By now, most Los Angeles residents (and even some of our visitors) are aware that the Los Angeles County Metro Agency is currently working on a significant project involving the I-405 Freeway. A HOV lane is being added on the northbound I-405 Freeway from the I-10 to the US 101. To accomplish this, the demolition and subsequent reconstruction of the Mulholland Drive Bridge, will require a full freeway closure of both the I-405 Freeway and the Mulholland Drive overpass in both directions for up to 53 continuous hours. This weekend, July 15 through July 18, it is anticipated that traffic may be backed-up as far as 68 miles to the south and 23 miles to the north.

This is what your Los Angeles Fire Department is doing...

A Unified Command (incorporating LAFD, CHP, LADOT & LAPD) has been developed to manage all "issues" associated with this freeway closure. The Los Angeles Fire Department is responsible for Fire Suppression and Emergency Medical Services within, what Unified Command is referring to, as an "Operational Area." This will effectively capture all of the impacted areas up and down the I-405 Freeway.

The LAFD has developed a "response plan" to address the potential for increased response times that may result from the I-405 Freeway closure. The LAFD will strategically pre-deploy and also staff, additional resources consisting of trucks, engines and other Fire apparatus to handle all emergencies throughout the Sepulveda pass area. An additional 200 Firefighters will be deployed as follows:

Mountain Gate - 1 Engine, 2 Rescue Ambulance, Brush Patrol.
Bel Air Crest - 1 Engine, 2 Rescue Ambulance, Brush Patrol.
Fire Station 99 - 1 Truck Company, 3 Engine Companies, 2 Rescue Ambulance, 1 Brush Patrol,
1 Motorcycle Recon Team, 1 Water Tender and 1 Battalion Chief.
Fire Station 109 - 1 Truck Company, 3 Engine Companies, 2 Rescue Ambulance, 1 Brush Patrol, 1 Motorcycle Recon Team, 1 Water Tender and 1 Battalion Chief.
Fire Station 59 -  3 Engine Companies and 1 Battalion Chief.
Fire Station 19 - 1 additional Engine Company.
Fire Station 69 - 1 additional Engine Company.
Fire Station 71 - 1 additional Engine Company.
Air Operations - 1 additional Air Ambulance (helicopter).

As always, the LAFD will work in conjunction with with Los Angeles County DHS to ensure the best possible patient care and will closely monitor any transportation issues, as well as hospital availability.

As a reminder, on-ramp and off-ramp closures are scheduled to begin as early as 7pm on Friday, July 15, 2011. Freeway lane closures will begin, one-by-one, starting at 10pm, in order to achieve a "full closure" by midnight, July 16, 2011. The "full-closure" will remain in effect until Monday, July 18, 2011, until approximately 5am, when I-405 is scheduled to re-open. All ramps and connectors are scheduled to be re-opened by 6am.

Want to stay up-to-date during the 53-hour closure of the I-405 freeway?

Click here for detour maps, closure boundaries, and time lapse photography of the demolition.

Click here for real time traffic conditions on the regional alternate freeways.

Click here for updated messages via twitter.

Submitted by Erik Scott & Matthew Spence, Spokesmen

Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LAFD & I-405 Freeway Closure - Update

On Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 5:01 PM, 50 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 5 Helicopters, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Water Tender, 1 Rehab Plug, 4 LACO Camp Crews under the direction of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott responded to a MAJOR EMERGENCY BRUSH FIRE at NB 405 FWY at Getty Center Dr. in Brentwood.

Los Angeles Firefighters, arrived at yet another brush fire this season, along the hills near The Getty Center. Due to the already state of readiness and enhanced staffing for critical fire weather conditions, arriving crews discovered five acres of medium to heavy brush burning uphill adjacent to the 405 freeway. LAFD along with California Highway Patrol, secured the rightmost lanes of the busy freeway to begin anchoring the flames and working the flanks of the fire. The blaze moved towards a high ridge near homes below just on the other side.

Despite the calm winds, and with no 'Red Flag Warning' in effect for the City of Los Angeles, the flames still moved rapidly through the light and flashy fuels towards thicker brush. LAFD water dropping helicopters were quickly called into action and halted the advancement of the flames unreachable by ground crews. Additional fire personnel were strategically placed near homes to be safe guarded in case the fire reached any structures.

