On Friday, May 6, 2011, The Los Angeles Fire Department’s Urban Search & Rescue Team will be conducting a disaster mobilization exercise that will task emergency responders during an Earthquake scenario. This Urban Search & Rescue team, formally known as California Task Force 1 (CA-TF1), will utilize Hazardous Materials Squads, Rescue and K-9 teams and work in a simulated earthquake environment that has been contaminated by radiation.
CA-TF1 is an elite Urban Search & Rescue team, comprised of two 80-member teams of men and women who are highly trained to conduct search and rescue operations in the most extreme conditions. They have responded across the nation to catastrophic events such as New York City for the 9-11 attacks, Salt Lake City for the 2002 winter Olympic games, the Gulf coast for both Hurricane’s Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. CA-TF1’s Canine team also responded to the Oklahoma City bombing.
CA-TF1 would like to invite members of the media to learn more about this team and how LAFD is prepared. The Media will be given direct access to rescue locations for filming and interviews starting at 6:30a.m. The scheduled Press Conference will take place at 08:00 a.m.
On Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 7:42 AM, 19 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 2 Hazardous Materials Teams, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief Jeffery S. Mottram responded to a Major Emergency Fire at 15030 West Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.
Within four minutes firefighters arrived to a U-shaped, 1-story strip mall with smoke showing. This 100' x 50' x 50' structure contained over a dozen business. Teams of firefighters swiftly took to the light weight panelized roof to perform vertical ventilation of intense heat and smoke. Additional firefighters forced entry into the business, extending handlines to do battle at the seat of the fire.
The origin of the blaze appeared to be from a unit that contained beauty supplies, however flames extended to the adjacent businesses on both sides as well as the attic and mansard. Over 130 firefighters were assigned to the incident, but the first arriving 60 were able to get it under control in just 42 minutes and no one was injured. Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The cause of this early morning fire appears to be electrical in origin, however remains under active investigation.
Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department
On Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 6:29 AM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 7 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Arson Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 72 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Jose S-Cronenbold, responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 4822 Tilden Avenue in Sherman Oaks.
Los Angeles Firefighters responded quickly to discover an apparent one-story single family home thoroughly involved with fire. With reports of one or more persons trapped by the blaze, first arriving firefighters commenced a profoundly aggressive and well-coordinated interior attack with hoselines on the well entrenched flames.
With both speed and skill, additional firefighters laddered what proved to be a combination one- and two-story residence, the uppermost portion at the rear of the home an apparently non-professional addition.
Rooftop firefighters used power saws and hand tools to deftly ventilate thick, superheated smoke from the wood frame and stucco structure, in an effort to minimize oppressive conditions for fire attack and search teams below.
Additional firefighters soon provided emergency medical care to a 58 year-old man, a 50 year-old woman and a 12 year-old girl who had escaped the inferno with varying injuries - each verbalizing that a teenage male from their family remained trapped by the raging fire.
In a relentless search of the 3,000+ square foot building with zero visibility and oven-like conditions, a team of firefighters discovered a narrow metal spiral staircase leading to a level above the first floor.
Climbing glowing hot steps and searing hand rails in multiple attempts, firefighters found the missing 14 year-old male pulseless and non-breathing with severe full-thickness burns. After being carried down the serpentine steps and outside to waiting colleagues, the teenage boy was provided CPR and Advanced Life Support by veteran LAFD Firefighter/Paramedics at the scene.
The first arriving 70 firefighters confined the fire to the structure of origin, fully extinguishing the flames in just 37 minutes.
The 58 year-old male resident was determined to have second- and third-degree burns to his right forearm and second degree burns to his right foot, reportedly in an attempt to reenter the home prior to the Fire Department's arrival. The preteen girl experienced progressive respiratory distress after smoke exposure.
The rescued teen male - in grave condition, as well as the man and preteen girl, each in serious condition, were taken by LAFD Ambulance to nearby Sherman Oaks Hospital for primary care.
