2021 LAFD Year In Review by United Firefighters of Los Angeles City by Blackman Public Affairs

2021 LAFD YEAR IN REVIEW

Cody Weireter

Austin Gebhardt

On behalf of the members of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF Local 112 (UFLAC), I am honored to present the ninth annual LAFD Year in Review.

This publication tells the story of our Firefighters and Paramedics in images taken throughout 2021. In a year that continued to be dominated by the global pandemic, our UFLAC members handled more than 475,000 structure fires, physical rescues, medical responses, and other emergency calls for service in the City of Los Angeles.

The LAFD is the most understaffed big city fire department in the nation and COVID-related illnesses and vaccine mandates exacerbated this staffing crisis, forcing our Firefighters to

cover more shifts. Despite the challenges, our members rose to the occasion, responding to emergencies in every neighborhood to save lives and property.

As we reflect on 2021, we are also saying farewell and thank you to LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas for his tremendous service to the City of Los Angeles that spanned nearly four decades. UFLAC was proud to work with him to protect the men and

women of our Department and the people of our City. We wish him all the best in

retirement! As the LAFD faces enormous challenges, UFLAC welcomes the historic appointment of 22-year veteran Kristin Crowley to the post of Fire Chief. We are

confident that Chief Crowley has the experience and leadership necessary to serve and look forward to working with her.

I’m proud to be a part of the LAFD and I’m humbled to work side by side with the best Firefighters in the country. We look forward to brighter days as we emerge

from the pandemic and work with City leaders to augment personnel and resources for those who put it all on the line for the residents of Los Angeles. In Appreciation,

Austin Gebhardt

Captain II Freddy Escobar President United Firefighters of Los Angeles City International Association of Fire Fighters Local 112

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Brandon Taylor

OVERVIEW The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is an all-risk fire and rescue agency that serves over four million people in the second largest city in the nation. The mission of the LAFD is to preserve life and property, promote public safety, and foster economic growth through a commitment to prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery as an emergency service provider. The First Responders of the LAFD call 106 Fire Stations spread across their 469 square-mile jurisdiction home. These neighborhood fire stations are staffed by 3,369 sworn rank-and-file Firefighters on three rotating shifts who respond to an average of more than 1,300 emergency calls for service on a daily basis.

LOS ANGELES CITY POPULATION 3,985,516

4,100,000 3,900,000 3,700,000 3,500,000 3,300,000

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

INCIDENT BREAKDOWN ALS

BLS

Fire

Other

217,173

169,719

35,711

52,721

EMERGENCY CALLS Total EMS

Total Non-EMS

387,180

88,432

DAILY AVERAGES Calls For Service

EMS

Non-EMS

1,303

1,060

242 Leo Kaufman

CALLS FOR SERVICE 475,612

500,000

400,000

300,000

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

STAFFING LEVELS 3,600 3,500 3,369 3,400 3,300 3,200 3,100 2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

VALOR AWARDS LAFD DIVISION OF THE YEAR – Metropolitan Fire Communications The 2021 Division of the Year award is presented to the 127 dispatchers, dozens of support personnel, and team leaders at MFC for the outstanding service they deliver to the citizens of Los Angeles and for their unwavering resolve under the pressures of the pandemic.

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD – Annenberg Foundation The Annenberg Foundation is one of the LAFD Foundation’s top philanthropic partners, having helped fund numerous LAFD programs and lifesaving equipment needs over the past decade, including: establishing COVID testing and vaccination sites, securing a new D5 bulldozer, providing two sets of new structure fire gloves for every member, and funding the Canine Therapy Program.

VALOR is the LAFD Foundation's annual awards ceremony honoring outstanding service above and beyond the call of duty. This ceremony recognized actions taken during 2020-2021, and took place at Dodger Stadium on November 10, 2021.

MEDAL OF VALOR – Firefighter III Aaron King In May of this year, Firefighter III Aaron King, his wife, and small child were driving home when they encountered a frantic woman on the off-ramp overpass whose young daughter was threatening to end her own life. She motioned to the fence and guardrail overlooking the highway below where the daughter had climbed over the fence and appeared ready to jump. King scaled the seven-foot fence and doubled over just in time to grasp the young woman as she flung herself from the ledge. Firefighter King held strong until local firefighters and police arrived on the scene. King received the 2021 Medal of Valor for his courageous and compassionate off-duty actions to prevent a stranger’s suicide attempt at extreme personal risk to himself.

CORPORATE IMPACT AWARD – Caruso Real Estate Company Caruso’s contributions have aided the LAFD Foundation’s ability to secure tools and equipment, including: funding supplies and PPE for field resources and technology for the telemedicine program during the pandemic, helping expand the Department’s mobile vaccination and outreach programs to underserved communities, and promoting community emergency preparedness.

Photos by Austin Gebhardt

LETTER OF SPECIAL COMMENDATION Firefighter/Paramedic Chadwick Qualley & Firefighter David Stigger Near midnight on April 24, 2021, LAFD members from multiple fire stations responded to a severe multi-vehicle traffic incident on the 101 Freeway, encountering a four-car crash. Firefighter/Paramedic Chadwick Qualley was the first to climb his way to the top of the wreckage and discovered what appeared to be three deceased victims. Upon closer inspection, Qualley caught a glimpse of eye movement in one of the victims, and he immediately initiated a rescue. As Qualley worked to stabilize the patient, Firefighter II David Stigger forced his way underneath the passenger side of a dangling cab to assist with the delicate extrication. At significant personnel risk to themselves, the two members worked in unison to free the patient, despite the possibility of being injured or crushed by the shifting of the unstable cab. With assistance from their fellow firefighters, they extricated the patient and conducted the hand-off to the waiting ambulance crew.

MEDAL OF MERIT Captain II Victor Aguirre & Apparatus Operator Ian Soriano On Saturday, May 16, 2020, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the LAFD responded to a structure fire on Boyd Street near the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles. The first arriving Firefighters encountered a one-story commercial building with light, intermittent smoke escaping from the top of two closed rolling steel doors. Access to the building was delayed due to the excessive amount of stored items blocking the entry point. Deteriorating conditions forced Firefighters to retreat off of the roof and out of the building. As they began their escape, a large volume of smoke ignited, immediately followed by an eruption of flames that burst across the street and out of the roof. As the “mayday” calls echoed across the radio, the catastrophic explosion engulfed members descending an aerial ladder and inside the building. A total of 12 members involved in the Boyd Street incident are being honored for their actions and what they endured during this unprecedented event. Just as importantly, these Firefighters are being recognized for their unwavering support and commitment to each other, and their resolute determination to persevere and return to duty.

LETTER OF SPECIAL COMMENDATION • Firefighter/Paramedic Jose Carreon

• Firefighter Ian Moore

• Firefighter Carlos Cativo

• Firefighter/Paramedic John Norton

• Firefighter Jacob Gonzalez

• Captain Lawrence Salas

• Apparatus Operator Garrett Lew

• Firefighter/Paramedic Sergio Saenz

• Emergency Incident Technician Marcus Meza

• Firefighter Daniel Stalie

FIRE CHIEF'S SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD • Engineer Scott Brennan

• Firefighter/Paramedic Stephen Osterberg

• Captain Ed Barkley

• Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Ramirez

• Firefighter Nick Estrada

• Firefighter/Paramedic Cameron Richards

• Firefighter/Paramedic Kenneth Fraser

• Firefighter/Paramedic Andrew Tom

• Firefighter/Paramedic Joseph Giesregen

• Engineer Mark Tostado

Gary Apodaca

LAFD RECRUIT ACADEMY In 2021, the LAFD graduated two Recruit Classes from Drill Tower 81 located in Panorama City, adding a total of 85 new Firefighters to the ranks. On May 20th, the LAFD’s Recruit Training Academy Class 2020-1 celebrated their class graduation with a virtual ceremony as they became proud probationary members of the LAFD. These 28 men and 3 women successfully completed a rigorous 21-week training curriculum. Assembling before dawn each day at the 4.6-acre LAFD Valley Recruit Training Academy facility in the central San Fernando Valley, they learned the many duties and responsibilities of being a Firefighter for the City of Los Angeles, including the safe and proper methods of handling a broad variety of specialized equipment and apparatus in multi-faceted Truck, Engine, and Emergency Medical Service operations. These men and women trained as if their life (and yours) depends on it, because it does! On November 19th, the LAFD graduated 54 recruits from Valley Recruit Training Academy 81. The recruits completed a rigorous 20-week training curriculum preparing them for a successful career with the LAFD. There are 52 men and two women of Class 2021-1. The top recruit was female Carly Wopat, who finished with an overall score of 94.7%. She was number one for academics and basics and was third in her class for hose lays. And for the first time, the son of a female LAFD member graduated from the Recruit Training Academy. New Firefighter/Paramedic Alexander Greer is the son of active-duty Firefighter/Paramedic Christi Greer, a 32-year member of the LAFD. These graduates all entered a year-long period of assessment as probationary Firefighters as they work alongside tenured members of the Department. UFLAC welcomes our newest Firefighters into our ranks!

