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Sunday, February 28, 2010

House Fire, Firefighter Injured in Heroic Rescue Effort, Lancaster




Los Angeles County Firefighters were summoned to a house fire at 45555 Sancroft in the City of Lancaster this morning. Upon arrival firefighters found a single family dwelling with pressurized black smoke emitting from the structure. Firefighters aggressively made entry into the home, fighting high temperatures and dense toxic smoke. While searching the occupancy, a firefighter found a trapped victim inside and dragged him outside to awaiting paramedics. During the rescue attempt the firefighter suffered smoke inhalation and needed to be transported to the hospital for medical care.

The unidentified victim inside of the home was found to be severely burned and in cardiac arrest. After pulling the victim to safety, County firefighters initiated CPR and advanced life support measures. It is unknown at this time if the patient survived even with resuscitation efforts by paramedics do to smoke inhalation and severe burns. Firefighters from Stations 33, 130, 135, 117 and Battalion 11 had the fire controlled in approximately 15 minutes.

The house is occupied by 4 men, one wheel chair bound, the scene is under investigation by LA County Sheriff Deputies and is being investigated as a crime scene.

Photos Copyright Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Rescue, Woman Trapped, Palmdale CA





Los Angeles County Firefighters from Stations 80, 37 and 24 extricated a patient after 20 minutes as a result of an over turned vehicle on the South Bound 14 Freeway at Pearblossom Highway at 11:20 this morning. Heavy rains in the area made road surfaces slick for drivers. A vehicle over turned entrapping the occupant near the on ramp of Angeles Forest Highway; County Firefighters had to use hydraulic spreaders, cutters and air bags to free the victim from the vehicle. The accident is being investigated by the CHP. The patient was transported to AV Hospital by AMR EMT's and County Fire Department Paramedics.

Photos Jeff Zimmerman

EDIS Warning Message For CA

CAP Message

Clck the CAP Link

Massive 8.8 Earthquake Strikes Chile, Tsunami Warning In CA and Hawaii

An earthquake releasing 500 times more energy than the recent Haiti earthquake has hit Central Chile. A tsunami warning is in effect for California Coast and Hawaii. Severe damage has been reported to the infrastructure in Chile with the unfortunate large loss of life. Powerful waves are approaching the Pacific Coast lines with emergency warning sirens being activated in Hawaii for evacuations. Please follow EDIS warnings.

Jeff Zimmerman

Follow Up by Reuters International

By Mario Naranjo Mario Naranjo – 33 mins ago

CONCEPCION, Chile (Reuters) – A massive earthquake and tsunamis killed 350 people in one Chilean coastal town, doubling the total death toll on Sunday as the government tried to get aid to hungry survivors and halt looting.

President Michelle Bachelet said at least 708 people had been killed and called for calm as people desperate for food and water looted stores in some areas worst hit by Saturday's 8.8-magnitude quake, one of the world's biggest in a century.

Television images showed houses washed away by swirling waters, cars tossed into shattered buildings and boats lifted into the streets in coastal towns including Pelluhue and Constitucion, where 350 deaths alone were reported.

"It's an enormous catastrophe ... there's a growing number of missing people," Bachelet said, adding that food and medical aid was being sent to help the roughly 2 million people affected by the quake.

The quake wrecked hundreds of thousands of homes, mangled highways and bridges and dealt a heavy blow to infrastructure in the world's No. 1 copper producer and one of Latin America's most stable economies.

A lack of water, food and fuel sharpened the hardship for the hundreds of thousands of people left homeless, and widespread disruption to the power supply threatened to hamper Chilean industry's recovery.

Chile's biggest copper mines affected by the quake slowly resumed operations on Sunday despite limited power supplies, which analysts say could curtail exports from the world's No. 1 producer.

In the hard-hit city of Concepcion, about 310 miles south of Santiago, about 60 people were feared to have been crushed to death in a collapsed apartment block where rescuers worked through the night to find survivors.

The government imposed a night-time curfew in Concepcion and the Maule region on Sunday in a bid to stop looting.

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a crowd of looters carrying off food and electrical appliances from one supermarket in Concepcion. Television images showed people stuffing groceries and other goods into shopping trolleys.

"People have gone days without eating," said Orlando Salazar, one of the looters at the supermarket. "The only option is to come here and get stuff for ourselves."

Concepcion's mayor, Jacqueline van Rysselberghe, said the situation was getting "out of control" due to shortages of basic supplies and called for troops to be sent to the city.

AFTERSHOCKS

The quake poses a daunting reconstruction challenge for President-elect Sebastian Pinera, who takes office in two weeks.

Crushed cars, fallen power lines and rubble from wrecked buildings littered the streets of Concepcion, which has about 670,000 inhabitants and lies 70 miles southwest of the quake's epicenter.

A string of strong aftershocks have rocked the country and thousands of Concepcion residents camped out in tents or makeshift shelters, fearing fresh tremors could topple weakened buildings.