The 50 year-old woman who escaped the flames without obvious physical injury declined medical treatment and transportation, as did a neighbor with respiratory concerns who was later referred to his private physician.
Also sustaining potentially debilitating though non-life threatening injury in fire attack and rescue efforts were four Los Angeles Firefighters. Three sustained painful second-degree burns to hands and extremities, and were taken to the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital, while the fourth was taken to an area hospital for a significant knee injury.
Each of the aforementioned LAFD personnel were treated as outpatients and released to remain off-duty.
In examining the fire's aftermath, there was no immediate evidence of a functional smoke alarm within the home. Though no window bars or security doors were present to impair egress, the design, size and placement of windows and other key architectural elements of the home's questionable addition, could have easily hampered and possibly prevented the teenage boy's escape.
Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $440,000 ($350,000 structure & $90,000 contents). The cause of this early morning fire remains under active investigation.
Here are answers to the three most common questions:
What is LAFD Handcrew 3? It is a Volunteer Type II Handcrew managed by the Los Angeles Fire Department and currently organized as a Wildland Explorer Post. Crew 3 members receive wildland classes, hands-on training and guidance to help successfully gain a career in the Fire Service. Crew 3 is managed by active-duty LAFD Members with extensive wildland fire training and handcrew experience.
When did this begin? On July 14th, 2006, an Explorer Post was started at Los Angeles Fire Station 88 by Captain Derek Vehling and Apparatus Operator Gregory Holly. Crew 3, organized and chartered as a Wildland Explorer Post, is a first of its kind at the LAFD.
What is Crew 3 able to do? They have been activated for numerous Brush Fires, Rain/Mudflow Incidents, assist in Red Flag Pre-deployments and various other projects such as preparation for the annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony at the LAFD's Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center.
Learn more about LAFD Crew 3 in this video by FDNNTV...
For additional information about LAFD Crew 3 or to contact them, please visit:
Note: The recently proposed Cadet Program, to be administered in its entirety by the Los Angeles Fire Department, will continue to utilize Department volunteer Post Advisors for leadership and support. The LAFD Cadet Program will replace this other Learning for Life associated LAFD "Explorer Posts" effective January 1, 2010.
On Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 11:25 PM, 14 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, Foam Tender 100, HazMat Tender 75, CHP, LAPD, L.A. County Health HazMat, Cal Trans and DOT, under a Unified Command, responded to a HAZ MAT incident at the southbound San Diego FY x Ventura FY in Sherman Oaks.
Firefighters responded to reports of a traffic collision involving a semi on the 405 Freeway. As Firefighters arrived onscene, they found a tractor trailer on it's side, with a load of approximately 8600 gallons of butane, in an uncompromised container. A HazMat assignment with additional companies was requested. A Unified Command was established with LAFD, CHP, LAPD, Caltrans and L.A. County Health HazMat. As the HazMat Teams checked the container's integrity, the Unified Command developed a plan to offload the contents safely. Several Engines were utilized to relay a 4 inch supply line from Sepulveda Boulevard, located below the freeway. An aerial ladder truck was used to relay water from the rear of F.S. 88, across a storm drain, to the freeway above. A contingency plan was formulated for evacuations if needed. Butane when compressed is in liquid form, but when released, is highly flammable.
At 0415, the tractor and container was righted, towed away without incident and its contents offloaded at Balboa Park, under the supervision of the HazMat teams. 104 Firefighters and specialty companies assisted in controlling the incident. The driver was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. The driver stated he was avoiding an abandoned vehicle in lanes and flipped the trailer.
On Friday, May 6, 2011, The Los Angeles Fire Department’s Urban Search & Rescue Team will be conducting a disaster mobilization exercise that will task emergency responders during an Earthquake scenario. This Urban Search & Rescue team, formally known as California Task Force 1 (CA-TF1), will utilize Hazardous Materials Squads, Rescue and K-9 teams and work in a simulated earthquake environment that has been contaminated by radiation. 
