Weather Advisory,

A COLD AND VIGOROUS STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE AREA
WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. RAIN AND UNSEASONABLY LOW ELEVATION
SNOW IS EXPECTED. THERE IS EVEN AN CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON
THURSDAY.

Special advisory today, rip currents at local beaches.

Strong Winds Hamper Firefighters, Palmdale CA

Strong winds hampered firefighting efforts in Palmdale today as a routine vegetation fire became numerous 911 calls for an apartment house fire at the Shadow Mountain Apartments at 1240 East Ave S. 911 dispatchers received numerous frantic calls for help as a row of juniper bushes burning in the strong Antelope Valley wind extended embers and flames onto the dry wood siding of a large two story apartment complex. Flames quickly traveled up the wood siding, braking several windows and entered into the attic of the structure. Two apartments were damaged as firefighters moved quickly with attack hose lines to confine the fast spreading fire. The truck crew had to open the attic space to cut off the extension of the fire do to strong winds pushing the flames into the wrap around wooden mansard. Firefighters from LA County Stations 37, 80, 131 and BC 17 controlled the stubborn blaze in approximately 15 minutes. The occupants of the building used 10 on site fire extinguishers prior to the arrival of the County Fire Department but were unable to control the flames from lapping into the apartment complex. Dollar loss is unknown at this time, cause is under investigation by Los Angeles County Fire Department and Sheriff Departments.

Photos and Information, Copyright Jeff Zimmerman, So Cal Fire Journal

High Wind Warning in Effect for Tonight

HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER NEVADA WILL PUSH GUSTY WINDS INTO
THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES
LATER TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL
BE THROUGH AND BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
DECREASE SATURDAY AFTERNOON. Strong winds from 5 am to 11:00 am. 409 AOR tonight, Channel 1 after 19:00 Hours Until 06:00am

Offshore Winds for Friday and Saturday

WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO TURN OFFSHORE FRI NIGHT AND SAT...WITH GUSTY NE CANYON WINDS POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF VTU/L.A. COUNTIES. TEMPS ACROSS THE REGION ARE EXPECTED TO COOL TO SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW NORMAL IN MANY AREAS FOR THU BEFORE WARMING BACK UP TO NEAR NORMAL FRI AND A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL FOR SAT. FUEL MOISTURES ARE STILL HIGH BUT WITH THE WIND WILDFIRES STILL POSE A THREAT.

LAFD Structure Fire 13600 Vaughn

LAFD members from Task Forces 98 and 75 knocked down a commercial structure fire in the 13600 block of Vaughn Street this morning at approximately 05:22 am. LAFD Firefighters used rotory saws to gain access into the fire building as hoselines quickly extinguished the blaze. Unknown dollar loss. Photos Jeff Zimmerman.

Physical Rescue Assignment, LAFD

LAFD Task Force 15 upgraded this traffic accident on the east bound 10 Freeway at Hoover street to a physical rescue assignment after four patients were injured in a high speed multi car traffic collision in the early morning hours of March 19,2010 at approximately 02:00 am. The driver had to be cut out of the vehicle by Task Force 15 and Heavy Rescue 56 members. Two of the four patients were in critical condition after having to be extricated from the crushed sedan that struck the center divider. The well coordinated extrication took approximately 15minutes to complete with the assistance of Heavy Rescue 56. Photos Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC

TC 47th East and Barrel Springs LACOFD 80

A motorcyclist was injured today after he collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Barrel Springs RD and 47th Street East. Units from Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 80, AMR and the CHP responded to the accident around 2:15 pm today. The motorcyclist was transported by paramedics to the hospital for further medical evaluation. The accident is under investigation by the CHP. Photos Copyright Jeff Zimmerman, Emergency photographers Network.

ANF Chief 2 Retires

In a warm and befitting ceremony, John Thomas, Assistant Chief of the Angeles National Forest officially retired on Saturday evening, March 13, 2010. Hundreds of firefighters and family members welcomed John at his retirement ceremony at the Antelope Valley Fair Grounds as they shared war stories of bravery and courage covering a career of 33 years. Assistant Chief John Thomas service with the United States Forest Service started in 1977 during the Marble Cone Fire in Monterey County and ended with one of Los Angeles County's largest wildfire, the Station Fire. John worked tirelessly on the Texas Canyon Hot Shot Crew in Bouquet Canyon as both a Captain and Super Intendant, Chantry Helitac Fire Crew and eventually promoted to Assistant Chief of the Angeles National Forest. John had very humble beginnings as a gas station attendant near Valleyermo in his teenage years, but he had a great work ethic. Prior to coming to the United States Forest Service, John worked in the aircraft industry, but he longed for a more exciting and challenging career. Although not receiving much pay as a GS-2 Forestry Technician and working long hours in the summer heat, John found a new career fighting wildfires. For 33 years John instilled a strong work ethic into many firefighters across Southern California. Many Chief Officers and long term firefighters testified to John's leadership abilities over the years stressing the importance of protecting lives, property and natural resources across California and many of the Western States. John will be enjoying retirement, hunting, fishing, gardening and enjoying the company of his wife and children which are all long over due. John's son has followed in his fathers foot steps and now works for the Texas Canyon Hotshots.

