February 2014

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Member Eligibility:1. You must be an active member of the Club in good standings with at least 6 months of payroll deduction.

2. You must be an active or retired City or DWP employee.

3. You must be 18 years of age.

4. You must not have any outstanding balances on previous purchase programs.

PayCheck Direct is currently not available to LA County, State of CA, or LAUSD Club members.

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PayCheck Direct is currently not available to LA County, State of CA, or LAUSD Club members.

Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association Medical Plan may cover this examination. Contact your plan provider to verify.

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2 • February 2014

February 2014 • 3

Follow us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/firemensgrapevine

President’s Message • ................................................................................05

Above and Beyond

Helicopter crew makes river rescue • .......................................................07

Battalion News • ..........................................................................................08

Retired Guys • .............................................................................................31

Department in Action • ................................................................................32

Station Fridge • ...........................................................................................35

Retirement Dinner Announcement • ............................................................36

Spark of Love Toy Drive

making it tHe most wonderful time of tHe year • ..................................37

Firefighters for Christ

responding to tHe pHilippines • ..................................................................38

LAFSD Handball

2013 fall singles results • .....................................................................41

Fitness for Firefighters

adaptation – maximizing your fitness potential • ..................................43

Mailbox • .....................................................................................................44

Memorials • .................................................................................................46

Affordable Care Act

How does it affect tHe lafra medical plan • ..........................................47

Task Force 102

“tHe force tHat was” • ............................................................................48

Dollars & Sense

tried and true savings strategies • ...........................................................51

LAFD History

tHe sylmar tunnel explosion • ...................................................................52

Minutes of the Board of Trustees • ..............................................................55

Classifieds • ................................................................................................59

• CONTENTS •

COPYRIGHT © 2014Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association.

No material may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

Notice: Production of The Firemen’s Grapevine magazine is very expensive, and while your dues serve to underwrite a portion of the magazine’s costs, the bulk of funding comes from advertisers. Many businesses advertise in the Grapevine. This does not mean that LAFRA endorses these advertisers. Use of a Grapevine advertiser is at the risk of the member. If you are interested in any of the advertisements, we urge you to use any and all means at your disposal to investigate them.

32

On the cover:Structure Fire - Van Nuys

Photo by:Mike Meadows

VOL. XC FEBRUARY 2014 NO. 07

4 • February 2014

FIREMEN’S GRAPEVINEowned and published by the

Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association815 Colorado Blvd, 4th Floor, los angeles Ca 90041

EDITORIAL STAFFDave Wagner • Editor..........................................................editor@lafra.orgJuan-Carlos Sánchez • Project [email protected] Santiago • Creative Editor.....................................esantiago@lafra.orgDavid Vienna • Web/Social Media [email protected] Display Advertising....................................(323) 259-5200 ext. 231, 232, 260

PSO’sKatherine Main, Brian huMphrey, eriK Scott

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MiKe MaStro, FranK Borden, david vienna,

Jody houSer, Michael SteFano, Monte egherMan, Steve ruda

PHOTOGRAPHERS Ryan BaBRoff, DaviD BlaiRe, Doc DeMulle’, GReG Doyle, HaRRy GaRvin,

Steve gentry, Juan guerra, Brian haiMer, gavin KauFMan, ryan ling, ricK Mcclure,MiKe MeadowS, lloyd payne, JeFF ZiMMerMan, yvonne griFFin, laura lichter.

LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATIONJuan alBarran........................................................preSidentroBert steinBaCher .......................................vice-preSidentandrew KulJis ........................................................Secretary

BOARD OF TRUSTEESBarry hedBergchriS hartchriS Stinecraig whitedavid lowedavid ortiZ

david peterSdoaK SMithFranK hernandeZgene BednarchiKJaMeS e. coBurnJeFF cawdreyMarK aKahoShi

ricK godineZSteve BerKerySteve rudaSteve tuFtSSteven doManSKitiM larSon

CHAPLAINSgreg w. giBson...............Sr. chaplaindanny leon...........................chaplaingeorge a. negrete...............chaplainaquil F. Basheer...................chaplaintim werle.............................chaplainroger FowBle......................chaplain

hershy Z. ten........................chaplainriCK a. godineZ.....................chaplainmarK r. woolF......................chaplainJesus Pasos..........................chaplainCraig Poulson......................chaplain

TELEPHONESFire-relieF ................................................................(323) 259-5200relieF assoCiation toll Free numBer ...........................(800) 244-3439 relieF mediCal Plan ..........................(866) 99laFra - (866) 995-2372 Fax numBer ................................................................(323) 259-5290

todd layFer • exeCutive direCtor...............................(323) 259-5243marlene Casillas • develoPment & marKeting direCtor(323) 259-5217BeCKy valverde • human resourCes administrator.......(323) 259-5247todd layFer • Controller/treasurer.........................(323) 259-5243BoB dillon • oPerations manager................................(323) 259-5233ana salaZar • memBer serviCes Coordinator...............(323) 259-5223

LAFRA MANAGEMENT

HealthSCOPE Benefitswayne sherman • mediCal Claims manager...................(323) 259-5211

THE FIREMEN’S GRAPEVINE (USPS 191-060) is published monthly by the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association, 815 Colorado Blvd. 4th Floor, Los Angeles, Cal i for nia 90041. Annual $24 Subscription included with Association mem ber ship; Non-members: $36. Single issues $3 postpaid. Back issues $6 postpaid. Pe ri od i cals post age paid at Los Angeles, CA and at additional mailing office. POST MAS TER: Send ad dress changes to: THE FIREMEN’S GRAPE VINE Magazine, P.O. BOX 41903, Los An ge les, CA 90041.

Printed by Collective Color, Los Angeles CA. For Clas si fied and Display Ad ver tis ing rates please call (323) 259-5200, ext. 231, 232 or 260. All editorial matter must be received by the Editor eight weeks prior to the month of pub li ca tion. The opin ions ex pressed here in are those of the writ ers and do not nec es sar i ly reflect the official views of the Los An ge les City Fire De part ment or the Los An ge les Firemen’s Relief Association.

February 2014 • 5

Some dates to remember:LAFRA Scholarship deadline - April 1, 2014Hook and Ladder Enduro - March 22, 2014Corbin Bowling Event - April 27, 2014LAFRA Pechanga Reunion - May 19-23, 2014

As a final reminder, please checkyourLAFRAwebsitefor themostcurrent in-formation on all things pertinent to your or-ganization. This includes death notices, event scheduling and updates in LAFRA policies and rates.

Thanks for your support.

Juan Albarran(323) [email protected]

Here we are into what is the shortest monthoftheyear-sothiswillbebrief.We will take but a small amount of

yourtimeandremindallofourLAFRAfamilytomakesurethatallofthenecessarybeneficia-ry designations are updated and in place. This includes LAFRA, UFLAC, LARFPA, City of LosAngelesandthePensionDepartment,justtomentionafew.TrustmewhenItellyouthatoutdated beneficiary information has causedagreatdealofanguishformembersoverandover again. By the time this issue arrives wewillhaveafullmonthin theAffordableCareAct rollout. You can rest assured that your Re-lief Association is staying on top of the ever-changing health coverage issues. Included inthismonth’sGrapevine is a smallbuthelpfulattachmenttoassistthemembershipinunder-standing the A.C.A. process. As a result of our most recentopenenrollmentwearenettingagain of approximately 80 new people to ourMedicalPlan.Ifyouarenotcurrentlyenrolledin the LAFRA Medical Plan, you can go to www.lafra.org or talk to a LAFRA Trustee aboutthesignificantbenefitsofourprogram.

Inaddition,thereisanewclassof70recruits that started on January 27, 2014. The LAFRA staff made a presentation to the re-cruitstoutingthebenefitsavailabletothemasmembersofthisfineassociation.Wearehope-ful they will all sign up! This class is currently atDrillTower81andisscheduledtograduateinJune.Thisisgoingtoprovidesomereliefforthefieldinfillingallthosevacantpositions.

The 7470 Figueroa building projectcontinuestomoveforward.Wehaveownedthebuildingforjustashortperiodoftime.Inthattime, we have selected the design firmWareMalcombtodesignaninteriorthatwillbebothfunctionalandestheticallypleasing.Thisfirmis currently working with the Trustees on the BuildingCommittee in going through the te-diousbutmuchneededplanningprocess.Theplan is to move our operations into the newbuildinginthenext13monthsorless. Please remember to donate to theWidows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen’sFund in your payroll deduction, or estate and willpreparation.Asagentlereminder,theAs-sociationhasalifetimebenefitof$600.00thatcan be applied to the preparation or update of yourtrust.Itisthroughyourgenerositythatwecan help others.

Transition of the gavel

Juan Albarran and Bob Steinbacher are sworn-in by Andy Kuljis

6 • February 2014

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February 2014 • 7

On January 22, 2010, the weather in LosAngeles was dismal – rainy andcloudy. A 911 call indicated that a dog

was in distress in the Los Angeles River, and thatamemberofthecommunitywasattempt-ingtorescuethedog.Theincidentcommanderrequested a “hoist” rescue operation to retrieve theanimalfromtheswift-movingwaterinthechannel. TherescuewasperformedbyPi-lotScottBowman,FirefighterDanChilds,FF/PM Robert Steinbacher, and FF/PM Joe St.Georges.ThecrewwasdispatchedtotheLA River near 20th Street where they found a largedogindistress,unabletofinditswayoutofthewaterchannel.TheDepartment’sSwiftWaterRescueTeamhadbeenunable toreachtheanimalforarescueattempt. In addition to the terrible weatherconditions, the team encountered high-powerelectrical lines in closeproximity to theheli-copter’s rotor systemwhichadded to thedif-ficulty and stress of the rescue attempt.Con-siderations in this rescue included the bad weather, rising water, increased water speed, animal fatigue, and potential involvement ofacivilian.Theincidentcommanderwantedtorescue the dog and keep the civilian safe. FF/PM St. Georges was secured tothehoist.Whensafetycheckswerecompleted,FF Childs began lowering St. Georges fromFire 4, while FF/PM Steinbacher maintainedsituational awareness in and around the air-craft, continually communicating informationtoPilotBowman. After the hoist cable had been ex-tended approximately twenty feet below theaircraft,thecrewmembersadvisedPilotBow-manthatthedoghadmovedtotheleftsideofthe channel, requiring the helicopter to repo-sition to a less favorable area of the channel, closer to the high-power wires and tower. St. Georgeswasretractedbackintothehelicopterand theaircraftwasmoved to the left sideofthe channel. Then a second rescue attempt wasinitiated. Even with a rising water level and increasingwaterspeed,St.Georgeswasagainlowered. He knew he would have only one at-temptattherescue.Hequicklyapproachedthedog and applied the capture strap. Even with the dog defending itself, sustaining an acute traumaticinjuryandinextremepain,StGeorg-

esdidnotreleasetheanimal,butfinishedap-plying the capture strap, securing the dog for rescue. FF Child retracted St. Georges andthedogfromthewaterchannel,andPilotBow-man“shorthauled”thepairtoawaitingLAFDpersonnel on the 20th Street bridge. While they were being lifted, another element of danger

was added. The normal positionof the rescuer and victim at-tached to the hoist and cap-ture strap is at a vertical attitude, with

a ground tether line to prevent the rescuer andvictimfromspinning.Inthiscase,duetothedynamicsof thecapture,St.Georgeswasforced tomaintainahorizontalposition,withno tether line, during the hoist retraction. Thus, he and the dog spun in an uncontrolled rotation until they were grounded on the bridge. Once the dog was handed off to LAFD personnel, FF/PM St. Georges’ injurywasevaluatedandhewastransportedformedi-caltreatment. Watching a dog drown or leaving a rescue in the hands of an untrained civilian are not options to those who are sworn to save lives.ThecrewofFire4placedthemselvesinadangeroussituationtosavethelifeofafamilydognamedVernon.

The crew of Fire 4 earned the Medal of Merit: L to R: Pilot Scott Bowman, FF Dan Childs, FF/PM Joe St. Georges, FF/PM Robert Steinbacher

8 • February 2014

Christmas Day was all family at Fire Station 3. Photos by Adam VanGerpen, The Los Angeles Firefighter

On New Year’s Day, Engine 17 members investigated a loom up and found a com-mercial building on fire at 1513 Marisol Street in Boyle Heights. Photos by Yvonne Griffin

February 2014 • 9

10 • February 2014

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February 2014 • 11

Firefighters battled a fire at a Loyola Marymount University dormitory on 12/07/13. Photo by Yvonne Griffin

On 12/10/13 companies re-sponded to a greater alarm “outside” fire in 56’s first-in. Photo by Nick Colbert


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Fire Boats 2 and 3 on a diver training day in December. Photos by Greg Doyle


On 12/23/13, Battalion 10 firefighters found a single family dwelling with a well involved attic fire at 5309 Lemona Ave.Photos by Mike Meadows

A multi-car traffic/physical rescue took place on the S/B 405 at Sherman Way on 12/04/13.Photo by Mike Meadows


On 12/16/13 firefighters responded to five sets along the 210 Freeway from Sunland Bl to Polk St. Photo by Mike Meadows

Companies worked a fatal T/A at Roscoe and Balboa on 12/30/2013. Photo by Juan Guerra, juanguerra.smugmug.com

Recently, theFireCaptain’spromo-tionallistwasposted.SeveralmembersofBat-talion11tookthetestandshouldmakeCaptainduring the life of the list. A few did well enough to get promotedon thefirst day!Congratula-tionstoallofthem. Remember that the process is notover until AFTER the 3-whole score interview. And then the hard part starts . . . Speaking of new Captains, over at Fire Station 20, a new day has dawned. The newlypromotedCapt.IIcameintothisassign-mentwantingtomakeanameforhimself.Youknow, to give something back to the assign-ment... WellmostCaptainsthinkabouttrain-ing their subordinates to afinepoint,makingthem a wanted commodity in the Battalion.This new Captain is not like most Captainsthough, he is a graduate of the departmentsponsored“LeadershipAcademy!” One Captain that never attended the LeadershipAcademywasCaptainJohnPeter-son.Capt.Peteretiredoutof20’sin1999anddiedof cancer in 2003.Themembers at 20’sdecided to honor Capt. Pete’s time there byleaving his voice on the station’s voice mailsystem–awaytokeephislegacyaliveindefi-nitely(indefinitelyisapproximately15years). Yes, you guessed right. Our new sta-tioncommanderfelthehadabettervoicethanCapt.Pete, soheerased theOLDvoicemes-sageandreplaceditwithhisnewandimprovedversion.Somuchforlegacy... OK,sendmeyourstoriesandphotosandIwillgettheminprint(maybe)

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Battalion 12 companies assisted the County and U.S.F.S on a single family dwelling blaze at 12449 Trail 4.