Some economists predicted a deep impact on Chile's economy after the quake damaged its industrial and agricultural sectors in the worst-hit regions, possibly putting pressure on its currency.

The economic damage from the quake could be up to $30 billion, equivalent to about 15 percent of Chile's gross domestic product, said Eqecat, a firm that helps insurers model catastrophe risks.

Chile's fourth-largest copper mine El Teniente, which accounts for more than 7 percent of national output, resumed operations on Sunday. The nearby Andina mine was also due to resume operations but analysts feared power outages could still curtail supplies.

There was no information available on two Anglo-American mines where power outages have halted production.

Santiago's airport started to receive international flights for the first time since the quake struck. Officials said the runways were unscathed but the terminal building was damaged.

The temblor triggered tsunamis as far afield as Japan and Russia, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage.

(Additional reporting by Simon Gardner and Alonso Soto in Santiago and London bureau; Writing by Stuart Grudgings and Helen Popper, editing by Anthony Boadle)

Hawaii sounds tsunami warning sirens - Yahoo! News

Hawaii sounds tsunami warning sirens - Yahoo! News

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Caution in Burn Areas, Storm Approaching So Cal

Strong Rainstorm Expected Friday in Southern California
By My-Thuan Tran
Los Angeles Times
February 25, 2010 | 7:13 am

A powerful storm is expected to push into Southern California late Friday, bringing potential thunderstorms, heavy downpours, gusty winds and hail, according to the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

The forecast warned residents in recent burn areas to be alert for possible flash flooding and debris flows. The brief storm that hit Wednesday moved eastward, and the area will get a respite from the rain Friday morning and afternoon.

But another storm moving over the eastern Pacific Ocean is expected to arrive in the late afternoon across the Central Coast and will move in overnight into Saturday morning for Ventura and Los Angeles counties, bringing a slight chance of thunderstorms.

Rainfall estimates for this storm range from 0.75 to 1.5 inches across coastal and valley areas, with 1.5 to 2.5 inches possible in the foothill and mountain locations. Burn areas could experience flash flooding, the forecast said.

Snow levels are expected to fall to between 4,500 and 5,500 feet by Saturday morning, which could affect the highest portions of the Santa Barbara County mountains and the Grapevine corridor.

The potential for significant snow and wind at higher elevations could bring a winter storm watch warning, forecasters said.

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/02/strong-rainstorm-expected-friday-in-southern-california.html

Saturday, February 13, 2010

River Chase IC LACOFD 126, BC 6 Going Defensive!

LACOFD BN 6 pulling all crews out of the building, going defensive, 11:04 asking for safety officer. 4,000 square foot 2 story building well involved out 2 additional hours.

Working Commercial Structure Fire LACOFD

Working Commercial Structure Fire, LACOFD 126, 29000 River Chase, Commercial Structure Fire 10:40 PM, BC 6 IC additional units on order. EPN 409

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Homes Destroyed In Mud Slide, Station Burn Area









La Canada CA:- A surprisingly intense winter storm triggered massive mudflows in the foothills early Saturday, overwhelming flood-control barriers as it damaged dozens of homes and smashed cars on fire-ravaged hillside communities.

While no serious injuries were reported, at least 43 homes were damaged, including nine that were red-tagged as uninhabitable.

Officials ordered at least 540 evacuations throughout La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta and parts of Acton - where hillsides had been stripped bare during last year's Station Fire.

Numerous homes have been completely destroyed by a wall of mud and debris as heavy rains caused the debris dam at the top of Ocean View Bl to over flow this morning. Strong thunderstorms over the Station burn area in the Angeles National Forest caused tremendous run off sending debris into homes in Paradise Valley in the 5400-5600 block of Ocean View Bl.

Los Angeles County Firefighters and County Public Works crews responded quickly to assist with damage assessment and removal of alluvium. Damage will be in the millions of dollars.

Photos and Information Copyright Jeff Zimmerman

Police Officer Injured in Crash



South Los Angeles: A Los Angeles County Law Enforcement Officer was treated by Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics for head trauma after he was rear ended by a hit and run driver at the intersection of Imperial and Normandie.
Photos copyright Jeff Zimmerman

Fire Destroys Littlerock CA Home


Firefighters from several fire stations in Littlerock and Palmdale were alerted to a fast moving fire in a single family dwelling at 9429 Ave S at approximately 01:45 am. Upon arrival firefighters found heavy smoke and fire inside the structure extending into the attic space. Firefighters quickly forced their way into the structure to search for trapped occupants while trying to extinguish the fire. It took units approximately 20 minutes to control the blaze and at least an hour to salvage the owners contents. Firefighters estimate that the loss to structure and contents is approximately $75,000.00.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Los Angeles County Sheriff and Fire Department personnel.

Photos and Information Jeff Zimmerman

Saturday Feb 6,2010