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Cheap Tickets - Insane Service - Affordable Insurance

Saturday,

december 5 th , 2015

12 pm to 4pm

Visit our new offices!

Enjoy great food & catch up
with old friends...

This year we honor the work

and dedication of

James E. Coburn

Los Angeles Firemens

Relief Association

7470 N. FIGUEROA STREET

LOS ANGELES CA 90041

for information:

jbrandolino@lafra.org
323.259.5215

lafra.org

On the cover: Major Emergency Structure - Van Nuys

Inset photo by: Mike Meadows

Major Emegency Structure Fire - Van Nuys
COPYRIGHT 2015

Los Angeles Firemens Relief Association.

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

2 November 2015

Photo by: Juan Guerra

30

VOL. XCII

NOVEMBER 2015

NO. 3

FEATURES
LAFD Invitational Golf Tournament
The links at MountainGate Country Club saw firefighters
and their generous sponsors enjoy a friendly round
where everyone was a winner, including the Widows,
Orphans & Disabled Firmens Fund. .......................................06

CONTENTS
Presidents Message .........................................................................05
Over The Line Tournament
6th annual event at Santa Monica Beach ....................................12
Battalion News .................................................................................13
The Retired Guys .............................................................................27
LA Retired Fire and Police Association
Members needed- Join today ..........................................................27
High Intensity Interval Training
A convenient circuit training program ...........................................28
Department in Action ...........................................................................30
Station Fridge ...................................................................................33
Breakfast Club Car Show
Retired guys show their stuff ......................................................34
Retirement Dinners
Paul Gamez ....................................................................................37
Mike Jacalone ...............................................................................38
Kitchen Table Wisdom
Aerial ladder considerations .......................................................40
Retirement Dinner Announcements .................................................45
Mailbox ...............................................................................................46
Memorials ...........................................................................................49
Dollars and Sense
Payment solutions .........................................................................51
LAFD History
The 1961 Bel Air Fire ................................................................53
Minutes of the Board of Trustees .....................................................56
Classifieds ...........................................................................................58

Notice: Production of The Firemens Grapevine magazine is very expensive, and while your dues
serve to underwrite a portion of the magazines 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.

Follow us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/firemensgrapevine
November 2015 3

FIREMENS GRAPEVINE
owned and published by the

Los Angeles Firemens Relief Association

7470 N Figueroa Street, Los angeles CA 90041

EDITORIAL STAFF
Dave Wagner Editor..........................................................editor@lafra.org
Eric Santiago Creative Editor.....................................esantiago@lafra.org
Juan-Carlos Snchez Project Coordinator................jcsanchez@lafra.org
DisplayAdvertising....................................(323) 259-5200 ext. 231, 232, 260

PSOs

Margaret Stewart, Brian Humphrey, Erik Scott

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mike Mastro, Frank Borden, 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 FIREMENS RELIEF ASSOCIATION

Juan Albarran........................................................President
Robert Steinbacher .......................................Vice-President
Andrew Kuljis ........................................................Secretary
Barry Hedberg
Chris Hart
Chris Stine
Craig White
David Lowe
David Ortiz
David Peters

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Doak Smith
Frank Hernandez
Frank Aguirre
Gene Bednarchik
James E. Coburn
Jeff Cawdrey
Joe Vigil

Mark Akahoshi
Rick Godinez
Steve Berkery
Steve Ruda
Steven Domanski
Tim Larson
Tyler Tomich

CHAPLAINS

To contact a chaplain,
Please call Senior Chaplain Rick Godinez at (213) 797-2404
or the MFC Floor Captain at (213) 576-8920
Greg W. Gibson...................Chaplain
Danny Leon..........................Chaplain
George A. Negrete...............Chaplain
Aquil F. Basheer..................Chaplain
Tim Werle............................Chaplain

Hershy Z. Ten.......................Chaplain
Roger Fowble.....................Chaplain
Mark R. Woolf.....................Chaplain
Jesus Pasos.........................Chaplain
Craig Poulson.....................Chaplain

TELEPHONES
Fire-Relief ...............................................................(323) 259-5200
Relief Association Toll Free Number .........................(800) 244-3439
Relief Medical Plan ................................................. (866) 995-2372
Fax Number ..............................................................(323) 259-5290
LAFRA MANAGEMENT
Todd Layfer Executive Director..............................(323) 259-5243
Becky Valverde Human Resources Administrator.....(323) 259-5247
Liberty Unciano Controller/Treasurer...................(323) 259-5225
Bob Dillon Operations Manager..............................(323) 259-5233
Marlene Casillas Development & Marketing Director(323) 259-5217
Ana Salazar Member Services Coordinator.............(323) 259-5223
HealthSCOPE Benefits

Claims & Benefit Information...................................(866) 99-LAFRA

THE FIREMENS GRAPEVINE (USPS 191-060) is published monthly by the Los Angeles Firemens
Relief Association, 7470 N Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90041. Annual $24 Subscription
included with Association membership; Non-members: $36. Single issues $3 postpaid. Back issues $6
postpaid. Periodicals postage paid at Los Angeles, CA and at additional mailing office. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to: THE FIREMENS GRAPEVINE Magazine, P.O. BOX 41903, Los Angeles, CA 90041.
Printed by Collective Color, Los Angeles CA. For Classified and Display Advertising 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 publication. The opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect
the official views of the Los Angeles City Fire Department or the Los Angeles Firemens Relief Association.

4 November 2015

Hello again
November is the Thanksgiving month. We all have many
things to be thankful for. I am thankful for a wife who has supported my family and the crazy detours our lives have taken since
I met her in 1972. Included in this is our relationship with the
LAFD that has brought me to this keyboard here at the LAFRA
offices on a warm October day. The membership should be thankful that this organization along with UFLAC and LARFPA is ever
vigilant on your behalf. Collectively we are constantly attending
meetings, visiting members, answering e-mails, travelling, and
protecting the varied interests of the people we represent. Let me
give you a few examples in the next two paragraphs.

LAFRA, Los Angeles Retired Fire and Police Association
and United Firefighters of Los Angeles City all attended the pension meeting in October. The purpose of our attendance was to
keep abreast of pension matters that affect all of us. On this particular day the Pension Commission was considering amending a
particular aspect of the Board policies and procedures regarding
Medicare part B subsidies. The Board approved the amendment
which grandfathered a few spouses from October 1, 2015. Earlier
in the year UFLAC /LAFRA and a representative from LAFD
Administration attended a meeting with City personnel and a
State Controller. The meeting was to audit the methodology and
medical coverage of the line of duty death survivors.

In another UFLAC/LAFRA matter three members of your
Relief Association Board attended the annual IAFF Memorial in
Colorado Springs. This year Captain Matthew McKnight was
placed on the memorial wall. Our role was to provide any support
the family might need. A heart felt thank you to the widows that
attended and provided their support. Please place the Colorado
Memorial event on your bucket list. Stop in and say thanks. It is
truly a testament to those that have made the supreme sacrifice.

We recently mailed a request for Social Security numbers.
This is a Federal and City requirement to participate in the Relief
Medical Plan. If you are uncomfortable mailing this info please
call our Members Services department and we can take the info
over the phone.

Personal thanks to Lee Kebler and Bob Olsen. Lee is a
board member and Bob is the new president of LARFPA. These

men donate so much of their time and energy for us . . . this includes attending LAFRA board meetings to provide updates from
LARFPA. Please join the LARFPA as soon as you are eligible
(you dont have to be retired, you just need to have 20 years on
the job to join). No one association focuses on the needs of the
retired and soon to be retired!

We are now in full swing, having implemented our more
cost effective method of managing our durable medical equipment. Please refer to the LAFRA website or page 43 of this
Grapevine for updates.

Remember to save the date of December 5, 2015 for your
first Open House at our new location. Come and see what a great
home 7470 North Figueroa Street is for your Relief Association.
Thanks.

Juan Albarran
president@lafra.org
323.259.5200

Tony Gamboa (UFLAC) receives an award from Juan Albarran

November 2015 5

n September 21,
2015 the Los Angeles Firemens
Relief Association put on
its LAFD Invitational Golf
Tournament. This year the
event took place at the
Mountain Gate Country
Club. What a great venue.

I didnt pick up or swing any golf clubs,
but instead I was chauffeured around the 18hole course by Rick Chew, in a golf cart. We
were kind of a hinder to many of the retired
players, like Ken Buzzell. Ken takes his golf
game fairly seriously and when I loudly predicted he would slice his shot to the right, well,
lets say we made a hasty exit.

Actually, Ken wasnt that upset, although he did tell me I might not get a pension check next month. It was a great event and
bein able to drive around the course not only
allowed me to visit with guys I hadnt seen in
years, it also sort of made me feel like a chief.
You know, pointin my finger and givin directions to Rick every two minutes!

This was the first time Ive ever been
involved with this event, but I was extremely
impressed by how well it was organized and
the number of volunteers givin their time
to make this a great success. Lunch was
provided by In-N-Out Burger.
Some of the other sponsors included

6 November 2015

Vista Ford of Granada Hills and Harley Davidson of Glendale. Vista Ford and Glendale
Harley were givin away their new vehicles,
but unfortunately, you had to get a hole-in-one
to claim your prize. Also on the course were
stands servin Hula Girl rum, Firemans Brew
and Bowens whiskey. Believe it or not, there
was also a stand, at or about the 6th hole, with
two lovely Galaxy Girls. You know, the Galaxy
soccer team? Im pretty sure they dont play
soccer, but their stand became kind of a hang
out. And it must have been a coincidence, but
for some strange reason Bill Bamatree, Ralph
Terrazzas and Joe Castro were all in the vicinity of the Galaxy Girls. I guess chiefs meetins
are all about Location, Location, Location.

In case youre not aware of it, this golf
event raises money for our Widow, Orphans &
Disabled Firemens Fund. All of the individuals swingin a club, as well as the many sponsors on hand, helped to insure that this fund
continues to provide support and help for those
in need.

I know most of those attendin this
event were retired guys, but dont forget you
active guys can join in on the fun and camaraderie too. I know you active guys have tons of
SOD, as well as coded Workin Responsibil-

ity days that come first, but if you have the

chance, think about joinin in on the good times
and the benefits that this event provides.

I dont remember what hole it was, other than it was on the Lake side of the course,
but there was an LA County female fire lady
(Sheila Keliher) that, judgin by her swing, had
to have been the sister of Happy Gilmore. This
lady had a swing second to no one. I watched
her hit a couple of balls that I know landed on
the 405 freeway.
Which made me immediately think
about Dave Lowes wimpy swing. Dave, after
watchin you swing, I was goin to suggest that
you put your clubs in storage, but I just didnt
have the nerve to tell you in person!

By the way, when Dave Lowe was the
LAFRA president, back in the early 90s, it was
his idea that the Relief Association have this
charity golf tournament. Thanks Dave.

Anyway, a great event, good times,
great prizes and tons of camaraderie. Thanks
to Juan Albarran, all the volunteers and all
our Relief Trustees for your commitment and
hard work. For those that didnt make it to this
years event, check your Grapevine magazine
or the Reliefs web site for next years tournament.