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Firefighters from Battalion 12 work a brush fire along the 405 Fwy at the 118 Fwy on 1/12/14. Photos by Greg Doyle


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A small plane went down on approach to Whiteman Airport on 12/28/13. Photos by Jeff Zimmerman & Mike Meadows

Companies handle a physical rescue on 12/29/2013. Photo by Nick Colbert


GreetingsfromtheBattalionthatnever sleeps! WellIhopeeverybodyhadaMerryChristmasandaHappyNewYear.Iknowthat Santa probably brought you everything that you wished for, especially if you were nice. On the other hand, looks like he had his naughtylistreallyhonedinonsomeofyouandhemayhavedeliveredyourecalls,assignhires,an800segment,andapre-deployonChristmasDay.I’mlookingforwardtothenew year and curious about the challenges we asadepartmentaregoingtoface.Aslongaswe stick together, we can handle anything! Decemberbroughtafewcolddays,abunchofwarmdays,afewlightwinddays,and even fewer high wind days. Along with any type of wind is always the “Red Flag” scare...Imeanplan.IrealizethatsomeofourbiggestconflagrationsliketheBel-AirFirehavehappenedduringthecoldwintermonths,but they also had 35 MPH winds. So why then arewe“Pre-Deploying”ona48degreedaywithwindsthatare15MPH?Iunderstandwithourrecentpastthatwe’vegottoabletosaythatwe’vegotaplan,butc’mon.Checkboxforpolitics=1-Commonsense=0.Someothergreat“plans”thathavereallymadeanimpact,includebutarenotlimitedto:“QuickLaunch,”theTsunamiEvacuationRoute,andthe“CommandPostCompany.”Checkboxforpolitics=4-commonsense=still0.Also,ifit’ssoimportantthatwehavethesecompaniesout in other areas of the City for “Pre-Deploy-ment”thenwhysomedaysarewedisbandingthesupervise-ablecompaniesat2000hours(EngineCompaniesandStrikeTeams)yetkeepingthesupervisors(B.C.’sandE.I.T.’s)forafull24?Hmmm.SoalltheWORKERSthatwillbedoingtheWORKjust“in-case”somethingbreaksoutinthese“otherareasoftheCity”gobacktotheirnormalassignments,andthe400SeriesEnginesgohomeforthenight,buttheextraB.C.’sandE.I.T.’sarekeptto supervise . . . each other? Luckily, we are notinanofficesettingbecausethatwouldbelikesendingalltheemployeeshomeatlunchandhavingallthemanagerswalkaroundtheofficeuntilthenormalclosingtime...Justsayin. Along with the “Pre-Deploys” dur-ing the “low-wind and heat” season this year alsocomesomenewsurprises.Almostlikepresents, they arrived sneakily and during the night.Nowthegiftthatalwaysarrivesduringtheholidaysmorethananyothertimeisthe“AssignHire.”It’slikethe$5billthatyougetfromyourgrandmothereveryyearsinceyouwereoldenoughtoremember.Alwaysexpect-edbutifitwasn’tthereyou’dwonderwhat

happened to it and wonder what happened tothe“old”department.DareIsaythatyoumightmissit...ornot.Nowthenewgiftthisyear was the “Recall.” Previously, this was a giftgivenduringveryimportanttimeslikeanearthquakeorCivilUnrest,butnowit’slostitspizzazz,andisgivenonarandomTuesdayinDecember.Thismightbelikegetting$10,butlikea$5bill,three$1’s,fourquarters,fivedimes,twonickels,and40pennies...ok,okyougetthepoint.So,whatdidmanagementdotomakeitspecialagain?That’sright,theycombinedthemtoformthealmighty“AssignHire Recall”(insert loud echoing voice). This giftislike$10butinItalianLira.(Forthosethatdon’tknow,theLiraisnolongeracurren-cyinItaly.ItisnowtheEuro.)The“decisionmakingminds”cameupwithabrilliantplanto“allow”(force)somememberstoworkei-thertheAMorPMonChristmasEveorDay.Wow,whatagreatoption!Ifyouwerea“C”shifterthatfinallyhadbothdaysoff,yougotthe “Lira” or if you were assigned to work one of the days then you were recalled and you alsogotthe“Lira.”Seemslikeeverybodygotthe“Lira”...wellalmosteverybody.Luckily,allthemembersthathavetheopportunitytoworkSODinthefieldalsohadtheopportunityto be “Assign Hire Recalled” . . . oh wait, no theydidn’t...someoftheInspectorsandspecialdutymembersthattake the option to work SODoutinthefieldwhenitworksforthem,decidedthatthisdoesn’taffectthemandgottospendtimewiththeirfamilies.Also, to the decision makersthatputthispolicyinto effect, Thank You for stepping up and working one of those spots, either upordown.It’snicetosee that you were able to add a bit of relief to the crewsoutinthefield...ohwait,youdidn’tworkanAMorPMonamajorholiday and instead you wereathomenotatallaffected by the Assign Hires, Recalls, or Assign Hire Recalls. Fortunately, we were able to staff all of our apparatus and serve the citizens of Los Angeles in the great mannerthatwealwaysdo.Unfortunately,somewho had already given a tontothisdepartmenthadtogiveabitmore.Evenwhenitwasn’ttheirturnin the barrel, they had to takesomeoneelse’sturn

inthebarrel.AverysincereTHANKYOUgoesouttoallthemembersthatsteppedupandmissedtheirkids,significantothers,pets,etcduringthisholidayseason.I’dliketosaythat next Holiday Season will be better, but whoknows(NoLirawereharmedinthetyp-ing of this article). Overat46’s,oneofthecrewsdecidedtomakethebestofthestartofwintermonthsandheldtheinaugural“FS46C-ShiftChili Cook Off” or FSFSCSCCO for short. As with any good Chili Cook Off, there wererules(someofwhichweren’tfollowed)andscoresheetstofillout.OntheOfficialScore Sheet there was a 1-5 score given forcategoriessuchas:Authenticity,Thick-ness, Spiciness, Flavor, and Appearance - all the necessities of any good FSFSCSCCO. Since there was no Originality category, one memberevenmadehisfamiliessecret“WhiteBean Chicken Chili” which apparently can also be seen in cookbooks under the recipe for “Chicken Tortilla Soup.” While it lacked Authenticity, Thickness, and Appearance, it still had good Flavor, but his score was still muchlower.For7-out-of-10shiftstheseCast-Iron-Stomached-HeroestrudgedthroughChili-after-Chili. While their bellies took a beating,I’msuretheresidentswhosehomestheyrespondedto,thesmallconfineddorms,


These include:

• The Leo K. Najarian Memorial Scholarship of $5,000

• The Bill Goss Scholarship of $2,500

• Relief Scholarship awards of $2,500

• Memorial Scholarship of $5,000

Complete online application atwww.lafra.org/scholarships

Each year your Relief Association awardscollege scholarships to member dependents.

S CHO L A R SH I P S

Scholarship Dates & DeadlinesDeadline March 28, 2014

Application evaluation & testing April 12, 2014

Winners announced June 2, 2014

Questions? Email: [email protected]


These include:

• The Leo K. Najarian Memorial Scholarship of $5,000

• The Bill Goss Scholarship of $2,500

• Relief Scholarship awards of $2,500

• Memorial Scholarship of $5,000

Complete online application atwww.lafra.org/scholarships

Each year your Relief Association awardscollege scholarships to member dependents.

S CHO L A R SH I P S

Scholarship Dates & DeadlinesDeadline March 28, 2014

Application evaluation & testing April 12, 2014

Winners announced June 2, 2014

Questions? Email: [email protected]

andtheirlovingfamiliesthenextmorningstookas-much-or-more-ofapunishment.Intheend,aftermuchverbalabuseandribbing,thetrophywashandedout,andthenewchampwas crowned for the “2013 Best/Worst Chili/ChickenTortillaSoupCompetition.”Congrat-ulationsFFHammondandgoodlucktothoseof you looking to dethrone the current winner. AllIcanrecommendistostartpreparingnowfornextyear’sFSFSCSCCO! Finally,overatFS64theyhadafewvacanciesthatneededtobefilledonbothChristmasEveandChristmasDay.Luckilyforthem,theyhadanewlypromotedCaptainIIthat was there to step up and help the depart-mentinacriticalrole.Yousee,oneofthevacanciestofillwastheCaptainIIspotonthetruck,andsincehewasnormallyassignedtothe“A”shiftandhadworkedChristmasEve,thenitonlymadesensetoworkthenextdayalso. Sure enough, he did work the next day ...asanE.I.T.drivinganA/C.Yes,whileanout-of-houseCaptainIIwasforcedtoworktheAMofChristmasatFS64onthisCaptainII’struck,andanotherout-of-houseCaptainIIwasforcedtoworkthePMatFS64alsoonthisCaptainII’struck,thisCaptainIIwasworkingasanE.I.T.anddrivinganLAFDAssistantChief...Wow!NowthatisagreatleadershipdecisionforanofficeroftheLAFDtomake.Iguesstakingcareofyourownstationisnolongerapriority,andit’snowjusttakingcareofyourself.Goodthingtherearen’tanyfutureCaptain’sthatrecentlytooka“Captain’s”testand are now watching how they should be actinginthefuturewiththeirowncommand.Goodthingtherearen’tanyFF’s,Engineer’s,andA/O’sthatwatchwhatourofficersdo,sotheyhavesomethingtomodeltheirown“Locker-roomLeadership”styleafter.Withthe new policies sent down about working out-of-rank and so-forth, at least Captain Hill was previously a Staff Assistant so he was qualifiedinthatspot.I’malsogladtoseethatanA/ChadanE.I.T.forChristmasDay.Otherwise it could get really dicey driving a suburban around to get lunch . . . oh wait, there’sawholebunchofB/C’sthatdoitdaily,letaloneChristmasDay.Iguessthatoldsay-ing,“What’sgoodforthegoose...isreallyonly good for the goose. The rest of you are “onyourown.”That’sthestoryIheard... WiththisNewYearcomestimeforsomeNewYear’sResolutions.Thingsthatyoumaywanttoachieveordotohopefullymakeyouabetterperson.Iwastryingtocomeupwithsomeandifyouhaven’tgotanyofyourownbythetimethiscomesoutinlateJanuary,feelfreetoborrowsomeofmine:1)Keeptakingcareofoneanother.2)Rememberthat2+2makessense.3)PlayNice.4)Knowyouraudience.5)FigureoutwhichFormulatousebeforethemediagetsaholdofit.6)“Yougetoutwhatyouputin.”7)IfyouneedtoFI-1.8)Readthelabel.9)Ifyou’retired,sleepin.

10) When in need of a driver, call an already overworked800todoyourjob.11)Watchoutforirony.12)Don’tfumbleTradition.13)Take 1st relief so you can go back to sleep. 14)Never,andIrepeat,Never“StandBy.”15)CheckboxesforpoliticsalwaysbeatCommon

Sense.16)Whenyouhavetheopportunitytodotherightthing,taketheE.I.T.spotinstead.Ohandfinally17)Keepsendingyourstoriesto [email protected]’sallI’vegot!

Task Force 66 overhauls a structure fire at 6035 3rd Ave on 1/5/14.Photo by Yvonne Griffin

FS 64-A Christmas party

Chili time at FS 46


Engine 46 extinguished this rubbish fire on 12/29/13.Photo by Nick Colbert

LAFD and County Fire handle a structure fire on New Year’s EvePhotos by Nick Colbert


40 firefighters responded to a blaze in the 12900 block of Landale Street on 12/13/13.Photos by Juan Guerra, juanguerra.smugmug.com

Members from Engine 102 work to extinguish an auto fire on Fulton Ave n/o Victory BlvdPhoto by Rick McClure, EPN

Engine 89 extinguished an auto at 13136 Sherman Way in the early morning of January 1stPhoto by Jeffery Geller


Companies handle an auto vs gas pump at Balboa Bl and Lassen St on 12/7/13.Photo by Adam VanGerpen, The Los Angeles Firefighter

On December 6, 2013, Battalion 15 firefighters extin-guished a fire in a commercial building on Lassen Street.Photos by Adam VanGerpen, The Los Angeles Firefighter


Hello everyone. Hope you had a greatholidayseasonwithyourfamilyandyou’reingoodhealth. Let’sgetstartedwithsomenewsfrom61’s.What’sworse-loadingyourhosebedorlosingyourhosebed?Okay,you’reonamoveupto97’s.It’sagreatlookingday–you’renotcooking,goodstuffright?Wrong!Things start to go bad as the rig is backing into quartersat97’syounoticethatthe4”hoseisGONE.Andthe4-Waytoo!!Youthink“Ohshucks” for lack of a better word. The business phone rings and you start to think what are yougonnatellthechief,butits61’sasking“areyoumissingsomeequipment?”YESWEARE!!!!Okay,Iknowweweartheearphonesfornoiseprotectionandcommunication,butholy cow! Or what about a weight change that had to be about 2000 lbs. when all that hit the ground.Whenaciviliancalls911,thememberdown at Metro who has probably heard it all couldn’tbelievehisorherears.NowifyouknowEngineerCzubek,itcouldn’thavehap-pentoanicerguy,really,Imeanit.

