May 31, 2019
Here’s the latest news impacting Los Angeles Firefighters…
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Cancer leading cause of death among firefighters, IAFF says
Cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters, according to the International Association of Firefighters.
“In the fire service, the nature of the fire creates a lot of carcinogens, which can be related to cancer," DeRidder Fire Chief Kenneth Harlow said. "With that said, the exposure the firefighters receive during fighting these fires have a tendency to be increased.” Harlow says he sees the health effects of the job firsthand. “Over my career, and especially within the last few years, we’ve had I know of three different firefighters after employment through retirement and stuff, they have contracted cancer of some form and type," Harlow said. "We don’t really know if it was job related or not, but we can always assume, there may be some association with the job.” A report shows while 30 years ago firefighters were mostly diagnosed with asbestos-related cancers, now many are faced with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma; thought to be the case because firefighters are now fighting different types of blazes and can be exposed to harmful chemicals.
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Man Dies in Fire at Vacant Building in Sun Valley
A man died after being pulled from a burning vacant commercial building in Sun Valley early Sunday, officials said. The fire broke out 4 a.m. in a second-story loft of a building at 8165 N. Sunland Boulevard, Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said. Firefighters encountered downed power lines when they arrived and began pouring water in through windows before making their way inside, she said.
They found a man near the origin of the fire and pulled him from the structure
, she said. Paramedics took the victim to a hospital, where he was soon pronounced dead, LAFD Spokesman Brian Humphrey said.
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More than 20 Cars Destroyed in Highland Park Carport Fire
A massive fire destroyed more than 20 vehicles in a condo apartment complex in Highland Park early Sunday morning. The
fire engulfed two carports
in the Arroyo Seco Village apartments around 2 a.m. The fire spread very quickly, destroying the cars and leaving many of them unrecognizable. The flames exploded through the vehicles and carports.
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Man Suffers Burns In Fire At Homeless Encampment in Westchester
A man suffered burns in a fire Sunday morning at a homeless encampment in Westchester, according to fire investigators. The fire on the 8600 block of South Lincoln Boulevard was reported at 3:20 a.m, Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said. Firefighters found the injured man and transported him to a hospital in fair to serious condition, Stewart said.
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Fire Breaks Out at Highland Park Restaurant
Firefighters spent the better part of an hour battling a blaze at a fast food restaurant in Highland Park Tuesday afternoon. The fire broke out in the ducting of a restaurant in the 6100 block of East York Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. A Burger King restaurant is located at the address. The blaze was first reported at about 1:38 p.m., and crews staged an interior fire attack while working to gain access from the roof.
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Sylmar resident rescued from burning apartment
Firefighters extinguished a fire in an apartment and part of a hallway on the first floor of a senior living facility in Sylmar on Sunday, May 26, and
rescued one person from the unit
. The blaze inside the three-story apartment building at 13115 N. Bromont Ave. was reported at 5:35 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said. The fire was contained to the unit where it started but the flames heavily damaged the first-floor hallway, Stewart said. Firefighters set up blowers to clear out the smoke from the first floor. Meanwhile, residents remained sheltered in place.
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Marijuana Grow House Fire Prompts Evacuation Next Door At Fonda Theatre In Hollywood
A fire in a building apparently housing a marijuana grow operation prompted an evacuation at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood next door, where the band Cowboy Junkies was finishing up its tour. The fire was reported at about 8:40 p.m. inside a one-story building at 6140 W. Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles fire spokesman Brian Humphrey said.
The fire prompted a large response from the Los Angeles Fire Department, which deployed 77 firefighters
. The flames were put out in just over 20 minutes, and while fire officials say the building “appears to have housed a marijuana grow operation,” the fire remains under investigation.
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LA firefighters show why they wear protective gear as they extinguish stubborn 170 Freeway car fire
Los Angeles firefighters extinguished a stubborn car fire Wednesday afternoon on the 170 Freeway, providing a demonstration of how
important it is to wear the right gear around gasoline-fueled flames
. Firefighters responded to the scene of a burning Hyundai Sonata on the northbound 170 Freeway just north of Sherman Way.
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Motorhome burns down to frame in Sunland
Los Angeles firefighters called to a Sunland RV fire on Friday extinguished the blaze, but the large vehicle burned until down to its shell. The motorhome caught fire near San Fernando Road and Sunland Boulevard, and the
flames spread to a storage area
under a nearby patio, said a photographer at the scene. The fire was extinguished in about 10 to 15 minutes, and there were no injuries.
