April 29, 1986: Firefighters - Not Fiction - at LA's Central Library

Each time a member of your Los Angeles Fire Department walks into the magnificent Los Angeles Central Library, they take reverent pause to consider how easily it could have disappeared - all of it - but for the work of more than 350 of their Brothers and Sisters who gave their utmost on an April day in 1986.


The next time you visit the Central Library, hopefully for a free public tour, along with the magnificent art and architecture, we hope you'll take a moment to view the plaque on the north wall just inside the Library's Flower Street entrance. There you will find the names of every firefighter described in this official correspondence...

"On the morning of April 29, 1986, one of the most challenging structure fires in the history of the Los Angeles Fire Department occurred at the Los Angeles Central Library, 630 West 5th Street.

Extinguishing this blaze required sixty fire companies, nine rescue ambulances, two helicopters, forty command officers and support personnel, a complement of over 350 Firefighters and Paramedics, and assistance from virtually every element of the Department.

Extinguishing this blaze was accomplished by the maximum commitment of bravery, courage, and determination to succeed by all those 350 members.

The members of this department performed beyond the expectations of many and through their combined efforts defied the predictions that this fire could not be extinguished short of a total loss.

Those members assigned on the historic Central Library Fire have, by their actions, set a new mark for the reputation of the Los Angeles City Fire Department by limiting the potential of a $160 million loss to $22 million in structure and contents fire damage.

These members are to be commended for their bravery, courage, determination and outstanding effort in controlling the loss to this precious resource of the City of Los Angeles."

DONALD O. MANNING
Chief Engineer and General Manager
Los Angeles City Fire Department

On April 29,1986, the mammoth Los Angeles Central Library was ablaze. Before the fire was extinguished, 7 hours and 38 minutes had passed as the men and women of LAFD battled one of the most remarkable structure fires in American history.

Approximately 45% of the on-duty Fire Department resources were committed to the fire. Fifty Fire Department members were treated for injuries with twenty-eight members requiring transport to medical facilities. Amazingly, there were no deaths or critical injuries and only one minor civilian injury.

To read, in chronological order, the amazing events that took place from the receipt of the alarm at 10:52 AM until "Knock Down" of the flames at 6:30 PM, please click on the link below:

LAFD Report on the Central Library Fire of April 29, 1986

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

LAFD Explains Brush Clearance Process in Los Angeles

The residents of Los Angeles and those who protect them are no strangers to wildfire. Wildland blazes within LAFD's jurisdiction are well known - and for many, unforgettable.

Historical and Hurtful...

Along with conflagrations like the Sayre and Bel-Air wildfires that took hundreds of homes, or the week-long Fire of '38 that scorched vast expanses of land, wildfire in our City has also taken lives, such as the La Tuna Canyon wildfire that killed our Brother James Catlow, and the horrific Griffith Park Brush Fire during the depression, which is believed to have killed more firefighters than any wildfire in our nation's history.

And so it is with a penchant for our City's past and devotion to our fallen colleagues, that members of your Los Angeles Fire Department set out in earnest this time of year to inform those we serve about the danger of wildfire. It is also a time for us to enforce the City's long-standing Brush Clearance Regulations...

Owners Self Inspection:

We ask property owners in the City of Los Angeles to compare their native brush and landscape vegetation with information at the LAFD Brush Clearance Unit website:

lafd.org/brush
Property owners who are unable to do this themselves are encouraged to hire a professional who can both understand the information and apply it to their property.

Property must be cleaned as required prior to May 1st so that it can pass the 1st Fire Department Inspection, thus avoiding a time consuming 2nd Inspection, which leads to a costly 3rd Inspection.

We wish to emphasize that there is no need to call for an inspection, as an LAFD computer system keeps track of all properties. The appropriate Inspector is automatically notified when your property is in need of an Inspection.

1st Inspection:

The first inspection is done by the LAFD Brush Task Force, beginning the first week in May and continuing for six weeks until all 179,451 parcels in the brush zone have been inspected. Parcels found to be non-compliant are issued a Notice of Violation. The homeowner or person responsible has 15 days to comply with the Notice of Violation.

2nd Inspection:

Those issued a Notice of Violation on the 1st inspection will be inspected a 2nd time after the 15 day period to comply has passed.

If the property is then found to be in compliance, the owner will receive notification from the LAFD Brush Unit. If the property is not fully in compliance the owner will be notified via mail and the property will be assigned to the Area Inspector. The Area Inspector will then take pictures of the non-compliant parcel and create a package that will be presented to City brush clearance contractors for bid.

We wish to again emphasize there is no need to call the Brush Unit when your are ready for this inspection. It will happen automatically, and you will be mailed the findings.

3rd Inspection:

When a third inspection is required there is an automatic fee assessed to the property owner for the amount of $352. The fee is applied even if the property is found to be compliant as a result of this inspection. The fee is for an Inspector making a trip to the property for a third time.

The property should have been in compliance by the 1st inspection and no later than the 2nd inspection!

If your property fails a 3rd Inspection...

Property not in compliance with LAFD Brush Clearance Requirements following the 3rd inspection will be cleared by Fire Department order. The property owner will then be charged for the cost of clearance, PLUS the $352 3rd Inspection Fee, PLUS a $938 Administrative Fee.

Failure to clear your property in accordance with regulations in a timely fashion is not only expensive, but endangers the lives and homes of your neighbors and the firefighters who protect them.

To learn more, please visit:

lafd.org/brush

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

70 Years Ago Today: LAFD Suffers First World War II Casualty

Members of your Los Angeles Fire Department are proud to serve a purpose greater than themselves. Of the many active-duty LAFD members called to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, nine nobly gave their lives during our Second World War.

The first of those brave men died Seventy Years Ago Today...