Major Emergency Structure Fire, South LA

Major Emergency Structure Fire
1753 E. Slauson Ave.
South Los Angeles
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
TIME: 6:13 PM
INCIDENT #: 0947

On Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 6:13 PM, 24 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Rehab Unit, 1Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, along with LA County Fire Department and Vernon Fire Department, under the direction of Battalion Chief Armando Hogan responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 1753 E. Slauson Ave. in South Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover heavy smoke and fire showing from a 100 x 200 commercial building. Fire crews mounted a swift and offensive attack, as a light breeze fanned the fire which appeared to have originated just inside the occupancy. Wooden pallets exposed to the flames quickly caught fire outside the structure, which included an exposure to an adjacent building. A fierce attack commenced as the blaze grew in intensity. A subsequent roof collapse ensued as the fire engulfed the warehouse's lightweight roof.

Battalion Three Incident Commander Armando Hogan called for additional companies as well as for all operations to now go to a defensive mode of attack on this incident. Master streams were strategically placed to bring the volume of water necessary to attack the free-burning fire. Because of the wind and the concern for flying embers, personnel surrounded the stubborn flames with additional hand lines.

It took 153 firefighters just under one hour, before confining the wind-swept fire entirely within the occupancy of origin for a complete knockdown. One firefighter sustained a second degree burn to the neck from flying embers. He and was later transported to Sherman Oaks Burn Center in stable condition and is expected to recover. No civilians were injured during the fight.

The damage and cause of the blaze is still being tabulated and investigated.

DevinGales
Firefighter Paramedic/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
(213) 485-5162


Photos Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC.

Over Turned Vehicle, Two Injured, Palmdale CA

Los Angeles County Firefighters were summoned to a traffic accident at Tierra Subida and Rayburn Rd this afternoon at approximately 4:45 pm. Upon arrival firefighters from Stations 37 and 24 found an over turned car down a steep embankment near the Landfill at City Ranch Rd and Tierra Subida. Two occupants, probably teenagers lost control of the vehicle at what appears to be a high speed accident and went down a steep embankment and over turned. Firefighters quickly immobilized both patients for possible neck and back injuries do to the mechanism of the crash. Both patients were transported by AMR EMT's and County Fire Department Paramedics to a local hospital for medical treatment. The accident scene is under investigation by Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputies.

Photos and Information Copyright, Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC, So Cal Fire Journal.

Mobile Home Destroyed by Fire, Lancaster CA

Smoke billowed over east Lancaster this morning as Los Angeles County Firefighters responded to a reported fire at Linn Way and Ave I at approximately 10:30 this morning. Upon arrival, firefighters from County Station 117 found a structure fire at 1717 East Ave I in the Blue Skies Mobile Home Park. Upon arrival, firefighters found that a single wide mobile home was fully engulfed in flames and had spread to two adjoining occupancies. The occupants were not injured but were severely distraught by the blaze. Five engine companies and a ladder truck company from County Stations 117, 135, 134, 129, 33 and Battalion 11 aggressively attacked the fire and had the fire contained in approximately 20 minutes. An ambulance from AMR responded to take care of the distraught homeowners. A woman and several children have been rendered aid by the American Red Cross since their home and entire contents were destroyed by the fire. Firefighters estimate the damage at approximately 80,000 dollars. The fire is under investigation by Los Angeles County Fire Investigators as to the origin and cause of the fire.

Photos and Information Copyright, Zimmerman Media LLC, Jeff Zimmerman

Structure Fire Lancaster

It took 20 minutes for LA County Firefighters from Fire Station 33, 117, 135, 129 in Lancaster CA to control a house fire at 44608 Stanridge St. At approximately 09:15 pm, multiple calls to 911 were received reporting that a house was on fire at 2nd street and Nugent streets. Upon arrival firefighters encountered fire and dense smoke inside of the vacant home at 44608 Stanridge. Nevertheless firefighters searched the home twice to make sure that nobody was left inside. Captain Cook of County Fire Station 33 stated that the entire interior of the home is a total loss with damages exceeding 80,000 to the structure. The fire is under investigation by LA County Sheriff and Fire Department Investigators.

Photos and information, Jeff Zimmerman, EPN
Emergency Photographers Network

Wind Driven Wildfire, Palmdale CA

Los Angeles County Fire Department responded a full wildland fire assignment to a stubborn 4 acre wildfire that was being fanned by 30 MPH winds today on Barrel Springs Rd at 25th Street East in Palmdale. A bystander saw a motorcyclist fleeing the area shortly after the fire started this morning. Units from Stations 80, 37, 131, 24, 136, Copter 16 a modern fire hawk helicopter and several camp crews contained the fire to less than 5 acres. No homes were damaged in the fire.

Photos Copyright Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC

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