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OCB JAN/FEB Newsletter
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1
Issue 1 Operations Central Bureau Jan/Feb 2016
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: 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.
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.
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.
CENTRAL Scene L
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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 much-
needed 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 semi-
desert area of mountains, canyons, ravines and basins. (See El Niño continued on page 2)
2
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 and
young children are at greater risk.
How do you prevent scald burns?
Use this checklist to make your home safer for you
family!
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
3
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.
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.
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
4
CENTRAL SCENE EVENTS 2016 Jan 1 New Year’s Day 16 American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign 18 Martin Luther King, Jr Day 24 Run To Remember—Los Angeles 30 Night on Broadway
Feb 13 117th Golden Dragon Parade & Chinese New Year Festival
14 Valentine’s Day 15 President’s Day
CENTRALScene L
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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 Boyle Heights 10 Convention Center District
3 Civic Center/Bunker Hill 14 Newton
4 Chinatown/Little Tokyo 17 Industrial Eastside
9 Central City 25 South Boyle Heights
88 On-Duty Personnel Daily
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 [email protected] 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.
For more information or to download a newsletter:
LAFD PROVIDES SANDBAGS 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 Fire Station 44 (Cypress Park) - 1410 Cypress Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Fire Station 47 (El Sereno) - 4575 Huntington Drive, Los 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