Windy Weather for the AV

A WEAKENING COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH THE REGION BY TONIGHT. A STRONG NORTHERLY JET BEHIND THE FRONT ALONG WITH A STRENGTHENING ONSHORE GRADIENT WILL BRING WIDESPREAD WINDY CONDITIONS TO THE REGION WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ANTELOPE VALLEY WHERE GUSTS TO AROUND 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. THESE WINDS WILL WEAKEN LATER ON FRIDAY...AND SHOULD SHIFT WEAKLY OFFSHORE BY EARLY NEXT WEEK AS A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE WEST COAST. VERY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED NEXT WEEK AS A RESULT.

Fatal Traffic Collision, Palmdale CA

Los Angeles County Firefighters from Fire Station 24 in Palmdale were summoned to a traffic accident with numerous reports of a person trapped at 15 Street West and Rancho Vista Blvd near the AV Shopping Mall at approximately midnight, Wednesday April 21, 2010. Upon arrival firefighters found one patient deceased, entrapped in a sport utility vehicle. The vehicle hit a street lighting pole and power utility box which sent debris at least 100 feet from the vehicle. Rancho Vista Blvd was closed for an extensive period of time. The accident is under investigation by Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and the County Coroners Office.

Remembering Oklahoma City, 15 Year Anniversary

Oklahoma City bombing 15th Anniversary, A very sad day of remembrance.
Oklahoma City Fire Capt. Chris Fields carries 1-year-old Baylee Almon from the Alfred Murrah Federal Building after it was bombed on April 19, 1995. The child died of her injuries. We are all reminded how fragile life really is.

Major Injury Accident, Lancaster CA

Monday April 4, 2010 Lancaster, CA. Los Angeles County Fire Department Paramedics responded to a traffic collision at Avenue I and Sierra Hwy. Two vehicles were involved, one driver was transported to a local hospital, the second driver was transported by paramedic helicopter to Holy Cross Providence Medical Center. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department is investigating the accident.

Photos Courtesy of Dave Mills/Dave Mills Photography, Member EPN
Copyright Dave Mills

Vehicle Fire North Bound 14 Freeway at Sierra Highway

Los Angeles County Fire Department sent a full wildland dispatch to a vehicle fire resulting from a motor vehicle accident on the North Bound 14 Freeway at Sierra Highway. Upon arrival firefighters found a passenger van well involved with fire and a small amount of grass burning along the 14 freeway. The driver of the van lost control of his vehicle when his tire blew out at freeway speeds thus leaving the freeway and bursting into flames.

Photos Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC

House Fire, 800 Block of J-8, Lancaster

A family was displaced this afternoon as a fire swept through their home in the 800 block of J-8 in Lancaster at approximately 4:30 pm. The fire destroyed much of the home and the families belongings. Units from Station 33, 117, 135, 129 and Battalion 11 in Lancaster controlled the fire in approximately 20 minutes, dollar loss is unknown at this time. The fire is under investigation by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Major Accident, Balboa IC

South Bound Interstate 5 at Balboa, 3 vehicles, 1 over turned, 5 patients, 3 trapped, possible critical injuries, LACOFD and LAFD 12:20 Hours EPN tac 1 LACOFD Blue 12 Heavy rain in Palmdale and extreme wind, winter storm warning.

Station Wildfire

click the link below, please wait for the dramatic video to load
Station Wildfire

Injury Traffic Accident 14 Freeway at Ave N

Los Angeles County Fire Department Paramedics responded to an injury traffic accident on the North Bound 14 Freeway at Ave N today at approximately 10:40 am. Upon arrival firefighters found a single vehicle accident with an injured occupant in the center median. The driver lost control of her vehicle when her tire blew out at freeway speeds and then struck the center median guard rail. Paramedics from Fire Station 129 and Squad 33 from Lancaster treated the woman with advanced life support measures including, spinal immobilization and intravenous fluids and transported her via AMR ambulance to a local hospital. The accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Traffic on the North Bound 14 was slowed to a crawl for about 30 minutes until the accident scene could be cleared.

Photos Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC, Photos protected by Copyright Laws

Earthquake, 5.5 Magnitude Baja, Southern Cal and Mexico

No damage reported in LA County at this time, the quake struck on Thursday April 8 at 09:44 hours. There was also a minor earthquake yesterday in San Luis Obispo County centered near Parkfield CA.