November 2015 7

Golf Ball Drop Winners:

4th Jeff Liu #116 - Go Pro
ticket sold by Volunteer Cyrus Shahriari
3rd- Ray Peralta #2052 - 55Inch TV
ticket sold by Lori, Cathy & Rose
2nd- Gary Klasse #690 - 3 day Baja Mexico trip
ticket sold by Juliet
1st Kathleen Shrode #568 - $2,500
ticket sold by Tim Larson

1st Place Team - (55 Gross)

Kevin Wright, Paul Schori, Dale Gant, Ladd Stilson

2nd Place Team - (58 Gross)

Raymund Peralta, Robert Sherwin, Patrick McOsker, Paul Gamez

3rd Place Team - (58 Gross)

Richard Clark, Derek Newcomer, David Elliott, Bob Steinbacher

4th Place Team - (59 Gross)

Ben Hopps, Mark Weimann, David Daggett, Gene Bednarchik

8 November 2015

November 2015 9

Team
Photo Sponsor:
Cosmetic Laser Dentistry
Bar/Cocktail Sponsors:
Morgan Stanley - The Greco Group
Robert F. Meth, M.D., A Medical Corp.
Individual Sponsors:
Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC
Har-Bro Emergency Restoration
AllianceBernstein L.P. - Liz Smith
Ronald Carlish, M.D.
Dr. Jeffrey Hirsch
Symons Capital Management
St. James, Inc.
Primesource Mortgage
Cor Medical Group, Inc.
Klausner, Kaufman, Jensen & Levinson
Northern Trust Company
Lazard Asset Management Co.
Burton Sobelman, DDS
Uday G. Gadgil, M.D. Inc.
Tee Sign Sponsors:
Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC
Primesource Mortgage
US Bank Institutional Trust & Custody
Lazaro V. Alonso, A Medical Group
Recovery Associates
Richard Rosenberg, M.D., Inc.
Robert F. Meth, M.D., A Medical Corp.
TCW
Capri Capital Partners, LLC
VSP
Fire Axe Inc.
LA City Council Member Joe Buscaino
Portfolio Advisors, LLC
Hole-in-one Sponsors:
Vista Ford
Harley Davidson of Glendale
Golf Ball Drop Sponsors:
Montrose Travel
Symons Capital Management
Law Offices of Hart, Mieras & Morris
Vendors:
Firemans Brew
Flowers by Tomlinson
Sam Brown Shields
Western Bagels
Dee Sign
Bowens Spirits
Hammerhead Golf
Collective Color

10 November 2015

Donations:
Dr. Chester Hasday M.D.
Robert Davidow
Sobol Orthopedic Medical Group, Inc.
City National Bank
Dr. Ira Monosson
Robert B. Gerber, DDS
Comprehensive Urology
Additional Sponsors:
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Arctic Glacier USA
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
Bed Bath & Beyond
Big Surf Waterpark
Bill and Lisa Gillis
Black Oak Casino Resort
Blairs Restaurant
Bowens Spirits Inc.
Burger Lounge
Cache Creek Casino Resort

Catalina
Express
City National
Bank
Comprehensive
Urology
Connie and Teds
Costco Los Feliz
Costco Van Nuys
Cuisinart
David Lowe
Dr. Chester Hasday M.D.
Dr. Ira Monosson
Eagle Vines Golf Club
Fantastic Race
Fillmore & Western Railway
Fire Surf
Firehouse Subs
Fogo de Cho Brazilian Steakhouse
Galardi Group
Galaxy
Galloway Financial
Gibson Foundation
Hammerhead Golf
Harley Davidson Of Glendale
Hart, Mieras & Morris, Inc
Heard Museum
Hearst Castle
Hornblower Cruises & Events
Hot Air Expeditions
Hugos Restaurants
In-N-Out
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Jerry Fido
Jessica Felix/Andrea Thompson
Rodeo Realty
John Boyd
JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass
Kings Care Foundation
Landrys, Inc.
Laugh Factory
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Conservancy
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Madame Tussauds Hollywood
Masa of Echo Park
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa

Mountaingate Country Club

Nayanika Barker
Northridge Skateland
Paintball USA
Palm Springs Air Museum
Pechanga Resort & Casino
Phoenix Art Museum
Pin-Up Golf
Pitfire Artisan Pizza Westwood
PRP Wine International, Inc.
Robert B. Gerber, DDS
Robert & Suzanne Davidow
Sam Brown Shields
San Francisco Ballet
Sharp Seating Company
Sheila Keliher
Sobol Orthopedic
Medical Group, INC.
Subway
SusieCakes Bakery
The Beverly Hilton
The Comedy & Magic
Club
The Ice Man
Timothy Larson
Travis Mathew
Trump National
Golf Club
Valerie
Lawrence
Victory Girl

November 2015 11

n Tuesday Sept. 29th the Relief Association put on their 6th annual Firefighters Over The Line tourney at Santa
Monica Beach. It was a beautiful day to play
ball on the sand.

The six teams that showed up were:
Grey and Still Hanging, 64s Harrys Ballers,
33s Fuego City, 77s Junk Yard Dogs, 26s
Team Slim Slow, and all the way from Kern
County - Kern on the Cob II. The teams went
to battle on the hot sand, and when the dust settled Harrys Ballers beat Grey and Still Hanging 8-0 for the championship. Team Slim Slow
made a late run after one of their players tapped
out (Capt. I from 26s), but 3rd place went to
Fuego City.

I would like to thank Tommy Cuzbeck,
Bret Davis and Bob Stieinbacher for their help
with the tournament, I could not have gotten it
done without their help!! I would also like to
thank Kern Co. Fire Josh Martinez for driving
three hours to play. Thank you to Chief Moore
and his cousin Robert, who runs Casablanca
Restaurant in Venice, who donated lunch for
the second time. Lastly I want to thank everyone who showed up to support the Widows,
Orphans & Disabled Firemens Fund!

12 November 2015

Next year I may try to put this event
on somewhere down south, Seal Beach area. I
hope to see more of you out there. Be Safe!


Thanks to all the past and present
members of Fire Station 9 for making the
longest running handball tournament (over
30 years) a success. Thanks to the Firemens
Relief Association for their continuous support
and the City Employees Club for their generous donations. Fun was had by all, hope to see
you all again next year!
Lil Class champs Bowers and Sanchez

No Class champs Brennan and Ibanez, bombed by Garcia

LAFD 9/11 Memorial

Ceremony at FHMTC

Brent Dalton, FF/PM

to Captain I at FS 9

November 2015 13

Welcome back all you faithful readers. Carlos

Danger is back in the column coming to you
from the East Side with a few good Dos and
Donts for the rest of the year. First and foremost, congratulations on the A/O candidates
on there 3-whole score interviews, which will
be coming up soon. We have two candidates,
both from 12s, but lets just say if asked a
question about accident procedures, the Cshifter will be very humbled and polished up
on that one and nail it! No names will be used
because word is he actually bought cream for
that one.

Scene Safety - Let start off about
talking about that. This past month, there was
an incident regarding the safety of a pump en-

gineer on a busy street somewhere in the Battalion. The pump engineer was performing his
duties while an outraged driver with no regard
for orange LAFD traffic cones headed straight
towards him. Using his catlike reflexes, he
jumped out of the way and at the same time,
was trying to wave off the driver and in doing
so, his flashlight slipped out of his hand and
that drivers car took the blunt force of the
portable spotlight. Needless to say, the driver
wasnt very happy, so he came back around.
So here comes Captain Black to the rescue,
intervenes with the large individual and saves
the day. Things could have gotten really ugly.

Next lets talk about P.M.s on the
apparatus, mainly undercarriage clean and
lube, and when not to schedule it. One of
our illustrious engineers decides he wants to
schedule the undercarriage clean and lube on
a day that no assigned engineers at his station
will be present. He sets up the SOD guy,

JOBS WANTED: If anyone needs any
trimming of trees at their house, word on the
street is FF/PM GASSLER is pretty good at
station landscaping with just a saw. The accompanying photo is submitted as a reference.

So an A assignment is dispatched to
a single family structure fire. The companies
get on scene and do their thing. The fire goes
out and no one gets hurt. From what I heard, it

was a very stubborn son-gun with lots of insulation having to be ripped out for the overhaul.

Now I dont know if this is a new thing
with our WONDERFUL dispatch system but,
after the fire is out and the overhaul is over,
one of those Command Vehicles shows up
on scene. You know the ones chief, two
captains . . . and no Indians. Well, one of these
captains, who used to be an AO, proceeds to
tell the Captain I that pretty much ran the dang
fire, that the overhaul was sloppy and he
needs to do a better job next time. WHAT?!?
What happened to decorum and our chain of
command??

veteran Jim Rodriguez from 42-A for the job.

Come on ladies and gentlemen, lets talk about
owner ship and lack there of, or could we say
just plain disregard for other members. Do the
right thing. If its your own, handle it, dont
pawn it off and say Well, I didnt know! So
thats that.

So the Nurse Practitioner Unit that
runs out of Franks should be responding on
the weekends as well to all the members calling in SK or FI. Im sure all would appreciate
and get well with a speedy recovery. Come on
everybody, once again, holidays are around
the corner and funny how injuries start to blossom and families start to get the Bug! Lets
help each other out this year and work a little
more. Whats the worst that can happen, you
come to work and get paid time and a half?

Well, thats all for this month. Stay
safe and Happy Holidays from Carlos Danger.
carlosdangerbatt2@gmail.com

Craig White and the Hook and Ladder
Enduro team have added a new way to join
the fun and support your Widows, Orphans &
Disabled Firemens Fund. Challenge Coins are
now available highlighting the annual off-road
race weekend for LAFD firefighter families.
And the Hook and Ladder Enduro coin adds
a unique twist its also a bottle opener.
Whether you attend or simply want to support
this great event, snag your Challenge Coin(s)
today. Cost: $20 for 1 or $30 for 2, plus shipping (additional discounts for larger quantities) Go to https://www.lafra.org/coin to place
your order

Get your Hook and Ladder Enduro Challenge Coin at

www.lafra.org/coin

Yard day at FS 62

14 November 2015

Air and ground attack in Griffith Park

on 9/5/15. Photos by Mike Meadows

Heres something to share with the
Battalion that I received from John OConnor
over at FS 111-B

Hello fellow Brothers and Sisters. I
believe it is important for us as first responders to cultivate relationships with the public
whom we took an oath to protect. I was inspired a few Grapevine issues ago with a story
I read about Task Force 64 and how the public
has been integrated into daily station life. A
Tip O the Helmet to TF 64!

Its a good thing to allow the public
a closer look at us not only as firefighters . .
. but as people too. This fosters the TRUST
that we as first responders depend on to handle
incidents effectively and safely. Keep in mind
that we are not JUST a Fire Service these days
. . . we are a WHOLE service organization.

A while back, Fire Station 111 received
a gift to enhance the comfort of the members

from the Exxon/Mobil Oil Corp. This was

brought about by the relationship that has been
developing for the last couple of years with
neighbors in our First-In. To acknowledge
that gift and to give a lasting Thank You, we
came up with what we are calling the GOOD
NEIGHBOR PROGRAM. We awarded Exon
/Mobil with a ships wheel adorned with a
brass plaque acknowledging their
gift of friendship.

I would
encourage each
and every one
of you to do the
same with in your
own district. Who
knows . . . it may
even inspire some
business or individual to up the
ante and Adopt
a Fire Station?!?
We need to be
creative in finding

outside the box streams of revenue to assist

with our daily responsibilities.

Stay safe, engage your communities,
and be good to each other.
Have a great Thanksgiving.
Send stories and photos to:
harborrats6@yahoo.com

FS 111 with Exxon/Mobil execs

Mike Brett and Mike Chumleyw

November 2015 15

16 November 2015

Los Angeles Firemens Relief Association Medical Plan may

cover this examination. Contact your plan provider to verify.
Paid Advertisement:

LAFD fire boats participate in a multi-agency drill

LF 90 handles a hydrant on Balboa Blvd

Photo by Laura Lichter

Juan Ramirez has promoted to the rank of

Captain I and has been
assigned to FS 37

November 2015 17

On 9/25/15, a stolen vehicle pursued by LAPD

crashed into parked cars on Sepulveda Blvd.
Photo by Rick McClure

Patriot Day ceremony at FS 88 on 9/11/15.

On 9/26/15, Engine 6 attended a park cleanup and family

fair sponsored by Councilmember Mitch OFarrell.