First LAFD War Casualty

John M. Randall

JOHN M. RANDALL KILLED IN CRASH OF PLANE WHILE TRAINING NEAR SHREVEPORT, LA., FIELD

The Los Angeles Fire Department suffered it first war casualty when Staff Sergeant John M. Randall lost his life near Shreveport, La. The army bomber in which he was serving as bombardier-navigator, crashed while on a training flight from Barksdale Field where he was stationed. The accident occurred the morning of April 19, 1943.

John Randall joined the Los Angeles Fire Department May 10, 1941. After completing his training at the department drill tower he served his probation in a number of companies in district eleven. He served the major portion of his time with the department at Engine Company 11, at 1819 West Seventh Street.

Joining the United States Army July 29, 1942, he requested and received appointment to the Army Air Corps. At Las Vegas, Nev., Randall received training in Gunnery School. Upon completion there he was transferred to Carlsbad, N.M., where he went through training of both bombardier and navigator schools. He was then transferred to Barksdale Field, Louisiana, and promoted to Staff Sergeant. He was undergoing further training at the time of the crash.

John Randall was born February 4, 1917, ironically, during the early fury of World War I. He is survived by his father, three brothers, and three sisters, most of them living in the Middle Western states. One sister, Mrs. Irene Taylor, lives in Los Angeles. A brother Marvin, is a member of the Army Coast Artillery, stationed at Seattle, Wash.

In 1934, young Randall graduated from Jennings High School and lived with his father until 1936. In May of that year he joined the Civilian Defense Corps. spending six months in Oberlin, Kan., and six months at Salmon City, Idaho. For about a year he worked in Denver, Colo., and then spent a time in a logging camp in Oregon. Later he migrated to Los Angeles and, after a short time, joined the Fire Department.

Every station at which young Randall worked, the reaction of all the members to him was just the same. In the parlance of the engine house, John was a "right guy." Cheerful and willing, he was always ready to do even more than his share of the work around quarters. At a fire, if there was any choice, he was always in there taking the hot, or heavy work. With a smile that was infectious, he had a spirit that seemed to buoy anyone up that was around him. In the short time he was with the fire service he gained many friends around the department. They will miss him. When war was declared, like many another, he was visibly affected. Repeatedly he said "The least I can do is to get in there and help. His patriotism was intense and sincere. As many American lads already have, and as many will yet do, John Randall gave his life that America might defeat her enemies and once again bring freedom and sanity back to the world.

My fighting days were started
On a bright December morning
When the Japanese attacked us
Without a word of warning.

When all the shooting started
I was a peaceful man;
But now I'll go down fighting,
A defender of our land.

When Uncle Sammy told us
Some Gunners he would need,
I listened to his pleading,
And to his word, took heed.

Now a Gunner has a tough job,
No glory will he get,
But a Yankee Gunner never
Has run from danger yet.

So I listened not to rumors
that said I was a fool,
For when it comes to shooting
A Yank is sure to rule.

So I became a Gunner,
Through study and hard work;
For now I had a duty
Which I had no wish to shirk.

And when it is all over,
I'll know I've done my part;
And I'll come flying home again
With peace inside my heart.
By Staff Sergeant John M. Randall
474th Bomb Squadron
Barksdale Field, La.

# # #

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

LAFD Fire Station 29 Celebrates Its Centennial with a Pancake Breakfast

We are proud to say that tomorrow, Tuesday April 16, 2013, Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Station 29, proudly serving Wilshire Center and Hancock Park areas, will turn 100 years-old. Join LAFD Fire Chief Brian Cummings, Board of Fire Commissioners, Councilmember Tom LaBonge and local firefighters, in celebrating the Centennial of the 1913 formation of Engine Company 29, and the opening of the original Western Avenue station at the "new" firehouse located at 4029 Wilshire Boulevard.

Members of the public are encouraged to visit. The event will be marked with a good, old-fashioned firefighters' pancake breakfast and provide a great chance for all to talk about the "ol days" with 29's alumni along with those presently assigned. Fire Station 29 is known for perennially producing some of the LAFD's finest. Congratulations 29's!

April 16, 2013

8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

4029 Wilshire Blvd,

Los Angeles, CA 90010

 

 

The history of the Los Angeles Fire Department is one of the most unique and inspiring in U.S. fire service history. An all-volunteer department for nearly two decades in the mid 19th Century, the department became an official agency of the City of Los Angeles on February 1, 1886. We encourage you to learn more about your LAFD by visiting your neighborhood station.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

15 Years Ago Today: A Mourning Like No Other...

Fifteen Years Ago Today...

TELETYPE MESSAGE FROM FIRE ADMINISTRATION

03/23/98 12:19:32

S P E C I A L   N O T I C E

MARCH 23, 1998

EARLY THIS MORNING, LAFD UNITS RESPONDED TO A TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT SUNLAND AND WHEATLAND IN FS-24’S DISTRICT. THEY REQUESTED AN AIR AMBULANCE TO TRANSPORT A 12-YEAR-0LD FEMALE PATIENT TO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL. FIRE-3 RESPONDED WITH A PILOT AND TWO HELITAC PERSONNEL FROM FS-90. TWO FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDICS FROM RA-81 WERE ON BOARD PROVIDING TREATMENT. WHILE REROUTE TO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, THE HELICOPTER CRASHED...

