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December 24, 2005

Frank's Place

The morning of September 27, 1980 was a typical early fall day in Los Angeles. A guard patrolling the Naval and Marine Reserve Center in the Alysian Park area of Los Angeles barely gave any thought to the smoke drifting from the vents of the large cement structure. "Must be steam from the generators being tested," he thought to himself, but noting the time was approximately 9:05AM.

As he patrolled again an hour later, the steam seemed more dense, but the thought of any other option apparently didn't enter his mind. Around 11:15AM, more than two hours later, not only was smoke pouring from the vents, but glowing red burning embers were as well. A call was placed to report a fire.

OCD dispatched Task Forces 3 and 4, Engine 6 and Battalion Chief Guy Smith to a report of smoke. First-in Engine 6 reported that smoke was rolling from the roof and the assignment was increased to include Task Force 1 and 11.

As firefighters began to battle the fire, nobody told them it had been burning for more than two hours. As a result, truck companies laddered the roof and began working with rotary and chain saws to vent the fire. Using their pike poles to test for weakness, the roof appeared sound to the Truck company members working above the fire. The roof was built using thick wood sheathing and they assumed they had time to make their cuts.

Firefighter Frank Hotchkin, assigned to Truck 1 for just over a month, determined another pike pole would be useful for punching holes and went off to get one from the truck. "No one ordered him to do it," recalled Firefighter Gary Mellinger, who was on the roof with Frank. "He just elected himself."
Sometime shortly thereafter, as Frank moved across the roof, it weakened underneath him and suddenly gave way, dropping him into the inferno below, estimated at more than 1,500 degrees. Nobody saw him disappear. He was twenty four years old.
Those who worked with Frank knew him as reliable, fun, and with that certain special quality that defines certain people. "He was one of those rare individuals who could do any job," remembers Captain Russ Weck, Hotchkin's direct supervisor when he was stationed at Fire Station 88. "He just cared so much about people. That's what his death was about - he always wanted to do that little bit extra."
As for the fire, the building was saved and cause reported as an electrical malfunction. More than 40 companies participated in knocking the fire down.
In 1995, as the US Military continued its downsizing program, the Naval and Marine Reserve Center was shut down. The center was turned over to the Los Angeles Fire Department for use as a training and administrative facility. Formally, it is called the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center. But, ask anyone on the job and they'll tell you what to call it: It's "Frank's Place."

Posted by dbarrett at 11:30 PM | Comments ( 1 )

December 14, 2005

Proud of Pinel

December typically signals the arrival of winter over fall, with holiday decorations, office parties, and a general feeling of good cheer. Even in Los Angeles, the weather changes, even if only slightly, and the evenings are cooler; the days shorter.

It was cool and quiet on December 4, 1984 as Los Angeles Police Officers Joe Ransfer and Robert Lopez patrolled in their car the area surrounding Los Angeles International Airport. As they drove past the southern runways at about 4:50AM, they were stunned to see flames punching through the roof of The Proud Bird restaurant. A radio call was made and OCD issued a structure fire assignment at 4:54AM (TF 95, TF5, E80, BC4).

First in units realized they had a working fire and the initial "size-up" resulted in additional units being called. Within minutes 23 companies and Deputy Chief Don Anthony were either on scene or en route, including Engine 54.

The fire was stubborn, having actually been started by thieves just after midnight - it had a nearly five hour head-start and had pushed its way from the main floor of the restaurant into the huge 130 by 175 foot attic of the facility. The unique construction of the building also made the attack difficult. The roof contained a maze of construction beams, supports and other elements that diluted the traditional venting operations of firefighters on the roof.

As an interior attack continued, the crew of Engine 54, including Captain Jim N. DiGrado, Firefighters Walter T. Barnett and Benjamin Pinel were working an inch-and-a-half line through the ballroom. Engine 66 was engaged in a similar effort. Suddenly, without warning, a tremendous flashover occurred, pushing firefighters back due to the extreme heat and fire. Engine 66 and 54 retreated to the street, only to discover that Firefighter Pinel was missing.