Korey Cuico

TRAINING GRADUATIONS Gary Apodaca

Gary Apodaca Gary Apodaca

Austin Gebhardt

PHYSICAL RESCUE January 1 WEST LA - At 1:45AM, crews responded to a reported traffic collision with entrapment. Firefighters conducted a vehicle extrication and transported one patient to the hospital. Raphael Richardson

Raphael Richardson

Mike Meadows

ABANDONED TRUCK CAMPER FOUND ABLAZE January 4 VALLEY VILLAGE - Reports of a person trapped or injured by flames involving a detached truck camper serving as a homeless encampment fortunately proved false when the LAFD responded to the blaze in the 12100 block of Weddington Street.

OVERHAUL OPERATIONS AT STRUCTURE FIRE January 8 HYDE PARK - 24 Firefighters quickly extinguished a non-injury structure fire in the 7100 block of South Brynhurst Avenue. Overhaul operations ensured all hot spots were addressed and the roof was also cleaned up.

Yvonne Griffin

STRUCTURE FIRE January 10 GRANADA HILLS - At 12:12PM, the LAFD responded to a reported structure fire in the 17100 block of West Los Alimos Street. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire with no injuries reported.

Greg Doyle

FIRE HELD TO ROW OF CARPORTS January 10 CHESTERFIELD SQUARE - Crews took less than 20 minutes to extinguish a non-injury fire that heavily damaged a one-story row of carports in the 1900 block of West 71st Street. Justin Johnson

FIRE CONSUMES BUILDING NEAR BOARDWALK January 13 VENICE - At 6:19AM, the LAFD was notified of a rubbish fire at 723 South Ocean Front Walk. Upon arrival Firefighters discovered an outside fire involving a homeless encampment which had spread to a vacant two-story commercial building. A total of 116 Firefighters confined the fire to the involved structure and a portion of the encampment, preventing damage to adjacent businesses. The stubborn flames were extinguished in two hours and 17 minutes with no injuries reported.

Cody Weireter

Justin Johnson

FIREFIGHTERS PROTECT HOMES AND HORSES FROM BLAZE January 15 SYLMAR - The LAFD responded at 10:45AM to the 13100 block of Fellows Avenue to find an auto, trees, and a large storage building in flames. The structure contained several RVs and fire threatened nearby homes and horses, fueled by 25mph winds. Firefighters acted quickly, deploying several large hose lines to defend against the intense heat. 117 Firefighters extinguished the flames in 57 minutes. There were no reported injuries to humans or horses.

Veronica Guerra Jacob Salzman

WIND-DRIVEN VEGETATION AND STRUCTURE FIRES THREATEN HOMES January 16 RESEDA - At 11:53AM, the LAFD responded to a structure fire in the 18000 block of Elkwood Street. The fire appeared to have started in vegetation near Strathern Street, but quickly spread due to windy conditions and pushed several blocks to the south, damaging two homes and four outbuildings. 68 Firefighters extinguished the flames in 49 minutes.

USAR PULLS AUTO OUT OF STRUCTURE January 16 VALLEY VILLAGE - Firefighters responded to a vehicle into a building at 11:35PM in the 5000 block of Coldwater Canyon Avenue. USAR-88 was able to pull the vehicle out without the need to transport patients to the hospital.

Chris Eckenrode

FIRE HELD TO ONE UNIT January 17 SUN VALLEY - At 9:17PM, crews responded to the 80 block of San Fernando Road to find a two-story motel with heavy fire in one unit and initiated an aggressive interior attack that contained the flames to the unit of origin. 34 Firefighters extinguished the fire in 18 minutes. Ismael Miranda Raphael Richardson

FIRE PREVENTED FROM SPREADING January 19

BRUSH FIRE STOPPED DESPITE HIGH WINDS January 19

SAN PEDRO - At 2:31PM, the LAFD responded to the 1300 block of West O'Farrell Street to find a twostory, single-family dwelling with a well-involved attic fire and extension to the second floor. 29 Firefighters extinguished the fire in 29 minutes and prevented it from damaging the adjacent home.

SYLMAR - At 7:47PM, the LAFD responded to a reported brush fire at the 210 Freeway near the Polk Street exit. Firefighters located the origin of the fire within a nursery/equestrian area, but 25mph winds were carrying an ember cast across the freeway towards a residential area. Just over two hours later, Firefighters stopped all forward progress and defended the area from damage. Rick McClure

LAFD SAVES LARGE COMMERCIAL BUILDING January 20 HYDE PARK - At 12:24AM, the LAFD responded to 4401 South Crenshaw Boulevard to find a two-story vacant commercial building with fire showing from the roof. A coordinated, multi-pronged attack by 160 Firefighters resulted in the fire being extinguished in 90 minutes. One Firefighter was transported early in the incident for a non-life-threatening lower extremity injury sustained during the forcible entry phase of the operation.

FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU INSPECTIONS High Rise Hydrants & Access Plan Review Brush Zone

737 4,619 140,000

CUPA Inspections Hazardous Materials Inventory and Business Emergency Plan Inspections

8,148

Underground Storage Tank Inspections

1,210

Above Ground Petroleum Storage Tank Inspections

626

California Accidental Release Prevention Inspections

Justin Johnson Justin Johnson

Yvonne Griffin

Justin Johnson

Korey Cuico

LAFD BATTLES INTENSE RESTAURANT FIRE January 20

Rick McClure

SUN VALLEY - Crews responded at 8:41PM to 8431 Sunland Boulevard where Firefighters discovered a vacant and boarded one-story former restaurant with fire showing. The combined effort of 111 LAFD personnel confined the fire to the structure of origin, curtailing flames in three hours and 43 minutes.

Brandon Buckley

FOUR INJURED, FIVE STRUCTURES DAMAGED IN FIRE January 22 HOLLYWOOD - The LAFD was notified by a 911 caller at 9:08AM of a structure fire at 1245 North Bronson Avenue. Firefighters arrived quickly to find a fully involved vacant and boarded one-story home, with flames quickly spreading to four additional structures. The fierce and well-coordinated efforts by 97 Firefighters extinguished the flames in just 39 minutes. Three civilians and one Firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with the three civilians being taken to area hospitals for burns and other injuries. The Firefighter sustained facial trauma at the peak of the firefight and was treated at scene.

Mike Meadows

Mike Meadows Harry Garvin

VACANT HOME GOES UP IN FLAMES January 23 NORTH HOLLYWOOD - It took 34 Firefighters just 24 minutes to extinguish a fully involved vacant one-story home in the 6100 block of Hazelhurst Place. Brandon Buckley

HOUSE FIRE January 27 NORTH HILLS - At 5:20AM, Firefighters responded to a structure fire in the 16200 block of West Tupper Street to find fire showing from a one-story, singlefamily dwelling. The fire was extinguished in 13 minutes with no injuries reported.