The Eternal Scar
by Nicholas Reiner

March 23rd, an ordinary day, just one to forget.
Maybe for you, but not for me, not yet.
I was changed that morning, changed in my soul and my heart,
A morning for me that will stand apart
My Dad died that day doing what he did best
Saving lives without much rest.
The helicopter--the cradle of life had rudder failure and started to descend.
The girl in the chopper dying, my dad and others gave a hand to lend.
The aircraft was lost, my Dad lost with it.
I was thunderstruck, shocked, and utterly sad
That my life had taken this turn because of the loss of my Dad
I didn't know what to think, or say
I experienced nothing but sadness that horrible day.
I was left without a father to guide me on my way.
Left without a leader, I began to sway
Back and forth with a question I had
Why did God choose to take my Dad?
Why me, why him, why o why?
What would my life be like if he were here, alive?
How would I have been, what would I have done?
Would I have been a good or bad son?
I'll never know, because I can't change the past
This is why my memories and prayers must last
One of his favorite quotes was "Always take the high road."
Well, when I think of him I ponder this quote.
And I think that if he died to save then I can stand up and be brave
Face my fears, and take up my crosses
Accept hardship, and deal with my losses
I am scarred forever because he died
Unable to forget what is contained inside
This wound, once open and throbbing without control
Now silent, numbed, a deep meaningful hole
Eternally present, once only pain,
Now death gives way to hopeful gain
A tear, a smothered cry, anguished undenied
Find here a knowing, a caring and warmth supplied
The day is gone, the scar will stay
His courage, now mine, will lead the way.
Please take a moment to learn about the gallant crew of Fire 3;

...and when time permits, join us in visiting their memorial:


View Larger Map and Directions to the Fire 3 Memorial Site

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

LAFD Highlights Contributions of Black Firefighters

During February, the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department ask you to join them in recognizing the many societal contributions of African-Americans, including those who now and in the past have proudly served as firefighters.

To better understand the struggle and pioneering efforts of black firefighters in our nation - and specifically at the Los Angeles Fire Department, we encourage you to visit:
http://www.legeros.com/history/ebf/national.shtml
www.lafire.com/black_ff/black.htm
To gain personal insight into the proud history of black firefighters, we suggest that you and your family visit the African American Firefighter Museum in Los Angeles:

www.aaffmuseum.org
For information on the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters and LAFD Stentorians:
www.iabpff.org
www.stentorians.org
We hope these informative links spark your interest in the proud heritage of African-Americans, their many contributions to the Fire Service - and therefore our communities.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

100 Years Ago Today Los Angeles Firefighters Battled the Famous Brennan Hotel Fire

We would like to share a story with you that turns 100 years-old today. Not just any story. A story that is one of the most talked about fires in the history of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

A fire so vicious it injured 30 rugged firemen, burying five, and nearly cost the Chief of the Department his life. A fire where chorus girls in makeup rewarded exhausted firemen with kisses as they exited the smoke-filled building. A fire where likely more pictures were taken than any other fire in the horse drawn era (1877-1921). A fire so fierce it inspired the instant making of a movie. A fire where the Los Angeles Mayor actually pulled hose-line, and thousands of spectators powerlessly watched wide eyed.

This is a story like no other, and just when everyone thought the flames were out...

Los Angeles Examiner
January 24, 1913

Fed by paints, oils and wallpaper of the stock of the Los Angeles Wallpaper and Paint Company, at 529 South Main street, a fire, discovered shortly before 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, swept from top to bottom of the five-story building with the fierceness of flames in a furnace, inflicting a loss of about $100,000 and furnishing a thrilling spectacle to many thousands of persons during the stubborn fight which lasted till nightfall before the firemen had conquered. The fire started in the rear part of the ground floor of the paint company's store, but the cause of it is not known. As soon as Chief Eley arrived he saw the seriousness of the menace and a second and a third alarm followed in rapid succession, until all of the fire companies of the central portion of the city were massed in the struggle to keep the flames within the four walls and save what could be saved from the burning building.

Fire Chief Eley, but lately risen from a sick bed, led his men with persistent courage, forcing his way again and again into the gas-choked basement and the first floor, until a final venture into the death tap almost cost him his life.

An explosion of turpentine casks had thrown a group of firemen out through a basement entrance and had covered another group with a mass of wallpaper from shattered shelving. Immediately following the rescue of these men, just before 5 o'clock, Chief Eley, who had already fainted twice from exertion and exposure to choking fumes, made his way from the rear alley forward through the basement, determined to learn personally if there were other stocks of explosive oils that would endanger the lives of his firemen. 

Presently the absence of the chief was noticed, and a dozen firemen began a frantic search for him.

Firemen J. Reyes of Engine Company No.5 came upon the chief, lying unconscious on the basement floor about 35 feet from the Main street front.

Reyes picked Chief Eley up in his arms and carried him to the front and up a ladder through the sidewalk door. Eley was hurried to the Hospital of the Good Samaritan, unconscious and in a serious condition. He was treated with oxygen, and after an hour recovered consciousness. Late last night he was reported by the physicians in charge to be resting easy and in no danger.

(J. Reyes, now fifty years later as Capt. Reyes, L.A.F.D. retired, states that Chief Eley tripped and fell through an open shipping hatch into nine feet of hot water and turpentine in the basement. Reyes, assigned to Engine Co.5, left his company and entered the hot water and rescued the chief swimming to the hatch opening where Eley was lifted out of the water with a pike pole. Reyes himself became extremely ill from inhaling the turpentine fumes and the hot water he swallowed making the rescue. However, he was not taken to the hospital or listed among those treated. According to Capt. Reyes, as he recalls the incident, Assistant Chief O'Donnell threatened to dismiss Reyes for leaving his company, but Capt. Stephen Queirolo, a natural leader during those early days, threatened to leave the job if Reyes was penalized for his bravery so the matter was dropped. Reyes received no recognition for his act.)

FALSE REPORT CAUSES GLOOM

Shortly after the chief was taken away in the ambulance the word spread among the firemen that he was dying, and they continued the fight under a pall of sadness in that belief.

The four upper floors of the burned building were occupied by the Hotel Brennan. The lodgers had ample warning, and all had left the lodging house before there was any danger to life.

The value of stock of the paint company is placed at $60,000. It is a total loss.

The furniture of the Brennan was worth about $15,000, and it is almost entirely destroyed by the fire and water.

The building, owned by Gustave Brenner of San Francisco, is estimated to have been worth about $75,000, and half of that is the estimate of loss. None of the walls fell.

Wing's Cafe, a chop suey place, which occupied one of the ground floor rooms adjacent to the paint company, suffered a loss of about $5,000.