Firefighters re-entered the building in search of Pinel, including Firefighter Johnny Garcia of Truck 64. Garcia followed the hoseline from 54s to the nozzle, but couldn't find Pinel. As he peered though the dark, murky smoke, he heard the low-air warning from Pinel's breathing apparatus, plus the personal alarm device (PAL) on Pinel's turnout coat.

Garcia was forced to abandon the building for a fresh air bottle, but immediately returned to continue his search. Now, only the tone from Pinel's PAL device could be heard, but Pinel himself was not to be found. As his air ran low, Garcia, now exhausted, exited the building for a third air bottle and a third attempt to find the missing firefighter.

As Garcia and others searched, the fire in the attic continued to escalate. Firefighting and search and rescue operations were ongoing and after awhile, Pinel was found, about 75 feet from the nozzle of his line. He had apparently attempted to exit in a wrong direction and became disoriented. He did not survive and heat and smoke in the ballroom.

Benjamin Pinel left a wife and six-month old daughter behind, and a brother who was also a firefighter, Michael, then stationed at Task Force 66. Garcia was awarded the medal of valor for his efforts. Arson investigators later arrested Jose Jesus Davilla related to the arson fire at the restaurant, but he was not convicted, due to a lack of hard evidence. He was deported to Mexico, having been in the US illegally.

Today, 21 years later. all Los Angeles firefighters remember Pinel, Garcia, and the Proud Bird. The name of Pinel is inscribed on the wall of the new Firefighter Memorial in Hollywood, just outside Old Fire Station 27. If you ask anyone who hears about this story, they're likely to tell you Pinel was a hero. If you ask a firefighter, they're more likely to say, "it's just another part of the job."

As the holidays approach, we all take time to contemplate the year past and the coming year ahead. If you have a moment, raise a glass to the firefighters who protect the city 365 days a year, no matter what the holiday or season. We're proud of their efforts and we hope to never forget their sacrifices.

Posted by dbarrett at 11:28 PM | Comments ( 0 )

December 01, 2005

December Losses

December is typically a time of good cheer. Firefighters expect fire in December, as christmas trees and other flammable items tend to be ignored - until there is a serious problem. For Los Angeles City Firefighters, December is just like any other month, and each firefighter pulling on his or her turnouts for an emergency call knows the risks that any fire can bring.

It is unfortunate that on occasion, a life is lost during this time of year, yet it has been impossible to avoid during the past 120 year history of the department. Regardless of the time of year, we wish to remember those members who served their community and gave their lives so that others might live.

The following represents firefighters who lost their lives during the month of December:

Fireman Adolph Hermanson
Engine Company 10
Died December 30, 1910

Fireman Ross G. Sechrist
Engine Company 31
Died December 24, 1926

Auto Fireman John C. Hough
Engine Company 3
Died December 11, 1939

Fireman James E. Hassan
Engine Company 27
Died December 11, 1958

Firefighter Benjamin Pinel
Engine Company 54
Died December 4, 1984

In addition to those members listed above, a number of firefighters died in December months past due to non-incident related causes and we remember them here: Elmo M. McKallip, Michael J. Fay, Ivan R. Case, John Lind, Harold B. Lawrence, Samuel L. Moore, Richard F. Farmer, Willard W. Gibson, Fred A DeWeese, Clement R. Herring, Glen E. Taylor, Keith D. Kroll, Eric Wolfenstein, Royce B. Turner, Donald D. Sutton, James L. Ott.

Fireman Donald W. Starbird was on military leave, serving with the 23rd Bomb Squadron, 5th Bomb Group when he was killed in action on December 5, 1944 when the B-25 Mitchell he was in crashed on takeoff in New Guinea.

To learn more about these individuals, their lives and the last alarm they responded to, you may purchase a copy of The Los Angeles Fire Department Memorial Book. It is available at the bookstore at the museum and a portion of the proceeds will be used to complete construction of the LAFD Memorial.

Posted by dbarrett at 01:06 AM | Comments ( 0 )