Central Scene Newsletter Jan/Feb 2016 single page

L A F D

CENTRAL Scene

Issue 1

Operations Central Bureau

Jan/Feb 2016

BUILDING A COMMUNITY

By Deputy Chief Phillip Fligiel

I sincerely hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and took time to celebrate with family and friends. The holiday season often provides an opportunity to reflect over events that occurred during the past year. A full year elapsed since the LAFD Operations Central Bureau (OCB) was established, a year that was productive with several new services and programs being formed.

BUREAU COMMANDER Deputy Chief Phillip Fligiel ASSISTANT BUREAU COMMANDERS Assistant Chief Donald Frazeur Mark Stormes ADJUTANTS Captain I Nicholas Ferrari Todd Porter Jeffrey Fox TRAINING OFFICER Captain II Hector Hernandez EMS OFFICER Captain I Dan Lievense OFFICE 108 N. Fremont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012 213-580-0061 213-485-6296 Fax Website

http://lafdcentralbureau. wix.com/centralbureau

Email:

The OCB Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) was created to provide a forum for communication with Neighborhood Councils on public safety issues including emergency medical response and fire safety. The OCB PSAC meets every third Wednesday on odd months.

A Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) is now present within each Battalion in OCB, allowing residents to serve as CERT members in the community in which they live.

During the past year, OCB, in conjunction with MySafe:LA conducted four neighborhood fire safety education and smoke alarm canvassing events. Smoke detectors and fire safety education are provided to targeted neighborhoods in an effort to reduce residential fire fatalities.

OCB’s plan for 2016 is to support and meet the goals set forth by the Fire Chief’s strategic plan and to continue expanding OCB’s impact on public safety. During 2015, we learned that strong relationships between residents, community leaders, business leaders, and other agencies are the key to a strong, resilient and safer Los Angeles. OCB will be leaning forward, trying to nurture and develop these relationships in order to provide exceptional public safety and emergency service.

PREPARING FOR EL NIÑO When you think of the fire department, you naturally think of fire but we also prepare for other environmental emergencies as well. Every few years, winds shift in the Pacific Ocean along the equator, warming the water more than usual. These “El Niño” events trigger changing weather patterns globally and can increase chances of heavy rain and snow pelting California.

Forecasters are predicting this year’s El Niño as the second strongest on record for this time of year, and it has the potential to be the most potent weather changer in 65 years. In 1995, the dry conditions prior to El Niño’s arrival created the perfect conditions for flooding, mudslides and flash floods—very similar to the heat wave we experienced this summer. Some are speculating that our region’s next El Niño may already be here—and when you talk to experts you will hear that the weather phenomenon sports a dual personality. El Niño may bring muchneeded drought relief to our state, but it also brings torrential rains which can create disastrous flooding and mudslides.

Please remember that floods are dangerous and should be taken seriously. Flooding can occur quickly in the mountain passes and valleys, and mudslides are common on hillsides with very little vegetation. Southern California’s dry rivers, creek beds and deep slot canyons can be especially dangerous for those caught by a rapidly moving flash flood. Los Angeles is a semidesert area of mountains, canyons, ravines and basins.

(See El Niño continued on page 2)

lafd.centralbureau @lacity.org

Proudly serving the communities of: Angelino Heights, Boyle Heights, Central City, Civic Center / Bunker Hill, Convention Center, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, El Sereno, Glassell Park / Atwater Village, Hancock Park, Highland Park / Arroyo, Industrial Eastside, Lincoln Heights, Little Tokyo / Olvera, Newton, Pico-Union / Koreatown, South Boyle Heights, West Adams, Westlake / MacArthur.

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Los Angeles Fire Department (El Niño continued from page 1) Problems are created when thunderstorms, high winds and other bad weather strike suddenly because:

     

Just six inches of rapidly moving flood water is enough to knock a person down.

It only takes two feet of water to float a large vehicle.

Mudslides can easily travel faster than 10 miles per hour.

Flash floods can turn a calm landscape into a raging river in a matter of minutes.

Flash floods can move boulders, rip out trees, knock down bridges and destroy buildings.

If you receive a warning or are caught in a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground.

Here’s what you can do to prepare yourself for this year’s El Niño:

   

Clear trash and loose items from gutters and alleys that could potentially interfere with storm drainage.

Don’t place trash and recyclable containers directly on drains and/or in gutters.

Do not rake leaves, grass clippings or yard debris into the street or alley or gutter.

If you see a clogged catch basin, call the City’s Storm Drain Hotline at (800) 974- 9794 to report it so that LA Sanitation can get it cleaned out before the rains begin.

For more information about preparing for El Niño please visit: www.lastormwater.org

BURN AWARENESS WEEK February 1-7, 2016

What is a scald injury?

A scald injury happens when hot liquid or hot steam comes in contact with the skin and damages one or more layers of the skin. Scald burns are usually caused by a spill of hot food or beverages or by hot water in the bath or shower.

Who is at risk?

Anyone can get a scald burn but older adults young children are at greater risk.

and

How do you prevent scald burns?

Use this checklist to make your home safer for you family!