PROPERTY WELL INSURED

Insurance of $67,500 was carried on the building. The paint company carried insurance to the amount of $20,000. S.M. Green, proprietor of the Brennan, had $10,000 insurance on his furniture, and the cafe was insured to the amount of $3,000.

From 2 o'clock until after 6 Main street and Fifth and Sixth streets were blocked to traffic. Masses of spectators were packed against the ropes at the street corners, and thousands more watched the fire from the roofs of the Kerkoff, Central, Pacific Electric, Security and other tall buildings in the vicinity.

A portion of the matinee audience at the Burbank theater had reached the house before the streets were closed, and most of them sat through the play, in ignorance of the thrilling scenes in real life that were being enacted just on the other side of the swinging doors.

The Optic theater, next door to the paint store, was filled with an audience watching the moving pictures when the fire was discovered. The manager announced that an accident to the film mechanism compelled a suspension of the entertainment, and the theater was emptied without confusion.

GALLANT FIREMEN KISSED

Rehearsal was on at the Century theater, just north of the burning building. The stage was drenched with water and the rehearsal and evening performance were abandoned. The chorus girls, in their makeup, watched the fire, and, in their enthusiasm over the daring shown by the firemen, rewarded some of them with kisses as they came out of the smoke-filled storerooms for breathing spells.

There were thrilling rescues of women in grave peril, but the women were moving picture actresses and the rescuers were actors with terra cotta complexions and black, cornice-like eyebrows. The "movies" man was on hand within half an hour of the time the fire started, with camera and company, and seizing a time when the ladies in front were not in use, the brave rescuers carried limp women down them, while the cameraman worked his crank and shouted hoarse directions.

So realistic was all this that a policeman was deceived and, rushing forward, seized an apparently unconscious girl from the arms of an actor and was rushing to an ambulance with her when her friends effected a genuine rescue.

THIRTY FIREMAN OVERCOME

Probably in all thirty firemen were overcome temporarily by the gas inside the building. Some of them were revived and returned to their work. Firemen were taken to hospitals for treatment.

A second and then a third alarm brought all the downtown fire apparatus to the scene. Twenty lines of hose poured their streams into the building from Main street, from the alley in the rear and from the roofs of the buildings across the alley.

Four engines, the tower, two hook and ladder trucks and three of four hose wagons were grouped at the Main street front. Two engines were at Sixth and Main, and three at Fifth and Main streets, and three more at the Fifth street mouth of the alley in which there was a cluster of ladder and hose trucks.

The firemen fought against great odds, as the combustible stock of the paint store, in the rear of which the fire started, blazed fiercely in spite of the torrents of water that were poured upon it. The flames swept up an air shaft and spread to every floor of the hotel, and down into the basement, where most of the paints and oils were stored. Embers fell all about the block, but with the competent force and equipment Chief Eley had brought to the contest, there was at no time any real danger of the fire spreading beyond the four walls.

Mayor Alexander was on the scene and occasionally lent a hand at tugging at a line of hose. Later he visited the Receiving Hospital and shook hands with each of the injured firemen, congratulating them on the courage with which they had fought till overcome.

RIVAL POLITICIANS ON SCENE

Meyer Lissner, whose Lissner building abuts on the alley directly opposite the burned building, watched the fire closely. It is a coincidence that Gustave Brenner, owner of the structure that burned, was chairman of the rump Republican State convention, held at the time Lissner as chairman of the Republican State Central committee, was directing the activities of the faction in control.

The most tense period of the fight came at a time when thousands of watchers thought the spectacle was ended. A sullen roar came from the basement, the muffled report of an explosion, presumably of turpentine casks.

Lieutenant J. Smith, R. Conklin and Ed Welte of Engine Company No.24 were entering the basement and they were hurled back to the street by the force of the explosion.

On the ground floor a group of firemen were working desperately when an avalanche of wall-paper, jarred from shelves by the explosion, came tumbling down upon them.

FIVE BURIED UNDER DEBRIS

Captain C.F. Blackwell, Howard Dyer and Roy King of Hose Company 23, William Shiller of Engine Company No.7, and J.F. Corneaugh of Truck Company 1 were buried under the debris and were immediately in danger of suffocation, their situation being all the more critical because the room was thick with smoke and gases.

A score of their comrades rushed in and dug frantically till all of them were rescued and carried out, to be hurried away to the Receiving Hospital.

Following the rescue of Chief Eley, Assistant Fire Chief O'Donnell took charge of the fight and remained on duty till all further danger had passed.

A.W. Dominguez, captain of Engine Company 14, was enjoying a day off when the alarms sounded. He made all speed to the fire and worked with his men all through the afternoon.

John B. Conlon, who recently retired as battalion chief of fireboats of the New York fire department after thirty years of service, was an interested spectator.

H.W. Broughton is president and H.C. Grupe is secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles Wallpaper and Paint Company, which, after Brenner, is the heaviest loser in the fire.

HORSE TAKEN THROUGH FIRE

A horse hitched to a delivery wagon stood in the alley when the fire lines were closed and rather than try to get him out through the dense crowds he was unhitched and taken out to Spring street through a liquor store.

Many of the lodgers in the Hotel Brennan saved some of their effects. Motormem and conductors in uniform, a large number of who roomed there, went into the building long after it had been deserted by its dwellers and came out with grips, suitcases and trunks, drenched but happy in the rescue of their possessions...

Here is a list of the most seriously injured firemen working at this fire. There were 30 firemen in all requiring treatment by those listed were as follows:

• Chief A.J. ELEY--Overcome by smoke and fumes: in Columbia Hospital; condition serious, but not fatal.
• CHESTER HOPKINS--Operator for Assistant Chief O'Donnell, overcome by smoke.
• HOWARD DYER--Engine Co.23, slight cut on head.
• R.W. KING--Hose No.23, overcome by smoke.
• W.SHILLER--Engine Co.7, overcome by smoke.
• C.F. BLACKWELL--Engine Co.23, overcome by smoke.
• M.R. KLINE--Engine Co.3, cut on foot by glass.
• H.H. RHOADES--Truck No.6, hand cut by glass.
• HARRY COONEY--Hose No.6, overcome by smoke.
• R.G. SCHUTE--Engine Co.24, overcome by smoke.
• J.F. CORNEAUGH--Truck No.1, contusion of back and overcome by smoke.
• LEONARD GRIFFIN--Engine Co.3, inflamed eye and overcome by smoke.

