteers of the Month were Donna Capelouto, Nayanika Barker, FF Joe Luna, FF David Gastelum, Inspector Martin Gutierrez, and LAFD employees Jennifer Corona and Lesley Cornejo. The 2012 Volunteers of the Month honored were Jessica Chavy, Jan Layton, retired FF Gerry Layton, Gary Montgomery, FF Keenan Porche, and FF Jim Stiglich. And in addition to Bill Bringas taking home a plaque as the 2012 Volunteer of the Year, our old friend Larry Hoerner was present to accept the honor of last year’s top volunteer.
After the dust had settled and all the guests had disappeared, an exhausted Air Ops team discovered that Chef Sperber had left a special thank you present just for them. Piled high on the kitchen table was a huge mound of his best ever chocolate cookies. I wonder if there were any left when the “A” platoon came on the next morning?
St .Baldrick’s Fundraiser Sets Record Despite Challenging Weather!
By Danny Wu, FF, FS 89-C
Photos by Laura Lichter, PreciousPixPhoto.com
Anyone who has experienced childhood cancer in any capacity knows the importance of finding a cure for this deadly disease. With this in mind, it took more than pounding rain, howling winds, and at times parking shortages to stop the spirit of firefighters, police, and all who gathered at Fire Station 89 in the name of fighting childhood cancer at this year’s LAFD/LAPD St. Baldrick’s Fundraiser.
On Saturday, March 17st the LAFD and LAPD again joined together to produce another successful St. Baldrick’s fundraiser to find a cure for childhood cancer at Fire Station 89. Worldwide over 160,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer every year and many of them lose their hair during treatment. Like this year’s participants, Along with my LAFD co-organizer Engineer Sean Kennedy and LAPD organizer Lieutenant Greg Doyle (again along with his cancer survivor son Will), we all shaved our heads to support kids with a similar “baldness” in exchange for pledges from family and friends. In the process of losing our hair along with other “shaves,” we are helping to find a cure for a disease that sadly takes the lives of more U.S. children than any other illness. Read more
Hook and Ladder Enduro
By Bruce Galien, LAFD retired
We dodged the bullet again. Rain was predicted on the weekend of the Hook and Ladder Enduro, March 23 – 25, but it was a little warmer this year. But just like last year, the rain held off until Sunday evening. For those that stayed until Monday it made for some epic riding!
But enough of that - for all of the 632 participants, Thank You. You all gave generously and we grossed almost $24,000! After expenses, all of you collectively were able to donate $17,000 to the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Fireman’s Fund.
This was the third year of the Hook and Ladder Enduro resurrection and the best to date in our opinion. One of the reasons was the organizational skills of Craig White and his ICS 205 C.R.A P. (Craig’s Rescue Action Plan) which set in motion the logistics for the event. When the Chief of Police and the Fire Chief looked at our C.R.A.P. they were thoroughly moved and we could do no wrong.
To make this CRAP work we needed help and we got it. Volunteers came from everywhere offering to be part of this event and we put over forty of them to work. My wife Debbie was the Incident Commander (just like at home) and also took charge of the ladies selling T-shirts, raffle tickets (4500 sold!) and cashiers. Roy Prince was in charge of registration, and Pam Pascolla and Cheri Turner sold $4,700 worth of items at the Silent Auction. Doak Smith, being Firefighter of the Year, thought his CRAP…Read more
Dear LAFRA and WODFF:
Enclosed is a check for $1,150.00 for the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund. We raised the money at the first ever McDaniel Scramble golf tournament. It was my first time organizing an event like this.
There were eleven players in all and we had great time! We played two courses in Las Vegas: Badlands and Rio Secco golf clubs. Rio Secco is a very nice course. In the end, my group of three won by one stroke.
Las Vegas is a great place to get the guys together and I’m hoping we will be doing this every year. I’m sure it will become bigger each time.
Thank you for the coolers, pens and DVD holders. Everyone was appreciative of your support. I hope that this check helps someone in need.
Cory McDaniel
Fire Station 52-B
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