Battalion 17 companies han-dled a fatal T/A at Ventura Bl and Vanalden on 12/16/2013. Photo by Rick McClure, EPN

Nowwho’sgonnabuycreamforthis?Well,let’shopeit’snotRayTopete,causewhenhe’slatetowork,itseemshe’llbring two day old pan dulce for the guys. C’monRaythere’sadonutshoprightacrossthestreetfrom61’s.I’mjustsaying. Onemorestoryfrom61’s,CaptainDursohasretiredfromthedepartmentafter33yearsonthejob.Johnthatmustachehasn’t

changedin33yearsexceptitgotGREY,noWHITE.CongratulationsJohn,enjoyyourlife. Where were you when the new Cap-tain’slistcameout?Iwasworking,andIwashappy to see the Battalion did pretty good. Purma?Really,okaycongratsdude. Storyoutta43’s-EngineerJohnBalich is retiring in February after 35 years on

Breakfast celebration for Stu Premmer at FS 43 on 12/7/13


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February 2014 • 29Send your stories and photos directly to you Battalion News writer

or to the editor at [email protected]

thejob.Johnhasbeenaloyalmembertothisdepartmentandhispresencewillbemissed.CongratulationsJohnandenjoyyourlife.Alsooutta43’sthequestionis“Whatsideofthepikepoledoyouuse?”I’mjustasking? OnDecember7,2013atFireStation43,therewasacelebrationforretiredmemberStuPremmer.Someofyoumaynotknowbutour friend Stu is in a battle for his life with a deadlydisease.Itwasaveryspecialdayformanypeoplewhocameto43’sforthepan-cakebreakfast.ItwasaGREATturnoutforaGREATperson.About300peoplestoppedby

to say hi and thanks to a person that left a last-ingimpressiononthemanypeoplehecameincontactwith.43’swasveryhappytohostthiseventforStuandhisfamily.Aspecialthankyou goes to UFLAC, The Relief Association, Stentorians, The LAFD Historical Society, 11’s,43’s,58’s,61’s,94’s,Battalion18,andtothe“BreakfastGroup”thathasagroupbreak-fasteverymonth.They’vebeentryingtogetStutocomewiththem,sotheycametohim.Therearemanymorepeople,organizations,andbusinessestothankbutIcan’trememberthemall(I’mold).

Manychiefofficers,captains,A/O’s,andfirefightersthathavepassedthrough58’sandwhowereinfluencedbyEngineerPrem-mer,camethroughthatmorning,andevenacoupleofmechanicsthatworkedonStu’srigscamebytosayhi. Forthoseofyouwhocouldn’tmakeit,justasksomebody.Stuwasn’ttheonlyone crying in the house. Thank you all who attended.Itwasvery,veryspecial.

Be safe out [email protected]

Companies extinguished a blaze in a commercial building on Crenshaw Bl on Christmas Day. Photo by Yvonne Griffin

Firefighters battled a structure fire at 1843 Dunsmuir Ave on 12/19/13. Photo by Yvonne Griffin


Check out LAFRA.ORG for more details on the above.

SAVE YOUR HOTEL SPOT! SAVE YOUR SPACE!

SAVE THE DATE!

ACTIVITY GUIDE

RV SPOTS AVAILABLE - RESERVE YOURS by calling Pechanga R.V. Resort (877) 997-8386

:: Resort/Hotel reservation call (888) 732-4264:: For other Hotels call (323) 259-5202

Monday, May 19, 2014 @ 2PM (check-in) to Friday, May 23, 2014 @ 12PM (check-out)

MONDAY - MAY 19th :: Check in & catch up with old friends:: Reception Get-Together - Beer & Wine (Provided)

TUESDAY - MAY 20th:: Pizza Dinner / Wine & Beer (Provided) - Time: 5PM at Pechanga RV Clubhouse

:: Organization Reps at Clubhouse - 10am-4pm

WEDNESDAY - MAY 21st:: Dinner / Wine & Beer (Provided) - Time: 5PM at Pechanga RV Clubhouse


:: Wine Trolly Tour - Time: TBA $85 per person

For information email [email protected]

THURSDAY - MAY 22nd:: Gathering at THE BUFFETT at Pechanga Hotel - Time: 6pm $30 per person

:: Golf “Journey” at Pechanga - Price/Time: TBA

FRIDAY - MAY 23rd:: Check out! Till next time...


My wife and I dined at our favoriteItalian restaurant in Las Vegas theother night. It’s just a hole-in-the-

wall place but the food is fantastic. After pig-gin’ out on garlic bread andwine, thewaiterbroughtourfoodandaskedifwewantedsomeagedparmesancheesegratedoverourplates.Mywife declined but I didn’t.This block ofcheese was about the size of brick and about as heavy.Aboutthetimemymealwascompletelycovered with cheese, a large corner of the block felloffintomyplate.Iattemptedtogiveitbackbut the waiter stated that, “By state law, once thecheesehitsyourplate,it’syours.”Ofcoursehealsomentionedthatthepiecethatbrokeoffwasworthabout$25,butgavemehisblessin’sandsaid,“Enjoy!”EverhadextraSHARPpar-mesancheese?Well,takeitfromme,it’sbet-terthanpassin’gasonacrowdedMTAbus.Ithinktwoofmyheartvalvestemporarilywentinto “emergency shutdown mode,” but I im-mediately downed another glass of vino andthatseemedtosolvetheproblem.Ohyea,thatcheese was worth the near death experience. There’s no shortage of entertain-mentinLasVegas,especiallythefolksyousee

walkin’fromcasinotocasino.Andthere’salsonoshortageofhomelessfolks,whoprovideex-traentertainmentbybeatin’ondrums,playin’guitarsorjustsingin’asyouapproachthevari-oushotelentrances.Ithinktheirthoughtistoget a few bucks outta you before you enter the casino, or to try tomake you feel guilty thatyourmoneyisbetterspentonthem. Well, I didn’t fall for that “guilty”trickbecauseIcametothefrightenin’realiza-tionthatmywifehadn’tboughtanyjewelryorhandbags in amonth.Whatwould happen ifanewsparklin’diamondringorLouisVittonhandbagcaughthereyeandallIhadtoshowherwasanemptymoneyclip?I’dhavesomeseriousexplainin’todo!

COWBOY HUMOR

With a very se-ductive voice a wife asked her husband, “Have you ever seen twenty dollars allcrumpledup?” “No,” said herhusband.

She gave him a sexy smile and re-movedacrumpledtwentydollarbillfromherjeanspocket.Hetookthecrumpledtwentydol-larsandsmiledapprovingly. She then asked, “Have you ever seen fiftydollarsallcrumpledup?” “No,Ihaven’t,”hesaid,withananx-ious tone in his voice. Shegavehimanothersexysmileandpulledacrumpled50dollarbillfromherotherjeanpocket.Hetookthecrumpledfiftydollarbill and started breathin’ a little quickerwithanticipation. “Now,” she said, “Have you everseenthirtythousanddollarsallcrumpledup?” “No way,” he said becomin’ evenmorearousedandexcitedtowhichshereplied,“Golookinthegarage.” KEEPSMILIN’[email protected]

A portion of fire-related jewelry profits donated to the Widows, Or phans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund.

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Retired guys’ breakfast in Thousand Oaks in January

Check out LAFRA.ORG for more details on the above.

SAVE YOUR HOTEL SPOT! SAVE YOUR SPACE!

SAVE THE DATE!

ACTIVITY GUIDE

RV SPOTS AVAILABLE - RESERVE YOURS by calling Pechanga R.V. Resort (877) 997-8386

:: Resort/Hotel reservation call (888) 732-4264:: For other Hotels call (323) 259-5202

Monday, May 19, 2014 @ 2PM (check-in) to Friday, May 23, 2014 @ 12PM (check-out)

MONDAY - MAY 19th :: Check in & catch up with old friends:: Reception Get-Together - Beer & Wine (Provided)

TUESDAY - MAY 20th:: Pizza Dinner / Wine & Beer (Provided) - Time: 5PM at Pechanga RV Clubhouse


WEDNESDAY - MAY 21st:: Dinner / Wine & Beer (Provided) - Time: 5PM at Pechanga RV Clubhouse


:: Wine Trolly Tour - Time: TBA $85 per person

For information email [email protected]

THURSDAY - MAY 22nd:: Gathering at THE BUFFETT at Pechanga Hotel - Time: 6pm $30 per person

:: Golf “Journey” at Pechanga - Price/Time: TBA

FRIDAY - MAY 23rd:: Check out! Till next time...


APARTMENT HOUSE FIREEast HollywoodPhotos by Steve Gentry and Bernie Deyo

Firefighters were dispatched on January 3, 2014 to 719 North Heliotrope Drive for an explosion that damaged a three-story apartment building, sending one man to the hospital and displacing eighteen of his neighbors. It took the combined efforts of 57 LAFD personnel, who performed a thorough search of the two dozen apartment units on three floors while simultaneously battling a stubborn fire in one second floor unit fed by a natural gas line, to fully extinguish the flames in just 26 minutes.

Monetary loss from the incident, which significantly damaged one or more apart-ments in the 90 year old building, is es-timated to be at least $85,000 ($75,000 structure & $10,000 contents).


STRUCTURE FIRElos angElEs

Photos by Dan Flynn

On December 9, 2013, Engine 25 was first-in at a structure fire in their district. Firefighters rescued a terrier and brought it out for the medics to resuscitate using the canine oxygen mask. The owner lost two other dogs in the fire.


STRUCTURE FIREVan nuysPhotos by Mike Meadows

It took the combined effort of 96 firefighters nearly 45 minutes to ex-tinguish a fire in a vacant private school building on December 7, 2013. Fire loss was not estimable, as the heavily damaged building was soon to be demolished. The cause of the blaze was described as accidental, and at-tributed to a transient’s warming fire in the once-home’s vestigial fireplace, that quickly engulfed the large attic.



JOHN HOLTBY, Captain, FS 93-B

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 05, 2014

Braemar Country Club4001 Reseda Blvd, Tarzana CA

Social Hour: 6:00 PM Dinner: 7:00 PM

Menu: Chicken or Pot Roast - $55 includes tax, tip & gift

Call FS 93 - (818) 756-8693 RSVP by February 24, 2014

GREG GIBSON, Battalion Chief, Batt. 1-A

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Odyssey Restaurant15600 Odyssey Drive, Granada Hills CA

Social Hour: 6:00 PM Dinner: 7:00 PM

Menu: Buffet Style Dinner - $60 includes tax, tip & gift

Call FS 4 - (213) 485-6204 or Battalion 1 Office - (213) 485-6271 RSVP by March 4, 2014


The Friday after Thanksgiving of-ficially marks the opening of theLAFDToyProgram,whichrunsfor

six weeks. LA City is the lead agency for all of LosAngeles, Ventura, Or-

ange, San Bernardino and Riverside coun-ties. Even toys do-nated through sites set

up by ABC7 are filtered through “Toy Central,” the

drill floor at Frank Hotchkin MemorialTrainingCenter.According to ProgramCoordi-

nator Mike Marquez, “The cadets are the ones that make this thing work.Someofthemarehereforhundreds of hours each. They come from Posts27, 94, Crew 3, 12, and

64,justtonameafew.”

Every toy thatcomes throughToyCentralmustbecounted,sorted,allocatedanddistributed. It’sahugewarehouse typeoperationwith very intricate logistics. After the cadets sort the toys, they are al-locatedtomorethan700certifiedcharitableorganizations.Thetoysaretransportedtotheclosestfirestationtotherequestingorganizationfordistributionbythefirefightersthere. Thesuccessoftheprogrameachyearcanbeattributedtoallofthehardworkfromallofthewonderfulvolunteers,aswellasthemediapartnerships.KABCTV’s“SparkofLove”campaign isan invaluableresourceforgettingthewordouttothecommunity.

The crew from FS 9-A at the LAFD Toy Drive Christmas Party.


On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Hai-yan (called Yolanda in the Philippines) made landfall in this nation of over

7100 islands. It unleashed its fury with sus-tainedwindspeedsof165mphandone-minutegusts nearing 200 mph. It was the strongeststorm recorded at landfall, unofficially thestrongesttyphooneverintermsofwindspeedand the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record. 16millionpeoplewereaffected,6milliondis-placed,1.9millionlefthomelessandmorethan7,000confirmeddead.FiveofthosewhodiedwerefirefightersfromtheNationalBureauofFire Protection, who were engaged in life sav-ing efforts when they were washed away in the20’ stormsurge.Unfortunately, in today’sfast-pacedmediaandtheconstantoverloadof“realityTV” this event is nowall but forgot-ten. However, the lives of countless Filipinos are still struggling to get their feet back on the groundandtheirlivesbacktonormal. In the aftermath of this storm allcommunicationlinksweredownintheaffect-ed areas and it took time for video clips andimagestobegintoemergedepictingthewide-spreaddamage.Itwasn’tuntildaysafterwardsthat Ibegan to realize thesignificanceof thiseventandfelt theurgetogo.OurEmergencyRelief Team coordinator began sending outemailsandmakingcallslookingforvolunteers

aswellasanin-countrycontact.AteamofsixFirefightersForChristvolunteerswaseventu-allyformedwithrepresentativesfromArizona,Nevada,Texas,andtheLAFD(RonPrice,LuisCarlosandme).OurdestinationwasTaclobanto assist a ministry called Kids InternationalMinistry (KIM). Their primary ministry (inManila) is to prevent human trafficking andgetting at-risk youth off the streets, but follow-ing the typhoon they were coordinating various reliefeffortsinTacloban.Wethoughtourmis-sion would be salvage and reconstruction, but our plans changed during a layover in Manila. After 17 hours aboard two planes, our third and final leg should have been a quick two-hourhop to Tacloban, but this airline would not al-low our 1,000 pounds of gear to go with us. We could not leave it behind and were forced to forfeit our tickets. Flexibilityremainsthekeyinallmis-sion trips and we often refer to a scripture that says, “Aman’s heart plans his way, but TheLORDdirectshissteps.”(Proverbs16:9)Afterprayerfordirection,wesoonmetaCebuCityfirefighterintheairport.Somephonecallsweremade,anda fewhours later threefiredepart-mentvehiclesarrived to takeusback to theirheadquarters . . . two hours away. We learned that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is a

nationalfireservicewithover17,000members.Theyareapaiddepartmentandstress formaleducation, requiring applicants to have at least a four-year college degree. We were picked up becausetheFireChiefwantedtomeetwithus.Weweremetattheirnationalheadquartersbya100-memberrecruitclasslinedupstandingatattention. They greeted us by singing the Fire-man’sPrayer.Well...I’veseenitwrittenonplaques, and have read it elsewhere, but never heard it sung before. Itwas amazing to hear,but sad to think that this would never happen in the good old “Land of the Free.” The Fire Chief and his staff treated us just short of royalty.Theygreetedusindressuniforms,fedus,gaveus gifts, put us up in a hotel, gave us a tour of their training center (700 recruits currently in training),andeventuallyarrangedforourmili-taryC-130flighttoTacloban.LuisandIgottospend our 33-year anniversary on the LAFD in the back of a C-130 enroute to Tacloban. At the Tacloban airport we were again greeted by some BFP personnel, whodroveus to their central station.Whenwefi-nallymetwiththeKIMrepresentative,hesaidthat instead of salvage/construction at one of theirministries,hehadplannedforustowork


