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

This century-old question increases in intensity in the wake of Japans devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake.  Please let us answer by responding to the following six questions...


What exactly does the Los Angeles Fire Department do when there’s an earthquake?

Whenever there is a detectable earthquake tremor anywhere in the city of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Fire Department initiates the “Emergency Earthquake Mode” (EEM). The quake does not have to reach a certain magnitude to initiate EEM.

When operating in the EEM, Firefighters from all 106 neighborhood fire stations promptly move to a designated safe area and then initiate a “windshield survey” of their District. In this manner, over 470 square miles in the greater Los Angeles area can be assessed in a matter of minutes. The Department’s six helicopters and five fire boats assist the appraisal. Firefighters rapidly assess:

• Transportation infrastructure (freeway over pass, rail lines, and airports).
• Large places of assemblage (stadiums, schools and universities, shopping malls).
• Critical facilities (hospitals, refineries, dams, power lines).
• High density residential (apartments, condominiums).

Once this process is complete, findings are immediately report back to Commanders allowing areas of concern to be quickly addressed.


What has LAFD done to be more prepared?

Los Angeles has a sound plan and trains frequently to the plan. The LAFD hosts a number of simulations, drills and rallies to prepare citizens for a large-scale earthquake. For example:

• Last October was “The Great California Shake Out” where millions practiced Drop, Cover, and Hold On to protect oneself during an earthquake.
• The “Golden Guardian” exercise in 2008 was a mock 7.8 magnitude earthquake along a southern stretch of the San Andres Fault.
• "The L.A. Earthquake Get Ready Rally” was conducted in November of 2008.
• “Operation: Shake Rattle and Roll” is part of the City’s Annual Emergency Preparedness Exercise, where your Los Angeles Firefighters also participate in this exercise.
• “Duck, Cover, and Hold On”, drills are practiced in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

These drills allowed First Responders and Emergency Managers to practice their skills to rescue, triage, treat and transport injured, conduct assessments of damage to infrastructure, and coordinate mutual aid along with practice immediate response with federal installations in the region.

Are we the best in the nation in terms of preparing for earthquakes?

During the last two decades, the LAFD, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has helped organize a system of regional Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Forces that are available for mobilization anywhere within the United States. Nationwide, there are 28 of these elite teams and we have two of them, right here in Los Angeles County.

These teams are comprised of specially trained and equipped local firefighters and paramedics, other certified responders, rescue specialists, emergency room physicians, structural engineers, heavy equipment operators, canine search dogs and handlers, hazardous materials technicians, communications technicians, and logistic experts.

What is the actual system approach that the Fire Department utilizes?

The Los Angeles Fire Department utilizes the Incident Command System (ICS) for control. The ICS is a standardized approach to incident management that:
• Enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions and agencies.
• Establishes common processes for planning and managing resources.
• Allows for the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure.

ICS is the foundation for the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and is a "best practice" that has evolved to become the standard for emergency management across the country.


Does the LAFD have a current preparedness program for citizens?

LAFD has a Unit specifically designated for Disaster Preparedness. This Unit heads a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. More than 30,000 Angelino’s have received CERT training.

This program Enables members of the community to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. Citizens are educated about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trained in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search-&-rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

“Drop-Cover-Hold On” techniques are emphasized during annual training conducted at all LA City Elementary Schools through MySafeLA, an LAFD partner dedicated to providing fire and life safety education in the City of Los Angeles.

Additionally, all high-rise buildings 35 or more stories tall, within the City of Los Angeles are required to provide evacuation training on an annual basis.


What are we working on now to improve?

The LAFD is actively working to expand the CERT program, increase public awareness and preparedness when a disaster strikes. We also embarked on a “Resolve to be Ready” campaign, ensuring that families of LAFD members are prepared to function while they are away, working at an emergency, for extended periods.


The Los Angeles Fire Department hopes that you found this detailed information informative and timely. The LAFD will continue to ensure it remains a leader in the emergency services industry and provides unsurpassed Fire and EMS service to the citizens of Los Angeles.