Due to the hard work and efforts of the helicopters above and the ground crews below, the fire was held to little less than 15 acres. It took over 275 firefighters 2 hours’ and 10 minutes to bring the flames under full containment. No structures were damaged during the incident and no evacuation went onto affect. The cause of the fire remains under an active investigation.


Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - 15 Acres Burns Near The Getty Center

On Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 2:50 PM, 9 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Rehab Tender, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 64 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Ralph Ramirez, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 485 Halvern Drive in the Los Angeles community of Brentwood.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find smoke showing from the improved attic of a 6,513 square-foot two-story single family home undergoing a major remodeling.

Met by contractors who had been overseeing a plumbing upgrade, firefighters soon learned that a torch being used by a plumber had ignited construction materials within the walls and soon spread to the fully finished 'third-level' attic in the central portion of the expansive home.

With all construction workers safe and accounted for, comprehensive salvage efforts were swiftly undertaken as firefighters extended handlines to battle stubborn fire in concealed spaces throughout the 70 year-old non-fire sprinklered home.

Strategic vertical ventilation helped curtail the spread of fire, as firefighters used thermal imaging devices to find and abate the rapidly spreading fire.

The relentless effort of firefighters confined flames to the central portion of the home, with the blaze fully extinguished in just 59 minutes.

There were no injuries.

Loss from the fire is estimated at $352,000 ($350,000 structure & $2,000 contents). The cause of this mid-afternoon blaze is categorized as accidental.

(photos)

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Plumber's Torch Sparks Stubborn Brentwood Blaze

On Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 12:44 PM, 67 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 8 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Arson Units, 2 Rehab Units, 3 Helicopters, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 7 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 2 Water Tenders, 3 Dozer Teams, 10 Brush patrols, 2 Rehab Tenders, along with the assistance of L.A.County Fire, Santa Monica Fire, Culver City Fire, Beverly Hills Fire under the direction of Deputy Chief Mario Rueda responded to a Major Emergency Brush Fire at 1200 Getty Center Dr.in Brentwood.

Firefighters arrived to find a small column of smoke coming from the hills near the Getty Center Museum. Fire crews encountered several acres of burning brush with no structures immediately threatened. Although they experienced some difficulties due to the steep terrain as well as the over 40-50 year old dead/dense brush, they continued to attack the blaze utilizing all the resources on hand.

Additional resources were called in and strategically placed in a variety of locations throughout the area, in an attempt to control the perimeter of the fire.

Over 380 Firefighters were deployed over the course of three days before full control over the flames was achieved. 80 acres were consumed by this fire, however due to favorable weather conditions and an aggressive, well coordinated air and ground attack, they were able to declare full containment early on the third day.

Although this fire lasted three days, there was only one Firefighter who sustained a minor injury with no reported injuries to Civilians or animals. The cause of the blaze is reported to be accidental, attributed to a weed Abatement tool during an operation.


Submitted by Erik Scott
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - 80 Acres Of Brush Are Consumed Near Getty Center

On Monday, April 13, 2009 at 3:38 AM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 6 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 38 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Randy Beaty, responded to a Structure Fire with Civilian Fatality at 12026 Benmore Terrace in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy fire showing from the upper "street level" floor of a 2-story terraced hillside home.

Aided by precise vertical ventilation, firefighters made an aggressive interior attack on the blaze, confining the fire to the upper floor and extinguishing the flames in just 28 minutes.

During a methodical search of the 3,234 square-foot residence, firefighters discovered the body of an elderly male. Beyond medical help, he was declared deceased at the scene.

No other injuries were reported.

The presence of smoke alarm(s), their functional status and role at the time of the fire could not be immediately determined. There were no window security bars or obvious non-fire factors to impede egress. The 56-year old home was not equipped with fire sprinklers.

A positive identification of the dead man, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of his death will be determined by the Coroner's Office.

Monetary loss from the fire has been estimated at $1,750,000 ($1,500,000 structure & $250,000 contents). The cause of this early morning blaze remains the focus of a joint Police and Fire Department investigation.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Man Found Dead at Scene of Brentwood Fire