Starting tonight, July 15, 2011 through July 18, 2011, the North and Southbound I-405 Freeway and the Mulholland Drive overpass in both directions, will be closed for up to 53 continuous hours. This, due to the demolition of the Mulholland Bridge overpass. The closure may cause widespread and heavy traffic congestion through the Sepulveda Pass and outlying neighborhoods. Consequently, these conditions may impact the response of emergency vehicles into those areas and could have the potential to cause delays in providing medical assistance to residents and passersby.

Our continuous efforts to maintain high standards of service and lower response times, challenge us to be both innovative and consistent. To that end, the LAFD has developed a unique response team for these locations, that will make its debut this weekend. Motorcycle Response Teams ("Motor Teams") will be deployed at two different locations (Fire Stations 99 & 109) to enhance our service to these affected areas. 

Riding Kawasaki  KLR 650 motorcycles (kindly on-loan for the weekend from our friends at Kawasaki Motor Corp.), our Firefighter/EMTs will have the ability to more easily move through traffic enroute to an emergency incident. A two-member team (one team = two motorcycles, each with one Firefighter/EMT) will be strategically placed on both the East and West sides of the I-405 freeway. These teams will also patrol their assigned areas, providing up-to-the-minute intelligence on access and egress issues, as well as continuous monitoring of alternate response routes.

Each Motor Team will be equipped with a cache of Basic Life Support (BLS) equipment, to include an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), oxygen, other essential medical equipment and supplies to handle most medical incidents, until additional assistance arrives. As these motorcycles will be patrolling a largely "brush area," they will also be equipped with "saddle bags" to allow for the stowing of a fire shelter and some brush firefighting personal protective equipment. Each "rider" will also have a GPS unit attached to the motorcycle, a radio and Departmental maps.

Upon an emergency or medical incident, the Motor Team will take appropriate action in managing the incident and rendering basic medical care, as necessary. The Teams offer our response, safe and quick maneuverability, flexibility and the opportunity to render continuous care until a patient is transferred to another LAFD resource for transport. These motorcycles are not equipped with lights or sirens and therefore, will respond with caution. The Motor Teams will be deployed during daylight hours only, from 6:00am - 9:00pm on both Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17.

It should be noted, this is a "pilot program" only and may or may not be continued, based largely on the success of the program over this weekend. Future use of the "Motor Teams" may include deployment at large scale incidents up to and including earthquakes, brush fires and in times of high hazard, extreme weather conditions.

As is always the case, we welcome your feedback.

Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LAFD to Debut Motorcycle Response Teams as Pilot Program During I-405 Closure

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, June 18, 2011 at 3:35 AM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Arson Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 62 Firefighters along with Members from Department of Water & Power, and 1 Crisis Response Team, all under the direction of Battalion Chief John Potter responded to a Structure Fire at 2171 North Basil Lane in the Beverly Glen/Bel Air area.

Firefighters made their way up narrow windy roads to find a two-story Single Family Dwelling well involved in fire. Additional resources were immediately requested to assist in battling the intense flames and to protect near by hillside homes. Fire shot through the roof, self ventilating the structure and causing electrical power lines to fall.

Sadly, during a Search and Rescue of the 1,440 square-foot home, a 79 year-old female was located in an upstairs master-bedroom and was determined deceased. Also a 50 year-old male was transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Firefighters successfully extinguished the flames in just 25 minutes. In examining the fire's aftermath, there was no immediate evidence of a functional smoke alarm within the residence. There were no window bars or security doors present to impair egress, and the 53-year old residence was not equipped with fire sprinklers.

A positive identification of the deceased woman, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of her death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

The cause of early morning blaze is under active investigation and monetary loss is still being tabulated.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - House Fire Claims 1 Life in Beverly Glen/Bel Air

On Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:27 AM, 17 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 2 Helicopters, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Deputy Chief Mario Rueda responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 9750 W. Wanda Park Dr. in Benedict Canyon.

Firefighters arrived quickly to the vicinity of Benedict Canyon, for reports of a large column of smoke in the brush area of the hills. Crews continued to search for the source, while making there way up through very narrow roads, to a long drive way. They quickly discovered heavy smoke coming from a two story 10,000 square foot residence.

Firefighters made entry into the home but were driven back by intense heat and voluminous flames that filled the structure. As personnel began to douse the fire they were met with the challenge of an extremely low water supply. Due to the small roadways, equipment had to be hiked up the long and steep drive way before any additional personnel could join the fight.

Transitioning to a defensive attack and with the closest hydrant being over 1500 feet away, water had to come from another source. Thanks to the fast thinking of the first arriving engine company, who were able to siphon water from a pool located on the premises, until a more permanent water supply could be established. Firefighters could now re-enter the structure and commence an offensive attack of the flames.

Because of the amount of brush around the building, slight winds and concern for flying embers, an LAFD helicopter was assigned for aerial reconnaissance and command support. Fire attack teams as well as roof teams tenaciously fought the fire and were able to limit the spread to additional parts of the home. A total of 115 LAFD personnel vigorously battled for 1 hour and 47 minutes before completely knocking down the flames. Sadly, three firefighters were injured during the incident, all were treated and released from the hospital, and all are expected to make a full recovery. No civilians were injured.

Fire damage has been estimated at $950,000 ($750,000 structure & $200,000 contents). The cause of this early morning blaze was categorized as “undetermined”.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Large Residence Burns In Benedict Canyon

Like all members of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the crew at Fire Station 99 in the Beverly Glen area of Los Angeles, is certified to provide prompt and effective medical care.

Last night, "prompt and effective" took on a new meaning for the eight personnel on duty, when a most welcome emergency arrived at their doorstep.

NewsCentral's Suraya Fadel reports...


A Calabasas couple, enroute to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to give birth to their second child, was navigating the canyon roads of Beverly Glen, when strong and sudden contractions convinced mother that a quick change of plans was in order.

The somewhat remote residential neighborhood that dad was driving through however, seemed to offer little in the way of services, until mom pointed her husband to the first visible detour: the driveway of Los Angeles Fire Station #99.

With "all hands" quickly summoned to the driveway of the mountaintop fire station, the eight member LAFD crew - which had just completed refresher training in emergency childbirth, swung into action.

Three Firefighters certified as Emergency Medical Technicians and a trio licensed as Paramedics were ably assisted by a pair of medically trained Arson Investigators. Within moments and working as a team, they aided the mother in delivering a healthy baby girl into the world.

Mother and daughter are reported to be doing fine at the UCLA Medical Center, but it's hard to know who is more proud - the Father... or his newborn daughter's eight new Uncles.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Mother Makes 'Special Delivery' at LAFD Station 99