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March 21, 2006
Encino has a New Fire Station
Exactly one month ago, the community of Encino, in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, awoke to the cheers of local citizens, firefighters, and dignitaries celebrating the opening of Fire Station 83.
Still, the original 83s served the community well. Built in 1948, it housed an Engine Company, Emergency Lighting Unit, and was staffed by four firefighters. It's district included 6.57 square miles. When it was originally opened, the district was quite different from what you see today. Farms, gardens and agricultural businesses dominated the area, along with homes.
Today, 83s district is highly populated, with homes, apartments, schools, businesses, high rise buildings and extensive retail mini-malls. Built using funds from Proposition F, the new station covers more than 15,000 square feet, includes six apparatus bays, a workout room, and is visually one of the most stimulating fire stations ever built anywhere. Located at 4960 Balboa Blvd., the new station is almost directly across the street from its original older brother.
We invite you to check out our short video presentation on the opening of Fire Station 83. It is appropriate for computers and iPod devices that play video. You can also subscribe to future articles and video segments by clicking on the appropriate link. If you'd like to read more about the history of the original Fire Station 83, Firefighter and Spokesman Brian Humphrey has written a wonderful piece on the old station.
The Opening of Fire Station 83
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Video produced by Cameron and David Barrett, Wired Metro
Posted by dbarrett at 08:19 PM | Comments ( 5 )
March 05, 2006
March Losses
Firefighting is known as a dangerous job. When one thinks about firefighters, often the image that comes to mind is of a firefighter emerging from a building with flames all around, clutching a child to his or her chest, saving someone from the flames.
Yet the reality is that every aspect of firefighting is challenging. The history of losses within the LAFD highlights the range of dangers that every firefighter knowingly accepts on a daily basis. Not only is flame and smoke a threat, but simply responding to an alarm, operating apparatus, or training with equipment all conspire to keep firefighter's on their toes. Trainees are taught to, "fight like your life depends on it. Because it does."
photo by David Blair
March 1998 was a particularly difficult month for the Los Angeles Fire Department. After 14 years without a fatality, the department faced death multiple times within two weeks.
On March 8th, at 2:20 in the morning, a major emergency structure fire was reported and a first alarm assignment sent Task Force 66, RA 866, Engine 57, Engine 46, Light Force 33, Engine 34, and Battalion 13 to the location on S Western Avenue. Engine 33 added themselves to the assignment.
Although only light smoke was showing on arrival of first-in Task Force 66, within minutes it was clear there was a working fire within the center of the building. A series of companies entered the building and using hand lines, pikes and flashlights attempted to reach the heart of the fire. Visibility dropped to near zero and several firefighters were temporarily separated from their crews, resulting in at least one emergency trigger (on radio) to be activated and crews splitting their attention between fire fighting and locating their missing members. As the fire grew, additional units, division command and the on-call deputy commander arrived on-scene.
Within minutes, all companies were ordered out of the building and off the roof. It was during this time period that Captain I Joseph C. Dupee of Engine 57 became separated from his crew. Within minutes, the Rapid Intervention Company (RIC TEAM) entered the building to search for Captain Dupee and a RED ALERT condition was radioed to OCD. The RIC team found Captain Dupee, with his PAL device sounding at approximately 2:58AM. Despite medical treatment, including CPR and rapid transport by RA 66 to Daniel Freeman Hospital, Captain Dupee was not able to be revived. He was declared DOA at the hospital.
Two weeks later, on March 23, a traffic accident on Sunland Blvd. resulted in life-treatening injuries to an 11-year old girl. LAFD RA 81, manned by Paramedics Eric Reiner and Michael Butler, responded to the TA and upon arrival, determined that an air ambulance to Children's Hospital would be the most effective method of transport.
OCD dispatched Fire 3, a Bell 205 helicopter from the Van Nuys Air Ops center. Within minutes, pilot Steven Robinson landed the helicopter and the patient was loaded, along with Butler, Reiner, Heli-Tac Firefighter Dennis Silgen (FS 90) and AO Michael McComb (FS 90 and acting in a Heli-Tac capacity) for the short ride to Children's Hospital.