Paid Advertisement:with theBFP doing ‘body retrievals’.This isgruesomework that theBFPhasbeen taskedwith since the disaster and their personnel were really in need of some relief and encourage-ment.Retrievalshaveonlygottenworsesincethe typhoon.The ‘easy pickins’ have alreadybeen cleared away and nowmost bodies areentangled in huge debris piles (the remainsof light construction blown apart and floatedashore).Retrievalsarenowlessinvolume,butmoredifficultintermsofentanglementandex-tractionandobviouslyinmoreadvancedstagesof decay. Our first assignment was the mostdifficult. This body had been identified byfamilymembersmuchearlier,butpreviousat-temptsby theBFPprovedunsuccessful (theirtool cache was very limited). It was under alarge ship, about 300 feet in length that had washedashore.Thedebrisfielditwasrestingonwas amixtureofwood,metal, and“otherdebris”andwashighlycompacted.Itrequiredconsiderable cutting to free the body intact, butwasmuchappreciatedby the familywhowatched.Ithelpedbringsomeclosuretotheirloss. The chainsaw and cordless reciprocating

saws we used, along with a portable generator, water filtration kits, and other miscellaneoustools, were part of our cargo that we later do-nated to our BFP hosts. Weaveragedabout6-7bodyretriev-alsperday -noneed todiscuss thedetails. IwouldhaveneverguessedthatanFFCmissiontrip would focus on such work, but working alongside our brothers and sisters of the BFP built close relationships in a short period of time.LuisCarlosconnected instantly . . .be-ing half-Filipino and having lived a few years of his youth in Subic Bay. He was treated as if hewasanolderbrotherreturninghomefortheholidays.AnotherteamfavoritewasRonPrice,whoinhisownuniquestyle,schooled-upsomeofourBFPhostsinAmericanslang.Intheend,our mission was accomplished. Some work-loadreliefwasprovided,muchencouragementgiven,andgreat relationshipsweremade . . .someimpactinglivesforeternity.

MoreinformationonfutureFFCtrips,domes-ticorabroad,canbefoundat:www.ffclosange-les.com or www.firefightersforchrist.org


visit:www.LAFRA.org

mail: P.O. Box 41903Los Angeles CA

90041phone:(800) 244-3439


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Decemberof2013willberememberedforoneofthelargestcaptain’slistsinLAFD history, and for Chris Yokoya-

ma becoming LAFD Handball’s top singlesplayer.Thetournamentthisyearwasespeciallychallenging due to players dividing their efforts betweenpreparingforthecaptain’sinterviewsand training for handball. The finals of the Fall SinglesTour-namentwereheldattheLosAngelesAthleticClub onDecember 12, 2013.Allwinners re-ceived LAFD Handball Hoodies. This tourna-ment displayed new and upcoming talent inseveral divisions, and replaced several mem-bers on the LAFD Handball Ladder. Rankings on the ladderwere adjusted based on perfor-manceinthistournament. The“A”Divisionfinalwasarepeatof last year’smatch-upwithChris “I changemyclothes inaphonebooth”Yokoyamafac-ing John Libby Jr. in what proved to be a great exhibition of endurance and skill.Yokoyama

LAFD Handball Ladder

Christopher Yokoyama - (92-B)

John Libby Jr. - (3-B)

Ryan Carlos - (92-A)

Eddie Marez - (2-C)

Joe Castro - (Batt. 5-C)

Mario Rueda - (BES)

Chris Hart - (26-C)

Paul Croghan - (40-B)

Jared Cooper - (92-C)

Alex Garcia - (66-B)

Ryan Chance - (82-C)

Jerry Puga - (26-A)

Freddie Escobar - (26-A)

Frank Lima - (UFLAC)

Branden Silverman - (92-A)

Trevor Insley - (66-A)

Colin Smith - (90-C)

Ladd Stilson - (95-B)

Enrique Borboa - (26-C)

Gary Maga - (69-C)

came away victorious, winning two straightgamestobecomeLAFD’s#1player. The“B”Divisionfinalfeaturedtwoplayers who have continually improved theirgames and advanced in nearly every tourna-mentoverthepastthreeyears.BrianMiclettedefeated Tony Arnado in the “B” Final. RichardRamirezdefeatedChadLo-ganinthe“C”Divisionfinal.Thismatchwasa contrast of styles, with Ramirez using theadvantage of young legs and aggressive shot selection to pull out the victory. The “D” Division final was one ofthemostentertainingmatchesoftheday,withElliot Ibanez defeating Chris Sebourn in abattle of hustle and heart. These players have bright futures. IronmanTonyArnadodefeatedJerryTravinsinthe“B”MastersDivisionfinal.Thiswasa competitivematch,butTravins spottedArnadomorethan20years,whichprovedtobetoomuchtoovercome.

Thefinalmatchof theday featuredJohn Libby Jr. against Eddie Marez in the “Masters Division” final. Libby was deter-minedtoleavewithatitle,andhesoundlyde-featedMarezintwostraightgames. The Golden Masters Final has notbeenplayed, due to scheduling conflictswiththe two finalists Joe Castro and Jesus Pasos.Resultswillbepublishednextmonth.

LadderRules:Unrankedplayersmaychal-lenge#16-20.Othersmaychallengewithinfive spots (winner swaps positions.) If youare not happy with your position on the lad-der,beatsomebody.

JOHN LIBBY & CHRIS YOKOYAMAJERRY TRAVINS & TONY ARNADO

RICHARD RAMIREZ & CHAD LOGAN ELLIOT IBANEZ & CHRIS SEBOURN

EDDIE MAREZ & JOHN LIBBY TONY ARNADO & BRIAN MICLETTE


Firefighters are educated and trained to al-terfire.Infiresciencewelearnthatthereismorethanonewaytoattackafirein

progress.Differentcircumstancescall fordif-ferentmeasurestoinsureasuccessfuloutcome.Whenweimplementdifferentstrategiesduringfiresuppression–westressthefire,weforceit to change. Maximizing your fitness potentialbegins with applying this principle to your weighttrainingroutines.Inthegymwecallitadaptation. In fitness sciencewe learn if youwanttoincreasemusclestrengthandmass,youalter the variables in your training routine. Ifyoudon’t,yourbodycompositionwillstaythesameandyou’llbewhiningthatyourmusclesaren’tgettinganybigger.Yourweighttrainingrequires implementing different strategies inorder to stress your body and create change. Why do two people of the sameweight and height have such different abilities inthegym?Becauseoffactorssuchasmusclefiber type, muscle formation and insertions,tendon connections, and energy systems.Weare all different with different genetic potential. But just because you can’t squat six hundredpounds doesn’tmeanyouwon’t achieve suc-cess with a weight lifting program. BecausewearenotallbornwithArnold’sgenesdoesn’tmeanwecan’tdevelopmusclefitness.Itdoesmeanwemust utilize adaptation strategies tomaximizeourfitnesspotentialanddevelopthemusclefitnessweneed.

Muscle Fitness: Endurance, Strength and Power Muscular strength is how muchforce amuscle can exert at one time or howmuchthemusclecanlift.Forexample,afire-fighter uses muscular strength when liftingheavy equipment often in awkward positionssuch as during extrication events. Muscular endurance is how long a muscle can contract before fatiguing.For ex-ample, a firefighter uses muscular endurancein almost every fireground activity such asbreaching ceilings, manipulating hose lines,forcibleentry,climbingmultiplestairs,andthelist goes on and on. Muscular power is the speed at whichyourmusclesdevelopforce.Thisisde-veloped through the connection between the central nervous system and the muscle. De-

velopingrapidcontroloveragroupofmusclelessens the impacton thebody.Whenwearecalled upon to lift a piece of equipment offthegroundordragavictimwemustdeveloprapid power out of our hips and legs to reach the force we need to do the lift. Once we are moving;theloadiseasiertolift,carryordrag. Because muscular endurance,strength and power are called upon for differ-ent responsibilities on the job, we must usedifferent adaptation strategies to train for their specific development in our weight training.

Muscular strength is developed using heavier weight and fewer repetitions. Muscular endur-ance is developed through a series of chang-ing repetitions. Muscular power is developed throughspeedandtiming.

Adaptation: Strategies at a Glance

Enduro Strength Training was created by MonteEgherman,a25yearveteranofthefireservice.He served his first 20 yearswith thecity of Peoria,Arizona spending most of hiscareer as aCaptain/Paramedic and retiring asa Battalion Chief. He now serves as Assistant Chief for the town of Buckeye, Arizona and Firefighter Fitness andCPATDirector for theFireScienceProgramforGlendaleCommunityCollegeinGlendale,Arizona.


Dear John and Andy, Enclosed is a check for the Widows, Orphans andDisabledFiremen’sFund.Mysmallgiftisinlieuoftheannual“giftexchange”withmyfellowboardmembersoftheL.A.RetiredFire&PoliceAssoc.IhavealsoenclosedmylettertotheLARFPAboardwhichbetterexplainsmyactions.I’msurethissmalldonationwillbeputto better use in our Widows & Orphans Fund.

Fellow Board Members, In keeping with the tradition of holidaygivingandfriendship–IstruggledwithwhatImight givemy fellowBoardMembers . . .comprised of a bunch of aging cops andfiremen. After due consideration and seriousthought,severalitemscametomind:

*Orthotics*SuperPoly-Grip®*Viagra®*OneyearsupplyofMoveFree®*Oxycodone*andtheeverpopularDepends®

After a long deliberation and a half bottle ofbourbon,Idecidedthatinlieuofanyoftheabove, I have made a donation, in the nameof the LARFPA Board of Directors, to the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association’sWidows & Orphans Fund.

Happy HolidaysDon Forrest

Thanks John for your dedicated years of service to our members of the LAFRA.Youdeserve a rest.

Fraternally yours,

Don ForrestDirector LARFPA, LAFD retired

Dear Mr. Jacobsen,

On behalf of theTolucaLakeChamber ofCommercewearepleased toencloseacheckin support of your organization and LAFD families.Thiswaspartoftheproceedsfromthe

9th Annual Old Fashioned Pancake Breakfast onFireServiceDayatFireStation86inTolucaLake. We hope to be back next year to carry on the tradition.

Sincerely,

Stephen Hampar, presidentToluca Lake Chamber of Commerce

LAFRA Widows & Orphans Fund

My donation is dedicated to Leonard Cobb, my friend since our teen years and a golfpartner forever. His friendship was genuine and hewillbemissed.Restinpeace

Richard RushDana Point, CA

Dear Andy:

The enclosed check is for the WODFF in memory ofDottieGiordano. Shewas such afineladyandanyonewhoeverhasbeenaroundherwouldsaythesamething.ElinorandIhavebeen on a number of trips both in the USAand Europe.We will miss her so much. Herfamilyandthemany,manyfriendswillalwaysrememberherandallthefunwehadtogether.

Elinor and Frank BrownSanta Rosa, CA

Dear Andy –

Just a note to say “thanks” to you and the entire Relief Association. All of you give so much and ask very little in return. Yourdedication is unsurpassed. Please know of my deep appreciation andbest wishes for good health and success in the NewYear.I’msureyoucanfinda“needyspot”for the enclosed.

GodBless,

Pat LloydPlacentia, CA

Dear LAFRA:

We would like to send this donation to the Relief Association for all of the kindness to our familyatthetimeofourfatherGeraldGeorge’spassing in November of 2011. The ReliefAssociationwasveryhelpfulatthetimeofourlossandwewanttocontributesothattheymayhelp others in need. It is good to know that theAssociation isalways there for us. Although our father retired in1969,afterworking20yearsasafireman,the Relief Association was still there for us withwords of kindness and encouragement,andfinancialhelp.ItisgoodtoknowthattheAssociationwill always look to help firemenandtheirfamilies,bothpastandpresent.Thankyou for all that you do.

Sincerely,

The George Family – Jerri George, John Henley, Marilyn GeorgeChatsworth, CA

To The Widows and Orphans Fund

HellofromthemembersofFireStation87-B, the third place winners at this year’s LAFiremen’sCreditUnionChiliCook-Off.Wearedonating part of our winnings to the Widows, OrphansandDisabledFiremen’sFund.Thankyou for everything that the LAFRA does.

Cruz Macias, Don Welcker and Jason Knight Fire Station 87-B

Andy,

Iwouldliketodonatethischeckinmemoryof Jerry Andrews who recently passed away –andforhiswifeBettyLuwhopassedafewyears back. Jerry was a fine gentleman andfriend.WeplayedmanyroundsofgolftogetherwithDickOstoichandJimMeier.Thanksforallyoureffortsandfriendshipovertheyears–“Go66’s”

Yours,

Mary and Gary KlasseSan Clemente, CA


Create a Legacy

For information call Marlene Casillas, Relief Association Development & Marketing Director, at

(323) 259-5217 or email me at [email protected]

The Eternal Flame Society is a special group of �re�ghters, family, friends and supporters who have included a gift to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund in their Estate Plans.

They’re visionary and uncommonly dedicated. Their kindness has helped our �re�ghter families overcome unexpected challenges for more than a century.

We invite you to join these dedicated individuals helping to secure the future of your �re�ghter family. With your help, the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund’s second century will be as extraordinary as its �rst.

Planned gift arrangements include:• Bequest through a will• Gift through a living trust or other non-charitable trust• Gift of life insurance, real estate or other assets• Bene�ciary designation in retirement plans

Send your letters& comments

to the editor at:[email protected]

LAFRA –

This donation is in appreciation for all that theLosAngelesFiremen’sReliefAssociationdidformyfatheroverthepasttwoyearsbeforehis passing. You made his life much morecomfortable than it would have been. I hopethiswillmake anotherfiremen’s familymorecomfortablewhentheyareinneed.