Greg Doyle

TRAFFIC COLLISION INJURES FOUR January 29 WINNETKA - Firefighters responded to the 20400 block of Nordhoff Street at 9:03AM for a physical rescue involving two vehicles. One trapped patient was extricated using hydraulic Holmatro rescue tools and a total of four patients were taken to area hospitals.

Kian Khorrami

GREATER ALARM FIRE February 2

David Ortiz

CYPRESS PARK - The LAFD responded to a Greater Alarm structure fire at 4:02AM at 1004 North San Fernando Road. First-arriving companies found a large auto parts warehouse engulfed in flames. Approximately two hours later, 115 Firefighters had eliminated the major fire threat, but pockets of hot burning material remained. An official knockdown of the fire was declared six hours and 39 minutes after the original alarm. Mike Meadows Mike Meadows

Mike Meadows

FIREFIGHTERS PROTECT FEED STORE FROM FLAMING HAY BALES February 3

Jacob Salzman

ONE TRAPPED AFTER SOLO VEHICLE CRASHES INTO POLE

Jacob Salzman

CHATSWORTH - The LAFD arrived at the 10300 block of North Mason Avenue for a reported structure fire at 1:18PM. Crews found a large stack of hay burning behind the feed store and quickly pulled hose lines to protect the building and extinguish the burning hay. Flames were contained in approximately 30 minutes, but Firefighters stayed into the night as potential hot spots remained deep within.

Brandon Buckley

February 4 SAN FERNANDO - LAFD responded to the intersection of Truman Avenue and Hubbard Street just after midnight for a physical rescue, where a solo vehicle collided with a telephone pole and pinned one person inside the vehicle. One patient was extricated using hydraulic rescue tools and taken to a local hospital. Mike Meadows

EXPLOSION IN HOME CRITICALLY INJURES ONE February 5 VAN NUYS - At 12:50PM, crews responded to a reported explosion in the 6900 block of North Murietta Avenue to find a single-family home with significant structural damage primarily to the attached garage. An adult male was transported with critical burn injuries.

CRASH SHEARS HYDRANT February 6

Mike Meadows

NORTH HILLS - The LAFD preceded utility officials to stem the flow of water from a sheared fire hydrant before it damaged property or caused injury in the 16600 block of Roscoe Boulevard following a traffic collision.

FIREFIGHTERS FREE PATIENT FROM TREE-PINNED WRECKAGE February 11

Rick McClure

FIRE DAMAGES TWO BOATS MOORED IN THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES February 16 SAN PEDRO - It took 41 members of the LAFD, responding by land and sea, 29 minutes to extinguish a fire aboard a pair of boats docked at Berth 33 in the Port of Los Angeles.

LAKE VIEW TERRACE - At 8:04AM, the LAFD responded to a physical rescue after a sedan and its driver became pinned under a power pole, tree, and wires in the 10900 block of West Foothill Boulevard. Firefighters identified one trapped patient and quickly brought out the rescue tools to free the individual who was then transported to a local hospital.

Raphael Richardson

GREATER ALARM APARTMENT FIRE SENDS ONE TO HOSPITAL February 18 NORTHRIDGE - Flames from a stovetop blaze fueled by cooking oil spread through the third floor of a 60,246 square-foot apartment building at 9850 Reseda Boulevard just before noon. 95 Firefighters extinguished the Greater Alarm fire in 33 minutes, limiting damage to the apartment of origin. Fire crews rescued a man via a ground ladder from a third-floor apartment and three residents were examined by Paramedics with one person being transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

Jacob Salzman

FIRE DAMAGES CONDO, SENDS TWO TO HOSPITAL February 25 PANORAMA CITY - It took 34 Firefighters just 20 minutes to extinguish flames that consumed one room on the upper floor of a two-story condominium at 8740 Willis Avenue. A man and woman who escaped the burning residence were taken to an area hospital in fair condition for treatment of smoke inhalation, while a three-year-old girl was treated at the scene after she fell while fleeing the vicinity of the fire.

Greg Doyle

SOUTH LA BUILDING DESTROYED February 25 HISTORIC SOUTH-CENTRAL - At 12:50AM, the LAFD responded to a fire at an 11,388 square-foot building at 3801 South Grand Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire showing from this one-story commercial building, exposing an attached two-story structure. 100 Firefighters worked to defend the burning structure, but despite the diligent effort of fire crews who labored relentlessly for over two hours, the fire consumed most of the building, resulting in a total loss and the structure being red tagged as unfit for occupancy.

Steve Gentry

Justin Johnson Mike Meadows

Korey Cuico

Leo Kaufman

LAFD HELICOPTER RESCUES STRANDED HIKERS February 26 WEST HILLS - Crews responded swiftly by ground and air to rescue a pair of stranded hikers stuck on a vertical section of the challenging Castle Peak Trail near the Cave of Munits. Ground crews hiked in as an LAFD rescue helicopter hovered above the Simi Hills landmark to carefully hoist the pair aboard and transport them to safety.

Leo Kaufman

Cody Weireter

FIREFIGHTERS SAVE MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING February 26 WESTLAKE - At 3:52PM, crews responded to a structure fire in the 1500 block of West 8th Street to find an outside fire extending into a one-story, craftsman-style dwelling and exposing a two-story fourplex. 105 Firefighters fully extinguished the fire in all three structures in 31 minutes. One Firefighter was transported for nonlife-threatening burn injuries to the arm.

Cody Weireter

FIREFIGHTERS FREE TRAPPED DRIVER February 27 SUN VALLEY - Firefighters responded to a two-vehicle traffic collision that led to the entrapment and serious injury of one driver in the 8100 block of North San Fernando Road.

Brandon Buckley Juan Guerra

EMBANKMENT FIRE QUICKLY STOPPED February 28 LAKE VIEW TERRACE - Despite the challenge of flames fanned by 20mph Santa Ana winds, 60 Firefighters arrived by ground and confined a fast-moving brush fire near 12331 West Foothill Boulevard to less than one acre. The blaze also involved homeless encampment debris on an embankment adjacent to the 210 Freeway.

10 UNITS DAMAGED AND DOZENS SAVED March 5 PANORAMA CITY - At 2:52PM, the LAFD responded to a Greater Alarm structure fire in the 8800 block of Cedros Avenue. The first arriving fire company found fire showing from the first floor of a two-story townhouse extending up to the second floor. 96 Firefighters fully extinguished the fire which had spread to two buildings within one hour and 11 minutes. All occupants were evacuated safely and assisted by the Red Cross. The residents were also provided with Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) cards donated by the California Fire Foundation to help with basic necessities.

Greg Doyle

COLLISION KILLS TWO, INJURES THREE March 10 LAKE VIEW TERRACE- At 12:24AM, the LAFD responded to a physical rescue at the intersection of North Wheatland Avenue and West Foothill Boulevard. Two vehicles collided head-on, sadly killing two people, and seriously injuring three others. Firefighters quickly transported three patients to nearby trauma centers in critical condition.