Major Earthquake Mexico 6.9

Baja Mexico hit with Major quake, EPN in Disaster Mode 409

Major Quake Southern Ca

Disaster Mode for EPN for Southern CA Earthquake

Traffic Collision Injures Four Children

Units from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, CHP and AMR responded to a report of a vehicle accident with an over turned vehicle on the North Bound 14 Freeway at Angeles Forest Highway this morning at approximately 08:00. Upon arrival Los Angeles County Engine 80 reported that he had a two vehicle accident with one trailer over turned and that he had four injured children who needed immediate ambulance transportation. Two ambulances, two additional engines and an additional paramedic squad were ordered. Four children were immobilized in full spinal precautions and were transported to local area hospitals.

Photos Copyright Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC.

Rookie Firefighter LODD, Bravery and Courage

Rookie firefighter killed by explosion in Ill. Firefighter Brian Carey had been on the job for less than two months

Duty Death: Brian Carey - [Homewood, Illinois]

By Kim Janssen, Rosemary Sobol and Kara Spak
The Chicago Sun-Times

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HOMEWOOD, Ill. — A rookie Homewood firefighter died in a Tuesday night house fire trying to rescue an elderly couple in a Homewood home.

Firefighter Brian Carey had been on the job for less than two months, his father Brian Carey said.

Brian Carey said his son had always wanted to be a firefighter and "was living the dream."

He was hired by Homewood into a full-time position just seven weeks ago, his father said.

"From the time he was a little boy it was his dream to be a fireman," he said.

Carey's family had tried to dissuade him from being a firefighter, and encouraged him to go to college, he said.

But when Carey, who initially trained as an ambulance driver, returned from college, he couldn't be stopped.

"He had that old South Side Irish feeling about a firefighter being a respectable job," his dad said.

Carey trained as a part-time firefighter in Roberts Park and other fire protection districts, and paid his own way through school, his dad said.

He'd also worked part time in Homewood before he was taken on permanently.

"He just loved the job," his dad said. "If there was a fire on a day when he was not working and he missed it, he was upset."

The rescue attempt

By FireRescue1 Staff

The department said in a press release Wednesday because of the extreme heat and the amount of fire burning inside the house, the sole occupant could not be reached and his body was located after entry could be made.

During the rescue attempt, firefighter paramedics Brian Carey and Karra Kopas were injured. Firefighter Carey succumbed to his injuries and passed away while at the hospital. Firefighter Kopas suffered first and second degree burns and is in stable condition at the University of Chicago Burn Center.

At a press conference, Homewood Fire Chief Grabowski stated that the fire is currently under investigation and no information is currently available regarding its cause or origin of the fire.

"This is the first casualty the Homewood Fire Department has ever Experienced," Chief Grabowski said. "We know that everyone is anxious to get answers about this situation, but, in the short term we may not have those answers."

Carey's father said his son did not know that there were oxygen tanks in the home when he was fighting the fire yesterday.

"They exploded and there was a flash, and he was gone instantly," he said.

Former Oak Park Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Duffy is a family friend of the Careys and remembers taking Carey to the fire house as a 5-year-old boy, showing him the fire engines and the pole and telling him war stories.

"He loved it even then," Duffy said. "I just wish I got to hear some of his stories, he was only getting started. He died a firefighter's death, trying to save someone's life."

Wendell Elias, 84, also died at the fire which broke out around 9 p.m. at 17622 Lincoln Ave., Homewood, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office and a Homewood Fire Department dispatcher. He was in a wheelchair when he was pulled from the home.

His wife escaped the blaze and was taken to a hospital, the fire officials said.

Another firefighter, a woman with the Homewood Fire Department, was listed in stable condition at the University of Chicago Medical Center this morning, a hospital spokesman said.

The elderly man, who was in a wheelchair when found by firefighters, died shortly after he was pulled out of his home, officials said.

Carey, of the 9200 block of South Richmond Street in Evergreen Park, was pronounced dead at 10:03 p.m. at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, according to the medical examiner's office.

Fire officials would not confirm whether the resident and the injured firefighters were burned when oxygen tanks inside the home exploded.

Carey attended Brother Rice High School and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, his family said.

He's the oldest of four children. His sisters Margaret and Annie and brother Kevin, and his mother Kathleen all also survive him.

A wake is planned for Monday.

Contributing: SouthtownStar, Sun-Times Media Wire

Republished with permission from the Sun-Times