LAFD Tenaciously Works to Save Pet Dog, Owner Shares Story

LOS ANGELES - On September 2, 2013, Los Angeles Firefighters tenaciously work to free a pet dog that was stuck. The loving owner shares her story and what she learned with others.

Samantha (fictitious name) began winding down from Labor Day and came into her backyard to find her dog Curry, a five year-old golden retriever, sadly with her head securely stuck in a pipe at the bottom of a barbecue smoker. 

"The top was covered with a metal lid, the door was latched, and the whole thing was covered with a BBQ cover. How she ever got herself into that situation is baffling." - Samantha

Curry, with her keen nose, sniffed her way to the barbecue and inside the large pipe on the bottom, getting her head stuck inside and her body outside the drum. The homeowner, unable to free their beloved pet, called upon their veterinarian and the Los Angeles Fire Department for help.

The barbecue oven, is somewhat elaborate and proved to create a rather extensive challenge for firefighters to remove her. Here's why...

It is large, heavy and dense, 35" high with a 13" opening in the top, with a 5" thick ceramic interior and a 1/4" thick stainless steel exterior. At the bottom is a 5" pipe that draws air in allowing the user to smoke meat over a long period of time. 

Firefighters from Station 71 quickly arrived and rapidly worked to remove the frantic dog. Shortly thereafter, firefighters from Station 88 assisted, including Urban Search & Rescue Specialists. While monitoring their radios for any emergency 9-1-1 calls in the area, they worked as a team, utilizing various tools from a shop-vac, pneumatic air chisel, to specialized hydraulic cutters and spreaders, for 1 1/2 hours until the conscious but fading Curry was freed.

Once out, he was quickly secured and transported by private auto with the veterinarian to their hospital for further evaluation. She seemed to have promising vital signs.

Today we received a very considerate email, however it saddened our day. Curry, described as a "smart, funny, beautiful and joyous dog"... who "quickly won our hearts", passed away at the veterinarian hospital, despite their outstanding efforts.

Even though there was a tragic ending to this incident, Samantha took the time to write these words which she agreed to share. 

"The only reason Curry had a fighting chance to improve at the hospital, was because of the quick response, capability, determination, leadership, teamwork and kindness shown by the numerous firefighters who came to rescue her. I saw how hard they worked for about 1 1/2 hours with a nearly impossible situation, and how they were able to free her. When they needed more help they didn't hesitate to call for more help. They gave her water, oxygen, tried to get her head back through the pipe, and when they realized it wasn't possible, they cut through 1/4" stainless steel and cut away the 3" thick wall of clay, cut through the 1/4" thick stainless metal pipe, used the jaws of life to pry apart the metal, all the while vacuuming up the clay dust created in the oven so that she could breathe. There was the firefighter who kept her calm through the whole ordeal. I can't tell you how impressed I was with the attention every one of the firefighters gave to our dog and how careful they were with her. Our family will forever be thankful for all that the brave firefighters did to help Curry, and that they persevered so that she didn't die in that situation in front of our young teenage sons."  

Samantha went on to share this humble teachable lesson that we felt would be of benefit...

"There are several things I have learned from this that I hope might help other pet owners. The first is to carefully go over your BBQ area where there has been cooking even from a month prior as I believe was in our case, that might be of interest to a pet, and see if there is any danger to a pet. Even if you can't imagine your dog putting her head through a small hole or pipe, if there is the smell of food involved, she may just be tempted enough to do it. Or, she could run into the same problem chasing a lizard or small animal. A fixed metal mesh in our case covering the pipe would have been good. The little metal door covering the vent wasn't enough; Curry figured out how to unlatch it."

"The other thing I learned is that heat stroke is a huge risk to a dog and has irreversible problems associated with it. Since they can't sweat as humans do, and they have all that fur, they regulate their heat by panting. In our case, even though it was late afternoon and Curry was in the shade, lying on cool bricks, and the surrounding air wasn't hot, Curry still had problems cooling herself which I hadn't appreciated. Breathing was difficult for her... and the shock of what was going on was likely raising her temperature... I plan to explore ways I could have helped her to keep her temperature down so that I may help if I ever encounter another similar situation. I have read that lukewarm but not cold water... and also a fan could help... I welcome any thoughts or suggestion as I know I can always learn more."

