L A F D I SSUE 10
VALLE VALLEY YVie iew w O PERATIONS V ALLEY B UREAU
S EP /O CT 2016
CHIEF’S MESSAGE
PREPARING FOR BRUSH SEASON Brush fire season is upon us as we have recently BUREAU COMMANDER DEPUTY CHIEF Trevor Richmond
ASSISTANT BUREAU COMMANDERS ASSISTANT CHIEF Patrick Butler John Drake Andrew Fox Gregory Reynar
TRAINING OFFICER CAPTAIN II Gregory Galvez
EMS OFFICER CAPTAIN I Danny Wu
MANAGEMENT ANALYST II
observed large wild land fires burning aggressively across the State. Drought conditions along with elevated temperatures have contributed to an already volatile brush fire climate in central and southern California. We will most likely continue to see large fires in the wildland throughout the remainder of the season. The Los Angeles Fire Department has trained extensively on the problems associated with the wild land urban interface and works very closely with our neighboring jurisdictions to assess and respond collaboratively. The LAFD is confident in their training and the equipment that is used to address these challenging fires. With all that the LAFD can do, we still rely on the readiness of our community members to take the necessary steps to protect their lives and their property. “Ready, Set, Go!” has been the mantra for the local communities as they anticipate an evacuation order. Being prepared to evacuate translates into better decisions under stress. Having a plan in place when an evacuation order is given allows the fire department to focus on protecting your property and not spending precious time assisting you in leaving the area. You can get ready now by determining what valuables you intend to bring with you and how and where you will evacuate to. The City of Los Angeles will provide information regarding evacuation sites for people and pets so that you can make certain every member of your family is in a safe location. If you need additional information please stop by the Operations Valley Bureau office.
RECRUITMENT
Christal Chacon
SECRETARY Aggie Rodriguez
OFFICE 4960 Balboa Blvd. Encino, CA 91316 818-728-9921 818-728-9931 Fax
LAFD RECRUITMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED Applications Now Being Accepted Through December 16, 2016 The recruitment campaign for LAFD started
lafd.valleybureau @lacity.org
in January with this year’s theme, “Wear Your Strength On Your Sleeve,” reflecting our extensive efforts in recruiting the next generation of firefighters to serve the citizens of Los Angeles.
LAFD Valley
Being a Firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department is a highly desirable and rewarding career. The selection process is extremely competitive and the LAFD has extended the online application period until December 16, 2016. Visit JoinLAFD.org for information on how to join or call (213) 473-9060. The firefighter job bulletin with additional information is posted at http://agency.governmentjobs.com/lacity.
Proudly serving: Arleta, Bell Canyon, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, City of San Fernando, Encino, Granada Hills, Lake View Terrace, Mission Hills, Noho Arts District, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Pacoima, Panorama City, Porter Ranch, Reseda, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sunland/Tujunga, Sylmar, Tarzana, Toluca Lake, Tujunga, Universal City, Van Nuys, Warner Center, West Hills, Winnetka, Woodland Hills.
LOS
A NGELES
F IRE
D EPARTMENT
Everyone, everywhere, should know how to protect themselves during earthquakes. Millions of people worldwide will practice how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On at 10:20 a.m. on October 20* during Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills, which began in California in 2008. Participating is a great way for your family or organization to be prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes– wherever you live, work, or travel. ShakeOut is also a major activity of America's PrepareAthon! Official rescue teams who have been dispatched to the scene of earthquakes and other disasters around the world continue to advocate use of the internationally recognized "Drop, Cover and Hold On" protocol during earthquakes: • DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!), • Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and • HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, drop to the ground in an inside corner of the building and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table. For more information please visit: www.shakeout.org/california
RESILIENCY
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS Technology Tips: Before, During, and After an Earthquake experience network congestion during an emergency than phone services.
During an earthquake, communication networks could be congested, damaged or lose power. Learn how to use technology and social media to communicate and stay connected after an earthquake. Your smartphone is an important part of your emergency plan: • Maintain and carry a hardcopy list or pocket card of important family and business contact numbers in case your phone is lost, stolen or the battery dies. • Program "In Case of Emergency" (ICE) contacts into your cell phone so emergency personnel can contact those people for you if you are unable to use your phone. • Subscribe to text alert services from local or state agencies like NotifyLA.org to receive alerts from the City of Los Angeles in the event of a disaster. • Parents should also sign up for their school district emergency alert system if available. • If you have to leave your home due to an evacuation, forward your home phone number to your cell phone number.