Sincerely,

Jerry MihldRedlands, CA

Dear Andy,

Iwanttothankyouforallthehelpyougavemeandmyfamilywhendad,CharlieBakovic,passedawaylastJanuary.Itwassuchadifficulttime,butyoursupportandassistancehelpedusthroughthetoughtimes.IwantedtodonatetotheWidows,OrphansandDisabledFiremen’sFundinmemoryofmyDad.

Best wishes,

Marsha Davis (Bakovic)Oceanside, CA

Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association: Thank you for the beautiful flowerarrangement you sent in remembrance ofChuck (Breazeal). So nice to see fellow firefighters remember retired firefighters after30 years. Your thoughtfulness and kindness wastrulyappreciatedduringthisdifficulttime. Sincerely, Carol BreazealNewbury Park, CA


MEMBERSIvar MIhld, Fireman. Appointed April 17, 1938.

retired on A service pension July 01, 1968 from fs 1.Passed away November 05, 2013. (COrrECTION)

WIllIaM l. ShErMaN, Captain ii. Appointed August 19, 1947. retired on A service pension August 01, 1972 from fs 93-A.

Passed away November 30, 2013.

hENry r. auguSTE, Fire inspeCtor. Appointed July 01, 1941. retired on A service pension februAry 01, 1966 from fire prevention bureAu.

Passed away december 01, 2013.

davId S. TOrNbOM, engineer. Appointed november 01, 1956. retired on A service pension August 20, 1979 from fs 96.


WIllIaM d. MCINTyrE, FireFighter ii. Appointed JAnuAry 12, 1944. retired on A service pension June 29, 1980 from supply & mAintenAnce division.


JOhN E. hOllaNd, engineer. Appointed mAy 01, 1950. retired on A service pension June 15, 1980 from fs 40-A.


lEONard P. CObb, Captain ii. Appointed June 10, 1961. retired on A service pension februAry 01, 1987 from fs 80-b.


rObErT E. WOOdEN, Captain i. Appointed June 21, 1954. retired on A disAbility pension April 01, 1972 from fs 107-c.


CharlES O. ZubEr, engineer. Appointed februAry 10, 1948. retired on A service pension June 01, 1976 from fs 82-b.


JErOld M. aNdrEW, Captain. Appointed mArch 18, 1947. retired on A service pension mArch 01, 1977 from fs 93-b.


FAMILY vIvIENNE r. WyNNE, spouse of treAsvAnt A. Wynne, Passed away december 02, 2013.

hElEN M. PrOCTOr, surviving spouse of forest l. proctor, Passed away december 05, 2013.

ruTh a. aNdrESEN, spouse of lArry g. Andresen, Passed away december 31, 2013.


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Affo

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Reflectingonmy26yearsatTF-102(including LF-102) it was the highlight of 33 yearsonthedepartment.Howcoulditnot?InthefrontofficewehadpeoplelikeBuckTeel,Gary Peck,DougMurphy,RonMeador,RayHorelly, Ray Case, Bruce Blackwell, Mike Burns,WayneBoswell, JohnNelson, andEdOrtiz,justasanexample. Indrafting thisarticle, I spokewithWaltWilmingtonBatt-14-A(ret).Hisrecollec-tionofTF-102wasoneofrespectandadmira-tion,bothonthefiregroundandoff.Hemen-tioned,also,thelevelofmoralewasashighashe had ever witnessed. This can be attested to bythefactnoonewantedtoleaveandthemul-titudeof“brownies”onthefiletotransferin. Another retired chief, JimO’Neill,toldme of his esteem for 102’s.One case inpointwas“TheNormandieFire.”AstheI.C.,when102’sreportedonscene,hedirectedtheT.F. to go to the roof. With 102 ready, Capt Gary Peck noticed a woman halfway out asmallwindowon the 5th floor screaming forhelp. Peck, knowing TF-29 was on the roof, toldtheI.C.andwantedtoattemptarescue.Anaerialladderwouldn’twork,soT-102threwthe“50” three feet short of the window. Engineer Tom Brennan was firstup, followed by FF TomKessler (27). ChiefO’Neill related tomehe couldn’twatch, andCapt.Peckthought,“Someoneispossiblygo-ingtodie.”Brennan,onthethirdrungfromthetop,gotthewomanoutfeetfirst.Andbasicallydidwhatmostcouldn’twithoutatragicresult.ThisactionearnedTomBrennantheMedalofValor. Other members of TF-102 would also

On July 1, 1977, Task Force 102 was es-tablished and quickly earned a reputa-tion for the excellence and the respect

of the department, citywide. It soon becameevident102’s“firstin”hadnoboundariesandwouldencompasstheentirecityviathemany“move-ups,dayornight”andmanytimesboth.(Ofcourse,thenumerouscutgallonsofB&RtoOCDdidn’thurt).Thosemove-upsprovided102’s theability toexperiencefirsthandareasofthecityandthechallengesfacedbythecom-paniesnormallyassignedthere.Fromresiden-tial,commercial,industrial,highrise,bothair-ports, harbor, and brush - the knowledge gained was instrumental to102’smembers to furthertheir career goals via promotions, and impartthe same to new rookies assigned toTF-102.Thus itseemedonlyappropriate, themoniker“TF-102 Spearhead of the City” was born. Shortly thereafter, a spray paint sten-cilwascreatedbytheA/O’sdepictingthesamelogo.Itsusagewent into theoverdrivewhen-ever theopportunity arose.The“grand slam”occurred at themain shops on one particularSunday. With stencil and creepers in hand, A/O “Chick”MokracekandLaneKemperstartedatoppositeendsofthebaysandscored.Viathisclandestineoperation,aChristmascardwasde-signed,bearingthesamelogoandsenttoeveryLAFD work location. Feedback was positive, minusoneTFC@10’s. (Iwon’tmentionhisnamedue to his good reputation).ManypastmembersofTF-102’swentontopromoteandtheirnamesaretoonumeroustolist.Iwilladd,inmy opinion, each one benefited by havingservedat102’s.

be awarded that samemedalfordisplaysofheroismintheaftermathoftheNorthridgeEarthquake. NotallofTF-102’sresponsesresult-ed ingoodoutcomes.FFBrainPhillips,102-B,losthislifebattlinganarsonfireatMullenLumber inNorthHollywood.Other incidents102wasinvolvedwithwerefiresatwhichFFLynnHazlett(FS39),A/OTomTaylor(FS60)andFFFrankHotchkins(FS1)madetheulti-matesacrifice.AlloftheseweresadtimesfortheLAFDandfiredepartmentseverywhere. After102’swasonceagainasingleengine, all three shifts combined their talentsandresourcesandcreatedamemorialtoBrianPhillips in the station’s backyard, befitting atrueAmericanhero.Ifyouhaven’tseenit,stopbyandpayrespecttoa“fireman’s”fireman. On a lighter side, on one particular overhaul,in88’sdistrict,102’swaslefttocleanup.Wewashed,driedandfoldedT-88’ssalvagecovers, and returned them, but not before aminiature102’slogowasappliedonacorner.TFCBrown,from88’s,wasirateandtoldDiv-3.Verbalreprimandswereissuedto102’sfrontoffice.Notquitehappy,102’sbackroomcre-ateda“Brown’sCryingTowel,”andforwardedto 88’s wrapped around a laughing box thatwas triggered to go off when the package was opened.At88’slineup,Brownopeneditandthe box went off, and he looked at the towel. Notawordwassaid,andthereafter,therewereno more comments from Capt Brown about102’s. Many of you, reading this, already know about TF-102’s legacy and everything


thoseIcontactedandthedeepemotionsIhavefor those who served at the “Force That Was.”

thatgoeswithit.SoifIambeingrepetitiveIapologize. Set-ups and pranks were part of the LAFDmindset.Gamesfordishesandcheatingprevailed on the “C” shift as well. Bill Ward andVinceCardinalegot togetherandcheatedTFCRayHorellyatthegame“99.”Ray’sre-tort – “You guys cheated, and I willfind out!”He never did.All said anddone, Ray had the cleanest cuticles on the F.D. One classic was FF Denny Silgen@FS-10andhisfirecrackerca-per that went awry. He was then trans-ferred to TF-102-A. Capt. Tom Frankwas the dept. advocate. Down the road, after Denny settled in at 102’s, Capt.Frank worked a SOD @ 102’s. Beingcongenial - both agreed to a photo on the apron. (Check the banner and engine des-ignationintheaccompanyingphoto) Itismyhopethat,anyoneomitted,isnotoffendedinanyway.Italkedtomanypastalumni,bothactiveandretired,tomakethisar-ticle as factual as possible.

Apartingnote:Engine102was pictured on the first colorcover photo of the Grapevine,afteramove-upto9’s,andfirstin at amajor hotel fire (fall of1980). As I end, I wish mymanythanksandappreciationto


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SharE CErTIfICaTES aNd MONEy MarkET aCCOuNTS - a TrIEd-aNd-TruE SavINgS STraTEgy

Savings. This simple word shouldevoke a senseof security andpeace-of-mind.But to those whose entire savings are strapped into the stockmarket roller coaster, “queasy”maymorecloselydescribethefeeling. It’s reassuring to know there areothersavingsoptions.ShareCertificatesofDe-posit (CDs) and Money Market accounts offer aguaranteedreturnwhileinsuredbyAmericanShareInsurance(ASI),therebyhelpingreducetheoverallriskofyourinvestmentportfolio.

hOW dO CErTIfICaTES WOrk? Sharecertificatesallowyoutoinvesta lump sum toward a future goal and featureadividendratethatissignificantlybetterthanthose associated with a regular share savings account. The dividend rate is locked in un-til your certificate reachesmaturity, so you’llknowfromthestartexactlyhowmuchyou’llearn.It’saperfectsolutionforfundingahomeimprovementprojectornextyear’svacation,oreven as gifts to children and grandchildren. What’smore,sharecertificatescomeinavarietyofdividendratesandterms.Termscan range from six months up to five yearsat theCreditUnion.The longer the term, thehigher the rate of return applied to your invest-ment. To make the most of your investmenttimeline,youcanchooseasharecertificatethatwillmaturenearthedateyourmoneyisneed-ed. There are penalties for early withdrawals, soit’simportanttoselectmaturitydatesinlinewith your goals.

laddErINg TO SuCCESS

Add extra liquidity to your portfolio bybuyingaseriesofsharecertificateswithlad-dered,orstaggered,maturities.Theresultofaladdering strategy will often gain you higher yield than if you kept all of your funds short

term.Additionally,theaveragelifeofyourlad-dered portfolio will be relatively short even while earning those higher rates of return. Forexample,ifyouhave$12,000toinvest,youcouldput$3,000intofourseparateCDs,suchasthosewitha6-month,12-month,24-month, and 36-month maturity dates. Aseachcertificatematures,youcanrollitintoan-othercertificate.Thiscontinuedcycleofstag-gered CDs keeps funds available for you to use, if needed. Plus, laddering evens out interest rate fluctuations. Should rates rise, your nextrollover can take advantage of the higher rate. Andshouldratesdrop,you’llstillbelockedinathigherratesforaportionofyourcertificateinvestments.

MONEy MarkET aCCOuNTS

Ifyou’reconcernedaboutlockinginfundsforaspecificterm,amoneymarketac-countoffers the liquidityyoumaybe lookingfor. These accounts provide higher dividends than a savings account when youmaintain ahigherbalance.Themoreyousave,thehigherdividends you can earn, yet you’ll have theability to access funds when needed. At the Credit Union, you can expect to receive divi-dendscompetitivelypricedatbalance tiersof$2,500,$50,000,and$100,000.

SafETy

Accounts held at the Credit Union are insured for up to $500,000 per accountthroughASI, whereas other financial institu-tionsmayinsureaccountsforupto$250,000.ASIprovidesdepositinsuranceexclusivelytocreditunions.Theyareamember-owned,shareguaranty corporation, and the nation‘s largest non-federal insurer of credit union deposits. PleasekeepinmindthatyourLAF-CU Board of Directors has also awarded an Extraordinary Dividend bonus on savings products including money market and termcertificates. In 2013, the effective yields on

money market and term certificate balanceswere increasedby0.13%and0.28%*respec-tively after taking into consideration the added bonus.Infact,anumberofmembersreceivedover$10,000inbonusdividends,withonebo-nusdividendexceedingawhopping$22,000.

To open a share certificate or money marketaccount, please call a Credit Union Represen-tative at (800) 231-1626, visit our web siteatwww.lafirecu.org or visit a regional office.Settingupasharecertificateormoneymarkettakes justafewminutes,butyou’llbe thank-fulforthepeace-of-mindyou’llenjoyintotheNewYearandbeyond.

The more business we do together as a Fire Family, the greater the financial reward will be for all members.

Haveagreatmonth!

Mike Mastro

FundsondepositatLAFCUareinsuredupto$500,000peraccount.This institution is not federally insured, and if the institution fails, the FederalGovernmentdoesnotguaranteethatdepositorswillgetbacktheirmoney.Accountswiththisinstitutionarenotinsuredbyanystategovernment.

Sharecertificateandmoneymarketaccountnotes:Dividendsarecal-culateddailyfromdayofdeposittodayofwithdrawalandarepostedmonthly.Thesearevariablerateaccountsandratesmaychangeafteraccountopening.Depositminimumsandwithdrawallimitationsvarywithdifferentaccounttypes.Certificateaccountsaresubjecttopenal-tiesforearlywithdrawal.Theseaccountsareatafixedrateuntilma-turity.Dividends are calculated daily fromday of deposit to day ofwithdrawalandarepostedmonthly.

*Calculationofadditionalyieldbasedona$50,000balance(moneymarketrateof0.30%;termcertificaterateof0.66%).


LaFd History - tHe LaFd is 128 years oLd!