This is but one story of a Fire Department drenched in rich history, centered around bravery. May it remind us of the daily courageous acts of firefighters world wide and the countless stories gone untold.

LAFD Historical Archive

(PHOTOS)

Researched by Fred S. Allen & Frank Borden
Edited & Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Community Breakfast to Honor Women of the LAFD

The Board members of the non-profit Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation cordially invite you to join community leaders and members of our fire service family at a benefit breakfast honoring the women of the LAFD.

Thursday, November 8, 2012
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Four Seasons Hotel
300 South Doheny Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90048

LAFD Deputy Chief Roxanne Bercik will deliver the keynote speech at a warm and welcoming event that highlights the contributions of women firefighters at the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Proceeds from this event benefit the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization that furthers the capabilities of all LAFD members in serving the community.

All are welcome. The cost is $50.00 per person. LAFD women receive complimentary admission. Kindly RSVP to: (310) 552-4171.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

The Final Journey: Space Shuttle Endeavour Arrives Safely at the California Science Center

LOS ANGELES - The Space Shuttle Endeavour has completed its final journey, finishing a 12 mile route on Southern California streets to arrive safely at the California Science Center.


Click here to view a larger map of
the Space Shuttle Endeavour's route to the California Science Center
The California Science Center Foundation and various State and City agencies - including the Los Angeles Fire Department, worked together for months to plan for the safe movement of Endeavour. At 122 feet long, 78 feet wide and 5 stories tall at the tail, Endeavour was one of the largest objects ever transported over city streets in Los Angeles.

The public is encouraged to visit Endeavour after it opens for permanent public exhibit at the California Science Center beginning October 30, 2012. Although the Endeavour exhibit is free of charge, it is recommended that visitors reserve a timed ticket online for $3, or $2 for Science Center members.

To learn more about Endeavour's new home, please visit:

CaliforniaScienceCenter.org 

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

2012 Fallen Firefighter Ceremony in Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD - The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department cordially invite you to join Fire Chief Brian Cummings, civic and community leaders as well as members, friends and family of the LAFD, as our community gathers to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Los Angeles Firefighters Memorial Ceremony
Saturday, October 13, 2012
10:00 AM
Los Angeles Fire Department Museum & Memorial
1355 North Cahuenga Boulevard
Hollywood, California 90028

We are pleased to provide an interactive map with driving directions, and encourage you to consider public transit. All are welcome to attend the service and tour the adjacent museum on this special day of remembrance.

For further information, please call (323) 464-2727 or visit:

lafdmuseum.org

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

You're Invited to the Grand Opening of LAFD Station 64 in South Los Angeles



The Los Angeles Fire Department warmly welcomes you to join civic and community leaders, including Fire Chief Brian Cummings, at the formal dedication and public grand opening of New Fire Station 64 in South Los Angeles:

Saturday, September 29, 2012
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
New LAFD Station 64
10811 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90061

We're pleased to offer an interactive map that provides driving, transit, cycling and walking directions to this new facility, now actively serving South Los Angeles and nearby neighborhoods.

Following Saturday's dedication ceremony, there will be food and entertainment, static displays of fire and rescue equipment, as well as a chance to tour one of Southern California's newest Fire Stations. All members of the community are welcome at this family-themed public event.

We encourage you to learn more about new Fire Station 64 and the many Fire Department facilities modernized by Proposition F by viewing a detailed Monthly Progress Report.

...and most importantly, we look forward to seeing you this Saturday, September 29, 2012 in South Los Angeles for the Grand Opening of New LAFD Station 64!


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Endeavour to Drive Safe

LOS ANGELES - What do traffic collisions and a space shuttle flight have in common? Hopefully nothing. We hope you join in our excitement as the space shuttle Endeavour arrives home in Los Angeles, around noon on Friday September 21, 2012, making a series of low-level flyovers.

Given the magnitude of the spectacle, Los Angeles Firefighters remind those wanting to get a glimpse of the shuttle to do so from a safe spot. The LAFD responds to approximately 88 traffic collisions a day, and thus encourages those behind-the-wheel to keep their eyes on the road, and not try to take in the show simultaneously, especially taking and sharing a photo while driving. For those looking to capture an image of this special event, please view the map below to find a popular landmark to catch a peek.

Good news, as you likely know the Endeavour's journey won't end Friday. The shuttle will be housed in a hangar until Oct. 12, when it begins a two-day celebratory trip through Los Angeles streets to the California Science Center, where it retires after traveling a total of 122,883,151 miles during its 25 missions. The exhibit will open to the public October 30, 2012, providing a great opportunity to take and share an up close picture.

(VIDEO) (PHOTOS) 

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

30 Years Ago: L.A.'s Deadliest Apartment Fire

Today marks the 30th Anniversary of the deadliest apartment fire in Los Angeles history, the September 4, 1982 arson blaze at the Dorothy Mae Apartments.

Reported to the Los Angeles Fire Department at 4:26 AM, the fire set intentionally with 98-cents worth of gasoline erupted into a senseless inferno that took 25 lives - and brought profound change to our community and those who proudly protect it.

From the LAFD Historical Archive...

"The Dorothy Mae Apartment is a four-story, 50 ft. wide X 140 ft. deep, center hallway, of brick-joist construction that was built in 1927. Due to its location on an inclined lot, the first floor has only a foyer and boiler/laundry room located at the front of the building. The upper three floors contain 43 residential apartments occupied by approximately 170 people, almost all of whom were Spanish speaking. The building had the required Ponet doors and smoke detectors installed.