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42 firefighters extinguish garage ‘fully involved in fire’ at West Hills house
Firefighters extinguished a blaze early Thursday morning in the detached garage of a home in West Hills in 25 minutes. Crews responded at 2:55 a.m. to the home at 22434 Roscoe Blvd. and found the garage fully involved in flames, according to Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department. A total of 42 firefighters battled the blaze and
kept the fire from spreading to several nearby structures
. Knockdown was declared at 3:20 a.m., Prange said.
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Brush Fire Along 110 Freeway Backs Up Traffic In Elysian Park
Firefighters are battling a rubbish fire along the Harbor (110) Freeway near Dodgers Stadium. The blaze is jamming up traffic for miles along the southbound side of the freeway. The fire began at about 2:05 p.m. and
quickly scorched about a half-acre near Stadium Way
in the Elysian Park area. The blaze is believed to have started at near a homeless encampment alongside the freeway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
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Late-season rains mask looming fire danger as lush plants turn dry and explosive
Giant green stems with budding yellow flowers greeted hikers along a narrow path beneath the soaring Santa Monica Mountains on a recent drizzly day. This is where, just seven months ago,
the worst fire in Los Angeles County history swept through
, destroying more than 1,000 homes and blackening miles of hillsides and canyon. But thanks to one of the wettest seasons in years, rains have transformed the fire zone back to life with great speed. And all those flowering black mustard plants point to a looming disaster once the rains finally end and Southern California shifts to its dry, hot, windy summer and fall. California’s wet winter is set to extend well into May thanks to some new storms, but fire experts and climatologists said the extra moisture is likely to worsen the fire outlook because it will allow brush to grow even more.
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3 Rescued, Including Man Who Tried to Help 2 Stranded People, From L.A. River in Atwater Village
Authorities
rescued three people from a stretch of the rain-swollen Los Angeles River
in Atwater Village on Thursday morning, including one who also became stranded while helping two others, officials said. The incident began in the 2900 block of North Acresite Street just after 9:30 a.m. when the river water abruptly rose, trapping a 33-year-old man and a 37-year-old women, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department alert. Jeff Johnson, who was jogging in the area at the time, heard their screams for help and tried to rescue the pair himself, jumping into the river. But he quickly got caught up in the fast-moving water.
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1 person hospitalized after minivan crashes into Winnetka doughnut shop
One person was taken to the hospital after
a minivan crashed into a doughnut shop
at the intersection of Sherman Way and Mason Avenue in Winnetka. The Los Angeles Fire Department says a second person injured in the crash was treated at the scene. Firefighters got the call at 11:19 a.m. and found the minivan inside Donuts Plus Depot. A search and rescue team is evaluating the stability of the structure.
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2 Transported From West Hills School After Apparently Ingesting Unknown Substance
Two people were transported on Monday afternoon after
several students apparently fell ill at a West Hills school when they ingested an unknown substance
, officials said. First responders were called to the campus at 7353 N. Valley Circle Blvd. around 2:10 p.m. after receiving reports of several ill students, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department alert. Paramedics treated students exhibiting symptoms of an overdose or poisoning, firefighters said.
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1 Dead, 2 Injured in Multivehicle Crash on SB 5 Freeway in Arleta
The southbound 5 Freeway has reopened in the Arleta area after
a multivehicle crash that left one dead and two injured
shut down all lanes early Sunday. The California Highway Patrol announced the closure at Van Nuys Boulevard just after 5 a.m. All lanes were reopened just before 9 a.m., CHP said. A total of three people were transported to the hospital, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
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Thank you to Councilmember Paul Krekorian for attending our General Membership meeting and addressing questions about the City's approved budget.
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LA City Council tentatively approves a record $10.6 billion budget – but ‘we still have a ways to go’
The Los Angeles City Council on Thursday tentatively
approved a $10.6 billion budget
for the coming fiscal year, the largest in the city’s history, with council members crediting a strong local economy. The spending plan marks the first time the city’s budget has ever exceeded $10 billion, and City Councilman Paul Krekorian, whose district includes the east San Fernando Valley, said the document includes the largest reserve fund in city history.
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Firefighter Suicides Rise in the Wake of Deadly Wildland Blazes
The death toll from extreme fires in California is rising from an unexpected source: Firefighters are committing suicide.
The stress of fighting repeated blazes and seeing bodies of those killed is taxing firefighters’ mental health, fire officials said yesterday at a joint California Senate and Assembly hearing. It’s “an invisible cost that’s rarely discussed,” Capt. Mike Feyh of the Sacramento Fire Department told state lawmakers.
