Your Los Angeles Fire Department and the Unified Command Center would like to say-
"Great job, Los Angeles!"  

Thank you for staying out of the closure area and thank you for your help and cooperation in allowing this project to go smoothly and largely, without incident.

The systematic re-opening of the I-405 Freeway has begun. It is expected that the entire Freeway will be fully-opened and accessible by approximately 3:00pm this afternoon.

Your LAFD remains prepared and will maintain its augmented staffing of the affected area until approximately 2:30pm this afternoon. At that time, the LAFD will begin a "demobilization" process that will ultimately put us back at normal staffing and normal, departmental operations by 6:00pm this evening.

A big "thank you" goes to our partners at the Command Post- CHP, LADOT, LAPD and Metro. Also, to the Office of the Mayor and all our local media partners, who played a key role in keeping everyone informed with the most up-to-date information. And, of course, "thank you" to the good people of Kiewet West and the Penhall Company for their efforts in completing this phase of the project well ahead of schedule.

It is to all "Angelinos" and our visiting guests, however, we give "great thanks" for their cooperation throughout.

 

 

Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - I-405 Closure Update - THANK YOU!

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

When traveling in Southern California, we encourage you to drive safely and listen to local radio stations - especially AM news stations with frequent traffic reports. Public agencies work closely with these broadcasters to help you make smart travel choices.

If you have a phone handy, our region's 5-1-1 telephone system is a free and convenient way to obtain timely personalized information about traffic, transit and transportation.

For those near a computer or smartphone, here are some Los Angeles area links you may wish to bookmark or e-mail to a friend:

• Regional Traffic, Transit & Transportation
• Los Angeles Real-Time Street Traffic Map & Closures
• Hollywood Area Street Closures
• Los Angeles Roadwork in Progress
• Los Angeles Special Event Street Closures
• Los Angeles Filming E-Notification
• Metro Bus and Rail System Advisories
• Metro Bus and Rail System Alerts
• Metrolink Commuter Rail News
• Metrolink Train Status (ANT) (IEOC) (OC) (RIV) (SB) (VC) (91)
• Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Service Advisories
• Los Angeles County Road Closures
• State Highway Road Closures - or call 1-800-427-ROAD
• Los Angeles Freeway Incident Information
• Los Angeles Real-Time Freeway Traffic Map
• Los Angeles Planned Freeway Lane Closures

When seeking the status of a road, transit system or freeway in Los Angeles, please listen to news radio, visit one of the websites above or call 5-1-1 (not 9-1-1) for information to get you moving!

As always, the LAFD urges you to periodically monitor the State of California's EDIS website and listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local news sources for emergency bulletins.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Local Street Closures in Los Angeles

On Friday, February 19, 2010 at 4:08 PM, 3 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 LAFD Rescue Ambulance, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Armando Hogan responded to a Train vs. Pedestrian Fatality at 1700 East Century Boulevard in Watts.

Firefighters and Paramedics arrived to find a 51 year-old female, with major injuries after being struck by a southbound Metro Blue Line light rail train. The woman was reported to have been thrown several feet, before the train finally came to a halt over her body. It was difficult for rescuers to access the woman who paramedics assessed and determined deceased at the scene.

The northbound and southbound rail lines were shut down for several hours until it was declared safe to reopen the tracks for train traffic. All passengers where escorted to a safe location during the incident. There were no other injuries reported at this incident. The circumstances of this fatal train accident will remain under investigation by local law enforcement and transportation authorities.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Woman Fatally Struck by Metro Blue Line Train

On Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 7:01 AM, 6 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 17 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Helicopter, 3 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 83 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Greg West, responded to a Multi-Patient Traffic Collision involving a Train near 9800 North San Fernando Road in Pacoima.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find a two vehicle collision in which one vehicle was subsequently struck by an approaching train.

According to witnesses, a sedan had yielded to a passing emergency vehicle on San Fernando Road north of Branford Street before being struck by a pick-up truck, propelling both vehicles onto the adjacent railroad right-of-way.

The heavily damaged sedan with three occupants remained distant from the tracks, while the truck occupied solely by a driver landed on or near the rails - where within seconds it was struck and destroyed by a northbound commuter train.

Though no one was trapped, the man and woman in the sedan sustained moderate injuries, while the nearly 2 year-old boy riding with them, as well the truck driver, were listed in critical condition.

As their colleagues treated and transported the injured motor vehicle occupants, teams of Los Angeles Firefighters boarded the involved Metrolink Train #201, which had stopped nearby.

Though there were no obvious injuries to the 39 passengers or 3 crew members aboard the Lancaster bound train, 2 passengers who stated a desire for further medical evaluation were taken by LAFD Ambulance to area hospitals in good condition.

The four motor vehicle occupants were taken by LAFD Ambulance to the Trauma Center at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where within the hour, an LAFD Helicopter was summoned to transfer the then-stabilized child to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles.

No other injuries were reported.

This incident remains under investigation by both Los Angeles Police Department and Southern California Regional Rail Authority officials.

(Photos) (Video) (Video) (Video)


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Pickup Struck By Train Following Two Vehicle Collision