Greg Doyle

Rick McClure

CITYWIDE RESPONSE TIMES EMS Turnout Time

Non-EMS Turnout Time

…53 seconds

EMS Travel Time

Non-EMS Travel Time

…4 minutes and 49 seconds

…4 minutes and 41 seconds

EMS Operational Response Time

Non-EMS Operational Response Time

…6 minutes and 55 seconds

…6 minutes and 33 seconds

Critical ALS Operational Response Time

Structure Fire Operational Response Time

…5 minutes and 58 seconds

…5 minutes and 9 seconds Call Processing Time

… 1 minute and 3 seconds

Austin Gebhardt

LAFD INCIDENT CLOCK An emergency medical service call every

…1 minute and 16 seconds A structure fire every

…2 hours, 20 minutes and 46 seconds An automatic fire alarm every

…14 minutes and 31 seconds A rescue every

…54 minutes and 5 seconds

FORMER UFLAC PRESIDENT FRANK V. LÍMA ELECTED IAFF GENERAL SECRETARY-TREASURER UFLAC congratulates former President Frank V. Líma for being elected to serve as the General Secretary-Treasurer (GST) of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) in 2021. In 1992, GST Líma was hired into the LAFD at the age of 19 where he began his career working at one of the busiest stations in the nation. He rose through the ranks of the LAFD as a Firefighter, Apparatus Operator, Engine Captain, and for the past several years as a Truck Company Captain. Now, in his 30th year of service, he continues to be active in the field. Just as he worked and earned his way through the ranks of the LAFD, GST Líma put the same dedication into the work of the Union, starting as a Station Steward and later being elected to the UFLAC Executive Board as a Director, Vice President, Lead Negotiator, and eventually President in 2012. He has dedicated his life to family, firefighting, and organized labor and is committed to leading the office with integrity, transparency, and fiscal prudence on behalf of all IAFF members. GST Líma continues to live by his personal credo, “UNITE, FIGHT, and ORGANIZE.”

PHYSICAL RESCUE March 20 HARBOR GATEWAY - At 3:49AM, crews responded to a physical rescue in the 16500 block of South Vermont Avenue where a black sedan collided with a pole. Firefighters quickly extricated the patient and transported the individual to the hospital.

Raphael Richardson

LAFD RESCUES ONE AFTER FLOODING March 28 PACIFIC PALISADES - After a water main broke in the 16000 block of Sunset Boulevard at 7:43PM, a large volume of water threatened several apartment buildings. Firefighters were able to control the flow of water and rescued one person who was uninjured. LA County Lifeguards also assisted with searching the deep water in a below-grade parking level to make sure no one was stranded in a submerged vehicle. Thankfully, no residents were displaced.

Rick McClure

COLLISION SENDS FOUR TO HOSPITAL March 28 PANORAMA CITY - At 11:20PM in the 9500 block of North Van Nuys Boulevard, 27 Firefighters quickly extricated one patient and transported a total of four patients from a two-vehicle collision.

Mike Meadows

WOMAN TRAPPED BY TREE March 29 STUDIO CITY - Crews responded to a physical rescue in the 4000 block of North Tujunga Avenue at 1:42PM where a woman was trapped in her SUV after a tree fell onto her vehicle. Firefighters successfully extricated the woman with minor injuries and transported her to an area hospital.

LAFD RESCUES TRAPPED TREE TRIMMER March 31 KOREATOWN - More than two dozen Firefighters, including specially trained and equipped personnel assigned to the Urban Search and Rescue units, responded to the 200 block of South Alexandria Avenue to rescue a palm tree trimmer stranded in a makeshift harness more than 40 feet above ground. The crews used a pair of aerial ladders to skillfully bring the man to safety with only minor injuries.

Mike Meadows

FIRE CONSUMES TRUCK ON GOLDEN STATE FREEWAY April 2

Brandon Buckley

PACOIMA - The LAFD deployed a pair of fire engines to quickly extinguish a semi-tractor fully ablaze on the 5 Freeway at Van Nuys Boulevard. No injuries were reported.

Ismael Miranda

Mike Meadows

MAJOR EMERGENCY FIRE April 3 SOUTH LA - Crews responded at 2:19PM to 8730 South Crocker Street and found an outside fire that had extended into a one-story row of commercial buildings. Defensive firefighting operations continued for over four hours until the fire was declared extinguished at 6:23PM. The expansive structure also appeared to contain a large marijuana grow operation. Mike Meadows Mike Meadows

Mike Meadows

LITTER BASKET OPERATION April 10 RESEDA - At 7:20AM, the LAFD responded to the 7050 block of Crebs Avenue and located an individual who sustained a fall of approximately 20 feet down the ravine. Firefighters conducted a litter basket operation to safely bring the patient to the surface for transport to the hospital. Adam VanGerpen

Adam VanGerpen

EXPLOSION SENDS TWO TO HOSPITAL April 11 VALLEY GLEN - At 9:26PM, the LAFD responded to reports of an explosion in the 12700 block of Archwood Street and found no active fire but clear signs of a large explosion. One 59-year-old adult male was quickly located outside the home and transported with critical burn injuries. Additional crews found a second adult male buried under debris and used a chainsaw to carefully extricate the patient. Fortunately, he was alert and transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A total of eight patients were evaluated and one residence was red tagged.

Adam VanGerpen Mike Meadows

FIRE DESTROYS VACANT HOME April 14 FLORENCE - It took 52 members of the LAFD less than 45 minutes to fully extinguish heavy fire in a vacant and boarded one-story home in the 100 block of East 59th Place. No injuries were reported.

Raphael Richardson

ST. BALDRICK'S FOUNDATION VIRTUAL SHAVES April 15 LOS ANGELES - One in five children diagnosed with cancer will not survive. That is why year after year, heads around the world are shaved to help raise funds to support pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick's Foundation. Due to the ongoing pandemic, supporters participated virtually by sharing head-shaving photos and videos online. LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas and LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore shaved the heads of the St. Baldrick's coordinators for their respective departments. LAFD Captain Danny Wu and LAPD Detective Nicholas Sinclair trusted their badged barber bosses to remove their hair to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer.

Greg Doyle

Raphael Richardson

BRUSH FIRE DESTROYS HOME April 20 LINCOLN HEIGHTS - At 1:24PM, the LAFD responded to a reported brush fire in the 2800 block of Sierra Street. The first arriving fire company found a wellestablished fire in medium to heavy brush with several homes under immediate threat. 146 Firefighters held the fire to three acres and one property did sustain extensive fire damage. No occupants were injured, but one dog suffered serious burns and was transferred to animal control for proper care. Harry Garvin

STRUCTURE FIRE LOSS IN $ Property Loss

$188,251,051 Content Loss

$77,014,781 Total Loss

$265,265,832

STUBBORN FLAMES DAMAGE HOME April 23 GRANADA HILLS - It took 42 Firefighters about 34 minutes to fully extinguish flames that raced through the attic, patio, and rear portion of a 1,600 squarefoot one-story home at 17411 Hiawatha Street. Four occupants safely escaped the burning home prior to LAFD arrival, and the American Red Cross assisted two displaced residents.

Greg Doyle

Jacob Salzman

FREEWAY COLLISION PROVES FATAL April 24 VERMONT SQUARE - At 12:10AM, crews responded to a three-vehicle collision, including an overturned big rig on the 101 Freeway near Van Nuys Boulevard. One person was deceased at the scene and five other patients were transported to a local trauma center.

Rick McClure Rick McClure

FIREFIGHTERS HOLD FASTMOVING FIRE TO GARAGE April 29 CHATSWORTH - It took 22 members of the LAFD just 22 minutes to skillfully confine and fully extinguish a non-injury fire held to a detached one-story residential garage at 10724 Plateau Drive.

TANK TRAILER OVERTURNS, SPILLING DIESEL FUEL CARGO April 30 WILMINGTON - More than 50 Firefighters, including Hazardous Materials experts, worked for more than five hours to clean up approximately 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel that leaked from a damaged single tank trailer when it overturned on the on-ramp to the 110 Freeway at Harry Bridges Boulevard. Though the truck driver was uninjured, a Caltrans worker and a Firefighter were evaluated for possible heat exhaustion and taken to an area hospital for further observation.