• Learn how to store important documents on one many of the free cloud services like Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud and Google Docs. You can access them from any location. With these applications you also can assign access rights to share information or data with whom you wish. • Send documents to yourself and save them in a folder or flash drive if you don’t use cloud applications. • Subscribe to the EMD’s social media sites and follow their updates during a disaster, emergency or significant events. • Use text messaging, email, or social media instead of making voice calls on your cell phone to avoid tying up voice networks after an earthquake. • Use social media to post your status to let family and friends know you are okay. In addition to Facebook and Twitter, you can use resources such as the American Red Cross's Safe and Well program: www.redcross.org/safeandwell
• Learn how to use Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Glide and FaceTime. In some of the more recent disasters, phone communications were disrupted, but the internet was working. • Create an emergency list of family members in Facebook as a Group. It’s a quick way to communicate and post updates to specific people. • Teach family members, including seniors how to text message. Text messaging services are less likely to
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O PERATIONS
V ALLEY
B UREAU
CHILD SAFETY
BACK TO SCHOOL Sharing the Road by Slowing Down School days bring congestion. It's never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are present – especially before and after school. If You're Dropping Off Schools often have very specific drop-off procedures for the school year. Make sure you know them for the safety of all kids. More children are hit by cars near schools than at any other location, according to the National Safe Routes to School program. The following apply to all school zones: • Don't double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles • Don't load or unload children across the street from the school • Carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at the school Sharing the Road with Young Pedestrians According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and they're walking. A few precautions go a long way toward keeping children safe: • Don't block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light. • In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection • Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard. Sharing the Road with School Buses If you're driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. • Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you're on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children • If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop • The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus Sharing the Road with Bicyclists On most roads, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles, but bikes can be hard to see. Children riding bikes create special problems for drivers because usually they are not able to properly determine traffic conditions. The most common cause of collision is a driver turning left in front of a bicyclist. • When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave 3 feet between your car and the cyclist • If you're turning right and a bicyclists is approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first, and always use your turn signals • Watch for bike riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling; children especially have a tendency to do this By exercising a little extra care and caution, drivers and pedestrians can co-exist safely in school zones.
• Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. • Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. • Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and
• • • •
that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours. Review with children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency or become lost.
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L OS A NGELES F IRE D EPARTMENT — O PERATIONS V ALLEY B UREAU
LAFD NEWS
BRUSH FIRE AERIAL SUPPORT ARRIVES Quebec Super Scooper and Oregon Erickson Air Crane use during its off-season. Since then, the amphibious CL-415 SuperScoopers aircraft capable of scooping were approved by the Los 1,620 gallons of water from Angeles County Board of the Pacific Ocean or inland Supervisors on for a fivereservoir in 12 seconds have year, $41.25 million lease, become almost synonymous from Sept. 1 through the Quebec Super Scooper Oregon Erickson Air Crane with Southern California’s fall end of November, in what was once considered the fire season. Like the spring return of fire season. In addition, an Erickson Air-Crane helicopter, capable of dropping 2,600 gallons of water, arrived as well. the cliff swallows to Capistrano, the return of the iconic When combined with county and city firefighting helicopters yellow-and-red SuperScoopers has been an autumn rite based in Pacoima, the air fleet can drop more than 5,000 relished by residents and plane watchers. gallons of water in a first assault to augment LAFD’s 6 water dropping helicopters already capable of carrying It was in 1993, just after the Old Topanga firestorm torched around 350 homes, that Los Angeles County first contracted approximately 2,200 gallons combined. the air tankers and crews from the Canadian province for
Two fixed-wing Bombardier
COMMUNITY
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG! Pipelines can be located anywhere, including under streets, sidewalks and private property – sometimes just inches below the surface. Hitting one of these pipelines while digging, planting or doing demolition work can cause serious injury, property damage and loss of utility service. Whether you’re planning to build a major development or just landscaping your yard, make sure to call Underground Service Alert at 811 at least two working days before excavating. Underground Service Alert will coordinate with SoCalGas® and other utility owners in the area to mark the locations of buried utility-owned lines - absolutely FREE. You can also request a ticket online through call811.com The Underground Service Alert is available between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
The LAFD fights a fire after workers ruptured a 4” underground natural gas pipe during construction.
EVENT CALENDAR SEPT
OCT
National CERT Conference
8:00 AM
Sheraton Universal Hotel, Universal City
10
Blue Mass 9/11 Ceremony/Service
11:00AM
St. Mel Catholic Church, Woodland Hills
11
Operation Gratitude 9/11 Ceremony
10:00 AM
Operation Gratitude Forward Base, Chatsworth
11
“Never Forget” 9/11 Ceremony
6:30 PM
Fire Station 88, Sherman Oaks
8-10
25
LAFD Cadet Muster
8:00 AM
Fire Station/Drill Tower 81, Panorama City
28
Valley Public Safety Advisory Committee
6:00 PM
Fire Station 89 Training Center, North Hollywood
31
Halloween
To request LAFD resources at public events (community fairs, school visits, etc.) , please send an email to LAFDrequest@lacity.org with the details of your event (date, time and duration, location, etc.). As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities.
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