18 November 2015

Curtis Leddy, Engineer to Captain I at FS 13

On 9/12/155, companies extinguished

a semi-tractor at 11475 Penrose St.
Photo by Rick McClure

Andres Saenz, Engineer to Captain I at FS 6

Fire Station 29 members attended

the KHEIR Center in Koreatown.

November 2015 19

Engine 77 found a fully involved garage in

the 8400 blk of Haddon Ave on 9/21/15.
Photo by Rick McClure

Companies extricate a victim from a T/A

at Crenshaw and 54th St on 9/29/15.
Photo by Yvonne Griffin

20 November 2015

At the Crenshaw Christian Center

Disaster Preparedness Fair

Engine 60 handled an auto

on Addison St on 9/13/15.
Photo by Rick McClure
Paid Advertisement:

phone:
(800) 244-3439

mail:
P.O. Box 41903
Los Angeles CA 90041

visit:
www.LAFRA.org

November 2015 21

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Offices in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
www.ALHEWITT.com
22 November 2015

On 8/24/15, LF 78 extinguished
an auto fire on Riverside Drive.
Photo by Rick McClure

Hello, my name is Javier Martinez.
Im a Firefighter at 103s on the A shift.
I was seriously injured a year ago this September. I just wanted to thank everyone
who supported me in my recuperation.
Every donation has helped tremendously,
and Im on my way to a full recovery. I
returned back to light duty earlier this
month at the Valley Bureau at Fire Station
88. All of the crews are tremendously accommodating, and because of everyones
support, this transition has been fairly
comfortable. In my time of need, all the
support has been, for me, somewhat unrealistic. Again, because of all the support
of everyone Im slowly coming back. My
goal is to return to full duty, but if because
of some physical restraints I cant, I know
that because of everyones support I will
return back to society - something that
wasnt believed except by you people!

Thank you all very much,
Javier Martinez

November 2015 23

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24 November 2015

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Companies de-water the Mid Valley

Library on 9/7/15.
Photo by Greg Doyle

Greetings from the far west!

For starters, we have a little movement in the Battalion. Good luck at your next
assignment and trash out to FF Thyfault going
from 84s to 10s and FF Smith 73s to 90s.
Good luck with the cashew chicken and flan
Slurpies 90s! Welcome to the Battalion CII
Romas going from 75s to 73s, CI Williams
100s to 106s and FF Pitillo 87s to 93s.

And check out the poster from 1995
that someone sent me from the LAFD archives. I wonder if the chief still works out
that hard today?!?

On August 27, 2015, four amigos summited 14, 508 ft. Mt Whitney. The LAFD Mt.
Whitney Team was put together by Craig Yoder (B/C retired) and included Scott Anderson
(FF/PM, 104-C), Bill Archibald (Capt retired),
and Craigs son-in-law, Eric Bronikowski.

With a one-day summit permit, the
team started up the trailhead at Whitney Portal
at 12:30 a.m. with a moon and headlamps.
They reached Lone Pine Lake at 10,500 ft in
about two hours. At 12,039 ft. Trail Camp they
replenished their water supply and began the
relentless set of 99 switchbacks to Trail Crest.

When you reach Trail Crest you are
now at 13,250 feet and can start feeling the
thinner air, but the views are priceless, if not a
little frightening, said Craig.

It was during this section of the climb
beyond Trail Crest that the team came across
a member of another group who had severe
altitude sickness. Scott used his paramedic
skills and provided some basic treatment and
advice, and also, offered some high altitude
medication that the team had brought along in
case of emergency.

The team finally reached the summit
at 10:30 a.m. and were pleased to hear the
other climbers at the summit cheer when they
brought out the LAFD banner. And later, after
19 hours of climbing in high altitude, they
were happy to be back in their motel rooms in
Lone Pine.

Well, thats all I have for you this
month. Remember, dont shoot the messenger
and keep em comin to:
grapevinebatt17@gmail.com

Four amigos on top of the world - almost

Photo by Craig Yoder

November 2015 25

LF 73 handles a hydrant on Roscoe Blvd

on 8/29/15. Photo by Greg Doyle

LAFD circa 1995

Truck 73 after a fire on Sherman Way on 8/24/15.

Another hydrant for 73s Rick Dennings last!

GOT NEWS!? Writers Needed

Contact editor@lafra.org

26 November 2015

recent study concluded that more people are killed taking selfies than are
attacked or bitten by sharks. Im not
a big believer in studies but this one seems
believable. I remembered the many stories and
YouTube videos Ive seen showin people takin selfies that tumble down stairs or walk
backwards off a cliff. I realized if I had bought
one Id probably end up as a selfie statistic.
The concept is good and not havin to ask a
stranger to take a picture of you and your wife
or husband is a good idea, but what do you do
with the stick when youre not takin pictures?

I know my wife aint goin to stuff the
stick in her hand bag and I dont want to walk
around carryin the stick. And if you happen
to have a limp it wont even double as a cane.
Forget the stick, Ill just stand in front of a mirror.

Ever watch people waitin to cross a
street at a cross-walk with one of them handy
buttons thats suppose to make the walk light
come on sooner? How many times do you have
to push the button? Once, twice or 20 times?
Personally, I dont believe the button is connected to anything. I think theyre put in place
to occupy pedestrians as they stand and wait to
cross the street.

The other thing I havent been able to
figure out is why people try to go 85 mph on
the freeway when traffic is movin at 35 mph?
It hardly matters the time of day when freeways dont have bumper-to-bumper traffic, but
theres always an individual thats weavin in
and out of traffic lanes like his/her posterior is
on fire. And how many times do you see this
person at the off-ramp, whos only a car ahead
of you? I think a set of harpoons are a necessary
car accessory.

My other dilemma are people gettin gas who are unaware of gaggles of other
people waitin their turn behind them. This is
therapy for me so I have to mention it again
or pay for professional therapy. So, Im in this
gas line the other day and the lady ahead of
me at the pump gets out of her car and then
immediately opened her rear door. Her upper
body was inside the car for about a minute. I
figured she was lookin for the gas filler, but she
was actually rummagin around in her hand bag
lookin for a credit card. Instead of one card,
she returned to Earth with four credit cards in
her hand. Now at the pump, she swiped the
first credit card. Rejected. Then she swiped the
2nd card. Rejected. The next two were swiped,
which ended with the same failed result. Then
she started lookin in her purse for another card.

he LA Retired Fire and Police Assn has

a serious declining membership problem. Despite our efforts, new retirees
and eligible active members are not joining the
Association. I have talked with many active
members that didnt even know there was an
association that existed to protect and preserve
the benefits that our retirees earned and enjoy.
There is only one recognized agency that represents retired stakeholders in the Fire and Police
Pension System and that is the Los Angeles Retired Fire and Police Association.

I cant fathom how individuals spend
entire careers paying dues and supporting organizations to represent them in improving salaries and benefits while working, but when they
retire, they ignore and fail to support the only

She finally achieved success with the 5th card.

Really? You didnt know you had four
bum credit cards and only figured it out when
you came to the gas station? I know, the credit
card companies have a sick sense of humor.
COWBOY HUMOR

A woman
walked into the kitchen to
find her husband standin
around with a fly swatter.

What are you
doin? she asked.

Im huntin
flies, he responded.

Oh, killin

any? she asked.

Yep, three males and two females, he
replied.

Intrigued, she asked, How can you
tell them apart?

He replied, Three were on a beer can,
two were on the phone.
KEEP SMILIN!
AC
choppedup@att.net

organization that represents them. Retiree benefits are not cast in iron like we once believed.
There are many reformers trying to reduce pensions, and eliminate or reduce benefits - not
only for new hires but for retirees. They have
already reduced some benefits for new hires
and are working on the vested right on the retirees health subsidy. This has already happened
in bankruptcy court in several cities. Theres a
war going on and we need all of our retirees to
support us in this battle. We need each others
help.

If you are not a member of LARFPA,
call our office, get an application and sign up.
Go to www.larfpa.org. Our office number is
888-288-5073.

November 2015 27

What is HIIT?

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a method of training that
couples periods of intense, anaerobic
exercises with periods of less intense,
aerobic exercises or rest. HIIT workouts can help you work more efficiently under the stresses encountered
every day on the job, be it on the fireground or beyond.

About HIIT

Forms
of
high intensity
training have
been around
f o r e v e r.

You have probably participated in this

style of workout before. Nonetheless,
not all workouts that cycle between
high and low levels of intensity
are actual HIIT workouts. HIIT
relies on strictly monitored rest
and work periods known as intervals.

An example of a HIIT circuit could rely on a 30/30 rest to
work split for a total of 6-9 minutes. This simply means, that for
the first 30 seconds of each minute, the person will be performing a specific exercise, the second
half of each minute they will be
resting, all for a total of 6-9 consecutive minutes.

HIIT has gained popularity in
recent years in the fitness industry
and daily workout regiments due
to its wide range of health benefits, convenience, and adaptability with varying fitness goals.

Health Benefits

HIIT conditions the body to

be able to perform at intense
levels repeatedly with little to
no rest. It increases cardiovascular endurance, muscle
endurance, and muscle
strength. It is also an
extremely helpful tool
for fat loss.
HIIT is very effective
when performed properly
because of a lasting metabolic process that occurs in the
body long after the exercise is completed. This
effect is known as EPOC
28 November 2015

(Excess Post-exercise
Oxygen Consumption)
or the After-burn effect. The After-burn
effect is essentially an increase in
metabolic activity
and therefore an
increase in calorie burn that takes
place after the
workout is completed. The body
seeks to repair
cells and restore
oxygen that was
depleted during
the high levels
o f intense exercise.
To explain further, the
body is running on a
lack of oxygen during
the intense periods of
exercise. This prolonged period of oxygen
depletion causes the body
to work long after the exercise has been completed in
order to restore oxygen levels. This is what causes you to
burn more calories up to 36
hours after your workout is
completed.
The best part of all?
Your body specifically uses fatty acids
as its primary source
of energy in order to
carry out the metabolic duties of repairing
cells and replenishing
oxygen stores. This
means that your body

is breaking down fat and using fatty

acids for metabolic energy for up to 36
hours after you perform HIIT!

Convenience

HIIT programs require little
space, can be completed in less than
10 minutes and can be done without
any equipment - your body weight can
suffice. However, depending on your
individual fitness goals, using equipment can help take your HIIT routine
to the next level. Some examples of
equipment you may want to incorporate are dumbbells, kettlebells, a jump
rope, a weighted vest, a stability ball, a
medicine ball, or a resistance band.

HIIT can be implemented by a
diverse group of people with a wide
range of fitness levels and goals. It is
not limited to workouts individually
and is a great opportunity to work out
in pairs or groups while still limiting
time and space. It can be performed
just about anywhere: indoors,
outdoors, gym, park.

As a personal trainer, I have incorporated HIIT into my programs to
help achieve success with clients ranging from the age of 18-60+. A good
HIIT program can help an average person to lose fat, gain muscle, increase
strength, improve body composition,
and live a healthier life. When implemented properly, it can be used in an
activity-specific setting to improve
performance for firefighters and athletes of all types.

Program Design/Examples

The key to a successful HIIT
routine is in the program design. When
selecting exercises to incorporate into
a HIIT program you need to
consider a few things:

What is your current fitness

level?
What are your goals

(specifically)?
What muscles are you looking

to target?
What equipment do you have

available to you?

Depending upon your fitness
level, the HIIT routine you would
choose would vary in the exercises
themselves as well as the length of intervals. For a example of a HIIT circuit, I have displayed a beginner program for the average person looking to
decrease body fat and gain strength:
Work/rest interval: 30/30. Complete
6-9 minutes (2-3 consecutive rounds)
Exercise 1: Burpee
Exercise 2: Mountain Climber
Exercise 3: Squat Jumps

Why Choose HIIT?

