KRISTIN CROWLEY NAMED FIRE CHIEF IN HISTORIC APPOINTMENT

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously confirmed the appointment of Deputy Chief Kristin Crowley to be the first woman to lead the LAFD. Chief Crowley is the 19th Fire Chief and the first female, the first openly gay, and the first paramedic to hold the post. As a 22-year veteran of the Department, Chief Crowley has served as a Firefighter, Paramedic, Engineer, Fire Inspector, Captain I, Captain II, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, Chief Deputy, and now Fire Chief. In the midst of enormous challenges, UFLAC welcomed the historic appointment of Chief Crowley and the opportunity to work with her for the betterment of the rank-and-file members of the LAFD.

March 10

Commercial Fire

DOWNTOWN - At 8:42AM, Firefighters responded to a structure fire at 720 Ceres Avenue. The first arriving fire company found a one-story commercial building with smoke showing and as Firefighters worked to gain entry into the building, the conditions worsened with thick black smoke severely limiting visibility. Over 90 Firefighters achieved a knockdown in 40 minutes with no injuries reported. The Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section (ACTS) responded to investigate the fire.

March 10 CLIFF RESCUE

SAN PEDRO - At 12:10PM, Crews responded to a reported cliff rescue at Point Fermin and located a female patient in critical condition, approximately 100 feet down the cliff. Air Ops conducted a hoist operation and transported the patient to the hospital.

March 12 INJURED HIKER AIRLIFTED

STUDIO CITY - The LAFD responded by land and air to assist an adult female hiker who sustained an apparent ankle fracture from a fall on a remote trail within Fryman Canyon Park. Crews hiked into the 122-acre urban wilderness to treat and stabilize the woman’s injury and were assisted by the hovering rescue helicopter which gently hoisted the woman aboard for in-flight care during transport to an area hospital.

March 13

Brush Fire Held To Four Acres

HANSEN DAM - Crews responded to a brush fire at 9:33PM in the 10400 block of North Glenoaks Boulevard. 124 LAFD Firefighters, assisted by two LACoFD Hand Crews, fully contained the blaze to a total of four acres in just one hour and 39 minutes.

March 14

Firefighters Rescue Injured Hiker

CHATSWORTH - Fire personnel responded by land and air to assist an adult male hiker who sustained injuries reportedly from a fall near Stoney Point. Rescuers hiked into the rocks and were soon assisted by Air Ops who gently hoisted the man aboard for in-flight care during transport to an area hospital.

March 16

Residential Fire Damages Three Structures

CANOGA PARK - At 2:49PM, Crews responded to a structure fire in the 7300 block of Loma Verde Avenue. Firefighters found heavy fire coming from a single-family home, which had spread to a neighboring residence. Ultimately, it took 39 Firefighters 31 minutes to eliminate all threat of fire in the area. Sadly, one family canine perished in the blaze.

March 18 TRENCH RESCUE

STUDIO CITY - At 2:03PM, Firefighters responded to the 10800 block of Bluffside Drive for a reported trench rescue. Crews safely removed two adult male workers who were covered to their waist with dirt and both patients were transported to the hospital in fair condition.

March 18

Retail Fire

PANORAMA CITY - At 6:22PM, Firefighters responded to 8333 Van Nuys Boulevard to find a large commercial building with an evacuation underway. Upon entering the building, Crews located a fire on the second-floor retail area. Ultimately, over 70 Firefighters fully extinguished the flames in 53 minutes.

March 19

Public Storage Fire

SYLMAR - At 6:58AM, Firefighters responded to the 12600 block of Foothill Boulevard for a reported structure fire. The first arriving company found a two-story storage complex with heavy smoke showing. Over 80 Firefighters extinguished the blaze in 43 minutes with no injuries reported.

March 21 TRAPPED DRIVER EXTRICATED

CHESTERFIELD SQUARECrews swiftly extricated the trapped driver of a compact coupe that overturned in the 5900 block of South Van Ness Avenue.

March 21 EXCAVATION RESCUE

BELL CANYON - The LAFD responded in automatic aid to the remote Ventura County community to assist the Ventura County Fire Department in their rescue of an adult male worker who had fallen into a narrow shaft at a construction site. Responders from the two agencies, including Urban Search and Rescue specialists, worked closely to perform a successful rope rescue of the trapped man. He was taken to an area hospital by ambulance.

March 26

Vehicle Into The Wash

MISSION HILLS - At 8:20PM, Crews responded to a reported physical rescue in the 14800 block of San Fernando Mission Boulevard. Firefighters located one vehicle in the wash with two occupants. One person required extrication and a litter basket operation was used to bring the patient to the surface for transportation to the hospital.

March 22

Fire Consumes Vacant Home

MISSION HILLS - It took 26 Firefighters less than 15 minutes to access, confine, and fully extinguish a well involved fire at a vacant home in the 10000 block of Lemona Avenue.

March 28 THREE WATER RESCUES

LA RIVER - At 2:13PM, the LAFD responded to reports of a woman and a dog in the LA River. Firefighters staged at multiple, pre-designated locations along the river until visual contact was made. Air Ops moved into place and a Firefighter was lowered by the hoist system, rescuing the woman and bringing her to safety. A 28-year-old male bystander entered the water to try and rescue the dog, but the current was too strong. Air Ops began a second operation to rescue the man who was then transported to the hospital for injuries. The dog made it downstream where he was captured by the Swift Water Rescue Team and eventually reunited with its owner.