As you may have recently heard, the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department are mourning the off-duty passing of fellow Firefighter Eric Shepherd.

The LAFD would like to share some additional information about this very special man...

Eric Shepherd was born on July 12th, 1978 at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Raised in Carson, California, Eric graduated from Long Beach Jordan High School in 1996. Later that year, Eric joined the United States Air Force and served as a firefighter in Kuwait and at home at Edwards Air Force Base. After four years of dedicated service to his country, Eric was honorably discharged as a Senior Airman.

In July of 2003, Eric joined the Los Angeles Fire Department. Following the drill tower and probationary assignments, Eric transferred to Fire Station 29 in Battalion 11, serving the Wilshire Center and Mid-City areas of Los Angeles. Widely recognized as a conscientious and talented firefighter, as well as a generous and genuine friend, Eric quickly earned the respect and admiration of his peers and the public he proudly served. He successfully tested for the rank of engineer and was looking forward to the added challenges and responsibilities of the promotion.

Eric died suddenly while off-duty on July 18th, 2011. He is survived by his father, Ronald and his stepmother Cindy, his mother Loretta, sister Rene, and the love of his life Cacherel Smaith, with whom he brought into this world and raised as the apple of his eye, his daughter Sarai.

He was a credit to his family and friends, his country, the fire service and his department. His warmth, laughter, and easy going demeanor will always be cherished. Eric will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Firefighter Eric Shepherd was assigned to Fire Station 29 "C" Platoon.

All members of the community are welcome to join us in celebrating the life of Firefighter Eric Shepherd.

Public Memorial Services for LAFD Firefighter Eric Shepherd:

• Date: Friday, July 29, 2011
• Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
• Location: Crenshaw Christian Center - "Faith Dome", 7901 South Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA.
• Interment: Forest Lawn, Cypress, 4471 Lincoln Avenue, Cypress, CA (immediately following Memorial Service)

 

*The Memorial Service will be streamed "live" on the "Faith Dome" (click this link) website on

Friday, July 29th from 9:30 am -12:30 pm.

*Members of the Fire Service and allied agencies that wish to have a formal presence, are asked to contact LAFD's Planning Section at (213) 978-3845.

*All flowers being delivered to the Crenshaw Christian Center "Faith Dome" for FF Shepherd's Memorial Service, must be delivered no later than 9:30 am on Friday, July 29, 2011.

*If you would like to make a donation, FF Eric Shepherd's Family respectfully asks that any donations be made to a fund that has been established for his young daughter, in her name:

        "Sarai Shepherd Educational Fund" (Account # 10000758996)
        Los Angeles Fireman's Credit Union
        815 Colorado Boulevard
        Los Angeles, CA 90041

We thank you for the outpouring of support in this time of sadness.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LAFD Mourns the Passing of a Fellow Firefighter

On Monday, November 1, 2010 at 6:44 AM, 7 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit and 1 EMS Battalion Captain, a total of 47 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Joseph Klein, responded to a Structure Fire with Civilian Injury at 553 South Windsor Boulevard in the Windsor Square area of Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find smoke showing from a large 3 story single family home. Immediately entering the 11,205 square-foot residence, firefighters discovered and assisted a 74 year-old woman in exiting the smoke charged building.

As crews searched within the massive home, additional firefighters circling the nearly half-acre lot soon discovered three men - including one wheelchair bound, in distress on a second floor balcony. Raising a 35' ground ladder and climbing to the stranded men's location, a pair of firefighters rapidly determined the trio could be safely sheltered in place as LAFD crews tackled flames and strategically abated the smoke.

Within minutes, firefighters were able to safely utilize an interior stairway to evacuate the men, bringing them to waiting Paramedics. The two younger males, ages 38 and 40 declined medical treatment or transportation.

The 65 year-old man who had been utilizing the wheelchair, as well as the woman earlier assisted by firefighters, were taken to area hospitals in fair condition for examination of smoke exposure.

 
The stubborn flames were confined within the deep recesses of the walls and ceiling of the first floor kitchen, and extinguished in just 38 minutes.

No other injuries were reported.

The relationship between the four persons assisted by Los Angeles Firefighters could not be immediately ascertained. Pursuant of protocol, the LAFD did not formally determine or publicly release their identities.

Loss from the fire is estimated at $200,000 ($150,000 structure & $50,000 contents). The early morning blaze originated in the kitchen area, and is considered to have been accidental in nature.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire in Windsor Square Home Sends Two to Hospital

On Friday, September 17, 2010 at 8:37 AM, 23 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 4 Arson Units, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 5 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 152 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief David Yamahata, responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 614 South St Andrews Place in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived swiftly to find heavy fire in the attic of a six-story 58 unit center-hallway apartment building.



Dozens of residents, protected in the fire's incipient stage by building features compliant with the Ponet Square and Dorothy Mae Ordinances of the Los Angeles Fire Code, were able to exit safely as firefighters extended handlines through windows and up several flights of stairs to keep flames at bay.

One resident complained briefly of difficulty breathing, but declined treatment or transportation following his medical assessment by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics.