Submitted by Frank Borden • Director of Operations, LAFDHS

InJanuaryof1886,theCityofLosAngeleswasprotectedbyvolunteerfirecompanieswith names likeThirty-Eights-No.1,Con-

fidenceEngineCompanyNo.2 andVigilanceHook&LadderCo.No.1. On Monday, February 1, 1886 theLosAngeles Fire Department officially wentinto service with four stations, two steampowered750gpmpumpers(“steamers”),eachhoused with a two wheeled hose reel, a hook and ladder truck, a hose wagon and 11 horses. OnthatdaytheCitybegantopay31firemen,including a Chief Engineer and an Assistant Chief, for a service, which for 15 years, had been provided virtually without pay by 380members of the Los Angeles Volunteer FireDepartment. Most of the paid, or permanentmen as they were officially designated, wereformervolunteerswho tookover the existingstations and equipment.Augmenting the per-manent force were 24 reserve firemen. Theyweremost likelyformervolunteerswhowerestartingonFebruary1,tobepaidasmallhono-rarium.Thesecallmen,apportionedamongthefire companies, were required to answer allalarmsintheirstation’sdistrict,largefiresany-where in the City and drill with their respective outfitsatleasttwicemonthly.Itallstartedwithameeting inBillyBuffum’sSaloon indown-town L.A. The first Chief Engineer of theLosAngeles Volunteer Fire Department wasCharles E. Miles. He was elected by the vol-unteersonJune20,1876.ChiefMiles’twoear-liest priorities were to lobby the City Council for abetterfire alarm systemand toobtain amoresuitablehookandladder.Hegotthehookandladderbutwouldhavetowaitforthealarmsystem.Walter S. Moore was the first ChiefEngineer of the newly created LAFD. Chief Moore’smonthlysalarywas$125.HetoowasavolunteerfiremanandChiefoftheVolunteerFire Department, and likemany of our earlyvolunteerscamefromSanFranciscotojointheLAFD. In January 1886 the Fire Commis-sioncameupwiththefirstsetof32RulesandRegulations.Amongthemwere:Rule18-Cau-tioned engine, hose and hook and ladder truck drivers not to drive out of a trot in going to or returningfromfiresandalarmsandfurther,rac-

ing was strictly prohibited. Rule 23 - Stipulated that destruction of property by water at fireswasinefficientfiremanship. In 1886, Los Angeles’ 30 squaremiles roughly encompassed an area of struc-tural density only as far north as Ord Street and south to 7th street.The easternmost areaofbuildingconcentrationdidnotextendmuchpast Los Angeles Street and Olive Street on the west. Six years before the start of the LAFD, the city’s population was 11,183. Four yearsafter the LAFD went into service, population soaredtomorethan50,000.TheOldPlazaFireStation1,whichisamuseumtodayindown-town Los Angeles and operated by the Box 15 ClubofLosAngelesvolunteers,went fromavolunteerstationwitheightmemberstooneofthefirstLAFDstations. Ourmuseumshavemuchoftheearlyhistory of the LAFD for all of our visitors to see includingfireapparatus, toolsandequipment,andphotos socome for avisit to learnaboutour history.

The first parade of the Los Angeles Volunteer Fire Departments at Spring St. and Temple in 1872.

The Sylmar Tunnel Explosion, June 23, 1971By Paul Ditzel for “The LAFD - A Century of Service”

Sylmarseemedjinxedwhenanotherdisaster, a few months after the earthquake,hit the area. The Lockheed Shipbuilding and ConstructionCompanyofSeattlewasdigginga5.5mile-long tunnel,170feetunderground,for theMetropolitanWater District’s FeatherRiverProject.Thefirstclueof impendingdi-sastercameat2:30a.m.,June23,1971,whenTaskForce98,Engine91,Rescue-Ambulance98andBattalion12ChiefLeoNajarianweredispatchedbyColdwaterto12800FentonAv-enue, following a report of an explosion at the tunnel’sdigginghead. Four tunnel workers suffered frac-tures and burns in what Najarian determinedwas a methane explosion touched off by awelder’storchorbya“mole”diggermachinestrikingasparkwhenithitahardrock.Najar-iancalledforonemorerescue-ambulanceandwassentRescue89.Usinggeneratorfans,En-gine 91 began venting the tunnel at an opening


on Foothill Boulevard, just west of RoxfordStreet.Determiningthattheworkerswereonlyperiodically testing for the presence ofmeth-ane, Najarian instructed supervisors to makecontinuous testings and to obtain better breath-ing apparatus. Najarian, who was scheduled towork a double shift, was concerned by the di-sasterthatalmosthappened.Duringthedayhemonitored activities at the tunnel and learnedthat state safety inspectors had certified thatwork could continue.When no more alarmscamefromthe18-foot-diameterboresite,Na-jarianbegantohopehisworstfearswouldnotbe realized.Considered by the department asitsforemostauthorityonhazardousmaterials,Najarian’snaggingworriescontinuedinto theevening. Najarian had just returned from analarmaftermidnightwhenRescue-Ambulance98,stationedinhisquarters,wasdispatchedat12:51a.m., to a tunnel explosionat the sameaddressastheearlierone.Najarianwouldhavefollowed Rescue 98, except that at the sametimehewasdispatchedtoafireinEngine24’sdistrictinSunland.When24’ssizeupindicatedthe fire was small, Najarian radioed Rescue98 fora radio reporton the tunnelexplosion.Rescue98’sfirefighterssaidasevereexplosionhadoccurredsomefivemilesinsidetheFentonStreetportalwhereasmanyas20workerswerediggingwiththemole. Enrouteat1:00a.m.,NajariancalledforTaskForce98torespondtotheFentontun-nel entrance and Engine 91 to go to the vent hole at Roxford and Foothill. Najarian alsocalled for a second ambulance and was sentRescue89.Najariandecidedtogototheventholelocationbecausethatwouldputhimcloserto the actual site of the explosion. Upon arrival, NajarianwastoldbyLockheedProjectManag-erLorenG.Savagethatanexplosion“20timesworse than the previous night” had occurred 5.3miles inside the tunnel.Only oneworkerhadescaped.Eighteenweremissing. Najarian asked what the methanereadingswereatthetimeoftheexplosion.Hewas told workers had recorded readings of only one percent when the digger was not work-ing.When themole started boring, however,the workers were entering an earthquake fault and the dirt turned into a powdery consistency. While the digger cut, the gas appeared to be comingoutinpuffsasiffrompocketsofheav-ilyconcentratedmethane. A crane was ordered to the vent hole openingonFoothillasNajarianhurriedtotheFenton portal opening where a search teamwouldhavetogointolookforthe18missingworkers. En route he radioed Coldwater “in all probability,amajordisasterhasoccurred.”Na-jariancalledforalongerdurationbreathingap-paratusandtheairutilityunitwithitscompli-mentof additional air bottles and capabilitiesforon-scenerefillingofthemaswellasbottlesnormallycarriedonapparatus.

To reach the tunnel entrance, fire-fightershadtobeloweredinacagesome170feettotheportalopening.TaskForce98fire-fighters began loading a rescue train of twodonkey engine gondola cars with all available breathing apparatus, extra air bottles, litter baskets and stretchers, flashlights, resuscita-tors and first aid equipment. Rescue 98 fire-fightersGeraldR.Rainmaker andThomasL.Cox, along with Savage and two tunnel work-erswould go on the first rescue train. If onegondola car derailed, the other donkey engine car could back out of the tunnel with the rescue team.Withtriplebackup30minuteairsuppliesforeachteammember,itwaspre-arrangedthatiftheydidnotbothcomeoutafter30minutesasecondtrainwouldgoinafterthem. As the rescue train entered the tunnel androundedthefirstbend,radiocontactwas,as expected, lost due to the winding nature of thetunnel.Najarian,TaskForce98,andRescue89 proceeded to the Foothill Boulevard venthole.When the rescue teamdidnot return inhalf-an-hour,asecondrescueteamwasstartinginto the tunnel when they heard honking and sawtheredlightofthereturningrescueteam.The news was all bad. Rainwater and Cox rid-ing in the front gondola reported that visibility, evenwiththeirpowerfulWheatlampswaszerointhemillion-cubic-feetinsidethetunnel,theirgondolasuddenlystruckanobject,derailedandturnedsideways.Thefirefightershadclimbedout of the gondola and found they had run over a body which could not be seen with their lights.CoxandRainwaterdeterminedthebody

was that of a worker obviously killed in the ex-plosion. Rainwater proceeded down the tracks whilelookingformorevictimsuntilhefellintoafourfootholeandwasinjured. Uncoupling the lead gondola, the rescueteamreturnedtotheFentonStreetpor-tal.ThefirefightersconcurredwithSavagethatthe excessive concentrations of smoke andgasesmeant that if anyof the18workersonthe graveyard shift survived the explosion, they werealmostassuredlydead fromexposure tolethal heat, smoke and gases. Regardless ofwhetheranyoneremainedaliveinsidethetun-nel, rescue attempts had to be continued andbodies had to be brought out. A second search and rescue train slowly entered the tunnel, disappeared around the bend and, while pro-ceeding deep into themurk discovered, 1000feet inside an unconscious worker, Ralph Bris-sette. Miraculously, the force of the explosion threwhimtoanareawherefreshairwasbeingpumpedintothetunnel.Rescue39rushedhimtoPacoimaLutheranHospitalwherehewouldsurvive. Duringthenexttwodays,firecom-paniesworkedintandem,underextremelyhaz-ardous conditions, while riding rescue trains in and out of the hot smoky,water filled tunnelwhileextinguishingfiresandsearchingforvic-tims.TheLAFDoperationscontinuedforthreedays until June 26, when all 17 bodies wererecovered.Medals of Valor were awarded toRainwaterandCoxaswellasto17otherfire-fighterswhoparticipatedintheSylmartunneldisaster.

Crane operations at the vent hole at Roxford & Foothill.

Deputy Chief Kenneth Long giving instructions to the rescue team going below.


Calendar for March 2014

The LAFD awarded the Medal of Valor to the following 19 members for theirpersonal courage at great personal risk during rescue operations at the 1971 SylmarTunnelDisaster:ArgusE.Abney,DonaldF.Anthony,Walter F. Ball, Cameron P. Cramer, ThomasL. Cox, Frank Fasmer, John C.Gerard. JohnH. Holdsworth, Robert E. Radke, Gerald R.Rainwater, Leon Ross Rauh, David P. Rich-ardson, Alfred B. Risk, Fred W. Stoddard, For-restE.Taylor,JeromeP.Tenhundfeld,KennethR. Thompson, Keith A. Wilson, Thomas A. Wilson.

LAFDHS Volunteers of the Year 2013 The LAFD Historical Society is op-eratedbyagreat,butsmallgroupofdedicatedvolunteers and each year those volunteers se-lect those who have done outstanding work through the year. They are selected for the Hol-lywoodFireMuseum,TheHarborFireMuse-umandtheFireboat“RalphJ.Scott”.TheVol-unteers for theYear 2013 are:TimMcHenryforhiswork at theHollywoodFireMuseum,GordonBriggsforhisworkattheHarborFireMuseumandGlennWilkinsonforhisworkre-storing Old Fireboat 2. A special brunch was held in January to honor thesemen for theirexceptionalvolunteerismandhardwork.

Tim McHenry working on the tractor and trailer restoration of our 1910 Seagrave/Anderson City Service Truck.

Gordon Briggs displaying an inventory book he developed for the Harbor Fire Museum.

Glenn Wilkinson is finishing the paint job he did on the Old Fireboat engine hatch cover.

Forty-two years after the disaster the Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District cre-atedamemorial for theworkerskilled in theexplosion.OnDecember9,2013,aneventwasheldattheirbuildingforthefamiliesofthosewho lost their lives and for the lone survivor, RalphBrissette,whowithhisfamilyattendedthe program. I was honored to be given theopportunity to speak on behalf of the Histori-calSocietyabout theheroismof thoseLAFDmembers who were awarded the Medal ofValor for their efforts to rescue those tunnel workers.

Gordon Briggs displaying an inventory book he developed for the Harbor Fire Museum.

Don Anthony on the left and Fred Risk on the right up from the tunnel.

The lone survivor, Ralph Brissette, speaking to the families and guests at the Metropolitan Water District memorial ceremony.


CALL TO ORDER

President John Jacobsen called the meetingof the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Firemen’sReliefAssociationtoorderat10:00a.m.

ROLL CALL

MEMBERS PRESENT:

John Jacobsen, President JuanAlbarran,VicePresidentAndrewKuljis,SecretaryTrusteeJamesCoburnTrustee Robert Steinbacher TrusteeDoakSmithTrusteeStevenDomanskiTrustee Jeff Cawdrey Trustee David Peters TrusteeRickGodinezTrustee Steve Tufts Trustee Chris Stine Trustee Craig White Trustee Chris Hart Trustee Steve RudaTrustee Francisco Hernandez Trustee Steve BerkeryTrusteeBarryHedberg–PensionTrusteeTimLarson–PensionDavidNedSmith-ExecutiveDirectorController–ToddLayfer

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Trustee Michael Overholser (Excused)Trustee David Ortiz (Excused)TrusteeGeneBednarchik(Excused)Trustee Mark Akahoshi (Excused)TrusteeDavidLowe–Pension(Excused)

GUESTS:

Dennis Mendenhall, RetiredTomStires,RetiredDavidWagner,GrapevineEditor

INVOCATION & Flag Salute

RickGodinezledtheinvocation.ChrisHartledtheflagsalute.

RATIFICATION OF MINUTES

John Jacobsen entertained a motion to ratifyanddispensewiththereadingoftheminutesof

theBoardofTrusteesmeetingheldNovember6,2013.DavidPeterssomoved.TimLarsonseconded. There was no further discussion or objections.

Motion carried to ratify and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the Board of Trustees held November 6, 2013.

PRESIDENT REPORT

1)Jacobsenreferredtothetransitionofofficersin2014andindicatedthatonJanuary8,2014,Juan Albarran and Robert Steinbacher will be sworn-inasPresidentandVicePresident.

2) Jacobsen referred to the ACA (“ObamaCare”) reference sheet provided to the Trustees and stated that its purpose was to help fieldquestions from themembership.He indicatedthat Heather Leavitt of Bradawn Inc. hasproducedthisbasicinformationandstatedthatit will also be placed on the LAFRA website.