ANALYSIS OF THE FIRE:

The fire started in the second floor hallway, just inside the front Ponet door by the use of a flammable liquid. It appears that it burned unnoticed for some time. It is not clear how occupants first became aware of the fire. Once alerted, occupants started evacuating, using the hallways. Indications are that a flashover or back-draft occurred, resulting in 18 fatalities on the second floor and third floor.

The Ponet doors at the front stairwell were closed, as was the Ponet door on the fourth floor at the rear stairs. The Ponet doors from the second floor hallway to the rear stairs, and the fourth floor stairs to the exterior fire escape were open. This allowed the fire to travel from the front of the second floor to the rear stairs, and the fourth floor stairs to the exterior fire escape were open. This allowed the fire to travel from the front of the second floor to the rear, up the stairs to the third floor hallway, and up the stairs to the fourth floor, and out the rear of the building on the fourth floor.

The Fire Department received a delayed alarm to this incident. The flashover/backdraft occurred prior to the Fire Department's arrival. Upon our arrival there were indications of a small fire at the rear, not the true extent of the fire that had taken place, nor the large number of fatalities and injuries that had occurred.

ACTIONS TAKEN:

First arriving companies discovered the true situation upon entering the building at the rear. From the reports of bodies stacked in the stairwell..."

Read more...

While much has changed in our City in the past three decades, the impact of the Dorothy Mae Apartment Fire has only strengthened our commitment to prevent fire, protect persons from it - and when necessary, support the prosecution of those who would use it to cause harm.

To learn more about the proud history of the Los Angeles Fire Department, visit our on-line historical archive and then plan your visit to the LAFD Museum in Hollywood.

To discover ways to keep your family safe from fire, plan a visit to your Neighborhood Fire Station today!


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Join LAFD at 'L. A. Works Day of Service 2012'

LOS ANGELES - Join in a fun, family-friendly volunteer project, that includes fire trucks, food, music, and educational safety workshops. The L. A. Works, a nonprofit volunteer action organization, will be at the Los Angeles Fire Department's Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center for a major grounds and building transformation, Saturday July 21, 2012, from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Volunteers from this year’s, "L.A. Works Day of Service" are gracious enough to tend to one of LA’s most revered landmarks, the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center in Elysian Park. This  center is often the focal point from which Angelenos honor first responders who have fallen in-the-line-of-duty. The facility, a grand Art Deco building that once housed a Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, is now a main location for fire department training. It is named after Firefighter Frank Hotchkin, who died after falling through a fire-weakened roof while battling a blaze there in 1980.

The center also honors our Nation's first responders. Outside the building stands a 23-ton, 22' tall steel column that was originally part of the lobby structure of the World Trade Center. It is believed to be the largest remnant of the 9/11 attacks on the west coast.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is humbled by the volunteers that will be revitalizing, landscaping, painting and renovating the training center. The L.A. Works stated, "With help from the generous support of local corporations, skilled laborers, and dedicated volunteers, we are poised to give back to our city’s first responders like never before." The sworn and civilian members of the Los Angeles Fire Department look forward to working with you and thank you!

For more information about the day and how to get involved, please visit

www.laworks.com

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

LAFD Provides Keys to Safe and Sane Independence Day

If you listen, the "U.S.A." chants are getting louder. "London Calling" you say? Absolutely. First, however, we celebrate our country's Independence Day! With that...red, white and blue will once again be the order of the day!  Despite its mid-week celebration this year, Wednesday, July 4, 2012, will no doubt bring out the best and in some unfortunate cases, the worst in revelers from coast to coast.

For the safety and security of all, your Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) reminds you once again, that fireworks of all types, even those dubbed "safe and sane", remain illegal in the City of Los Angeles. We encourage everyone to join with firefighters everywhere in support of a safe Independence Day by attending or viewing a public fireworks show sponsored and produced by professionals. For detailed information please visit:

safejuly4th.org

You may choose to spend the mid-week Holiday at home with your family or a small group. But it is Summer and you may have opted to travel by air, road or rail and spend it with the masses elsewhere or perhaps with a huge group that just happens to resemble your family. Wherever you wind up and however you do it, your LAFD would like to offer a few tips on staying safe and perhaps keeping yourself sane. Additionally, we want you to rest easy knowing your LAFD stands always at the ready for anything that may come our way.

These 4th of July Safety Tips are provided with help from our friends at the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health and a few of our own, we thought were worthy of mention:

• Cook, grill or BBQ intelligently. Use clean plates, store food properly and prepare it correctly. Oh yeah, and watch out for over-exposure to the grill..yes, too much to eat!
• Avoid prolonged sun exposure and sun damage...especially if it's your attempt to even-out that burn from the "fluorescent sun" in your office. Wear sunscreen. Apply it generously and often.
• Be aware of changing weather conditions. Find or tune into a news source.
• Be aware of changing traffic conditions, road closures and other delays.
• If in or around any body of water, please pool safely and always have someone watching the water.
• If you take to the mountains for some hiking or biking, don't go alone and please do so during daylight hours. Hydrate and pack a snack. Don't underestimate the terrain. And, if you have one, take a mobile phone with you and make sure it's charged.
• If you choose to imbibe, don't drink and drive! We all know the sobering statistics. Appoint a designated driver early, use a driver service (there are many), call a cab or just stay sober!
• Whatever you do and wherever you do it...have fun, but please exercise good judgment and common sense!

LAFD's Air Ops: "Patriotic Hydration"

Enjoy the weekend. Enjoy family and friends. Enjoy foods and libations (in moderation.) And enjoy the freedom and liberty that was made possible by those the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for our independence!

May God Bless the United States of America!

And the crowd chants "U.S.A....U.S.A...U.S.A."