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Trump opens new war with California over wildfires, seeking to slash payments for firefighting on federal land
The relationship between President Trump and California has long been fraught, but in the aftermath of the state’s deadliest wildfire season, the acrimony is burning hotter than ever. In November, as crews battled the Camp and Woolsey fires, Trump blamed the state for “gross mismanagement of the forests” and delivered this ultimatum: “Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!” Then, while visiting the devastated town of Paradise later that month, Trump suggested California could eliminate the threat of wildfire by “raking.” Now, the Trump administration has taken matters a step further. As California prepares for what some officials fear will be another devastating fire season
, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service are withholding reimbursements that state fire agencies say are owed
for battling wildfires on federal lands last year.
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Disaster deal with billions for California wildfire relief passes Senate
The Senate passed a long-delayed disaster relief package Thursday that includes
billions of dollars for victims of wildfires in California
, after senators agreed to leave out money for the southern-border crisis and President Trump dropped his resistance to more funding for Puerto Rico. The Senate voted 85-8 for the legislation. It will now go to the House for approval before being sent to Trump for his signature.
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Distracted drivers an increasing threat to first responders
New research shows that many drivers are profoundly distracted by their phones when they're going past first responders working accidents on the roadways. New research from the National Safety Council found 71% of drivers admitted to taking photos and texting while driving by emergency workers; that's nearly triple the 24% who admitted to doing it under normal driving conditions. Sixty percent admitted to posting to social media; two-thirds have emailed about what they're driving by.
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Honor Provided for Saving A Life - Together
On the morning of March 30, 2019, tragedy was averted and
a life saved thanks to the teamwork of a bystander and your Los Angeles Fire Department
. Just after 7:30AM, Mr. James Handel saw a 41-year old man collapse in the street and start shaking. Mr. Handel took immediate action, calling 9-1-1. While many people are hesitant to become involved in an emergency situation, Mr. Handel did not delay and was the instrumental "first step" in the following chain of events. Firefighter/Paramedic Hugo Tadeo answered the 9-1-1 call at Metropolitan Fire Communications and quickly took control of the caller, identified the emergency and calmly, clearly provided life-saving instructions. Under the guidance of Firefighter/Paramedic Tadeo, Mr. Handle performed Hands-Only CPR for the few minutes before Engine and Paramedic Rescue 39 on scene.
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Hope for Firefighters
Hope for Firefighters is the largest fundraiser of its kind in the nation. Local businesses join Firefighters to create a tremendous community event which raises funds for the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen's Fund.
For the 22nd year, fire stations from throughout the Los Angeles area line Hope Street, cooking their firehouse specialties for the downtown community and competing for "best food booth" and "best theme" trophies. Thousands of employees from the Downtown area pour out to attend this lunch-time street fair.
This event includes a silent auction, live bands, and corporate-sponsored Muster Teams competing in the Bucket Brigade, Hose Cart Pull and Turn-Out Competition. They mean business!
We hope you will join and not only have a fun-filled afternoon but help support the families of firefighters injured or killed in the line of duty.
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Remembering Our Fallen Brothers & Sisters
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Assistant Chief
Thomas C. Tolman (Ret.)
Deceased: 5/29/2019
Appointed: 12/19/1955
Assignment: Div 1 C
Retired: 2/25/1979
Captain
Homer M. Miller (Ret.)
Deceased: 5/24/2019
Appointed: 6/1/1975
Retired: 1/30/1989
Captain II
John S. Nelson (Ret.)
Deceased: 5/18/2019
Appointed: 4/1/1957
Assignment: FS 33-C
Retired: 6/30/2007
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Captain I
Robert H. Setterberg (Ret.)
Deceased: 5/18/2019
Appointed: 4/8/1961
Retired: 7/22/1996
Firefighter II
William M. Horton (Ret.)
Deceased: 5/8/2019
Appointed: 4/1/1957
Assignment: FS 104-B
Retired: 7/5/1973
Fireman
Elias De La Hoz (Ret.)
Deceased: 5/3/2019
Appointed: 4/1/1957
Assignment: FS 75-C
Retired: 6/8/1982
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Battalion Chief
Leroy J. Lucas (Ret.)
Deceased: 5/2/2019
Appointed: 2/3/1958
Assignment: FS 37 BN 9
Retired: 7/4/1988
Battalion Chief
Ross L. Williams (Ret.)
Deceased: 4/19/2019
Appointed: 4/30/1960
Assignment: Planning
Retired: 7/1/1984
Captain II
Harold N. Burkhart (Ret.)
Deceased: 4/10/2019
Appointed: 11/1/1956
Retired: 12/2/1986
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About UFLAC:
Since 1918, UFLAC has been the labor organization of the proud men and women that serve as firefighters and emergency medical responders protecting the City of Los Angeles. The members of the Los Angeles Fire Department rely on UFLAC to focus on the wellbeing and safety of those that protect the lives of others. For more information, visit
www.uflac.org
.
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