Raphael Richardson

ANGELES FOREST BLAZE QUICKLY TAMED BY THREE AGENCIES May 2 ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST - The LAFD responded by land and air in automatic aid, alongside the Los Angeles County Fire Department, to assist Angeles National Forest Firefighters in quickly extinguishing a brush fire near the Stoneyvale Picnic Site in Big Tujunga Canyon. Mike Meadows

RV GOES UP IN FLAMES May 2 PACOIMA - The LAFD responded to the 10400 block of North Glenoaks Boulevard at 10:25PM to find a parked RV with flames through the roof. Firefighters quickly deployed hose lines and extinguished the fire before the neighboring RV became a part of the incident. Ismael Miranda

Mike Meadows

Ismael Miranda

ONE MAN DIES IN COMMERCIAL FIRE May 3 CENTRAL-ALAMEDA - At 11:57PM, Firefighters responded to a commercial building engulfed in flames in the 1800 block of East 57th Street. LAFD's robotic firefighting unit, RS3, was able to enter the structure and apply water to harder-to-reach areas threatened by the immanent collapse of the building. Ultimately, 77 Firefighters battled the Greater Alarm incident and extinguished the flames in 72 minutes. Tragically, one man perished inside the structure.

LAFD KEEPS HILLSIDE HOUSE FIRE OUT OF HEAVY BRUSH May 4

Mike Meadows

TUJUNGA - The LAFD responded to the 7000 block of West Floramorgan Trail where 49 Firefighters defended nearby homes and heavy brush during a structure fire in a small 835 square-foot two-story descending hillside home. It took 69 minutes to extinguish the blaze as Firefighters skillfully kept the flames confined to the home of origin.

ONE DEAD, TWO INJURED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION May 9 SYLMAR - One woman died at the scene and two men in critical condition were taken to a regional trauma center by Paramedics, following a head-on traffic collision reported at 9:30PM in the 16600 block of Foothill Boulevard.

Korey Cuico

Jacob Salzman

Mike Meadows

Harry Garvin

PALISADES FIRE May 14 PACIFIC PALISADES - At 10:00PM, the LAFD responded to a reported brush fire in the 1800 block of Michael Lane. The fire was located in a canyon with steep, difficult to navigate terrain, so an air battle ensued throughout the night with water-dropping helicopters from both the LAFD and the LACoFD. On May 15th, the fire was estimated at 15 acres, but the blaze continued to grow, and on May 16th, the fire was estimated at 1,325 acres with 0% containment. Neighboring agencies responded with mutual aid resources to include the Ventura County Fire Department and the Orange County Fire Authority. The fire was finally contained on May 17th.

Harry Garvin

John Conkle John Conkle

FIREFIGHTERS QUICKLY EXTINGUISH BUNGALOW BLAZE May 19 HARVARD PARK - It took 38 Firefighters just 24 minutes to extinguish a non-injury fire in an unoccupied row of residential bungalows in the 6200 block of South Western Avenue. Justin Johnson

Mike Meadows

GREATER ALARM FIRE May 22 PACOIMA - At 3:37PM, crews responded to a reported structure fire in the 9800 block of San Fernando Road. The first arriving fire companies found a one-story auto shop with heavy fire showing. This incident rose to Greater Alarm status and the fire was extinguished by 87 Firefighters in 72 minutes.

Mike Meadows

FATALITY COLLISION May 23 RESEDA - At 8:06PM, Firefighters responded to a reported multi-vehicle traffic collision in the 7600 block of Corbin Avenue. One patient required extrication and a total of two patients were transported to the hospital. A third individual was determined deceased on scene.

Rick McClure

CREWS EXTINGUISH RUBBISH AND VEGETATION FIRE May 28 NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Firefighters responded to a rubbish fire that spread to vegetation in the 11400 block of West Magnolia Boulevard at 11:12AM. 12 Firefighters held the fire to under a quarter of an acre. Mike Meadows

Mike Meadows

LAFD RESCUES MAN TRAPPED IN PALM TREE June 5

Mike Meadows

SHERMAN OAKS - Fire crews, including the Urban Search and Rescue Team, responded to an adult male tree trimmer perilously pinned by palm fronds near the top of a 45' tall palm tree at 4412 Matilija Street. The delicate disentanglement and technical rope rescue of this individual took about an hour. The patient was then transported by Paramedics to an area hospital in fair condition.

Mike Meadows

CREWS SWIFTLY EXTINGUISH BLAZE IN VACANT BUILDING June 5 NORTH HOLLYWOOD - 50 Firefighters extinguished stubborn flames from a non-injury fire on the second floor of a vacant two-story commercial building located at 6233 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in about 30 minutes.

Mike Meadows Mike Meadows

GREATER ALARM FIRE SWEEPS THROUGH VACANT MEDICAL CLINIC June 7 DOWNTOWN - 100 Firefighters extinguished a Greater Alarm blaze involving a vacant one-story medical clinic in the 1800 block of South Main Street in less than one hour.

Justin Johnson Justin Johnson

Justin Johnson

THIRD STREET FIRE June 8 DOWNTOWN - Firefighters arrived at 1:50AM to the 200 block of East 3rd Street where they found a century-old commercial building engulfed in flames. 150 Firefighters confined the fire to a three-story commercial building, saving nearby multi-story residential structures. Fire crews battled for over three hours to knock down the bulk of the flames.

Photos by Zak Holman

VEGETATION FIRE HELD TO TWO ACRES June 16 ELYSIAN PARK - The LAFD responded swiftly by ground and air to a vegetation fire alongside the Arroyo Seco Parkway near Stadium Way. Despite hot weather and flames fanned by light wind, the team of 43 Firefighters held the blaze to two acres, preventing damage to any structures.

Harry Garvin

AIR AND GROUND CREWS TAME SEPULVEDA BASIN GRASS FIRE June 18 VAN NUYS - Precise helicopter water drops that tapered the advance of flames allowed 48 Firefighters on the ground to quickly contain and extinguish a grass fire in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. The fire, near a homeless encampment northwest of Lake Balboa, was attributed to careless cooking.

Greg Doyle

LAFD HOISTS INJURED MAN FROM PACOIMA WASH June 22 WEST HILLS - A man who reportedly fell down a rocky embankment into the dry Pacoima Wash flood control channel in the 13700 block of Branford Street was rescued by Firefighters. Crews stabilized the man's injuries and then placed him in a litter basket stretcher before using an aerial ladder to hoist him safely to street level. The man was taken by an LAFD ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Eric French

Eric French Greg Doyle

Greg Doyle

RUBBISH FIRE SPREADS TO NEARBY GARAGE July 8 HARVARD PARK - Task Force 66 responded to a rubbish fire exposing a detached garage at 11:43PM in the 6100 block of South Harvard Boulevard. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames without injury.

Justin Johnson

COLLISION CRITICALLY INJURES THREE July 9

Mark Lassman

WOODLAND HILLS - At 5:48PM, the LAFD responded to a reported multi-vehicle collision in the 22800 block of Victory Boulevard. Firefighters conducted a vehicle extrication and transported a total of four patients, three with critical injuries and one with minor injuries.

Mark Lassman

ONE PATIENT TRAPPED IN COLLISION July 16 VALLEY GLEN - Firefighter-Paramedics extricated one individual and transported the patient to a local trauma center following a single-vehicle traffic collision with several parked cars at 11:25PM in the 6900 block of North Coldwater Canyon Avenue.

Rick McClure

TEAMWORK STOPS ROCKY PEAK BRUSH FIRE July 20 CHATSWORTH - At 3:40PM, the LAFD responded to a reported brush fire at the 118 Freeway. Firefighters located less than one acre of brush burning between the Santa Susana Pass and the freeway under moderate wind conditions. 61 Firefighters, assisted by Ventura County Fire and Los Angeles County Fire, stopped all forward progress in 49 minutes.

Greg Doyle

Mike Meadows

FIRE DESTROYS VACANT SUPERMARKET July 22 SUN VALLEY - At 3:11AM, crews responded to a structure fire at 8025 North Vineland Avenue where the first arriving companies found heavy fire at the back of the building. Over 100 Firefighters battled the flames for 95 minutes before it was declared a knockdown. There were no victims located and no injuries reported. The Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section also responded to this incident.