Submitted by, Matt Spence Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

Grand Opening of LAFD Fire Station 82 in Hollywood

The Los Angeles Fire Department warmly welcomes you to join civic and community leaders, including Fire Chief Brian Cummings, at the formal dedication and public grand opening of New LAFD Fire Station 82 in Hollywood:

Saturday, June 2, 2012
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
New Fire Station 82
5769 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028

We're pleased to offer an interactive map that offers driving, transit, cycling and walking directions to this new facility, now actively serving Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills.

Following Saturday's dedication ceremony, there will be food and entertainment, static displays of fire and rescue equipment, as well as a chance to tour one of Southern California's newest Fire Stations. All members of the community are welcome at this family-themed public event.

A Brief History of Former Fire Station 82...

Established in the midst of World War II and housed in the distant, overcrowded quarters of LAFD's historic Fire Station 27 for its first 7 years, Engine Company 82 came to serve the rising population and industry in east Hollywood during the Truman presidency, as residents and City leaders scrambled to construct a neighborhood station for the crew at 1800 North Bronson Avenue.

Former LAFD Station 82 (1951-2012)

Opened on March 2, 1951 adjacent to the "Cahuenga Parkway" that would become the well known Hollywood (US 101) Freeway in 1954, the 7,145 square-foot single-bay Fire Station soon became an integral part of a largely residential community that, like the LAFD, evolved greatly in the more than six decades to follow.

Those assigned to the the 61-year-old former Fire Station became notably hampered over time by electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems that limited efficient operations. Equally foreboding for workers and visitors alike were critical deficiencies in seismic safety, climate control, ADA compliance, gender equity features and visitor parking.

LAFD Station 82 crew circa 1964.

What will long be remembered about the old station however, will be the perplexed look of neighbors, as crews at the single-bay Fire Station scrambled to move vehicles when an emergency response called for only the Engine Company or the Paramedic Ambulance - merely to see the process reversed and repeated as the crews returned and were again dispatched to emergencies.

Because the property beneath former Station 82 was too small to fully support a new or revamped Fire Station, Proposition F of November 2000 has brought the community a new and unique facility.

Today's Fire Station 82...

The four Firefighters and two Firefighter/Paramedics working each day at New Fire Station 82, continue to serve a diverse and demanding district of nearly 2 square miles, featuring high density residential and commercial properties, a busy freeway and subway corridor, television studios, entertainment venues, tourist sites and a portion of massive Griffith Park containing the iconic "Hollywood" sign.

Were this not enough, the station crew also bears primary responsibility for protecting hundreds of homes constructed in rugged terrain surrounded by volatile vegetation.

A safe, appealing and energy efficient facility, New Fire Station 82 features underground parking, a "green" roof and three-story construction, making it unique among Los Angeles Fire Stations. In a cost and space-saving measure benefitting the community and Department, several regional components of New Fire Station 82 - such as a multipurpose room and areas designed for efficient maintenance and rapid deployment of reserve apparatus, are now being constructed in a nearly 6,000 square-foot, two-story annex under construction on the site of the former station on Bronson Avenue.

Concept of New LAFD Fire Station 82 Annex under construction.

With drive-through apparatus bays that will preclude a need to shuffle vehicles at the time of an alarm, and countless other features designed for efficiency in the digital age, New Fire Station 82 promises to meet neighborhood needs - and those of a modern LAFD workforce - for many decades to come.

We encourage you to learn more about new Fire Station 82 and the many Fire Department facilities modernized by Proposition F by viewing a highly detailed on-line Monthly Progress Report.

..and most importantly, we look forward to seeing you this Saturday, June 2, 2012 in Hollywood for the Grand Opening of New LAFD Fire Station 82!


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

20 Years Ago Today, LAFD Remembers 'Civil Unrest'

Today marks 20 years since the 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest, often referred to as the "L.A. Riots", where rampant arson, looting, assault and murder occurred over a six day period in the greater Los Angeles area.

Approximately 3,600 fires were set, destroying over 1,000 structures and flooding 9-1-1 fire calls. Property damage reached roughly $1 billion, over 50 people died, and approximately 2,000 more were injured. Due to violent mobs pelting Firefighters with rocks, bottles and even shooting at them, Fire Crews began to respond with police escorts. A dawn-to-dusk curfew was implemented and eventually the deployment of the National Guard assisted to control the situation.

These two short, but powerful videos attempt to manifest what your Los Angeles Firefighters were battling. Protection of life and property took on new meaning, as they never expected that it would include their own:

This 3:18 clip depicts a Fire Captain's "impossible mission", 48 hours into the epicenter of the riots...






This 8:04 clip provides aerial footage from April 29th, 1992 - May 2nd, 1992 and includes dramatic dispatched radio traffic from firefighters...





The Los Angeles Fire Department offers a proverbial tip of the helmet to allied Fire Department's, Law Enforcement, Military and Citizens that assisted during, and the rebuilding after, this landmark event for our City and Department.


Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

The Women Behind The LAFD Badge

Many people are surprised to learn that the first women to join the Los Angeles Fire Department did so prior to World War I.

On June 16, 1912, the LAFD's first all-female volunteer Fire Company, led by Captain Marie Stack responded to a grass fire near the intersection of Third and Flower Streets in what is now Downtown Los Angeles.

These valiant ladies had their first fire well under control prior to the arrival of the LAFD's next-due resource, the recently motorized contingent of LAFD Engine Company 3.

Then LAFD Chief Engineer Archibald Eley oversaw the formation of several other all-female firefighting crews in 1912, including the storied Manhattan Place Volunteer Fire Brigade led by Captain J.A. Caldwell.

Not to be limited to the lesser ranks or even Captain, the Wilmington Park Fire Ladies protecting the southern limits of our City in 1912, were led by Chief Louise Leonardo.

Of course, our City and its people were soon embroiled in the first World War, and as our burgeoning City grew in the decades following the war, the need for part-time men and women to protect parts of our metropolis from fire was eclipsed. Still the work of Marie Stack and her pioneering colleagues has inspired us for more than nine decades.

So what of gender diversity in today's LAFD?

The Los Angeles Fire Department began providing career opportunities for women as Paramedics in 1978 (in what was then a separate career track) and for women as Firefighters in 1983.

