To a firefighter, the only greater challenge than hearing "You Have Cancer", is having someone tell you "It Can't Be Done!".
Meet retired Santa Ana, California firefighter Lorenzo Abundiz, who has proven that hearing one seemingly fateful expression need not mean believing the other.
A survivor of three types of cancer, and founder of Code 3 For A Cure, Abundiz has traveled across North America sharing a message of hope for all cancer patients, especially those who are active and retired firefighters.
As you may recall, Abundiz departed the Los Angeles Fire Department Museum & Memorial in Hollywood in mid-2008 to commence a celebrity encouraged cross-country expedition.
If you're like millions of Americans, chances are you will soon visit your favorite travel website to secure holiday reservations.
Even now, you may be sitting by your computer, beverage in hand (but not too close to the keyboard), trying to make sure you don't forget something on your hotel checklist: Room with a view? Check! Around-the-clock room service? Check! Heated pool and spa? Check!
You might think you have it covered.
The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department ask you to go one step further though, by staying in a fire safe hotel or motel.
Firefighters know that you and your family can be as safe as the Feds!
The Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990 mandates that Federal employees on official travel must stay in public accommodations that strictly adhere to life safety requirements specified in the legislation.
Investigations conducted in the aftermath of the MGM Grand fire revealed that had the hotel been fully outfitted with automatic sprinklers, the damage wrought by the small electrical fire would have been a puddle of water.
The fire in the Dupont Plaza tragedy moved with such speed that the hotel's casino patrons were dead before the local fire department had even been notified. Testimony following this incident indicated that the fire would not have posed a threat to life if smoke alarms and a sprinkler system had been in place.
Then again, maybe you already knew that.
Did you also know there is a quick and simple way to check the same Hotel-Motel National Master List that Federal employees use?
There are more than 35,000 properties on the list, and while we don't think it will take the place of your favorite travel guide, we hope you always make it a part of your travel plans.
Go ahead. Click on the link above and bookmark it now. That way you can always have the peace of mind that comes with staying in a hotel or motel that places your personal safety on par with their government business.
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department
Firefighters ask you to join them on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 by bringing a non-perishable food item to your nearest LAFD Station or other participating location.
Items from this one day food drive will be collected by KTLA and distributed to those in need through the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and Share Our Selves.
To learn more about this one-day event, watch the KTLA Morning News, as firefighters and those they proudly serve come together in the spirit of the season.
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department
On Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 5:11 AM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 3 Helicopters, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, a total of 61 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Wade White, responded to a Multi-Fatality Traffic Collision with Fire on the westbound Foothill (210) Freeway east of Sunland Boulevard in Sunland.
Responding swiftly to a traffic collision with subsequent reports of fire extending to nearby brush, Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find a two vehicle collision with one vehicle fully engulfed in flames.
According to witnesses, a full-size sport utility vehicle towing a cargo trailer collided with a big rig tractor-trailer loaded with lettuce, the smaller vehicle soon thereafter erupting in flames.
An adult male passerby reportedly assisted an 11 year-old male and 9 year-old female from the damaged SUV with minor injuries, before it was consumed by fire. A man, woman and teen male occupants however, remained within the burning vehicle. Sadly beyond the assistance of witnesses or responders, the trio were declared deceased at the scene.
The two surviving children sustained non-life threatening injuries, and were taken by LAFD Ambulance to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles in fair condition.
The adult male driver of the big rig, later complaining of chest discomfort, was taken by LAFD Paramedics to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, also in fair condition.
No other injuries were reported.
With the vehicle fire extinguished and medical treatment underway, firefighters focused their efforts on the burning vegetation, skilfully confining the fire to less than one-quarter acre of grass and brush. The flames were fully extinguished in just 29 minutes.
Firefighters remained at the scene for more than three hours supporting the California Highway Patrol's collision investigation, as well as the Coroner's discreet and dignified removal of the deceased.
The identification and formal relationship of those who died, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of their deaths will be determined by the Coroner's office. The cause of the collision remains within the purview of the California Highway Patrol.
To a firefighter, the only greater challenge than hearing "You Have Cancer", is having someone tell you "It Can't Be Done!". 