Brandon Buckley

Mike Meadows

Mike Meadows Cody Weireter

Brandon Buckley

NEW CLASS OF LAFD DIVERS July 29 SAN PEDRO - After many years, the LAFD finally welcomed a new class of divers during a ceremony celebrating the successful completion of a very difficult training program. The following Firefighters have joined the elite group of LAFD Divers: Damon Bowden

Ryan Considine

Skip Kanemaki

Nicholas Miller

Paul Young

Mark Chavez

Towner Douglas

Craig Kredell

Jonathan Scully

Matthew Westmoreland

Korey Cuico

COLLISION REQUIRES EXTRICATION July 31 HYDE PARK - At 4:53PM, Firefighters responded to a traffic collision with trapped patients in the 3500 block of West 60th Street. Firefighters used Holmatro hydraulic rescue tools to complete patient extrication and then transported two patients to local hospitals.

Justin Johnson

LAFD RESCUES DRIVER OF OVERTURNED VEHICLE IN THE WASH August 1

Rick McClure

PACOIMA - Firefighters responded to the 15100 block of West Parthenia Street at 10:25PM and found a sedan upside down in the wash. One patient self-extricated with seemingly minor injuries, but Firefighter-Paramedics employed a litter basket operation to remove a 35-year-old male from the wash. The patient was transported to a local hospital.

Rick McClure

MECHANICAL FAILURE SMOKES OUT COMMERCIAL BUILDING August 1 NORTHRIDGE - At 1:09PM, in the 18600 block of West Parthenia Street, crews responded to a one-story commercial building with smoke showing. Firefighters identified an NFPA 704 Warning Placard about hazards outside and made entry with dry chemical extinguishers, but found the smoke was due to a mechanical failure. 36 Firefighters declared a knockdown in 14 minutes and no injuries were reported. Jacob Salzman

AUTO ROLLOVER RESULTS IN SHEARED HYDRANT August 1 SHERMAN OAKS - At 12:29PM, in the 12900 block of West Magnolia Boulevard, crews responded to an auto rollover involving a hydrant where two patients had to be transported to the hospital.

Mike Meadows

RUBBISH FIRE SPREADS TO PALLET YARD August 1

Austin Gebhardt

PACOIMA - At 2:23PM, in the 11000 block of North Sutter Avenue, Firefighters responded to a rubbish fire that extended to a pallet yard, threatening nearby commercial buildings. Firefighters had nearby train tracks shut down and quickly doused the pallet yard fire, extinguishing the flames in 31 minutes.

Juan Guerra Mike Meadows

Mike Meadows

FIREFIGHTERS PREVENT BURNING HILLSIDE HOME FROM SPARKING BRUSH FIRE August 2 TARZANA - At 6:24PM, Firefighters responded to the 19600 block of West Valdez Drive where a two-story hillside home was engulfed in flames with fire starting to ignite nearby brush. It took 57 Firefighters 33 minutes to extinguish the flames.

Photos by Brandon Taylor

CAR OFF FREEWAY CRITICALLY INJURES ONE August 5 CHATSWORTH - At 2:23AM, Firefighters responded to a traffic collision on the 118 Freeway at Topanga Canyon where they located one vehicle that went off the road and down the embankment approximately 100 feet. Fire crews conducted a rope system operation to safely bring the patient up the side and transport in critical condition.

Robert Navarro

Rick McClure

COMMERCIAL FIRE August 5 NORTH HILLS - At 1:29PM, Firefighters responded to a reported structure fire in the 9400 block of Sepulveda Boulevard where they found a one-story, metal clad commercial building with smoke showing. 38 Firefighters extinguished the blaze in 27 minutes with no injuries reported.

Robert Navarro

THREE INJURED IN CRASH August 8 VALLEY VILLAGE - A two-vehicle collision in the 12400 block of Magnolia Boulevard caused one car to topple, briefly trapping an occupant before being rescued from beneath the auto by Firefighters. The crash sent a total of three people to the hospital, including two with serious injuries.

Mike Meadows

Rick McClure

Mike Meadows

MAJOR EMERGENCY FIRE DESTROYS BUSINESS August 13 PANORAMA CITY - At 12:09AM, Firefighters responded to a structure fire in the 14600 block of Titus Street and found a large, one-story commercial building with heavy fire showing upon arrival. The defensive operation lasted about three hours before an official knockdown was declared.

Brandon Taylor Juan Guerra

Brandon Buckley

Rick McClure

Ismael Miranda

ARSON STATS Total Investigations

879

Total Arrests

186

Total Responses

786

Cases Cleared by Arrest

233 Brandon Taylor Juan Guerra

Juan Guerra

CREWS FOLLOW COLUMN OF SMOKE TO HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT FIRE August 16 SEPULVEDA BASIN - 20 members of the LAFD hiked though thick foliage to discover, confine, and quickly extinguish a non-injury debris and vegetation fire at a homeless encampment near the 5200 block of Hayvenhurst Avenue.

Greg Doyle

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE STUBBORN TRASH TRUCK FIRE August 17 NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Despite a quick response, flames from a trash truck burning in a residential alley near the 6600 block of Elmer Avenue proved stubborn to extinguish when they became fueled by the truck's Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) system. The fire was held to the vehicle and a nearby utility pole. Mike Meadows

CREWS RESCUE PAIR STRANDED BY HIGH TIDE August 19 SAN PEDRO - The LAFD responded by land, air, and sea to assist two people stranded by the rising Pacific Ocean tide at the base of rocky seaside cliffs south of an area known as Sunken City near Point Fermin. Firefighters hiked down a steep trail to the shoreline where the pair was stranded. The woman who sustained leg injuries was hoisted into a hovering LAFD rescue helicopter for transport to an area hospital, while the uninjured man was assisted up the trail by ground crews.

Raphael Richardson

BRUSH FIRE HELD TO ONE ACRE August 22 SHADOW HILLS - At 4:43PM, Firefighters responded to a brush fire in the 8300 block of La Tuna Canyon Road where they held the flames to approximately one acre with no structures damaged and no injuries reported.

Rick McClure

Ismael Miranda

CREWS HOLD WILDFIRE TO LESS THAN ONE ACRE August 26 SEPULVEDA BASIN - The LAFD responded by ground and air to make quick work of a wildfire south of Lake Balboa and north of the LA River. A series of precise helicopter water drops and ground crews with hose lines and hand tools aided by an LAFD bulldozer fully contained the fire to less than an acre in 30 minutes. Though homeless encampments exist in the area, there were no injuries.

Mike Meadows

Austin Gebhardt

SHEARED HYDRANT ON ZOO DRIVE September 3 GRIFFITH PARK - At 12:02PM, Firefighters responded to a traffic collision with entrapment and upon arrival found a two-car collision which had caused a sheared hydrant. The crews shut down the hydrant and assessed the patients who all declined transport. Austin Gebhardt

BALBOA BRUSH FIRE September 4 SEPULVEDA BASIN - At 2:03PM, Firefighters responded to a brush fire in the 6300 block of Balboa Boulevard. 90 Firefighters contained the blaze in one hour with no injuries reported and no structures damaged.

Austin Gebhardt Mike Meadows

Austin Gebhardt

RESIDENTIAL FIRE September 5

Austin Gebhardt

STUDIO CITY - At 2:44PM, Fire crews responded to the 4400 block of Kraft Avenue to find a single-family home with fire through the roof of an attached storage room to the rear. 32 Firefighters extinguished the flames in 27 minutes.

CREWS RESCUE MAN OVER THE SIDE September 5 BEVERLY CREST - At 10:11AM, Firefighters found an adult male approximately 75 feet over the side in the 13800 block of West Mulholland Drive. Fire Personnel and Air Ops rescued the individual using a low-angle rope system and a hoist operation. The patient was transported by air to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Austin Gebhardt

Mike Meadows

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE GREATER ALARM FIRE IN ABANDONED BUILDING September 11 NORTH HOLLYWOOD - It took 84 members of the LAFD just 33 minutes in a well-coordinated defensive operation to extinguish heavy fire in a vacant and structurally compromised two-story commercial building at 11345 Chandler Boulevard. The Greater Alarm fire was confined to the previously burned structure of origin and caused no injury.