The two career-paths were combined in the 1990's and there are now nearly 100 women members of the LAFD holding uniformed positions ranging from Firefighter and Firefighter/Paramedic to Apparatus Operator, Engineer, Investigator, Inspector, Captain, Battalion Chief and Deputy Chief.

Still more women hold key positions in LAFD Bureaus that oversee our Administration, Operations, Administrative Services, Emergency Services, Fire Prevention & Public Safety, Training & Risk Management and Support Services.

...and what of the LAFD's future?

You can help us share word of our need to hire, retain and empower a truly capable and dynamic workforce. Detailed information about the demands and rewards of an LAFD career - and how any motivated man or woman can start the process, are available year-round by calling 213-473-9060 or visiting the LAFD Recruitment website at:
JoinLAFD.org
If you'd like to know more about women working in our vocation:

i-women.org

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

LAFD's 9-1-1 Dispatch Center Made Historical Move

 Los Angeles Fire Department's (LAFD) dispatch center, known for it's motto, "It all starts here", made a historic move today. During the early morning hours of February 28, 2012, 9-1-1 call taking and resource dispatching moved locations from the Operations Control Division (OCD) at City Hall East to the new Metropolitan Fire Communications (MFC) facility at 500 E. Temple Street.

Now that the the transition to MFC is complete, OCD has become the Department’s back-up dispatching facility and the radio call sign "OCD" is no longer operative. At one in the morning, the strategically planned five hour radio transfer was made. Now, all inbound and outbound radio transmissions will use the call sign, “Metro.” No other changes to radio terminology, resource dispatch algorithms, or operations will occur.

In addition, LAFD's Public Service Office (PSO) made the same geographical migration. Matt Spence, Brian Humphrey, and Erik Scott sincerely appreciate the patience of all during this exciting and elaborate transition, as they have had decreased availability at times. As for members of the media, the phone number for the PSO EPI-Center will remain the same, for the time being. We and look forward to better serving you from our new location.

Construction of the Metro Fire Communications facility which includes Fire Station 4 and the City’s Emergency Operations Center, began on January 19, 2006 as part of Prop “F” funding. Although the 120,000 square foot facility has been up and running for the past couple of years, the Metro Fire Communications sophisticated 9-1-1 telephone and dispatch equipment installation was just recently completed.


The move to the new Metro Fire Communications facility involves many City agencies, Vendors, and private contractors. Planning for the actual transition from City Hall East to the MFC has been in the works for the last several months, which includes the training of dispatchers and staff for familiarization of new state of the art equipment. As of February 29, 2012, the Coldwater back-up dispatch center will no longer be operational. The Department appreciates your interest and cooperation in this historic move.

Some have recently said, the previous commonly used ending radio transmission, "OCD Clear", now takes on a new meaning.

Submitted by Administration & Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source

40 Years Ago: Between Arsonists and Attackers, Widrig & Currie Never Had a Chance

LAFD Station 33 circa 1972

On February 22, 1972 evil cascaded upon and surrounded LAFD Engine Company 33, in a night of sorrow that has not been paralleled in the history of the fabled Los Angeles firehouse.

In the days that would follow, Los Angeles Fireman Paul 'Randy' Widrig would be remembered as a man who "...knew and did more, always to the best of his ability, helping people in need."

Fire Department Chaplain James Dayen would later eulogize Randy's colleague, Fireman Theodore A. Currie as "a portrait of a fireman... in spirit, loyalty and dedication with the gift of inspiration."

The pair of hard-working civil servants however, didn't stand a chance as both arsonists and attackers - who remain at large - sealed their fate in one of the most troubling nights in Los Angeles Fire Department history.

Los Angeles Firefighters would feel the impact of the greater alarm blaze for decades to come, as they struggled to support Widrig's young widow and orphaned infant, as well as Currie's widow and three young sons.

                            Bystanders Harass Rescue While . . .

Arson Fire Kills Two City Firefighters

On the evening of February 22, 1972, two firefighters died in a greater alarm blaze in South Central Los Angeles. Firefighters Theodore Currie, 34, a ten year veteran and Paul Widrig, 24, with 18 months service, were killed when a mezzanine floor collapsed and buried them under four to five feet of debris. The coroner's office announced their deaths were due to suffocation.

The building, a large one story 150-by-75 foot warehouse was well involved with fire when the first of thirteen fire companies arrived shortly before midnight.

The victims were among four fire fighters from Fire Station 33 who entered the rear of the structure with a 2 1/2" inch hose line in an effort to cut the advance of the fire. The other two men, Capt. Sam Diannitto (former Vice-President of Local 112) and Fireman Otto McClung narrowly escaped without injury.

It took fire fighters over an hour of grueling work to recover the bodies of their comrades. Heat from the flames was so intense that it collapsed steel trusses in the building and buckled walls which further hampered rescue attempts.

ARSON AND HARASSMENT

Investigators said that the fire was deliberately set after the building had been burglarized. During rescue attempts, firefighters were attacked with rocks and bottles hurled by a militant group which gathered at the scene.

RITES HELD

In separate memorial services on February 25, 1972, Los Angeles City Firefighters honored their two fallen colleagues killed in the performance of their duties.

A morning service was conducted for Theodore Currie in Downey with approximately 500 mourners in attendance. Currie is survived by his widow Geraldine, and three sons. Steven 15; Craig 13, and Kent 11.

Afternoon services were held for Paul Widrig in Newhall. Widrig is survived by his 19 year old widow Deborah and an infant son. Also Widrig's father, Clyde, a retired policeman, and a brother, Clyde Jr., presently a Los Angeles Policeman.

- - -

To learn more about our Brothers Widrig and Currie, and others who have made the ultimate sacrifice in their service to the City, we encourage you to visit the Los Angeles Fire Department Museuem and Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Hollywood or to click:

http://bit.ly/LAFD-LastAlarm

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

Article any source