Mixing up your workout style,
focus, and goals is something that may
not seem like a big deal when you get
caught up in your daily routines. However, it has been my experience personally and through watching others,
that changing things up and making
sure to enjoy your workouts are ways
to secure consistency, longevity and
ultimately enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
Incorporating HIIT into your fitness
routine is an excellent way to continue improving your health, your body
composition, and destroying your fitness goals.

Matt Mickey earned a Bachelors of Exercise Science (with a
Minor in Nutrition) from West Chester
University of Pennsylvania. He certified as a personal trainer with the
American College of Sports Medicine
and the National Strength and Conditioning Assn. You can reach Matt at
mmickey15@gmail.com

November 2015 29

STRUCTURE FIRE
South Los Angeles

Photos by Martin Nate Rawner and Juan Guerra

A fast-moving fire destroyed a block of industrial buildings
in South Los Angeles early on October 7, 2015. LAFD companies,
along with County companies, responded to this blaze in unincorporated Florence-Firestone area. The fire started just after 1 a.m.
inside a business in the 5800 block of South Hooper Ave and spread
to the adjacent businesses that were physically connected. It took
250 firefighters to knock down the blaze.

30 November 2015

MAJOR EMERGENCY STRUCTURE FIRE

Van Nuys

Photos by Mike Meadows, Greg Doyle and Juan Guerra

More than 160 firefighters battled a major emergency blaze in a large Van Nuys
commercial building on September 10, 2015. LAFD crews arrived at 14937 Calvert Street to
find fire through the roof of a mid-block 240 x 180 one-story commercial building, built in
zero-clearance configuration among similar concrete-tilt up structures to the east and west.

Firefighters mounted an attack for nearly 20 minutes before structural compromise forced them to a defensive posture with heavy streams. The fire was extinguished in
just over two hours.

November 2015 31

STRUCTURE FIRE
Playa Vista

Photos by Greg Doyle and Mike Meadows

About 100 firefighters battled a blaze at a three-story commercial building in Playa Vista on September 19, 2015. The fire at
11869 Teale St. was reported about 7:30 a.m. When firefighters
arrived, they saw fire coming from the third floor. No one was in
the building at the time.
32 November 2015

November 2015 33

Gary Kahler arriving on his 2003 Harley Deuce

Mike Deacon showing off his 58

Porsche 356A, 1600, Normal

Tom Roberts proud to still be driving

this hopped up El Camino

Jim Vels aboard this 64 Ford Country Sedan

Wagon/390FE. Check out the Vels hand
painted detail under the hood.

Just one from Rick Millers stable.

57 Chevy Cameo P.U. Truck

t had come to my attention that we have a relatively large number of

Car & Boat Racers/Drivers/
Builders as well as collectors
and restorers of Hot Rods and
Classic Rolling Stock. Now,
I have to confess the idea of
spending my time sanding,
wrenching and cussing so I
can then spend all my money
restoring, tweaking and shining any car, boat or bike just
doesnt resonate with me. But
just to be magnanimous Ill
not pass judgement on your
obsession.
34 November 2015

Nevertheless, I think youre all really
going to enjoy the pictures from last months
Impromptu Car Show that we had at the monthly Thousand Oaks area LAFD Breakfast Club.
As you can see, we had a great turn out and I
think its pretty incredible what you guys are
doing with your talents, passions and drop
money.

I confess that I was pretty pessimistic
about how this was going to turn out, but boy
was I surprised when I drove into the parking
lot at Mimis at a quarter to seven and saw so

Race car driver Jim Gillum arriving on just two

wheels - 96 Harley Davidson Dyna Glide
many of you guys already there with hoods up,
chests out and wearing really big grins (from
ear to ear). Oh me of little faith!

What a great time we had checking out
all the shiny and powerful pieces of history that
you guys are driving. It made me feel important
just knowing you guys. I want to thank all of
you that came and especially those of you that
drove or towed your toys in for our enjoyment.

I received quite a few responses to our
last newsletter from guys that had cars they
wouldve liked to bring but couldnt either

Jim Dunns famous Salt Toy Modified Diesel

Truck (88 Toyota P.U.) 7.0L, 6V-71 Detroit Diesel

Big John Durso(Suds) gets around nicely

on this 00 Harley Davidson Road Glide

Bob Ruffino going topless in his

59 Mercedes Benz 190 SL

Steve Varney with his mighty

fine 65 Mustang Fastback 5.0
Rick Watters still the original owner
of this 71 Honda 450 inside his 72
Chevy One Ton Longhorn PU 454

Bill Carter looking sporty next to his

1923 Ford Model T Roadster Pick-up
because they were out of town or because of
mechanical problems. I think its clear that we
have to do this again, with a bit more time between the announcement and the actual event.
Thats on me. Once again guys, from me to
you, a BIG Thank You!!

The LAFD Breakfast Club meets the
first Wednesday of each month at Mimis Caf
in Thousand Oaks. All are invited, so if youd
like to receive notification and my monthly
newsletter, send me an e-mail at bruceyoung@
usa.com

Herb Johnston mustve used a couple of quarts of Seagrave Red on this beauty. Actually Herb built this 56
Chevy BelAir 2-Door Wagon Started with NO engine,
NO tranny. Painted and built the 350 engine and Muncie 4-speed tranny himself. An 8 year project.

Larry Harris woke the entire town with this 65

Plymouth 426 Race Hemi, Super Stock Car

Rudy Santiago looks pretty cool with his 67

Mustang Fastback, w/351 cu. in. Cleveland

Brian Hitchings and his furry friend (right

turn Clyde) 48 Willys (Steel Woody)

Jack Conn stylin in his beautiful

36 Ford 5 Window Coupe

Breakfast at Mimis Cafe

November 2015 35

Team Buzzard Bait

19th Annual

Hwy 10

LOOK for red and black B signs ON HIGHWAY

78 South Side between Split Mountain Rd and the
Blu Inn. Follow green course markers.
The family ride will be on Saturday the 16th.
SIGN UP WILL BE AT 8:00AM SATURDAY
Raffle satrts at 3:00 PM sharp. The ride should take
about 2-4 hours, figuring out the clues ???????

Split Mountain Rd

WIN CASH AND PRIZES, in an off-road

adventure ride. Bring motorcycles, quads, buggies
or four-wheel drives.

Palm Springs
Hwy 86

We invite you, your family & friends to

THE 19th ANNUAL FAMILY FUN RIDE across
from OCOTILLO WELLS STATE OFF-ROAD
VEHICLE AREA.which is located in EAST SAN DIEGO CO.

Hwy 78
CAMP

January 15 - 18, 2016

(MLK Holiday weekend)
FOR INFO:
MIKE REITMAYER FS 1-B OR CELL 760-822-1641
DOUG WEBER FS 17-C OR CELL 951-453-2520

Fee for the ride will be $20.00 PER PERSON.

All proceeds benefit the

36 November 2015

Blu Inn

cores of family, friends and co-workers

jammed into Fire Station 84 on October
3, 2015, to honor Paul Gamez for his
37 years of LAFD service. And Paul was the
perfect host, treating everyone to a taco buffet
brunch out back on the patio of the firehouse.
Representatives from the Department, Relief,
UFLAC and CSFA all showed up to present
Paul with the usual retirement accolades. Fire
and rescue companies from all across the Valley came to thank Paul for his decades of leadership and shared knowledge, and to wish him
a long and healthy retirement!

November 2015 37

here was an alignment of forces on

September 11, 2015, as more than
200 LAFD extended family deployed
to honor Mike Jacalone for his 35 years of
service. The Hawaiian shirts were the perfect
PPE for the balmy weather and the rolling
lawn at Malibu Wines a great place to stage
a party.

As Emcee Rob Willcox called the
crowd to order, he knew that the gravity of
the date would not be lost on anyone. Rob
noted that a table would be kept empty to
pay homage to those who lost their lives
on 9/11. John Keys then played a stirring
bagpipe solo followed by an invocation by
Chaplain Roger Fowble.

Joining Mike at the head table were
his parents, Robert and Rosemary, his Aunt
Charlotte, brother Rob along with sisters
Shari and Cindy, and a bunch of nieces and
nephews. Flanking the evenings honoree
were his kids, Toni and Brian, and wife Mel
(Emilia).

Mike and Mel attended Canoga Park
High School together. In the 10th grade when
he needed some help in Health class, Mike
would copy off Mels paper (too bad she
wasnt around for his EMT recert classes).
It didnt take Mel long to realize Mike was
quite the catch. Heck, he even had a drivers
license! Their first date was in Mikes 68
Nova to McDonalds.

Mike majored in Woodshop. Those
were the days when you could do that. When
he graduated, he worked in a cabinet shop
and became a Journeyman Cabinet Maker in
just a year and a half. Two years out of high
school, Mike and Mel got married in 1979.

One of Mikes friends, Rich Moody,
told him about the fire department. So he
took the exam once and was appointed
to the LAFD on August 10, 1980. He completed his probation on the eastside and then
escaped to 92s to hone his handball talents.
He then headed to FS 20 where he stayed for
eight years.

Here is where Mikes career gets serious. In 1988, while working a 360 at 89s, he

38 November 2015

responded with the task force to the Howard

Building Fire. While working on the third
floor Mike became separated from his company. With heavy smoke and zero visibility
he ended up in a bathroom . . . out of air. He
tucked his B/A hose in his coat and radioed
for help. The fire made the news that night,
and Mel and their young children saw Mike
being wheeled into the burn unit on TV. It
was only after this fire that radios were issued to every member on all companies.

Mike spent three nights in the hospital and two months off-duty recuperating.
Mike needed light duty and went to OCD
where he broadened his experience and studied for captain. After two years at OCD he
became Jay Turners Staff Asst, working in
Battalions 3 and 9.

In 1993, he was appointed to captain
and assigned to Fire Station 21. A couple of

years later he transferred to 66s to work with

Roger Krueger. In March of 1998, Mike was
working a day on Engine 64 and responded
to the structure fire where Captain Joe Dupee
lost his life.

After a stint in Recruit Training,
Mike promoted to II and returned to FS 66.
In February of 2001, he transferred to the
US&R Unit. On 9/11/2001, Mike had another milestone in his career as the US&R Unit
Commander. Our FEMA US&R TF was activated for the first time in our history and
deployed to New York for operations at the
World Trade Center.

The scope of what Mike faced was
unprecedented. There was no How To
book for dealing with FEMA, the Fire Department Administration, the deployed Task
Force of 77 people and helping the family
members of those deployed. Think back, the

country was in turmoil, and Mike and his

staff worked around the clock. He set standards for Home Support that would never be
matched.

Unfortunately, Mikes performance
wasnt perfect. When members were asked
for their input to improve our US&R Operations, one guy complained that when he
came back from New York his car was dirty.
He wanted the team at home to wash his car
before he returned from deployment!

Mike finally got to his home away
from home Fire Station 39 where he
would stay for the next 12 years. He inherited an unbelievable crew. Any spots that
came open were quickly filled with quality
people because of Mikes reputation.

Steve Berkery was driving Mike
when he first got there and it wasnt long
before they had another significant incident.
Truck 39 was on the roof as the Vallarta
Market burned below when a member inside
became disoriented and lost. 39s continued
their ventilation operation under perilous
conditions until the member was safely rescued.

There were many gifts and awards
to bestow during the evening, and Denise
Jones came up to handle the first. She complained that around the firehouse she was
like a second wife to Mike but without any
benefits. Appropriately then, she presented
Mike with a hand-altered commemorative
Credit Union potholder . . . along with the 35
Year Service pin and a beautifully engraved,
backlit glass plaque.

Next were Al Valle handing over the
Personal Record Book, George James the
CSFA plaque, and the Albarran brothers Los Luchadores Libres Domingo y Juanito tag teaming the UFLAC Axe plaque and the
LAFRA Retirement Badge presentations.