Austin Gebhardt

Mike Meadows

Ismael Miranda Mike Meadows

Austin Gebhardt

Mike Meadows

Greg Doyle

Austin Gebhardt Ismael Miranda

Ismael Miranda

Greg Doyle

LAFD BATTLES WELL-INVOLVED CONDO FIRE September 12 NORTH HILLS - It took 43 Firefighters just 25 minutes to access, confine, and fully extinguish heavy fire on the two upper floors of a three-story condominium at 9131 Burnet Avenue. Crews prevented injury and stopped flames from extending to the adjacent unit.

Austin Gebhardt

TREE TOPPLES ONTO CAR September 12

Mike Meadows

VALLEY VILLAGE - A motorist came within inches of losing her life and was briefly trapped in the wreckage of her vehicle when a large tree suddenly toppled onto her midsize SUV in the 11500 block of Huston Street.

Mike Meadows

Jacob Salzman

BRUSH FIRE HALTED ASIDE FREEWAY September 18 118 FREEWAY - At 1:25PM, Firefighters responded to a brush fire in the 11000 block of Rocky Peak Road. LAFD combined with resources from Ventura and LA County Fire Departments contained four separate spot fires in 39 minutes and held flames to less than two acres. There were no injuries reported and no structures damaged.

BRUSH FIRE CONSUMES NEARLY NINE ACRES September 22 CHATSWORTH - At 3:59PM, LAFD air and ground units arrived to the 22500 block of Jeffrey Mark Court where they found three-quarters of an acre of brush burning steadily uphill near Chatsworth Park South. The LAFD was joined by the Los Angeles and Ventura County Fire Departments who also dispatched ground personnel and firefighting helicopters. 154 members of the LAFD and allied agencies confined the fire to less than nine acres of rugged terrain, stopping all forward progress in just two hours and sparing as many as 100 homes from any fire damage.

Mark Lassman

Brandon Taylor Brandon Taylor

FIREFIGHTERS SAVE RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY September 24 NORTH HILLS - Firefighters responded to the 15900 block of West Napa Street at 8:53PM where they found a one-story 1,570 square-foot home with heavy fire showing. Flames spread to the exterior of an adjacent board-and-care residence, but 30 Firefighters were able to fully extinguish the fire in 23 minutes. No injuries were reported, but four occupants were displaced.

Greg Doyle

Rick McClure

Greg Doyle

Rick McClure

GREATER ALARM STRUCTURE FIRE September 28 BOYLE HEIGHTS - At 11:39PM, Firefighters responded to the 1600 block of East 1st Street for a reported structure fire and found a onestory commercial building with heavy fire showing on at least one side. Over 100 Firefighters fully extinguished the flames in just over two hours with no injuries reported.

Rick McClure

Ismael Miranda Rick McClure

CREWS DOUSE BRUSH FIRE October 2 HOLLYWOOD HILLS - At 11:20AM, Firefighters responded to the 2500 block of East Cahuenga Boulevard to find a vegetation fire. It took 55 Firefighters via ground and air approximately 27 minutes to contain the fire to less than one-half acre. The blaze began at or near a homeless encampment, but no injuries were reported.

Mike Meadows

GRASS FIRE SPREADS TO THREE HOMES October 2 LINCOLN HEIGHTS - At 4:19PM, crews responded to the 100 block of Avenue 18 to find flames in the grass to the rear of a residential neighborhood which spread to three of the homes. It took 113 Firefighters 61 minutes to extinguish the fire with one Firefighter sustaining a non-life-threatening medical problem on scene. Fortunately, the Firefighter was evaluated by Paramedics and released on scene. Chris Conkle

Chris Conkle

NON-INJURY AUTO FIRE October 5

TWO MEN KILLED IN DRAMATIC COLLISION October 11

SOUTH LA - At 11:39PM, Firefighters responded to a reported auto fire in the 6100 block of Haas Avenue and quickly extinguished the flames with no injuries reported.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Shortly after 1:30AM, two men died at the scene of a traffic collision in the 5600 block of North Vineland Avenue after their sedan collided with a palm tree, split in half, and erupted in flames.

Justin Johnson

Rick McClure

TWO MEN DEAD, TWO OTHERS SEVERELY BURNED IN INDUSTRIAL FIRE October 18 CANOGA PARK - It took 150 Firefighters 75 minutes to extinguish a Major Emergency structure fire at 8423 Canoga Avenue. Three adult male civilians suffered severe burn injuries, two in critical condition and one in serious condition. Sadly, one of the critically injured men died while undergoing hospital care. Firefighters remained active through the night extinguishing hotspots. During their search of burnt debris, Firefighters discovered the remains of an adult male, bringing the overall patient count to four, with a total of two deceased and two hospitalized. It appeared that the structure housed a hemp extraction operation, similar to that used in the Butane Honey Oil extraction process.

STRUCTURE FIRE CIVILIAN FATALITIES

24 Brandon Taylor

Brandon Taylor

Austin Gebhardt

Brandon Taylor

Austin Gebhardt Brandon Taylor

Brandon Taylor

BLAZE DAMAGES GARAGE AND TWO AUTOS November 6 PORTER RANCH - It took 31 members of the LAFD just 25 minutes to access, confine, and fully extinguish flames that completely involved an attached residential garage and spread to two vehicles in the 11800 block of Laughton Way. The fire was stopped before entering the home and thankfully caused no injury.

Leo Kaufman Rick McClure

Mike Meadows

Rick McClure

AUTO FIRE November 21 NORTH HOLLYWOOD - At 10:16AM, the LAFD responded to a reported auto fire in the 5300 block of Lankershim Boulevard where they quickly extinguished the non-injury fire.

GREATER ALARM FIRE November 24 SOUTH LA - At 5:26PM, Fire crews responded to a reported structure fire in the 120 block of Washington Boulevard. 116 Firefighters took just 26 minutes in offensive operations to extinguish the bulk of flame in a 150' x 200' two-story strip mall with no injuries reported.

Photos by Chris Conkle

MAJOR EMERGENCY BLAZE CONSUMES BUILDING November 25

Harry Garvin

CENTRAL-ALAMEDA - At 7:48PM, Firefighters responded to a structure fire at 1820 East 48th Place. The address was the site of a Greater Alarm fire two nights prior. Heavy fire was showing from one building and an entrenched battle continued through the night with 115 Firefighters working aggressively to defend the adjoining structures. Their efforts prevented the fire from extending and protected numerous businesses.

Rick McClure

Harry Garvin

Austin Gebhardt LAFD

Rick McClure

Austin Gebhardt

HOIST OPERATION AT SUNSET November 26 WEST HILLS - At 4:47PM, crews responded to a hiker in distress in the 8700 block of Valley Circle Boulevard. Air Operations conducted a hoist operation to safely rescue and transport a 13-year-old male patient with a non-life-threatening injury.

Brandon Taylor

LARGE OAK TREE FALLS, KILLING ONE November 28 ENCINO - At 11:14PM, crews responded to a tree falling onto a two-story house in the 5000 block of Odessa Avenue. Firefighters safely evacuated three occupants, but the fourth was in the second-story bedroom, in the direct path of the tree. Sadly, the adult male was determined deceased on scene.

Mike Meadows Rick McClure

Ismael Miranda

Ismael Miranda Ismael Miranda

Rick McClure

HOIST RESCUE November 28 CHATSWORTH - At 4:06PM, Firefighters responded to a stuck hiker in the 10900 block of North Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Air Operations conducted a hoist operation for an uninjured 10-year-old female who was stranded in a rocky climbing area. She was secured, hoisted, and delivered to a nearby ground-level location.

Mark Lassman

Jacob Salzman

MOBILE HOME FIRE TAKES ONE LIFE November 30 SUN VALLEY - At 5:31PM, Firefighters responded to a structure fire at 20652 Lassen Street and upon arrival to the manufactured home park, they located one unit with heavy fire showing. 45 Firefighters knocked down the fire in 26 minutes. Upon searching the debris, crews located an 80-year-old female occupant buried under four feet of rubbish. Sadly, she was determined deceased on scene. Excessive storage conditions in the home not only hampered Firefighter access, but also prevented the occupant from being able to safely exit the home.