Your Los Angeles Firefighters encourage that while surveying your home for National Preparedness Month take simple steps to ensure it is Pet Safe from other unforseen incidents.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Sends Command Staff to Assist with Oklahoma City Tornado

OKLAHOMA CITY - A member of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Command Staff was sent to assist those affected by the devastating tornado in Oklahoma City.

On May 20, at 3:56 pm EDT, a tornado developed near Newcastle, OK (pop. 7,847) and swiftly moved ENE across Moore (pop. 56,315) before dissipating at 4:36 pm EDT. The tornado was reported to be a mile wide with winds of at least 166 mph creating widespread damage and casualties.

In support of the national response to the events that occurred in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan areas of Moore and Newcastle, one member of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Command Staff has been activated and is being sent to Oklahoma as a member of FEMA’s overhead command team. California Task Force One (CA-TF1) has not been activated. However, LAFD Urban Search and Rescue Teams are standing by.

For more than two decades, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has helped organize and support a system of regional Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Forces available for mobilization by State and Federal government on an as-needed basis.

Comprised of specially trained and equipped local firefighters and other certified responders, this nationwide network of 28 FEMA USAR Task Forces includes eight in the Golden State, two of which are maintained here in Los Angeles County (CA-TF1: Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) & CA-TF2: Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), similar sounding but separate organizations).

The LAFD along with FEMA urge residents in impacted areas to listen carefully to instructions from their local officials and take the recommended protective measures to safeguard life and property while response efforts continue. Listen to state, local and tribal officials who ask you to remain in shelters, homes or safe places until they give the “all clear” to travel. Roads are very likely to be damaged or blocked by debris, and traffic jams slow emergency managers and first responders as they attempt to reach hard-hit areas.

We encourage individuals in the affected areas following a disaster to monitor local radio, TV stations, the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov or a NOAA weather radio for the latest weather and emergency information.

We strongly remind all that NOW is the time to get prepared for tornadoes and other disasters such as earthquakes that threaten the Los Angeles area.

There are tools and resources available online to help you prepare for, respond to and recover from any type of disaster. Visit www.ready.gov to learn more. The Spanish language site – listo.gov. Those with a Blackberry, Android or Apple device can download the FEMA app to access safety tips, shelter locations, and more.

Member's of the Los Angeles Fire Department hearts go out to those affected by the devastating tornado and we tip our helmets to all First Responders, particularly those bravely assisting in Oklahoma this week, which is National Emergency Medical Services Week (May 19-25, 2013).

Members of the Media are welcome to visit Fire Station 88 today, May 21, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM to view members of CA-TF1 practice.

UPDATE (May 21, 2013 1:43 PM): Federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Oklahoma in the area affected by severe storms and tornadoes since May 18, 2013. Individuals and families impacted can apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.


Moore, Okla., May 25, 2013 -- Moore Emergency Manager Gayland Kitch, right and Officer Eric Thomas survey the damage where Thomas' home once stood prior to the recent tornado. Photo by: Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA

Three important things for YOU & YOUR FAMILY to think about:

1) How will you locate loved ones during an emergency? After a disaster, phone lines may get congested. To get in contact with friends and family, use text messaging services and update social media networks. Try American Red Cross Safe and Well website.

2) How can you help children cope with disasters? Disasters can leave children feeling frightened, confused and insecure. Whether a child has personally experienced trauma, or has seen the event on television or has heard it discussed by adults, it is important for parents and teachers to be informed and ready to help if reactions to stress begin to occur. Click here for more information.

3) How to clean up and return home after a disaster? After a disaster strikes, use extreme caution when returning home. You may be anxious to see your property but do not return to your home before the area is declared to be safe by local officials. Click here to learn what to do before entering your home.

If you feel moved to help the disaster victims, the State of Oklahoma has donation information available at OKStrong.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department

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Firefighters Rescue Man Trapped in Pacific Palisades Trench, 2nd Victim Beyond Help

PACIFIC PALISADES - Los Angeles Firefighters rescued a man buried in a dirt trench, however a second construction worker was beyond medical help on March 14, 2013.

At 1:34 p.m. firefighters quickly arrived at the 200 block of Temescal Canyon Road where they found an approximate 20' long u-shaped trench, ranging from 110" to 10' wide, and up to 15' deep. Inside the trench, one man was buried nearly up to hips, conscious but unable to escape, and another man buried up to his chest, unconscious and non-breathing. The two workers were from a privately contracted company, working for the city on a storm water project. They were excavating the ground with back-hoes.