Within a few minutes of getting airborne, the tail rotor on the Bell helicopter suddenly separated from the aircraft. Although helicopters have remarkable air worthy capabilities, the loss of a complete rotor assembly makes continued flight problematic. Still, pilot Robinson managed to keep the aircraft aloft for perhaps a half mile, moving out of the way of homes and civilians on the street. Just clear of the populated area beneath them, the aircraft finally tore through a wooded area in Los Feliz and flipped onto its side.
The child patient died in the impact, as did firefighter McComb and Paramedics Butler and Reiner. Pilot Stevenson and Firefighter Silgen survived, although with serious injuries. Butler and Reiner were close friends on and off the job, and shortly before the accident, Michael Butler had written a poem about the job he and his friend Reiner enjoyed. After the accident, Paramedic Reiner's son, Nicholas, wrote a poem about the loss of his dad. The complete history of both of these major incidents, background material and the two poems can be found in the Los Angeles Fire Department Memorial Book.
The following represents firefighters who lost their lives during the month of March:
Fireman Louis Tree
Truck Company 4
Died March 21, 1929
Fireman John H. Herbert
Truck Company 4
Died March 20, 1949
Fireman Thomas O. Morse
Truck Company 26
Died March 11, 1961
Fireman Kenneth E. Rupp
Fire Station 109/Tractor Company
Died March 28, 1971
Captain Kenneth D. Kinnaman
Engine Company 38
Died March 22, 1973
Captain Joseph C. Dupee
Engine Company 57
Died March 8, 1998
Apparatus Operator Michael D. McComb
Truck Company 90
Died March 23, 1998
Firefighter/Lead Paramedic Eric F. Reiner
Rescue Ambulance 81
Died March 23, 1998
Firefighter/Paramedic Michael A. Butler
Rescue Ambulance 81
Died March 23, 1998
In addition to those members listed above, a number of firefighters died in February months past due to non-incident related causes and we remember them here: Harry D. Buttles, Lon R. VanTuyl, Eddie B. Eade, Clarence E. Long, Charles A. Riley, Harlon E. Cunningham, Eugene B. Dixon, Jr., James E. Johnson, Zachary G. Fenley, Glen E. Taylor, Edward A. Harpham, William C. Walker, Vernon D. Raden, Donald V. Mello, Jerome Smith.
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 Fallen Firefighter Memorial.
Posted by dbarrett at 04:09 PM | Comments ( 5 )
March 01, 2006
The Eternal Scar
On March 23, 1998, while transporting a patient to Children's Hospital, the Los Angeles Fire Department suffered one of its worst tragedies. Fire 3, a Bell 205-A1 helicopter, lost its tail rotor and fell into a wooded area in Los Feliz at approximately 7:43AM. Three firefighters died, including Apparatus Operator Michael D McComb (FS 90), Firefighter Lead Paramedic Eric F. Reiner (RA 81), and his close friend, Firefighter Paramedic Michael A. Butler (RA 81). The 11-year old patient was also killed. Pilot Steven Robinson (Air Ops) and Firefighter Dennis J. Silgen (FS 90) survived, although they suffered serious injuries.
photo by Jeff Miller
Firefighter Reiner's son, Nicholas wrote a remarkable poem about that day. He read it aloud during the 2003 Memorial Service at the Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society and Museum in front of hundreds of onlookers, including the Reiner family, other firefighter widows, family members, LAFD senior officers, the Chief Engineer, Mayor of Los Angeles, and LAFD rank and file. Here is an excerpt from his poem:
March 23rd, an ordinary day, just one to forget.
Maybe for you, but not for me, not yet.
I was changed that morning, changed in my soul and my heart,
A morning for me that will stand apart.
My Dad died that day doing what he did best
Saving lives without much rest.
The helicopter - the cradle of life had rudder failure and started to descend.
The girl in the chopper dying, my dad and others gave a hand to lend.
The aircraft was lost, my Dad lost with it.
I was thunderstruck, shocked and utterly sad
That my life had taken this turn because of the loss of my Dad
I didn't know what to think, or say
I experienced nothing but sadness that horrible day...
The entire poem is published in the Los Angeles Fire Department Memorial Book, available from the LAFD Historical Society or via the LAFD Museum in Hollywood.
Posted by dbarrett at 02:29 AM | Comments ( 2 )