3) Jacobsen informed the Board that TrusteeMichael Overholser has submitted hisresignationfromtheBoardeffectiveDecember1st. He indicated that Overholser expressed thathewouldliketocomebackandserveonthe Board in the future.

VICE PRESIDENT REPORT

1) Juan Albarran distributed the 2014 LAFRA Committees list and informed the Board thathe is open for suggestions. He stated that those Trustees appointed to Chairman and AssistChairmanpositionswerethosewithexperienceandalsotodevelopsomeasfutureChairmen.

INVESTMENT REPORT Robert Steinbacher stated that they will schedule a date tomeet with Beacon Pointe.He also indicated that those interested in joining the Investment Committee for 2014are welcome. Jacobsen also mentioned thatLAFRAhasfullyfundedit’scommitmentwithBRAVOandindicatedthattheirlastcapitalcallhasbeenmade.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

1) David Smith referred to the on-goingoperationsofthenewbuildingandmentionedthat there was one tenant making some

unrealistic requests in response to our petition thattheymoveoutbeforetheirleaseexpiresinDecember2014.

2)DavidSmithreportedthatthenewLAFRA.org website is up and running.

3) Todd Layfer presented the 2013 Year-to-Date Expenditures through Septembercompared to the budget. He reported on therevenue sources andmentioned that they areaheadwithmedical premiums, donations andmemberdues.Hereferredtothebenefitspaidtomembers and stated that the sick& injurybenefitsweredownbecausetheyhadreceivedI.O.D.reimbursementmonies.HereportedonOperating Expenses and stated that payroll and benefits were pacing 2.1% below whatwas budgeted. He stated that Trustee expenses have not all been turned in yet. He included the 7470buildingincomeandexpensesreport.Hereviewed the investment balances and statedthat the total portfolio value has increased substantially even with the purchase of the building.

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

Robert Steinbacher presented the following motions.

ThecommitteerecommendsandIsomovetopaytheusualandcustomarybillsintheamountof $756,306.35. There was no discussion orobjections.

Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $756,306.35.

The committee recommends and I so moveto pay the professional fees in the amountof $27,788.32. There was no discussion orobjections.

Motion carried to pay the professional fees in the amount of $27,788.32.

The committee recommends and I so moveto approve $250 for Stu Premmer’s PancakeBreakfast at Fire Station 43. There was no discussionorobjections.

Motion carried to approve up to $250 for Stu Premmer’s Pancake Breakfast at Fire Station 43.

LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEESDecember 04, 2013


ThecommitteerecommendsandIsomovetoenter into contact with Burchfield for $16Kfor an Rx Audit of the plan. There was no discussionorobjections.

Motion carried to enter into contract with Burchfield for $16K for an Rx Audit of the plan.

MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT

BarryHedbergpresentedthefollowingmotion.

ThecommitteerecommendsandIsomovetoaccept the applications to the Medical Plan. Therewasnodiscussionandnoobjections.

Motion carried to accept all applications to the Medical Plan.

RELIEF COMMITTEE REPORT

JamesCoburnpresentedthefollowingmotion.

ThecommitteerecommendsandIsomovetopay:

The Sick& Injury benefits in the amount of$22,999.40,TheEstatePlanning benefit in the amount of$9,214,TheLife&AccidentDeathBenefitsof$12,000,TheLife&AccidentWithdrawalsof$3,153,The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of$27,000.

Therewasnodiscussionorobjections.

Motion carried to pay the above Relief benefits.

JamesCoburnreadthenamesofmemberswhorecently passed and asked for a moment ofsilencefromtheBoard.

MEMORIALS

Joseph O. Michell, Jr.FrankH.NickelIvarL.MihldRonaldJ.VanceJohnF.VirgilWayne E. Sanquist

ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE

JamesCoburnpresentedthefollowingmotions.

The committee recommends and I so moveto accept the donations in the amount of

$51,674.65totheWidows,Orphans&DisabledFiremen’s Fund. There was no discussion orobjections.

Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $51,674.65 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund.

ThecommitteerecommendsandIsomovetoapprovethefinancialassistanceapplicationsforsurvivingspouses,activeandretiredmembers.Therewasnodiscussionorobjections.

Motion carried to approve the financial assistance applications for surviving spouses, active and retired members.

The committee recommends and I so moveto approve the Christmas Bonuses for theWidows & Orphans. There was no discussion orobjections.

Motion carried to approve the Christmas Bonuses for the Widows & Orphans.

EMERGENCY ADVANCEMENTS

JamesCoburnpresentedthefollowingmotion.

The committee recommends and I so moveto approve the emergency advancementapplications for active and retired members.Therewasnodiscussionorobjections.

Motion carried to approve the emergency advancement applications for active and retired members.

GRAPEVINE/WEB REPORT

Chris Hart referred to the new website and indicatedthattheyhadveryminimalissuesorerrors.

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Andy Kuljis stated that the election resultshavebeencertifiedandstated that theby-lawchanges have been approved.

Andy proceeded to give the Oath of Officeto those Trustees elected through the election process.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Board entered into Executive Session at 10:47am.TheBoardadjourned fromExecutiveSessionat11:09am.

Jacobsen entertained amotion to approve theactions from the Executive Session. DavidPeterssomoved.TimLarsonseconded.Therewasnodiscussionorobjections.

Motion carried to approve the actions from the Executive Session.

Jacobsen announced that the Board appointed Todd Layfer as the Executive Director effective December4th.ToddLayferthankedtheBoardfor their support and guidance. He stated that hewouldworktothebestofhisabilitytomaketheorganizationstrongerforthebenefitofallits members. He thanked the Board for theirconfidenceinselectinghimforthisgreathonor.

NEW BUSINESS

Jacobsen informed the Board that EngineerDana Larsen from Fire Station 80 has beenselectedasthisyear’sFirefighteroftheYear.

SETTING OF DATES

1)UFLACHolidayOpenHouse–December6th2)LAFRAOpenHouse–December7th3)L.A.RetiredFire&PoliceChristmasCelebration–December8th4)BuzzardBaitFamilyRide–January17th–20th5)Hook&LadderEnduro–March22nd6)CorbinBowl–April27th7)LAFRAReunionPechanga–May19th–23rd8)HopeforFirefighters–June5th

RETIREMENT DINNERS 1)JoeFoley–January10thWarnerCenter2)JohnDurso–January18thTheOdyssey3)JonHoltby–March5thBraemar Country Club4)GregGibson–March11th Odyssey Restaurant

ADJOURNMENT

JohnJacobsenentertainedamotiontoadjourn.Tim Larson moved. Craig White seconded.Therewasnodiscussionandnoobjections.

Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:24 pm. John Jacobsen, President


Donations to Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s FundDecember 2013

LA FIRE HOGS FOUNDATION

STEPHEN HAMPAR/TOLUCA LAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE fromproceedsofthePancake Breakfast at FS 86

RON I. MIHLD & FAMILY inmemoryofivar “roy” miHLd, our father

JERRY L. MIHLD inmemoryofmyfather,ivar miHLd

LYNN D. ROGERS

SHIRLEY C. ROOK/ROSEWOOD RETIREMENT COMMUNITY inmemoryofmyhusband,raLPH rook

ANONYMOUS DONATION inmemoryof,JoHN s. kouyoumJiaN

GLENN W. JAYNES

EDWARD WHITE C/O JOHN J. NICHOLSON

HARLAN R. WOOD

ANTONETTE C. RAYCRAFT inmemoryofmyhusband,GeorGe raycraFt

FIRE STATION NO 37/BATTALION 9 fromtheFire extiNGuisHer FuNd

RUSSELL T. RUEDA

DON & BARBARA RICKLES

HELEN L. SCHULZ

WILLIAM & MARIAN J. TANNAHILL inmemoryofourparents

CHRISTINE M. BRUMBAUGH inmemoryofmike brumbauGH, husband, father, grandfather & great-grandfather

MARY E. LEAKE

CAROLYN MORRIS inmemoryofmyhusband,marviN w. morris

NICHOLAS TUZZOLINO

MARSHA R. DAVIS inmemoryofmyfather,cHarLes bakovic

BURDETTE CREATH for the DME

BUCKLE SALE PROCEEDS

JAMES E. GILLUM fromthesimi vaLLey breakFast cLub

DANIEL LYNCH

BONNIE LANTZ inmemoryofmrs. LiLLiaN GoodwiNe

FRED E. IHDE inmemoryof,JosePH d. micHeLL

JANE A. FREY in honor of, ricHard HaLLoraN

PATRICIA G. SHOEMAKER inmemoryof,LiLLiaN GoodwiNe

NETWORK FOR GOOD

FUMIKO HUMBERD inmemoryofmyhusband,JoHN L. Humberd Jr.

SIMI VALLEY BREAKFAST CLUB DONATION

JAMES P. LANGSFELD

DONNA M. DAVID inmemoryofJames aNdersoN

GERALD L. LAYTON inmemoryofJames aNdersoN

ARCHER R. MORGAN inmemoryofbob ormaN

ARCHER & CAROLYN MORGAN inmemoryofdotty GiordaNo

MALEN W. JACOBS

FRANCIS & ELINOR BROWN inmemoryofdotty GiordaNo

KERRI PETERSON

UNITED WAY INC.

LILLIAN GOODWIN C/O SUSAN SCOTT

DOUG C. NOONAN

DAVID L. SWLSVILLE

MANUEL CASTANEDA

DAVID COWDREY

DAVID D. DUMLER

MAEVE FORDE inmemoryofricHard wriGHt

JAMES RITTER inmemoryofed castLe

BETTY UNIBE inmemoryofaNNe buLLard

TOM & JOANNE BESIGNANO inmemoryofaNNe buLLard

JERRY & BRENDA HORWEDEL inmemoryofdave HeryFord

KATHY MINTZER inmemoryofJosePH micHeLL

WILLIAM BAMATTRE

PETER BENESCH inmemoryofGLeNN aLLeN

GARY BOWIE

DAVID EVERETT inmemoryofJosePH everett

RICHARD FIELDS in honor of cHarLes Zuber

KEN KRUPNIK for sale of song “Paramedic rescue 101”

RALPH & PENNY LA PREZIOSA

JENNIFER CASTLE LAMOTTE inmemoryofedward L. castLe

KATE NEWELL inmemoryofmike NeLms

MARGARET PALIC

ALLEN RABIN in honor of NortHridGe First resPoNders

PAUL SEMERJIAN inmemoryofJoHN squire

BENNETT SILVERMAN inmemoryofmike NeLms

NIKKI SOLYOM

RUTH TAYLOR in honor of keN buZZeLL

JEANNE URQUIZA inmemoryofraLPH urquiZa, forever in our hearts~ Jeanne, Jessica & Troy

KEN WIGCHERT


MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

2001 HONDA ACCORD, 2-door coupe, original owner. 134,000 miles (approximately 30 mpg). Excellent car. 5 speed manual transmission, anti-theft system, AC, AM/FM multi CD, cruise control, sunroof, power locks/seat/steering/windows, leather interior. $4000 OBO. Call (661) 297-2503.

COLLECTOR CARS. 1990 Chevy SS454 “pick-up from hell” runs perfect. Needs some TLC. Best offer!1979 VW Convert “last year ever made” white/white/white. 780 miles on engine. New tires on polished porsche wheels. Best offer over $5500. Stored inside in Palmdale. Call Monty Majesky - retired LAFD any-time (661) 265-6557

PROJECT CARS. 1954 Mercury. 1957 Ford. 1939 Ford 2-door sedan. 1940 fords - 2 and 4 door sedans. 1940 sedan delivery. 1961 T-Bird convertible. 1941 Railway Express van. Miscellaneous parts. Contact Jim McPherson LAFD retired. (805) 501-8102 or email [email protected]

REAL ESTATEFOR RENT

HORSE PROPERTY, LAKE VIEW TERRACE - Near FS24. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, newly remodeled kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Formal liv-ing room, plus family room. 3 pipe corrals, arena, 2 barns, trail access. Motor home and horse trailer parking. Gardener included. Available October. $2800/month. Eng. Ames (818) 257-4549.

REAL ESTATEFOR SALE

EXCEPTIONALLY UNIQUE PROPERTY!! Two homes, one featuring 3000 sq.ft. 2 story with basement, 1 car ga-rage, 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, large living room, den, wood floors, newer carpet, all new dual pane windows and sliding doors, ceramic tile counters in kitchen. Ceramic floors, coun-ters & showers in bathrooms. Koehler tubs, sinks and toilets though out home. Two 90% efficient forced air heaters. The guest house, 1024 sq. ft., has 2 bedrooms, a loft, laundry room, dining room, living room, newer carpet, tile floors in kitchen and laundry room. Wall heater. All this and much more, must see to appreciate how well these homes and yard have been maintained. A rare find for sure!! Gary A. Wilson, Broker/Owner/Realtor (01139925), (888) 856-0001 [email protected]

SERVICES

ALTERNATIVE & TRA-DITIONAL Termite & Pest Control - ECOLA Ecological Solutions. Smart choices, simple solutions. Problem solved. Call for FREE ter-mite estimate or pest quotes over the phone - escrow and inspections excluded. Fireman wife Sue Fries - Termite Lady. (818) 652-7171. [email protected]

COUNSELING SERVICES. Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Susan Purrington special-izes in anxiety, depression, relational difficulties, eating disorders, spiritual or per-sonal growth, marital conflict, family of origin issues. Find a supportive and confidential place for healing and growth. Located in Old Towne Orange. Questions or consultation: (949)[email protected]

CRAIG SANFORD HEAT-ING & AIR - Free estimates, residential, commercial. Great rates for LAFD and LAPD. Toll free (877) 891-1414, (661) 298-3070, FAX (661) 298-3069. State License No. 527114

GARAGE DOOR INSTALLA-TION & SERVICE. Garage doors and openers. Need to replace your broken springs? or does your door need repair, even replaced? We do it all from new product to repair-ing old. Call (661) 860-4563 Grassroots Garage Doors, Inc. Lic# 950020. Son of 35 year veteran fireman.

IT’S TAX TIME AGAIN! Specializing in Firefighter and Paramedic Returns, Electronic Filing available, year round bookkeeping and account-ing, business and partnership returns, payroll. All computer-ized processing with over 30 years experience. Call early for an appointment around your schedule. Robert Sanchez LAFD-OCD retired (818) 367-7017, cell (818) 216-1040.