Firefighters rescued or oversaw the safe 'shelter in place' protection of many dogs and cats in several pet-populated apartments. The flames were confined to the common attic and roof of the building of fire origin, and extinguished in just 62 minutes.

No other injuries were reported.

Despite LAFD holding direct fire damage above living areas in the 83 year-old Versailles Apartments building, the entire structure was deemed untenable pending repair of fire damage and restoration of utilities.

As many as thirty residents were referred to the American Red Cross for temporary assistance, which included emergency shelter with adjacent pet accommodations provided by the City of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services.

Loss from the blaze has been estimated at $1.2 million ($900,000 structure & $300,000 contents), a figure greatly lessened during the firefight by swift property protection and diligent salvage efforts by teams of Los Angeles Firefighters, who spent nearly ten hours at the scene.

Acting with knowledge that a small non-injury blaze - extinguished by fire sprinklers, had been intentionally set 28 hours earlier in an adjacent and co-owned building at 608 South St Andrews Place, a cadre of Investigators from the Los Angeles Fire Department's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section were joined by an Investigator from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) in a comprehensive investigation that included use of an accelerant detecting canine.

Following the team's thorough on-site analysis, the cause of Friday morning's attic fire was confidently declared accidental, and "most probably electrical" according to Investigators.

The investigation of possible gunfire heard in the neighborhood earlier that morning was a matter handled separately by Los Angeles Police Department officials.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Dozens Displaced in Koreatown Apartment Blaze

The morning newspaper of March 22, 1929 read...

FIREMAN KILLED UNDER WHEELS
TRUCK CRUSHES HOSEMAN TREE; COMRADE HURT

But a headline tells only part of the story.

Los Angeles Fireman Harry Tree
at the Monroe Centennial Exhibition
in Exposition Park in 1923.

Things were indeed different in Los Angeles during 1929, just six years since Cotton was retired in a Department-wide shift to ancestors of nine mechanical horses that came to power seventy-one Engine Companies and twenty Truck Companies across the burgeoning metropolis, including those at Fire Station 29, which served as home to LAFD's Truck Company 4.

It was at 11:46 PM on March 21, 1929 while returning from an alarm, that Los Angeles Fireman Harry L. Tree - standing on the sideboard of Truck 4 as was common at the time, was killed and a colleague seriously injured, when ladders on the truck gave way, hurling both men to the pavement.

It seemed unlikely that Tree could die in such a manner, as the well-respected 27 year-old fireman was not only an exhibition jumper and ladder-climber - but held the world's record for safety-net jumping. It was equally unlikely that then Chief Engineer Ralph J. Scott could memorialize a man not only part acrobat, but twice a Los Angeles Fireman... (read more...)

To learn more about our Brother Harry and others who have made the ultimate sacrifice in their service to the City, we encourage you to visit the Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Hollywood.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - 81 Years Ago: Part Acrobat, Twice a Fireman: Harry Tree's Last Alarm

On Monday, October 5, 2009 at 10:10 PM, 13 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 5 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Deputy Chief Terrance Manning responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 410 S. Manhattan Pl.

Firefighters arrived to a 4 story modern-style center hallway apartment building, with heavy smoke and fire on the second floor. Confronted immediately with several people exiting the structure, fire crews made quick entry after hearing reports of possible individuals trapped inside. The first arriving fire crews continued to make an aggressive attack on the blaze, while other crews simultaneous searched for possible victims.

As firefighters took handlines down a hallway on the second floor they found that the buildings fire doors had kept the flames and most of the smoke confined to the one area of the structure. Interior attack teams rescued a family of five who where trapped but sheltered in place on a Balcony. Roof teams quickly cut ventilation holes near the origin of the fire and opened the roof's penthouse doors to rescue one trapped adult male.

The fire was confined to one unit, but several units sustained heavy damage from heat and smoke. The blaze was knocked down in just 33 minutes with 99 firefighters. Thankfully no firefighters or civilians were injured during the incident, however American Red Cross came to the aid of 13 displaced individuals, consisting of six males, seven females, three families total.

It was Believed that fire doors as well as fire alarms played a significant role in alerting the occupants of the treat of flames, and was a contributing factor in the lives saved.

Firefighters remained on scene for several hours, protecting the homeowners belongings from additional damage during the salvage and overhaul operations.The total dollar loss was estimated at $100.000 ($50.000 structure, $50.000 content) the cause of this fire is still under investigation.



Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Rips Through Modern Building Near Hancock Park

On Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 6:35 PM, 7 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 52 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott responded to a Structure Fire at 985 South 3rd Avenue in the Wilshire Center district of Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy smoke and fire showing from a vacant 50' x 75' one-story commercial structure, threatening an immediately adjacent building.


View Larger Pre-Fire Image. You can also click, grab & zoom the image above!
Forcing entry and performing swift vertical ventilation, firefighters extended handlines to do quick battle with flames inside the sparsely furnished building, extinguishing the fire in just 28 minutes.

The fire was confined within the structure of origin, with some exterior damage to the adjacent structure to the west.

There were no injuries.

Loss from the blaze is still being tabulated, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Fire Damages Vacant Building in Wilshire Center