Longtime front office partner Sean
Stilson was proud to present Mike with the
Fire Chiefs Certificate. He was followed by
long-time handball partner Mark Egizi, who
proposed a toast, thanking Mike for their ten
great years together in the front seat of Truck
39. Next, Dan Will, responsible for putting
the dinner together, called all of the 39s
members up to the podium to bestow the gift
a custom made long board.

Then Mel, along with Toni and Brian, came up to speak. With deep love and
sincere admiration . . . they let everyone
know just what Captain Jack is really like at
home. Mike joined his family at the podium
and gave heartfelt thanks to everyone for
making his retirement party and his career
so meaningful and fulfilling.

Congratulations to you Mike and
Mel! Wishing you a long and healthy retirement together, in Maui, Mammoth and wherever your travels may take you.

November 2015 39


In this edition of KTW Captains
Claudio Fluxa, Kevin Schilling and Greg Malais discuss (1) aerial laddering consideration,
and (2) their greatest leadership influence.
These topics and experienced-based opinions
should be points of discussion for all of us.

Operational question: What is your tactical laddering preference on a one-story commercial

when you can either deploy an aerial, ground
ladders or a combo of both?
CII Schilling, FS 39-C: My SOGs are dictated by construction, size, type and fire intensity. I must also consider staffing and resource
depletion as well when determining a particular
ladder sequence.

Oftentimes the first and greater alarm
trucks encounter limited access and/or aerial
obstructions; if this occurs G/Ls are a great
option. Using the aerial as your primary ladder
along with a minimum of two additional G/Ls

40 November 2015

will support an aggressive, but safe roof operation. My expectations are that the correct ladders will get thrown, which obviously results
from proper training and focusing on The Basics.

Ladder placement can be improved
when talking it up as you approach the involved structure. Also, take caution when using
ladders less than 24 on small commercials due
to the possibility of reduced visibility at fires
generating heavy smoke conditions. Proper
spotting of the aerial along with correct ladder
selection and placement enables an effective
transition from offensive to defensive operations, as well as supports Mayday ventilation
operations if necessary.
CII Malais, FS II-C: Without a doubt I believe
the aerial is superior to all other ladders. Ive
made it my first choice for fireground operations, but that doesnt mean I use it exclusively.
When arriving in Task Force formation I expect to see the aerial used in combination with
ground ladders.

This one-man ladder is the longest,
strongest and most versatile ladder available,
along with being the easiest to climb when
carrying tools aloft. A well-argued point is the
time factor to deploy an aerial as compared to a
raising 35. As a former A/O I know first-hand
that hoisting an aerial can take time, but with
proper training you can lessen this time and increase proficiency.

I require my A/O to raise the aerial on
all structure fires, even if were first to arrive.
When the A/O knows hes always going to position his aerial for use, approach and spotting
skills become well developed. Ive implemented a one-minute standard for raising the aerial
to structures, and will often time my crew to
ensure this standard is maintained.
CII Fluxa, FS 66-C: Because the term onestory commercial is somewhat vague, I use
the size and type of a structure to influence my
laddering preference.


For small one-story commercials I
prefer a minimum of two G/Ls thrown to different corners/sections of the building. Ill have
my A/O spot for possible aerial use, and direct
G/Ls to be thrown immediately for the speed
and efficiency of getting T 66 to the roof. Im
fully aware of an aerials strengths, but I still
prefer the speed of G/Ls versus an aerial on
small commercials.

For large one-story commercials I
prefer an aerial combined with at least one G/L
thrown to a different corner/section of the roof.
When compared to ground ladders, the aerial
provides greater reach and stability on these
types of commercials if spotted correctly an
aerial can even reach the topside of a shoulder
arch.

When necessary Ill also direct a company to deploy additional ladders to compliment ours. A well-spotted aerial can also provide an anchor from which my roof team can
ascend, and is a solid starting point for vent
operations. A raised aerial is highly visible, can
withstand a rapid retreat by multiple FFs and is
already positioned for an eventual ladder pipe
operation.

Leadership question: Name an active or retired

member that has had the greatest leadership influence you and why?
CII Schilling: For the past twenty-eight years
Ive been extremely fortunate with my career
assignments. I routinely received excellent
training and valuable leadership lessons from

some of the finest officers, rated members and

firefighters.

The member that had the greatest leadership influence on me is B/C Roy Harvey.
Through his dedication, hard work and guidance I have managed to enrich my knowledge,
skills and abilities in every rank Ive held. I
consider myself extremely fortunate to have
worked for and along side Chief Harvey for
more than ten years.

His mentorship has truly facilitated my
development and enabled me to become the officer I am today. All you have to do is look at
amount of LAFD members that have promoted
under his command and youll get a sense as to
why hes admired by so many.
CII Malais: Ive been fortunate to work with
many great leaders during my career, but the
one I have the most vivid memories of is retired
A/C Robert Defeo. Although he was my Capt
II when I was an engine rookie at FS 3, he rode
Engine 3 while his Capt I was preparing for the
IIs exam.

Capt Defeo had a great deal of credibility and respect due to his years of experience
in Battalion 1. He was a confident officer who
everyone knew was the leader of our team. He
provided lots of individual attention I recall
many nights when he was in his jump jumps
throwing ground ladders with me in the rear
yard of FS 3.

I enjoyed his humor, he was always
positive and his enthusiasm for this job was
contagious. He was an excellent teacher that

communicated well, and his numerous details

to the Drill Tower further developed him into
an outstanding training officer
CII Fluxa: I cant name just one member that
has had the greatest leadership influenced me
because there have been many. Over the years
Ive learned a great deal, both good and bad,
from numerous officers in the area of leadership. However, there are a few that have stood
out above all others throughout my career: Jim
Finn, Gil Reyna, Jesus Pasos and Luther Petty.

Although these four possessed different leadership styles and personalities, they
also shared common traits and characteristics.
Wonderful attributes such as honesty, integrity,
work ethic and most importantly, caring deeply
for their members. The lessons learned while
being a part of their crew, combined with working around other quality LAFD members has
assisted greatly in my leadership growth and
development.

Im extremely fortunate to have worked
with Captains Finn, Reyna, Pasos and Petty
and I am fairly certain others have had similar
experiences with other great leaders as well.
My modest advice would be to work in assignments surrounded by great people where
youre able to learn and develop all while bettering your co-workers and those you serve.
In next months KTW Captains Jim Flores,
Paul Nelson and Matt Monroy will discuss (1)
criteria for selecting a 2 handline, and (2)
managing their Cos training agenda.

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November 2015 41

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*Plan coverage as of 7-1-15; all benefits subject to change.

42 November 2015

urable medical equipment (DME)

is an important and vital component of our Relief Association. After
evaluating our Medical DME Plans, the
Association decided to implement more cost
effective methods to manage this necessary
benefit.

Since October 1, 2015, per LAFRAs
updated policy change, the LAFRA offices will have five DME items available to
LAFRA members or the members household on a check-out/check-in basis. These
items will be: Canes, Crutches, Folding

Walkers, Geriatric Chairs and Wheelchairs.

We ask that health plan members
obtain their DME through their medical plan. If you are receiving ongoing
DME maintenance supplies through PS
Medical, you will need to contact your physician to obtain a new prescription to forward
to your new DME supplier.

Please refer to the LAFRA website for
updated information at: https://www.lafra.
org/dme If you do not have a computer or
have questions, please call Healthscope Benefits at (866) 995-2372.

Please see below to locate a DME provider based on

your LAFRA plan enrollment: (SEE TABLE BELOW)

** If all else fails, please call LAFRA at (323) 259-5200 **

November 2015 43

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44 November 2015

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RICK DENNING, Captain II, FS 73-B

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015
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November 2015 45

Send your letters & comments to the editor at: editor@lafra.org

Hi Andy,

I hope you are doing well. Im glad
we were able to connect again at your new
facility. What a blessing for all of you to
enjoy.

Thank you so much for the flag box.
It is a fine piece, indeed. I hope to persuade our Glendale guys to get on board
with them. In appreciation, Im enclosing
a gift for your Widows, Orphans& Disabled Firemens Fund. Thank you again
and god bless you and yours.

Thank you for the beautiful flowers delivered to his memorial service.
Also thank you Andy Kuljis for the special flag from his last assignment. It is so
meaningful to us. Dave would have felt
very honored. Thank you Andy for your
kind words. Please accept this donation to
honor my beloved husband of 61 years.
Sincerely,
Jean Bourdon & family

With warmest regards,

Dear Andy

Tim Thome, chaplain

Glendale Fire Dept

Please accept this donation to the
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemens
Fund in the fond memory of my good
friend, and wife of Tom Muro, Marjorie
Muro. My late wife Julie and I enjoyed
many cruises and motor trips with the Muros over the sixty years of our friendship. I
shall miss her. I just know theyre playing
golf on that special course in the sky.
Thanks to all

Widows, Orphans & Disabled

Firemens Fund

Please accept this donation in memory of Rick Price. I had the privilege of
working with him for over 10 years at FS
3 and FS 15. He always made coming to
work fun and came up with some of the
best games for dishes.
You will be missed Ricky.
Greg Newland, LAFD retired
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Los Angeles Firemens Relief Assn.

Thank you for all the help we received when I called the Relief Assn. I
spoke to Jim Dolan who was so helpful
taking care of notifying all of the necessary departments. Dave (Bourdon) always
told me the Relief Assn. was there to help
me. He was so proud to be part of the Fire
Dept.

46 November 2015

Hank Huizinga
Reedley, CA
L.A.F.R.A.

Please accept this donation to the
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemens
Fund in memory of Eddie Fox, a good
friend, workmate and playmate for over
63 years. Our working together started
at Truck Co. 28 in the early 1950s (one
of the most active truck companies in the
City in those days). On our days off we
painted houses.

When we werent working we
played we both had cabins at Green Valley lake where we learned to snow ski. We
put in many happy hours skiing Green Valley, Snow Valley, Big Bear and especially

at Mammoth Mountain in the High Sierras.

We always had great times together,
both while working and playing. He had
a wonderful sense of humor and to know
him was to like him. My life is much richer for having known him.

My condolences to his son Rick
who also put in a career on the L.A. Fire
Dept.
Thank you,
Dan Downen
Woodland Hills, CA
Dear Sir:

Please accept the enclosed donation in memory of Ricardo Price, a former
member of the LAFD Arson Unit. The donation comes from Ricks friends and former classmates at Santa Fe High School in
Sant fe Springs, California.
Sincerely,
Michael Snapp
Santa Fe High School Representative
LAFRA

This donation is for the Widows,
Orphans & Disabled Firemens Fund. Today I was at my neighbors home. She had
fallen and was in pain (98 years old). We
called 911 and 55s responded in a few
minutes!

55s is special to me because my
dad, Ted Jessen, was a volunteer at that station during WWII. Now its more special
because of the kindness of all the firemen
who responded, especially Rob Smith.
Thanks for the water 101 degrees!
Ruth Farrington
Los Angeles, CA

Relief Association:

I had the pleasure to work with Ben
(Fulghum) a couple of times, but saw him
for years working at old 17s with my Dad,
and the old Eastside Zoo crew. He was
an absolute gentleman, and very professional with the public. I learned a lot from
him. The guys at 17s affectionately nicknamed him Paramedic Jim. He loved
being a paramedic and was definitely an
asset to the LAFD. Rest easy my friend,
youve earned it . . .
Robert Bobby Raya
LAFRA.