MARRIAGE, FAMILY, IN-DIVIDUAL COUNSELING. Licensed therapist Cathy Chambliss helps couples and individuals work through con-flicts in relationships, stress, anxiety, affairs, communica-tion issues, and divorce. All counseling is confidential. Insurance taken. Call Cathy at (310) 303-9132. Office located in Hermosa Beach. www.cathychamblissmft.com

REBECCA MARTIN LAND-SCAPE. Architectural land-scape design and installation. A full service design/build land-scape firm that creates unique custom exterior environments that will increase the value of your home and bring you years of outdoor enjoyment. Rebecca Martin, LAFD wife. (818) 216-3637. Lic# 936577. [email protected]

TAX ALERT FOR FIREFIGHT-ERS. Don’t lose thousands of dollars during your profession-al career to taxes! Let HEWITT FINANCIAL GROUP prepare your tax return. We specialize in tax preparation and financial planning for firefighters. We offer a FREE REVIEW of your

last three years of tax returns. Call us today at (800) 573-4829 or visit us at www.hewittfinancial.com

WINDOWS & PATIO DOORS - vinyl replacement windows & Patio doors. I also carry aluminum, wood and entry door systems. Rick Brandelli, Capt. LACoFD, FS 8-C (800) 667-6676. www.GeeWindows.com

VACATIONRENTALS

BIG BEAR CABIN - All sea-son, restful views from decks. Two story, sleeps 6, half mile to lake, two plus miles to slopes. Fireplace/Wood, cable TV/DVD/VCR. Full kitchen, completely furnished except linens. Pets ok. $95/$105 (two day minimum). $550/$600 a week, Beep or Donna Schaffer 1+(760) 723-1475. www.schaffercabin.com

BIG BEAR CABIN. 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 story. Sleeps 8. Near ski slopes & lake. Fireplace/wood, cable TV, DVD,VCR, full kitchen. Completely furnished. $85/$95 per night. Minimum 2 nights. Holidays extra. Weekly available. All Season. Sheri (909) 851-1094 cell or (760) 948-2844 home.

BIG BEAR CABIN IN SUG-ARLOAF - Cozy upgraded 2 bedroom cabin. Sleeps 8. Fire-place, deck, Wifi - internet and cable TV. On a large lot with sled hill. Fully furnished except linens. $125 Winter $100 sum-mer. Details and availability, call/text/email Jessica (949) 874-5294 [email protected] sugarloafcabin.com

BIG BEAR LAKE’S FINEST- Deluxe lakeside townhouse, 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 cable TVs, HBO, DVD, WiFi, 2 wood burning fireplaces, laundry room, tennis court, indoor pool, sauna, spa, boat dock. Fully equipped, including all linens. Sleeps 6. 310-541-8311 or email [email protected]

CLASSIFIEDS


CATALINA BEACH COTTAGE - 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, one block to beach, view, fully equipped housekeeping unit. Marci (818) 347-6783 or Clarence (310) 510-2721.

FABULOUS CAYUCOS BEACH CONDO. 180-degree ocean front view, 1 bedroom, 1 1/4 bath, living room, sofa bed, outdoor patio ocean front view. Morro Bay/ Hearst Castle, Central California Area. Steps to beach and fishing pier. Nearby public golf & tennis. Weekly or monthly. Contact Sondra (818) 985-9066.

JUNE LAKE CABIN - 2BR/2BA cabin with Carson Peak view. Close to fishing & skiing. Furnished, wood deck, equipped kitchen, wood burn-ing stove, tree swing, cable /DVD/phone. Garage/ample parking. $95/night plus clean-ing fee. Email for pictures. Jeff Easton 93-A (805) 217-5602. [email protected]

LAKE ARROWHEAD BLUE JAY CABIN. Charming 2-story with creek, large deck, two baths, complete kitchen, TV/VCR/DVD, fireplace, washer & dryer. Walk to Blue Jay Vil-lage. Sleeps 8. $90/night. NO PETS! Bruce or Sue Froude, (805) 498-8542.

LAKE HAVASU LANDING-Waterfront, steps to the water. Boat mooring out front, off-road desert behind house. 3 bed/3 bath, fully furnished w/linens. Direct TV/DVR, BBQ, Casino, Grocery/Meat Market, Launch Ramp, Marina with Boat House, Gated Commu-nity. No pets/smoking. $350 Dan Cook 310 418 1577.

LAKE HAVASU BEAUTY FOR RENT - 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 1600 sq.ft. Fully furnished with all amenities- Laundry & BBQ. 13,000 sq.ft. lot. 3 car boat-deep garage. 3 miles from launch ramp. Close to down-town shops & restaurants. View of the lake. Quiet street in good neighborhood. No pets. No smoking. Snowbird rates. Call Mike (661) 510-6246

MAMMOTH - 1 bedroom Sum-mit condo, sleeps 6. Conve-nient underground garage parking. Jacuzzis, gym (pool/tennis in summertime), shuttle right outside! Across from Eagle Lodge, Winter $110 per night, Summer $80 per night plus $65 cleaning fee and 13% tax. All linens included. Drew or Nancy Oliphant (661) 513-2000 or [email protected]

MAMMOTH CONDO. 1 Bed/ 1.25 Bath sierra manors con-do. In town, on shuttle route. Sleeps 4 easily. Pets OK. Fully furnished with new furniture/HDTV/WIFI Woodburning fireplace. Hot Tub, sauna, W/D in complex. Reduced rates for FF’s starting @100/ntoldtownmammothcondo.ownernetworks.commammothmtncondo@ya-hoo.com Ryan (310) 717 8483 for more info/ rates

MAMMOTH CONDO. 2 bedroom, 2 bath, sleeps 6. Near Canyon Lodge. Newly remodeled recreation room with pool and spa. Laundy facilities, condo has been beautifully remodeled. Photos available on website. Winter - $300 per night, Summer - $150 per night. $150 cleaning fee. Call for holiday terms and pricing. Joseph Angiuli (626) 497-5083.

MAMMOTH CONDO-CHAM-ONIX. 2 bedroom & large loft, 3 full baths, sleeps 8. 5 minute walk to Canyon Lodge. Fully furnished, TVs, VCR/DVD, pool, spa, rec room, sauna, linens included. Winter $175 weekdays, $195-weekends/holidays; summer $125, plus cleaning. No smoking; no pets. Craig Yoder (909) 948-3659.

MAMMOTH CONDO Cozy 2 bedrooms, 2 bath. Fully furnished, WIFI, 3 TV’s, pool, spa, walk to shuttle, Old Mammoth area. Winter $115, Summer $90, plus maid $126. Includes linens. No pets, no smoking. Call (310) 540-4648.

MAMMOTH CONDO NEXT TO THE GONDOLA VIL-LAGE – Fully furnished, three bedroom, two bath with towels and linens, newly remodeled kitchen, internet and cable TV, pool and Jacuzzi. Walk to the gondola, shops, restau-rants and ski in on the new comeback trail. Parking at the front door. Winter: $250/night. Summer $150/night. Holidays $300/night. Cleaning is in-cluded. Call Mike Whitehouse, Retired, 805-987-6122, email: [email protected] or Bruce Galien, Retired, 661-645-7448, email: [email protected]

MAMMOTH CONDO AT MAMMOTH ESTATES, 4BR/3BA, sleeps 10, fully furnished, 2 TVs, DVDs, WiFi, towels/linens, fireplace. Full kitchen. Walk to Gondola Village and shuttle. Complex has pool, spa, sauna, laundry. Winter $335/night, Summer $215/night, plus cleaning. Includes city bed tax. No pets, no smoking. Dory Jones (310) 918-0631 or Kelly Corcoran (310) 619-5355

MAMMOTH CONDO - 2 bdrm, 2 bath, 2 TV’s, phone, garage, pool, jacuzzi, fully furnished - exept linens. Near shuttle/chair 15. Winter $125/night. Weekends and Holidays $110 midweek. Summer $95/night. $495/week. No smoking. No pets. Jim Johnson (818) 992-7564, FS 80C.

MAMMOTH CONDO rental. Large 2bed/2bath winterset condo. Fully furnished, across from Vons, on shuttle route, easily sleeps 8. Hot tub, heated pool, sauna, full size in unit W/D HDTV/WiFi through-out, woodburning fireplace, pets OK FIREFIGHTER DISCOUNTS, rates from $150/night facebook.com/[email protected] @ (310) 717-8483

MAMMOTH CONDO - Sierra Manors Sleeps 7. 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath. Fully furnished ex-cept linens. 2 TVs/VCR/DVD,

stereo/CD. Dishwasher, mi-crowave, sauna, jacuzzi, pool. No smoking/No Pets. Shuttle at door. Winter $155/night, Summer $100/night, Plus $80 cleaning fee and City Bed Tax. Brian & Karen Salvage LAFD Retired (805) 499-7752.

MAMMOTH LAKES - One bedroom, extremely charming wildflower condo. Full ameni-ties, close to shuttle. Antiques, art, satellite TV, fireplace. Sleeps 4. Winter $110, Sum-mer $85 plus cleaning fees. Call Bill Clark (818) 371-6722 Email: [email protected]

MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET: Studio/loft, 2 bath, king bed, sleeps 4. Full kitchen, TV, VCR, DVD. Garage parking. Walk to Canyon Lodge. Ski back wall. 2 night minimum. Winter $100/nite, $126 Fri, Sat & Holidays. Summer $50/nite. Plus $95 cleaning & linens. Jeff & Lisa Moir. LAFD Air Ops (661) 254-5788.

MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET: Walk to Canyon Lodge. Studio loft sleeps 4. Queen beds, full kitchen, 2 baths, garage park-ing, TV, VCR, DVD. Winter Sun-Thurs $100.nite; Fri & Sat $115/nite plus cleaning fee $100. Non smoking complex. Joel Parker, LAFD retired. email: [email protected] or (213) 399-6534.

MARIPOSA/GOLD COUN-TRY. North entrance to Yosemite. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, sleeps 6. Newly built. Com-plete kitchen, washer & dryer, wi-fi, satellite TV. Seasonal rates. www.thecottageonev-ergreenlane.comCall 888-977-1006

MAUI CONDO 1 AND 2 BED-ROOMS. Centrally located on beautiful Maalaea Bay. Excel-lent swimming and snorkeling; white sandy beach. Minutes from golf, tennis, fishing, shop-ping, airport and resort areas. Marsha Smith or Jeanne McJannet. Toll free (800) 367-6084. www.maalaeabay.com


MAUI’S MOST BEAUTI-FUL BEACH - Napili Bay. Beautiful furnished condo that sleeps 4. Lanai/bal-cony, full kitchen, king bed, flat screen TV’s/DVD, AC’s free WiFi (internet), com-plimentary maid service, complimentary coffee every morning and breakfast on Fridays. Special firefight-ers’ discount - Best value in West Maui! Nice pool & BBQ area - Close to beach! (800) 336-2185 www.napilivillage.comDon Sprenger - retired LAFD (949) 548-5659

MAUI BEACH FRONT CONDO ON NAPILI BAY - 50’ from water. Studios and 1 bdrm. Luxury furnishings + full kitchen. All the ameni-ties! Maui’s best snorkeling/beach. All island activities & Kapalua within 4 minutes. 5-day minimum, from $150 per night (regularly $310 night). Call Sherrie or Bill for info/reservations (805) 530-0007 or email: [email protected] visit: www.napilibay-maui.com

PALM DESERT-3 bed/2bath, one level. New re-model, fully furnished w/

linens. Cable TV/DVR, Pri-vate Patio, BBQ, Laundry, Garage, Gated Community, 2(Pools, Jacuzzi’s, Tennis Courts). Near College of the Desert. $175 Dan Cook 310 418 1577.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Romantic Chalet Family getaway. 3 bed/2 bath plus loft. Sleeps 8–10. Cable TV, washer/dryer, micro-wave, woodburning stove. 7 minutes to casinos and Heavenly. Located in Tahoe Paradise. $105 per night plus cleaning. Call Shawn or Rose Agnew at (661) 250-9907 or (661) 476-6288.

VACATIONVEHICLES

LUXURY RV FOR RENT. New class A 40’ motorhome. Sleeps 8, bunk beds, 4 slides, 4 TVs, fully loaded. $270/day (with active/retired firefighter/police discount), includes cleaning fee and unlimited miles. 3-day minimum, tow dolly avail-able. Get more, pay less. Call Shawn, LAFD. (888) 540-4835. www.ocdreamrv.com

CALL OR EMAIL US FOR MORE INFORMATION Eric Santiago - [email protected] - (323) 259-5231

Dave Wagner - [email protected] - (323) 259-5232

SALESpring into Action

12 months ofGrapevine Classified Advertising

Regularly $150 Now only $99Available for new contracts and contract extensions until February 28, 2014.

All other terms and conditions still apply. All contracts must be paid in full in advance.

1. Rates valid for Union Bank’s personal accounts in the State of California and opened online.2. This account earns interest at a variable rate. Rate may change at any time without prior notice. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. Minimum opening deposit is $25. 3. Valid for online savings accounts only.4. A 0.10% bonus APY may apply. To receive the Bonus APY on the High Yield Savings account you must maintain a linked PMA® Premier Checking account. If the PMA Package relationship is terminated, the bonus interest rate on all eligible savings accounts, discounts, or fee waivers on other products and services will discontinue and revert to the Bank's current applicable rate or fee. If the PMA Package relationship is terminated, you must convert any remaining unlinked PMA Premier Checking, PMA Prime Checking, PMA Checking, and PMA Investment Checking account to another checking product or close the account and move the remaining funds to another account.5. Chase Relationship Required. You receive relationship rates when your account is linked to an active Chase Premier Plus Checking account or an active Chase Premier Platinum Checking account. Otherwise, non-relationship rates apply.

LAFCU Money Market accounts have a variable rate and are subject to change without prior notice.

P.O. Box 60890, Los Angeles, CA 90060 • 800-231-1626 • www.lafirecu.org

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) shown accurate as of 1/2/14 for Los Angeles, CA zip code 90041.

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Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association815 Colorado Blvd FL 4Los Angeles CA 90041-1745

February 2014

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