With LAFD Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams and LAFD Heavy Rescue Unit proactively assigned to the initial response, Firefighter/Dispatchers also summoned large vacuum trucks from the City's Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation to assist with efficient soil removal.

Safely, speedily and with well-practiced efficiency, LAFD trench rescue equipment, medical gear and personnel were relayed to the site. The dirt was promptly shored to protect both the patient and responders.

Firefighters worked to remove the trapped as rapidly as safely possible during this dangerous and delicate operation, making sure not to compromise the safety of the trapped victims or of the firefighters rescuing them. Careful attention was paid to shoring the dirt, minimizing unnecessary movement around the trench, and taking continuous precautions to ensure there was no further collapse.

Just before 3:00 p.m., the first victim a was safely rescued and transported via ground ambulance to an awaiting LAFD helicopter at Will Rogers Beach parking lot. He was then transported to UCLA hospital in serious but stable condition.

Firefighters then concentrated on an extended operation to remove the second adult male victim that remained buried to his chest, unconscious and non-breathing.

Declaring the man deceased, rescuers - still together as a team, transitioned from 'Rescue Mode' to 'Recovery Mode', beginning the dolorous recovery of the man's remains. With the continued enhanced shoring of trench walls and key safety procedures in place, firefighters commenced a precise rotation of personnel for the labor-intensive effort of exhuming the man's body.

More than nine hours after they were first summoned, a total of 90 Los Angeles Firefighters, all under the command of Battalion Chief Al Ward, removed the man from the trench in a dignified and respectful manner, placing his remains in custody of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

A positive identification of the deceased, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of his death will be determined by the Coroner's Office.

Representatives from the City of Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety joined Cal/OSHA Investigators and LAPD at the scene. Also the Mayor's Crisis Response Team provided on-scene crisis intervention, and attended to urgent victim and family comfort needs.

Dispatched Units: E23 RA23 E269 T69 E263 T63 HR56 EM9 BC9 T88 UR88 T5 E205 UR5 BC4 E59 E88 BC18 E5 DC3 RA69 RA62 EM18 RA88 BC731 H5 E90 RH114 JT5 RA867 RA803 RT59 T27 E227 UR27 DT2

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Man Dies When Trench Collapses in Beverly Hills

BEVERLY HILLS - Despite the rapid response of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills Firefighters to a residential construction site in Benedict Canyon, a worker died Thursday after becoming entombed beneath tons of soil when the trench he was in collapsed.

The 9-1-1 call from coworkers came to the Los Angeles Fire Department at 3:34 PM on Thursday, May 10, 2012, bringing the swift and coordinated response of scores of rescuers to 1265 Benedict Canyon Drive at the border of the two cities.

Though the unwitnessed collapse of the backyard excavation may have happened as many as twenty minutes prior to being discovered, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills Firefighters worked side-by-side with vigor and focus to stabilize the scene and effect rescue, as the Los Angeles Fire Department's municipal Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) units rushed to the scene.

After many minutes of skilfull teamwork attempting to expose the buried man, his situation was deemed incompatible with life, and a sullen transition was made to recovery operations that would continue into the next day. It was at this time that a survey of the address determined the incident to be within the City of Beverly Hills.

In full support and subordinate to the Beverly Hills Fire and Police Departments, the LAFD assigned dozens of personnel, including USAR specialists, who labored throughout the night to assure the safe and dignified recovery of the man's remains from the reportedly eight foot deep trench.

A positive identification of the deceased man, to include the cause, time and manner of his death will be determined by the Coroner's office. Questions regarding the presence, need or man's use of safety equipment and approved worksite procedures remain within the purview of Cal/OSHA Investigators.

Further information regarding the incident - including the considerable efforts of BHFD responders, must be obtained from Beverly Hills authorities, who maintain command of such personnel and jurisdictional authority of the incident location.

Dispatched LAFD Units: E99 RA99 E58 E292 T92 HR56 EM14 BC9 T88 E288 UR88 RA88 T89 E289 BC10 E61 E88 UR89 T27 E227 E27 RA27 RA827 BC5 UR27 DC3 AR7 LO1 RA890 BC731 E3 T3 E203 UR3 E89 T89 E289 RA89 RA3 RA803

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD and Cal/OSHA Stress Confined Space Awareness

SHERMAN OAKS - The California Department of Industrial Relations' (DIR) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) teamed up this week with the Los Angeles Fire Department to educate employers and employees on the dangers of working in confined spaces.