Our heartfelt condolences to all
of Dicks (Richard Wixon) family. He is
sorely missed as a part of our Grass Valley
Retired Firemens group. He and Marge
were fixtures and active participants in our
reunions and periodic potlucks for many
years. Dick is remembered as having
served faithfully in the Red Cross without
any fanfare. Dick took such good care of
Marge in her last years. May they rest in
peace now. Yet, they will both remain a
part of us.
Dan & Alice Hostetler
LA Firemens Relief Assn:

I had the privilege to work with
Rick (Price) for almost 25 years in Arson.
Truly an exceptional individual. Great
investigator, terrific sense of humor and
always dependable. We worked many fire
scenes and his firefighting/investigative
knowledge was invaluable. Rick told you
what he was thinking and was not one to
hold back. Greatly appreciated. Rick will
be added to an esteemed list of Arson
Brothers that have gone on ahead. He is
loved, he will NOT be forgotten. I know
you are resting in peace, My Friend.
Bill Cass

Firefighter Justin Mendence

set up a special needs trust to
ensure his son, diagnosed with
Autism, is taken care of in the
best manner possible.

Unless you have a plan in placeyoure planning to fail.

Leaving it to chance is not in me and my wifes vocabulary.
Q. Why is it important to get a special needs trust?
A. Kids that have special needs will grow up to be
adults with special needs. If something
happened to us, he would not be able to
manage by himself and wouldnt be protected.
Q. Describe the types of things this trust sets up for
your loved one with special needs in the event
you are not able to care for them.
A. An Advisory Council. You can name experts in the
field that know your child and can help [the Trust
Executor] make decisions for his or her future.
Financial security and asset management
Living arrangements
Care arrangements
Q. Do you have a message for people who have not
created an estate plan?
A. It is important because we work in a high risk job.
If you love your children like I love mine, you want
the best for them. Yes, it is work on your end, but
you cannot put it in place later, you have to do it
now. Yes, its a little bit of an investment, but we
have a great benefit of a one-time, reimbursement
the Relief Association gives us.
Q. Are you glad you did it?
A. It is definitely a peace of mind thing. I sleep a little
bit easier at night knowing that my son is set up
for his entire life.
Everyone should consider setting up an estate plan.

Ask for a Getting Started Kit today by emailing

Relief Association Development & Marketing Director, Marlene
Casillas at MCasillas@lafra.org orNovember
calling (323)
259-5217.
2015
47

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48 November 2015

MEMBERS
Richard Wixon, Captain II.
Appointed December 19, 1955. Retired on a disability pension May 1, 1979 from FS 102-C.
Passed away September 14, 2015.
Jack N. Sisk, Fire Inspector.
Appointed November 7, 1959. Retired on a disability pension April 30, 1978 from Valley Fire Prevention.
Passed away September 16, 2015.
Kenneth J. Hines, Fireman.
Appointed February 9, 1963. Retired on a disability pension July 27, 1972 from FS 56.
Passed away September 17, 2015.
Stanley D. Stevens, Fireman.
Appointed July 11, 1949. Retired on a service pension January 1, 1975 from FS 37-A.
Passed away September 19, 2015.
Don L. Tolley, Captain.
Appointed July 2, 1956. Retired on a service pension June 7, 1982 from FS 72.
Passed away September 25, 2015.
Benjamin J. Fulghum, Firefighter III.
Appointed July 1, 1970. Retired on a service pension July 21, 1999 from FCCS II/RCN-S.
Passed away September 27, 2015.
Howard L. Chapman, Apparatus Operator.
Appointed September 1, 1962. Retired on a service pension January 22, 1984 from FS 63.
Passed away October 2, 2015.

FAMILY

Anne M. Matheus, surviving spouse of Thomas M. Matheus, passed away September 4, 2015.
Julie A. Ziemann, spouse of Michael G. Ziemann, passed away September 8, 2015.
Annette L. Priemer, surviving spouse of Donald R. Priemer, passed away September 17, 2015.
Anna L. Green, surviving spouse of Stanley B. Green, passed away September 20, 2015.
Beverly D. Dinger, surviving spouse of Robert H. Dinger, passed away September 25, 2015.
Florence V. Koble, surviving spouse of Conrad J. Koble, passed away September 27, 2015.
Mary Pauli Cutter, surviving spouse of Frankyn D. Cutter, passed away September 28, 2015.
Patti L. Deporter, spouse of Keoki Deporter, passed away September 29, 2015.
Mary A. Stilson, surviving spouse of John E. Stilson, passed away September 30, 2015.
Frances McDonough, spouse of William T. McDonough, passed away October 8, 2015.

November 2015 49

Paid Advertisement

50 November 2015

by Mike Mastro, President/CEO

Firefighters First Credit Union

onvenience. Flexibility. Security. These

are three important attributes that consumers look for from their financial institution. And when it comes to moving money
and making payments, these attributes have
greatly improved and are positively impacting
the way consumers manage their finances today. So for this months article, Id like to focus
on some of the new options available to you.
CHIP-ENABLED CARDS

As part of the October 2015 government mandate to improve the security of our
payment systems, you may have noticed that
many retailers and card issuers, including your
Credit Union, have adopted the new chip technology to help fight fraud.

With a chip card, a unique, one-time
code is needed for a card transaction to be approved for in-store payments. When a chip
card is used in conjunction with a chip-enabled
point-of-sale (POS) terminal, this feature
makes it virtually impossible to counterfeit
cards, helping to eliminate in-store fraud.

Many of us are so used to swiping and
signing with our cards, it may take a little time
getting accustomed to chip cards. When using a
chip card, cardholders will insert their card into
a chip-enabled POS terminal instead of swiping or sliding it so the terminal can read the
chip. In the event a merchant does not have a
chip-enabled terminal, card information is read
from the magnetic strip.
MOBILE PAYMENTS

Consumers are becoming more tech
savvy. Mobile devices have made it more
convenient than ever to conduct and manage
finances. And as the mobile technology continues to improve, consumers are continually
looking for ways to maximize the capabilities

of their mobile device to simplify everyday

tasks, including making payments. Instead of
paying with cash, checks, or debit/credit cards,
mobile devices are adding a fun twist to paying
for purchases and its secure.

The technology behind mobile payments is through contactless technology. It
allows consumers to pay for purchases by simply tapping their debit or credit card against a
special POS terminal. An RF or radio frequency communicates with the terminal for the card
to be authorized.

With Apple Pay, a form of contactless
payment, debit and credit cards are stored on an
iPhone 6 or Apple Watch. When the mobile device is waved at a POS terminal with the Apple
Pay logo, payments can be made quickly. Currently, Apple Pay works with most of the major credit and debit cards from the major U.S.
financial institutions. We continue to work with
Apple to validate our cards and hope to offer
this convenient service soon.
MOBILE BANKING

Consumers want to be connected to the
world to access online services and information. Thats why its no surprise that mobile
banking apps are becoming increasingly popular. With a smartphone or tablet, consumers get
fast, convenient access to their financial accounts.

With most mobile banking apps, you
can view account balances, transfer funds, and
deposit checks, so theres no need to find an
ATM or go to the bank. At the Credit Union,
weve enhanced the banking experience by
providing members with the ability to transfer
funds to other members and also make bill payments.

Firefighters especially like the member-to-member transfer feature as they have

the ability to pay their house dues with the

Firefighters First CU app. As long as their station has an account setup at the Credit Union,
members can quickly, conveniently make their
house dues payment with their mobile device.
Owe a fellow member a few bucks for lunch?
With the app, funds can be conveniently transferred to pay them back as well.

In addition, the Firefighters First CU
app provides members with the ability to make
bill payments too. Forget to make a utility or
store card payment? Use the app to quickly pay
your bills when you need to.

Im excited about the latest payment
and convenience banking options now available. Advancing technology has taken the
banking experience to the next level. I invite all
members to learn more by visiting our website
at www.firefightersfirstcu.org or by contacting
a Credit Union Representative at (800) 2311626. Well be glad to tell you more!
The more business we do together
as a Fire Family,
the greater the financial reward will be
for all members!
Have a safe month!

Mike Mastro

P.S. Follow the Credit Union on facebook for a schedule of our 80th Anniversary
events, special giveaways, and more. Watch
for details on a special anniversary celebration
event on November 16.
Material provided is for your information and convenience only.

November 2015 51

Donations to Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemens Fund

RITA H. GALVIN in memory of my husband
John W. Galvin

September 2015

LAVERNE M. MC LEOD in memory of my beautiful

wife Irene Mcleod
DAWN HROMADKA
CAPITOL PARTNERS LLC in memory of James Simos
COLLEEN J. GRAY in memory of Ricardo Price,
retired Arson LAFD
MARK HAWKINS/ALTURA CREDIT UNION in
memory of Rick Price
FIRE STATION NO. 83 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund

DEBRA A. ELLIOTT in memory of Rick Price

ANNE M. KOHLER in memory of Rick Price
CINDY A. MILLER in memory of Rick Price
YOUR CAUSE LLC/ TRUSTEE FOR JC PENNEY/
C/O JANET VEDRAL
NANCY ALTOBELLO in memory of James Simos

GARY R. BOWIE in memory of Monty Majesky

YOLANDA CONKLIN in memory of Mark Villasenor
DUANE DAUNER in memory of Jim Simos
CHRISTINE HAWKES in memory of Ricardo Price

WIDOW & OPRHANS DONATION in memory of

Matt McKnight

DENISE HELD in memory of Monty Majesky

FIRE STATION NO. 60 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund

THE KELLYS in memory of Jim Simos

JIMMY H. HARA in memory of Steve Robinson

MARY ANN KING in memory of Jim Simos

HENRY O. HUIZINGA JR. in memory of

Marjorie Muro, wife of Tom Muro

RONALD S. LEYDECKER in memory of

Monty Majesky

HELEN SCHULZ

DENNIS LOPER in memory of James Simos

RUTH J. FAIRRINGTON in gratitude to

Fire Station 55 & Rob Smith

MEGHAN LOPER in memory of Grandpa

James Jim Simos

TIMOTHY THOME/CITY OF GLENDALE FIRE

DEPARTMENT in gratitude to Andy Kuljis & LAFRA

THEODORE MACHADO in memory of James Simos

JAMES D. DOWNEN in memory of Eddie Fox

ROSHNI SINGH in gratitude to The LAFD for their
assistance with my husband Bramah Singh
STEVEN W. CARMEN in memory of Ricardo Price

JUDITH ROGERS in memory of Steven L. Robinson

JOSEPH M. ST. GEORGES in memory of
Steven Robinson
RHONDA STEVENSON in memory of James Simos

LINDA SCUDERI in memory of Matt McKnight

MARCIA WALKER in memory of our uncle,

James Jim Simos

FIRE STATION NO. 39 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund

NANCY WALKER in memory of James Simos

STEVE SHAW/SAN BERNARDINO FIRE DEPT

JOHN & MARY WARLIKOWSKI in memory of

Jim Simos

KATHLEEN STUART in memory of Steven L. Robinson

GREGORY E. NEWLAND in memory of Rick Price

ALLAN ZAREMBERG/CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE in memory of James Simos

DAVID RYU in memory of Steven Robinson

RALPH E. DAVIS

RICHARD F. RUSH in memory of Capt. Jack Fitzgerald,

retired FS 49

PEGGY CAPPS in memory of Carlee Kirkman

SANDRA HAAS in memory of Rick Price

DINKO KLARIN in memory of Monty Majesky
PATRICIA R. JACKSON in memory of Rick Price
UNITED WAY, INC.
JOHN O. HOFF in memory of Ricardo Price
TRUST (ANONYMOUS)
EDWARD & ANNA MC ADAM in memory of
Marjorie Muro
PATRICIA A. RAYMER in memory of
Ricardo Rick Price
PHYLLIS R. STAPEL in honor of marriage of my
grandson Jeffrey Sambar to Lindsey Roupoli

SHANNON EUSEY in memory of Steven Robinson

SUE KOHLER in memory of Rick Price
RALPH & PENNY LA PREZIOSA
KITTY LAUBACHER in memory of Rick Price
KELLY LONG in memory of Rick Price
PATTI MCCLURE in memory of Rick Price
SHARON MORIBER in honor of George Moriber
DEANNA PORTER
RICK RAMIREZ in honor of Mike Jacalone
LINDA RICH in memory of Ricardo Price
JOHN SCHERREI in memory of Monty Majesky

JOYCE & JOHN AGRE in memory of Ricardo Price

KAREN SHIRLEY-DUPREY in memory of Rick Price

ARCHER & SUSAN MORGAN in memory of

Elinor Bown, wife of Frank Brown

TIM VALLES in memory of Ricardo Price

52 November 2015

BILLY & PANDA WALDON in memory of Ricardo Price

Submitted by Frank Borden Director of Operations, LAFDHS

LAFD History - The Bel Air Fire, November 6, 1961 - Revisited

unday, November the 6th, 1961, was hot

and windy in Los Angeles. The notorious Santa Ana winds were blowing, and
the cold that most of the country was feeling
was notably absent in the City of Angels.
Although the winds slowed overnight, as dawn
approached on Monday the 6th, it appeared that
the week would be another one of heat, winds,
and low humidity. I had reported to work at
Fire Station 92 as part of the B-Platoon and
was preparing for the morning lineup when
four bells noted the arrival of a teletype from
headquarters, stating the day would be considered a high hazard day in the Santa Monica
mountains.