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Operations Central Bureau FROM THE ASSISTANT BUREAU COMMANDER

By Assistant Chief Mark Stormes

Hopefully, everyone has heard that “El Nino” is expected to arrive in a big way this winter. The LAFD Operations Central Bureau (OCB), in conjunction with the LAPD Central Bureau, have finalized a swift water operational plan that ensures that individuals living in the LA River or flood control basins are notified prior to the rain event, thereby preventing the need for subsequent rescue. This plan covers the LA River as it runs from Burbank, through Los Angeles, to Vernon.

Swift water Rescue operations are normally coordinated by the Assistant Bureau Commander (Command 22) at the LAFD OCB command room located at Fire Station 3. Direct rescue operations at designated rescue points are managed by field Battalion Commanders. LAFD and LAPD contributed to the plan’s development in order to improve communication and coordination between agencies. LAPD will assist LAFD resources in pre-event warnings and, during a rescue event, at the rescue site and in the command room.

The LAFD has committed to assist training LAPD Officers in the swift water operational plan. This joint effort reflects a strong, cooperative spirit, between the LAFD and LAPD at the operational level.

HOME FIRE SAFETY SMOKE ALARMS 60 percent of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms.

During a fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives. This checklist provides tips that will help prepare your home and make is safe for you and your family. ❏ Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. ❏ Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one. ❏ Once a month check whether each alarm in the home is working properly by pushing the test button. ❏ Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year. Immediately install a new battery if an alarm chirps, warning the battery is low. ❏ Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Never disable smoke or carbon monoxide alarms. ❏ Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Know the difference between the sound of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.

SAVE PROGRAM SUPPLYING AID TO VICTIMS OF EMERGENCY On Thanksgiving, a family nearly lost everything.

A fire in their home consumed many of their belongings, though thankfully no one was hurt.

That night, firefighters reached out to the family to provide as much help as we could. Much of that came from the Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) program. SAVE makes it possible for local firefighters to give on-the-spot aid to families and individuals who suffer substantial property loss in a fire or a major disaster, like an earthquake or flood.

Learn how you can help to fund the SAVE program here: http://www.cafirefoundation.org/go/cff/save/#sthash.4uS2EoRi.dpuf

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L A F D

CENTRALScene

MEET THE OCB STAFF Featured—Captain I Daniel Lievense

I am the new Emergency Medical Service (EMS) officer assigned to Operations Central Bureau (OCB).

I'm excited to take on this role. I have been assigned to various stations throughout the Central Bureau for the past 13 years as both a paramedic and a captain. In this new position, I will serve as liaison for EMS captains in OCB and for the LAFD Medical Director, review significant incidents, and schedule EMS training throughout the bureau including paramedics for continuing education. I'll also be working with our stakeholders in the Central Bureau including LAPD, LA County Sheriff's, local hospitals, and other community leaders. I will focus on improving LAFD's efforts on responding rapidly to emergencies, providing appropriate intervention, and increasing community education. I hope to represent the LAFD well and continue to improve our great department.

KEY CENTRAL BUREAU STATISTICS Operational Response Times From Station Notification to Tine On Scene

2015 November/December All Incidents

4 Minutes 54 Seconds

Battalion 1 Spotlight Fire Station Number and Community Served

2 3 4 9

Boyle Heights Civic Center/Bunker Hill Chinatown/Little Tokyo Central City

CENTRAL SCENE EVENTS 2016 1 16 18 24 30 Feb

13 14 15

To help prepare for the upcoming rainy season, LAFD is providing free sand and unfilled sandbags to our residents. Unfilled sandbags will be available at all neighborhood fire stations.

However, sand will only be offered at certain fire stations. Below is a list within Operations Central Bureau where sand can be obtained: Fire Station 3 (Downtown) - 108 N. Fremont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

10 Convention Center District Fire Station 44 (Cypress Park) - 1410 Cypress Ave, Los Angeles, 14 Newton CA 90065 17 Industrial Eastside 25 South Boyle Heights Fire Station 47 (El Sereno) - 4575 Huntington Drive, Los

88 On-Duty Personnel Daily

Jan

LAFD PROVIDES SANDBAGS

New Year’s Day American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign Martin Luther King, Jr Day Run To Remember—Los Angeles Night on Broadway 117th Golden Dragon Parade & Chinese New Year Festival Valentine’s Day President’s Day

Angeles, CA 90032 Please note it will be the residents’ responsibility to fill, load and place sandbags. LAFD staff will not be available to assist the residents.

EMERGENCY ALERTS Notify LA is the City of Los Angeles’ official mass notification system used to send voice messages, text messages and email messages to residents and businesses during times of emergencies and disasters.

To sign up for notifications, click on the icon above or visit http://emergency.lacity.org/EOCOperations/NotifyLA/index.htm

Operations Central Bureau (OCB) encompasses the Downtown area and Eastern portions of Los Angeles.

Battalions 1, 2 and 11 report to the Central Bureau Commander, Deputy Chief Phillip Fligiel. The primary responsibility of Emergency Operations, which includes the OCB, is to direct, coordinate and control the line functions of the LAFD. To request LAFD resources at public events (community fairs, school visits, etc.) , please send an email to lafd.centralbureau@lacity.org with the details of your event (date, time and duration, location, etc.).

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities.

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