Confined spaces are enclosed spaces that can be entered by workers, but have limited openings for entry or exit, and are not designed for continuous worker occupancy. Common examples include tanks, silos, pipelines, sewers, storage bins, drain tunnels and vaults.

Cal/OSHA's comprehensive program and partnership with the LAFD was sparked by seven preventable confined space deaths and numerous injuries across California in 2011 – including a multi-patient incident at a Los Angeles pharmaceutical firm.

To learn more about confined space hazards and steps you can take to prevent needless workplace tragedy, visit:

www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/confinedspace

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Confined Space Rescue Frees Two Workers

HARBOR CITY - Two workers performing routine maintenance in a large underground tank, were rescued today after one fell and was injured, and the other followed him down trying to try to help.

At 12:06 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a "Confined Space Rescue" at 3171 North Gaffey Street near Harbor City. A large response was dispatched and even more resources were called to the scene, when it was confirmed that two male employees were approximately 27 feet below ground and in need of help. The incident would require a very technical rescue to be performed by the LAFD's Urban Search & Rescue Team.


Once all technical aspects of this emergency operation were addressed and assembled by the nearly 80 personnel on-scene, two Firefighter/Specialists "made entry" and descended into the "50,000 barrel, fuel-storage tank." A 21 year-old, male employee was found conscious at the bottom of the tank with an injury to one of his lower extremities. He had apparently lost his balance attempting to install a piece of equipment in the tank, resulting in the fall. A male co-worker, of approximately the same age, was not injured as he attempted to assist in his colleague's misfortune. Once rescued, both were evaluated, treated and then transported to a local hospital for further observation.

While the entire incident took much longer, the "Confined Space Rescue" was accomplished in just over one hour. There were no other injuries reported.

Dispatched Units:
E38 RA38 E48 RA64 T48 E248 HR56 EM11 BC4 E85 T5 E205 RA5 UR88 BC6 E64 E285 E5 EM6 DC2 SQ21 RA85 BC11 EM9 EM11 LO1 E49 RA57 H6 RM2 CM2 E21 SU1


Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Demonstrates their Preparedness for Earthquakes & Radiation Incidents

On Friday, May 6, 2011, The Los Angeles Fire Department’s Urban Search & Rescue Team will be conducting a disaster mobilization exercise that will task emergency responders during an Earthquake scenario. This Urban Search & Rescue team, formally known as California Task Force 1 (CA-TF1), will utilize Hazardous Materials Squads, Rescue and K-9 teams and work in a simulated earthquake environment that has been contaminated by radiation.


CA-TF1 is an elite Urban Search & Rescue team, comprised of two 80-member teams of men and women who are highly trained to conduct search and rescue operations in the most extreme conditions. They have responded across the nation to catastrophic events such as New York City for the 9-11 attacks, Salt Lake City for the 2002 winter Olympic games, the Gulf coast for both Hurricane’s Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. CA-TF1’s Canine team also responded to the Oklahoma City bombing.


CA-TF1 would like to invite members of the media to learn more about this team and how LAFD is prepared. The Media will be given direct access to rescue locations for filming and interviews starting at 6:30a.m. The scheduled Press Conference will take place at 08:00 a.m.

Friday, May 6, 2011 6:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m.

Location: LAFD US&R Building

5101 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, Ca. 91403

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD USAR Team Removes Hard-to-Reach Graffiti

At 9:00AM on Thursday April 8th, the Los Angeles Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team will come-to-the-rescue and help cleanup graffiti on the historic Eagle Rock. Why you ask?

Traditional removal methods have been deemed too dangerous for City workers. Therefore LAFDs elite USAR Team will remove this precarious paint from the 150 foot high famous rock as part of our training.

This graffiti cleanup comes from the urging of citizens, Council Member Jose Huizar along with the Department of Recreation and Parks, all of whom will be on hand for this undertaking.

It was hoped that recent rains would have washed away the vandalism from the south side of this well-known rock, unfortunately the down-pour just faded the paint. At a loss of anything else that could be done, efforts turned to the Fire Department for assistance. The LAFD agreed, pointing out that the removal could be used as part of our required training exercises. This creative solution helps restore a cultural landmark at no additional cost to the city.

"We cannot say enough how appreciate we are of the fire department for working with us to make this happen. They said yes the moment we asked them without hesitation."-Councilmember Huizar's Staff.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department

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