At 8:15AM, the Van Nuys Signal Office
received a telephone call from a construction
crew about burning brush at the northern end
of Stone Canyon on the Sherman Oaks side of
Mulholland Drive. Within a few minutes, additional calls came into the West Los Angeles
and Westlake Signal Offices. As the first fire
companies left quarters and headed up toward
Stone Canyon, the Van Nuys Signal Office received a radio report of, a significant loom
up. Within minutes, the first B/C had arrived
on scene. The fire was already cresting the top
of Stone Canyon and moving west at great,
wind-driven speeds.

In Fire Station 92, our morning lineup
was underway. We were being updated by our
Captain Jack Skinner. In those days, lineup was
a fairly formal affair, and the crew was literally lined up in front of the apparatus facing
the street. As the apparatus doors were opened,
Captain Jack Skinner, was facing us, and unable to see what we saw a dark billowing
cloud of smoke filling the sky. After a moment
of disbelief we told Captain Skinner to turn
around to see the impressive sight and although
not yet dispatched, we grabbed our gear and responded to the fire. We knew this was the big
one and we were all very excited and ready to
face the challenge.

By this time, the first command post
had been established on Mulholland Drive
above Stone Canyon. Additional units were
requested, including Engine 92. It was now
nearly 8:30 AM, and a major emergency
was declared. The fire had overrun the upper
Stone Canyon reservoir and was moving uncontrolled into the expensive community of

Bel Air. Incoming companies were deployed

along Chalon, Chantilly and Roscomare Road,
several of the more populated streets within the
Bel Air community.

Engine 92 was moving east on Mulholland towards Roscomare when the road in
front of us appeared to be overrun with smoke
and fire. Captain Skinner, knowing that there
was little time, spoke to Engineer Hopkins
and turned around and yelled back to us on the
tailboard above the roar of the 1958 Seagrave
Triple Combination Engine, Okay, boys, duck
your heads and close your eyes! Were going
through the fire! Engineer, Hoppy Hopkins,
engaged the clutch and upshifted. The rig accelerated and bore down on the curtain of fire
and smoke. Seconds later, the large open cockpit fire engine emerged on the other side of the
flaming front, unscathed. The only evidence the
crew had just driven through a wall of flames
was dozens of small burning embers lying on
the hose bed. Or so we thought. Everyone was
feeling really good at the near miss and busy
patting out the bits of smoldering hose in the
bed in front of the tailboard we were riding. But
the smell of burning didnt stop. I smelled a different odor and then noticed that my dungaree
pants leg was on fire . . . literally. This was before Nomex-based turnouts when firemen wore
blue cotton dungarees. As the engine careened
through the twisty roads, I reached down and
patted the fire out, rather vigorously, as I remember.

Within five hours, the entire A-Platoon
of the LAFD had been recalled to duty (it was
a B-Platoon day). The wind was gusting up
to 100 mph in the midst of
the blaze, while the Santa
Ana winds were averaging 65mph. The fire moved
southeast from Mulholland Drive, moved down
Stradella and then whipped
its way down Roscomare
Road.

Engine 92 was positioned on Roscomare, and
I, along with my crew and
several other firemen were
working to save several
homes. The fire front had
not arrived, but the 65mph

winds were carrying burning brands for miles

and as they landed on the then-common wood
shake roofs of the 1950s era-homes, they ignited. Homes were burning from the roof down.
It was difficult to see as the sky was blotted
out. Brands and sparks filled the air, along
with smoke, making it very difficult to breath.
And worst of all, water pressure was dropping,
making it nearly impossible to properly fight
the blaze. In some cases, firemen shoveled dirt
onto burning garages and roofs, attempting to
stop the advance of the fire. Vince Cortazzo and
I were on one wood shingle roof with a pick
head axe and a pry bar pulling burning shingles
off. Thats when we got hit with a big borate
drop from a four engine air tanker. I still have
flecks of borate in my old black helmet from
that day. Luckily we were able to stay on the
roof and completed our job.

Engine 92 was at the corner of Roscomare and Anzio Road. A beautiful home with a
wood shake roof that had just taken off. The
roof was well involved. I advanced an inch and
a half line into the home, and was in the attic
on a ladder, attempting to save the interior of
the home. Engineer Hopkins, who was out with
the rig, noticed the roof was starting to weaken
and rushed inside, telling me to get out. As we
made our way through the hallway to the outside, most of the roof collapsed into the structure. A big chandelier fell right between us.
It was a close call, but only one of many that
we and other firemen would face throughout
the day and night. I really owe a lot to Hoppy
for getting me out of the house before the roof
came down.

November 2015 53


Chief Henry Sawyer, Division Commander of the Mountain Patrol knew it was vital to get a good overview of the massive blaze.
The LAFD had ordered its first helicopter, but
it had not yet arrived. Undaunted, the chief requested the use of a local news helicopter and
flew above the fire the first use of a helicopter
as a command observation platform.

Flames reached the 14th tee of the exclusive Bel Air Country Club, and dotted the
landscape throughout Bel Air. Within a few
hours, the flames jumped Sepulveda Boulevard
and the newly constructed San Diego Freeway.
The fire spread to Brentwood and down Kenter
Avenue, extending into Mandeville Canyon.

Engine 92 continued to work on structure protection. We used a hit and run tactic designed to maximize the process of saving structures that could be saved. We moved
throughout Bel Air, eventually ending up in
Brentwood, dousing wood shingle roof after
wood shingle roof. It was repetitive and exhausting. The wood shake shingles may have
been pretty, but it was clear they were contributing to the destruction of homes.

In the early hours of November 7th, all
off-duty LA City firemen were recalled. The
LA County Fire Department provided six engines, six camp crews, and provided additional

54 November 2015

resources to staff empty LA

City stations, as did many
other surrounding fire agencies. An additional 400 LA
County firefighters stood
by. 250 National Guard soldiers were put into action to
support the LAPD, as looting became a concern. Several people were arrested
and the city put into effect
the recently passed State
Disaster Law that permitted on-the-spot arrest of any
unauthorized person in a
disaster zone. The massive
evacuation that took place
was the largest in the citys
history. 300 police officers
helped guide 3,500 residents out of Bel Air.

The northern boundary of the fire was
Mulholland Drive. On the south it was about
one-half mile above Sunset Boulevard. On the
west, the flames were past Mandeville Canyon
at one point and moving toward Sullivan Canyon. The eastern boundary reached to Beverly
Glen and to the edge of Benedict Canyon.

By the middle of the day on November
7th, 2,500 firefighters were battling the blaze,
and were finally making progress. By 3 p.m.
the winds began to still. Occasional bursts of
wind blew hotspots upslope back towards Mulholland Drive. With bulldozers, backfires, and
Borate drops, firefighters worked to contain the
blaze. Not until the morning of November 8 did
they reach containment.

One of the keys to the overall firefight
was 12 aerial tankers, some were converted
WWII military aircraft, which were successful in stopping the advance on the perimeter
of the fire by dropping fire retardant from the
air. When the wind died on the afternoon of the
7th, firefighters knew the end was near. The efforts of those firefighters who battled to save
homes should not be underestimated, however.
A wind-driven wildfire is unlike any other, and
structure protection is a dangerous and potentially deadly activity.

Nearly a dozen
firefighters were injured,
many from molten tar
dripping from the roofs of
blazing homes. Three LA
firemen were admitted to
UCLA Medical Center.
Their injuries were not life
threatening. Up to 100 other
people suffered slight injuries, depending on which
report you read and amazingly no one lost their life.

In Bel Air, 484
homes were destroyed. 190
others were damaged. 6,090
acres were burned. The cost

of damage (in 1961 dollars) was in excess of

$30 million. Yet, the incident was considered a
success, as the LAFD saved 78% of the homes
in the path of the fire. Its a remarkable statement, given this fire took place before the
implementation of ICS, helicopter firefighting,
multiple radio frequencies and all of the other
modern fire suppression tactics that exist today.

Some 40 years later, after an article in
the Times written about the fire by Cecilia Rasmussen, I received a call from a man who lived
in the house Engine 92 was trying to save on
Roscomare. He saw a picture in the article of
Engine 92 in front of the house (I was inside in
the attic with a hose line). The man who called
was Rob Barry and he invited me to meet his
family and to see the house 45 years later. I
took him up on the offer and with great anticipation drove up Roscomare to the house. It was
amazing! For one thing we saved more of
the house than I thought. Robs father had the
house rebuilt with minor modifications and it
looked much the same as it must have before
the fire hit it. Robs brother John and mother
were there, she was 91 years old when I visited.
The boys were both in school on the day of the
fire. They all had unbelievable stories to tell of
what they went through.

The LAFD Historical Society owns
old Engine 92, the 1958 Seagrave Triple that I
rode on thru the flames during the 1961 Bel
Air Fire. Engineer Hopkins who passed away
at 92 will be with us in spirit when we drive
up Roscomare someday in that beautiful 1958
Seagrave Old Engine 92. Retired Engineers
Mark Howell and Tim Griffin have worked on
the restoration of Engine 92 for a few years and
it looks almost better than new. We did have
a 50 year reunion at FS 71 in Bel Air on November 6, 2011. It was pouring rain that day so
we did not bring Old Engine 92, but that didnt
dampen the spirits of those who attended the
event. Some of you remember open cab rigs in
the rain.

To learn more about the Bel Air Fire,
you can read the official LAFD report on the
fire. You can also visit the LAFD Museum and
Memorial in Hollywood, open every Saturday
(except Sat. Nov. 28th this year). We will be
showing the LAFD produced movie Design
for Disaster every Saturday during the month
of November at 11 am and 1 pm, so please
come and visit.

As a result of the Bel Air Disaster, the
City of Los Angeles was able to initiate a series
of fire safety policies and several laws, including the outlawing of wood shake/shingle roofs.
The Brush Clearance program was initiated
and today, the City of Los Angeles has one of
the most stringent policies designed to create
defensible space around homes. You can visit
the LAFD Brush Clearance website to learn
more.