STRUCTURE FIRE December 1 VAN NUYS - At 8:29AM, 28 Firefighters responded to a structure fire in the 15300 block of Archwood Street and extinguished the blaze in 19 minutes. Fire crews quickly addressed the exposed building and limited the spread of the flames. Austin Gebhardt

DRIVER SURVIVES PLUNGE INTO FLOOD CONTROL CHANNEL December 4

Austin Gebhardt

Austin Gebhardt LAFD

LAFD

RESEDA - The driver of a mid-size sedan amazingly sustained only minor injuries when their vehicle failed to stop at a t-shaped intersection in the 7000 block of Crebs Avenue and plummeted more than 20 feet into the concrete lined Aliso Canyon Wash. Firefighters provided on-scene care before utilizing an aerial ladder in a crane-like fashion to hoist the driver in a stretcher to street level from the dry flood control channel.

MOTORHOME FIRE DOUSED December 4 SYLMAR - A report of people trapped in a motorhome thankfully proved inaccurate when Engine 91 responded to the burning vehicle in the 16600 block of Foothill Boulevard. Though flames had extended into nearby vegetation, Firefighters had the blaze quickly under control without injury.

Ismael Miranda

INJURED DRIVER TRAPPED WHEN SUV OVERTURNS December 4 BRENTWOOD - Station 37 personnel quickly aided a driver trapped in their overturned SUV near the intersection of Saltair Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard.

MAJOR EMERGENCY STRUCTURE FIRE December 7 SUN VALLEY - At 11:30PM, the LAFD responded to a structure fire in the 8100 block of Sunland Boulevard and arrived at a two-story, commercial building with heavy fire showing. 87 Firefighters battled flames with at least four ladder pipes and several other heavy streams in operation for over two hours before safely achieving a knockdown.

John Conkle

Photos by Rick McClure

Austin Gebhardt

Mike Meadows

Austin Gebhardt

LAFD SWIFTLY QUENCHES FLAMES IN VACANT BUILDING December 13 NORTH HOLLYWOOD - It took 100 Firefighters less than 45 minutes to access, confine, and fully extinguish a non-injury Greater Alarm structure fire at 6261 Laurel Canyon Boulevard. The blaze, reported at 3:37PM, consumed a central portion of a long vacant row of businesses that had been the site of a previous fire.

Austin Gebhardt

Mike Meadows

APARTMENT DESTROYED BY FIRE December 22 WINNETKA - At 12:20PM, the LAFD responded to a structure fire in the 20200 block of West Cantara Street and coordinated an offensive fire attack to access, confine, and fully extinguish flames within a single three-story residential unit of two occupied floors above a ground-level garage. 50 Firefighters extinguished the blaze in 36 minutes. Brandon Taylor

Brandon Taylor

RESTAURANT FIRE December 25

RESCUERS PLUCK ONE MAN CLINGING ABOVE RIVER December 23 WINNETKA - At 11:15AM, Firefighters responded to reports of a man being swept down the LA River near Mason Avenue and found an adult male clinging to an abutment. A Swift Water Rescue Team member was lowered down and assisted the injured man by donning him with a helmet, floatation device, and harness. The aerial ladder brought them both back up safely and Firefighter-Paramedics transported the man to a nearby hospital in fair condition.

MANCHESTER SQUARE - At 6:52PM, Firefighters responded to the 1950 block of West Florence Avenue for a structure fire and arrived to find a one-story restaurant with fire showing. Crews overcame forcible entry challenges to access the business and extinguish the fire in 18 minutes.

Justin Johnson Jacob Salzman

MUTUAL AID STRIKE TEAMS DEPLOYED TO CALDOR FIRE On August 30th and September 2nd, the LAFD responded to a mutual aid request from CAL-OES and sent Strike Team 1001A and 1002A to assist with the Caldor Fire. A Strike Team comprises five engines and a Battalion Chief. They are prepared to stay for a 14-day deployment, at which time either the team will be demobilized, or new crews will swap out and continue working. LAFD

LAFD

Jake Asner LAFD

LAFD

IN REMEM

THE LAFD COMMEMORATES THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11

Members of the community paid their respects during a virtual 20th-anniversary remembrance event of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The event that is held annually at the 9/11 Memorial Fountain in front of LAFD Fire Station 88 in Sherman Oaks was required to be virtual in 2021 due to a regional spike in COVID cases. The Fire Station location is historically significant because it served as the deployment point for LAFD personnel sent to assist with rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero in Manhattan where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood.

Photos by Mike Meadows

FREEWAY SIGN TO HONOR FALLEN FIREFIGHTER KELLY WONG On the fourth anniversary of his line-of-duty passing, beloved LAFD Firefighter Kelly Wong received a special memorial honor. At the LAFD Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center in Elysian Park, Kelly's wife Danielle and son Colton were proudly joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti, Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas, and UFLAC President Freddy Escobar in the ceremonious unveiling of a Cal Trans freeway sign that will soon memorialize the fallen Firefighter, who died in a tragic on-duty accident while training with his crew on June 5, 2017. To make the honor of this official sign possible, Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office, City Council District 14 staff, and LAFD leadership worked closely with State Legislators and Kelly's wife Danielle to gain approval of the sign and secure its location alongside the southbound Hollywood (US 101) Freeway in downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. This is the first time an LAFD member has been so honored and is a fitting tribute to a fearless public servant who was smart, ambitious, and caring. As travelers enter or pass the Los Angeles civic center, they will be perpetually reminded that our City is at all times protected by a workforce that aspires to be #KellyWongStrong.

MBRANCE CAPTAIN I WILLIAM R. JAMES The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department are deeply saddened by the death of active-duty Captain I William R. James. Captain James began his LAFD career on October 23, 2000. He was assigned to Fire Station 85, "C" Platoon, in Harbor City at the time of his at-home passing on December 11, 2021. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and son.

FIREFIGHTER III HENRY MUNOZ The Los Angeles City Fire Department mourns the active-duty death of Firefighter III Henry Munoz. Firefighter Munoz began his career with the LAFD on May 21, 2001. His last field assignment was Fire Station 107, serving the Chatsworth community. Firefighter Munoz sadly passed away from cancer on July 22, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Kate, and his children, Jacob, Julie, and Jackie.

RECOGNITION PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS Gary Apodaca

Korey Cuico

Steve Gentry

Justin Johnson

Mike Meadows

Jacob Salzman

Jake Asner

Greg Doyle

Yvonne Griffin

Leo Kaufman

Ismael Miranda

Brandon Taylor

Brandon Buckley

Chris Eckenrode

Juan Guerra

Kian Khorrami

Robert Navarro

Adam VanGerpen

Chris Conkle

Eric French

Veronica Guerra

Mark Lassman

David Ortiz

Cody Weireter

John Conkle

Austin Gebhardt

Zak Holman

Rick McClure

Raphael Richardson

LAFD Public Service Officer Brian Humphrey

Public Service Officer Nicholas Prange

Public Service Officer Margaret Stewart

Public Information Officer Erik Scott

Public Information Director Cheryl Getuiza

FireStat Manager Drew Steinberg

Arson Forensic Photographer Harry Garvin

UNITED FIREFIGHTERS OF LOS ANGELES CITY EXECUTIVE BOARD President Freddy Escobar

1st Vice President Chuong Ho

2nd Vice President Adam VanGerpen

Secretary Adam Walker

Treasurer Domingo Albarran, Jr.

Director Steve Addleman

Director Shawn Connolly

Director Kent Koffler

Director Richard Ramirez

Director David Riles

Paid for by United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF Local 112 - Issues Committee

2021 LAFD YEAR IN REVIEW

Cody Weireter

Austin Gebhardt