We welcome your feed back to this century-old question, Is Los Angeles really ready for "The Big One".


"Serving with Courage, Integrity, and Pride"

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Is Los Angeles Really Ready for, “The Big One”

The recent 8.9 earthquake near the coast of Honshu Japan (231 miles NE of Tokyo) on Friday, March 11th, 2011 at 02:46 PM at epicenter, according to officials was the largest recorded earthquake in that country. This earthquake also generated a significant tsunami that struck Japan. The Los Angeles Fire Department along with our friends at FEMA provide the following guidelines for what you should do if a tsunami is likely in your area:

•Turn on your radio to learn if there is a tsunami warning if an earthquake occurs and you are in a coastal area.

•Move inland to higher ground immediately and stay there.

•Stay away from the beach. Never go down to the beach to watch a tsunami come in. If you can see the wave you are too close to escape it.

•CAUTION - If there is noticeable recession in water away from the shoreline this is nature's tsunami warning and it should be heeded. You should move away immediately

Click Here for Current Threat to West Coast

Click Here for Emergency Digital Information Service

Whats the difference between a Warning, Watch and Advisory?:

A Tsunami Warning indicates:

The highest level of a Tsunami alert and is an announcement provided by the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC) to a local jurisdiction within an expected impact area after a tsunami triggering event has occurred or when a tsunami has been detected anywhere in the Pacific Basin.

A Tsunami Watch indicates:

The second highest level of a tsunami alert and is an announcement provided by the WC/ATWC to a local jurisdiction outside of the warning area after a tsunami triggering event has occurred in the Pacific Basin and may have caused a tsunami.

A Tsunami Advisory indicates:

That an area is either outside the current warning and warning regions, or that the tsunami possesses no danger to that area.  The WC/ATWC will continue to monitor and issues updates.  As condition warrant, the Advisory will either be continued, upgraded to a watch or warning, or ended.

What is a Tsunami? Also commonly referred to as a "Tidal Wave", a Tsunami is caused by the displacement of a large body of water that can travel the speed of a Jumbo Jet. They are often arrive as a series of waves which could be dangerous for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

If a tsunami was generated when would it impact us? The initial wave arrival would begin within 30 minutes of the estimated arrival time of 8:09 AM PST at the Port San Luis Harbor and at 8:32 AM PST at the San Pedro Harbor in Los Angeles.

Although rare, tsunamis are a powerful and destructive force of nature. Since the year 1812, 14 tsunamis with wave heights higher than three feet have struck the California coast. Only six of these waves were destructive.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is acutely aware of this threat and we are prepared. The LAFD will maintain a heightened alert and a keen eye, particularly on the areas of The Port of Los Angeles, the Venice/Playa Del Rey area and the West Los Angeles area. We currently have Command Posts at Fire Station 5, Fire Station 48 (Korean Bell) and Fire Station 69. Firefighters will be patrolling strategic areas from the ground, air and sea to monitor the situation. One Public Information Officer will be available at each command post.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Tsunami Threat & Tips

An hour before sunrise, at 6:01 AM on February 9, 1971, the greater Los Angeles area was struck by one of the most devastating earthquakes in California history.

On this 40th anniversary of the Sylmar/San Fernando Earthquake (the public and scientists have used both names to describe the event) the Los Angeles Fire Department asks you to remember the magnitude 6.6 temblor that took 65 lives and caused more than a half-billion dollars in damage.



Memory of the 1971 quake faded for many, when 23 years later, the Northridge Earthquake awakened millions in our region through destructive pre-dawn shaking.

Are you and your loved ones any more prepared today than those 'old-time' folks we see in the video? Chances are the answer is no.

That's why Neighborhood Firefighters encourage you to "Be Ready!" by taking simple action today to prepare for the inevitable - because nobody believes it will be another forty years!


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - 40 Years Ago Today: The Sylmar/San Fernando Earthquake Strikes Los Angeles