Most importantly, the disaster that was
November 6, 1961, could occur again. A wind-

driven wildfire is unique when it comes to firefighting. It is a co-conspirator with the weather,
and is difficult to predict relative to direction,
speed, and intensity. Only with continuing cooperation of homeowners, following the law
with regard to brush clearance, defensible
space overall, and understanding the concept
of Ready, Set, Go to evacuate when a disaster
strikes, can the tragedy of the Bel Air fire be
avoided in the future.
This and other incident stories can be found on
our LAFDHS website: www.lafdmuseum.org
or www.lafire.com

#1 The Tunnel Fire (Oakland Hills Fire) (Alameda County) 1991, 1600 acres; 2.900 structures; 25 deaths. (This fire caused the statewide implementation of the Incident Command
System)
#2 The Cedar Fire (San Diego County) 2003,
273,246 acres; 2,820 structures; 15 deaths.
# 3* The Valley Fire (Lake County) as of
Sept. 23, 2015, 76,067 acres (80% contained);
1,910 structures; 4 deaths.
#4 The Witch Fire (San Diego County) 2007,
197,990 acres; 1,650 structures; 2 deaths
#5 The Old Fire (San Bernardino County)
2003, 91,281 acres; 1,003 structures; 5 deaths
#6 The Jones Fire (Shasta County) 1999,
26,200 acres, 954 structures; 6 deaths
#7 The Paint Fire (Santa Barbara County)
1990, 4,900 acres; 641 structures; 1 death.
#8 The Fountain Fire (Shasta County) 1992,
63,960 acres; 636 structures; 0 deaths
#9 The Sayer Fire (Los Angeles) 2008,
11,262 acres; 604 structures; 0 deaths.

All the homes on the top of the ridge of Linda Flora

Dr. were destroyed.

With the drought conditions in California many huge fires have burned homes,
brush and forests in the northern part of our
state this summer. To give some perspective on
the comparison of some of the largest historic
fires in California I obtained some information
from the internet on the most damaging fires by
structure loss:

Calendar for November 2015

#10 - The City of Berkeley Fire (Alameda

County) 1923, 130 acres; 584 structures; 0
deaths
#11 The Harris Fire (San Diego County)
2007, 90,440 acres; 548 structures; 8 deaths.
#12 - The Bel Air Fire (Los Angeles) 1961,
6.090 acres; 484 structures; 0 deaths.

Annual Marine Corps Birthday

We will again celebrate the Marine
Corps 240th Birthday on November 10th at the
Hollywood Fire Museum. I am sure we will
have some interesting stories and great comradery. Marines and friends of the Corps are
all invited to attend. LAFD members Marine
Sgt. Major Bill Staples and Master Sgt. Dave
Navarro do a great job organizing the event and
putting on the ceremony. There are displays
and a raffle and there is S.O.S for breakfast made in Old 27s kitchen by me.

* Fridays from 0800 to 1200 are work days on the Ralph J. Scott Fireboat
November 2015 55

LOS ANGELES FIREMENS RELIEF ASSOCIATION MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

September 2, 2015
CALL TO ORDER

PRESIDENT REPORT

President Juan Albarran called the meeting

of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles
Firemens Relief Association to order at 11:10
a.m.

1) Juan Albarran indicated that they would like

to select the Open House Honoree for this year.

ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Juan Albarran, President
Robert Steinbacher, Vice President
Andrew Kuljis, Secretary
Trustee James Coburn
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Mark Akahoshi
Trustee Chris Stine
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Chris Hart
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Jeff Cawdrey
Trustee Doak Smith
Trustee David Ortiz
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Steve Ruda
Trustee Francisco Hernandez
Trustee Steven Domanski
Trustee Barry Hedberg Pension
Trustee Tim Larson Pension
Todd Layfer - Executive Director
Liberty Unciano Controller/Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Frank Aguirre (Excused)
Trustee David Lowe Pension (Excused)
GUESTS:
Jim Dolan, Asst. Secretary
Dave Wagner, Grapevine Editor

INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. James Coburn
led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES

David Peters nominated James Coburn for

the 2015 LAFRA Open House Honoree. Bob
Steinbacher seconded the nomination. The
Board agreed to honor James Coburn at this
years Open House.
2) Juan Albarran informed the Board that he
and Dawna Gray met with Ray Ciranna from
LAFPP to discuss grandfathering dependent
spouses eligible but not enrolled in Medicare
Part B. He indicated that there is much research
to be done and stated that they will report back
when the issue is finalized.
3) Juan Albarran referred to DME and provided
the Board with a section in the Policy Manual
referencing the suggested changes to the policy.
He also provided a copy of the draft letter we
will send to the membership informing them of
the changes to DME Policy.
David Peters motioned to amend the Policy
Manual to reflect the proposed changes to the
DME benefit. Barry Hedberg seconded. There
was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to amend the Policy Manual
to reflect the proposed changes to the DME
Policy.
4) Juan Albarran informed the Board that with
the change in elevator companies, they will also
be looking to modernize the elevator system.
He indicated that they will be considering this
change next year.
5) Bob Steinbacher informed that Dave Wagner
has proposed to hold a LAFRA Health Fair
event. He indicated that the date is yet to be
determined but they will schedule the event
sometime in the spring of 2016. He stated
that the health fairs goal is to reach out to the
members and promote health awareness.

Juan Albarran entertained a motion to ratify and

dispense with the reading of the minutes of the
Board of Trustees meeting held August 5, 2015.
David Peters so moved. Steve Ruda seconded.
There was no further discussion or objections.

6) Juan Albarran indicated that Pat Leddy

presented a 60-minute video that he crafted that
might be used as a fundraising tool for LAFRA.
He indicated that they will negotiate with Mr.
Leddy on using a portion of his video with the
Development & Marketing Dept.

Motion carried to ratify and dispense with the

reading of the minutes and Board actions of
the Board of Trustees held August 5, 2015.

7) Juan Albarran reported that he and staff

members attended the Drill Tower Graduation
and indicated that the event was well received.

56 November 2015

8) Juan Albarran entertained a motion to ratify

the election of Bob Steinbacher for LAFRA
President and Jeff Cawdrey as Vice President
for 2016. Tim Larson so moved. Chris
Hart seconded. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to ratify the election of Bob
Steinbacher for LAFRA President and Jeff
Cawdrey as Vice President for 2016.
9) Juan Albarran informed that they have
produced a Board Roster containing photos and
contact information for all Trustees. He stated
that they will be sent to all the fire stations.
10) Juan Albarran informed that Group 1
Trustees are up this year for election for terms
starting in 2016. He asked that those Trustees
in Group 1 submit their intent to run for their
position. He stated that since they do not have
any proposed By-law changes, it may be a
white ballot election if there are no new
candidates for Trustee.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at
11:52 am.
The Board adjourned from Executive Session at
12:12 pm.
The Board discussed personnel matters and no
action was taken.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Bob Steinbacher referred to the IFEBP
conference and indicated that he would send
those attending an email with scheduled
meetings.
2) Bob Steinbacher referred to Over-the-Line
Tournament and indicated that the event has
been moved to September 29th. He stated that
they have updated the LAFRA website as well
as the social media sites.
3) Bob Steinbacher reported on the Steve
Robinson funeral service and indicated that it
was well received. He indicated that Robinsons
family was pleased with how Robinson was
honored.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT
1) Todd Layfer reported on the Golf Tournament
and indicated that so far, we have raised
$102,875 in sponsorships and there are 106
players signed up to play.

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT

Chris Stine provided a report on the Wharton
School investment conference he attended
in July. He indicated that the class focused
on hedge funds and real estate and the fees
associated with investment managers.

Motion carried to approve $250 for the Grand

Opening of Fire Station 7.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
David Peters presented the following motion.

Motion carried to approve the financial

assistance applications for surviving spouses,
active and retired members.
ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT

The committee recommends and I so move to

accept the applications to the Medical Plan.
There was no discussion and no objections.

The committee recommends and I so move

to advance funds for both active and retired
members. There was no discussion or
objections.

Motion carried to accept all applications to the

Medical Plan.

Motion carried to advance funds for both

active and retired members.

RELIEF COMMITTEE REPORT

NEW BUSINESS

James Coburn presented the following motion.

SETTING OF DATES

Motion carried to pay the usual and customary

bills in the amount of $939,091.99.

The committee recommends and I so move to

pay:

The committee recommends and I so move

to approve the elevator service contract with
Amtec Company at $220 per month. There was
no discussion or objections.

The Sick & Injury benefits in the amount of

$54,579.81
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of
$7,610,
The Life & Accident Death Benefits in the
amount of $12,000
The Life & Accident Withdrawals in the amount
of $3,034
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of
$22,500

1) LAFD 911 Memorial Ceremony

September 11th
2) Over-the-Line Tournament
September 8th
3) Colorado Springs Fallen Firefighter
Memorial September 19th
4) LAFD Invitational Golf Tournament
September 21st
5) LAFD Fallen Firefighter Memorial (FS 27)
October 10th
6) CSFA Annual Conference
October 11th 13th
7) Sacramento Memorial Ceremony
October 17th
8) IFEBP Annual Conference (Hawaii)
November 8th 11th

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
REPORT
Jeff Cawdrey presented the following motions:
The committee recommends and I so move to
pay the usual and customary bills in the amount
of $939,091.99. There was no discussion or
objections.

Motion carried to approve the elevator service

contract with Amtec Company.
The committee recommends and I so move
to approve up to $10,000 for gym equipment.
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $10,000 for
gym equipment.
The committee recommends and I so move
to approve a $25,000 insurance policy for
volunteers at LAFRA events with an annual cost
of $450. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve a $25,000 insurance
policy for volunteers at LAFRA events as
stated.
The committee recommends and I so move
to approve a 3-year office lease for LAFRAs
disaster recovery center at $766.50 per month.
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve a 3-year office lease
for LAFRAs disaster recovery center as stated.
The committee recommends and I so move to
approve $300 for the LAFD 9/11 Memorial
Ceremony refreshments at FHMTC. There was
no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $300 for the LAFD
9/11 Memorial Ceremony refreshments.
The committee recommends and I so move to
approve $250 for the Grand Opening of Fire
Station 7. There was no discussion or objections.

There was no discussion or objections.

Motion carried to pay the above Relief benefits.
James Coburn read the names of members who
recently passed and asked for a moment of
silence from the Board.
MEMORIALS
John J. Ostrowski
Monty D. Majesky
Eugene M. Francik
Farold L. Westwood
Steven L. Robinson
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
James Coburn presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to
accept the donations in the amount of $2,005
to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemens
Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the
amount of $2,005 to the Widows, Orphans &
Disabled Firemens Fund.
The committee recommends and I so move to
approve the financial assistance applications for
surviving spouses, active and retired members.
There was no discussion or objections.

RETIREMENT DINNERS

1) Gary Malais Wednesday, September 2nd
B Shift @ Frank Hotchkins Memorial
Training Center
2) Benjamin Kuzichev Tuesday, September
8th A Shift @ Knollwood Country Club
3) Michael Jacalone Friday, September 11th
B @ Fire Station 84
4) Paul Gamez Saturday, October 3rd A Shift
@ Fire Station 84
5) Dale Robinson Thursday, October 8th B
Shift @ Odyssey Restaurant
6) DLisa Davies Saturday, November 14th
C-Shift @ Friendly Hills Country Club
ADJOURNMENT
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to adjourn.
Tim Larson so moved. David Peters seconded.
There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of
Trustees meeting adjourned at 12:53 p.m.

Juan Albarran, President

November 2015 57

CLASSIFIEDS
For advertising information, please contact:
Eric Santiago - (323) 259-5231 - eric@lafra.org
Dave Wagner - editor@lafra.org

MERCHANDISE
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Termite & Pest Control - ECOLA
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BUSY BEAVER TREE AND
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firewood sales. Mixed firewood,
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COMPLETE DRYWALL SERVICE. New construction and
remodel. Acoustic ceiling removal.
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Greg Avery (805) 320-8311 or
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Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr.
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anxiety, depression, relational difficulties, eating disorders, spiritual
or personal growth, marital conflict, family of origin issues. Find a
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58 November 2015

out behavior, defiance, attention

difficulties, hyperactivity, school issues, family adjustment), blended
families, parenting, support, family
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therapist. Nancy Goodwin with
private office in Temecula. Confidential, 20 years experience, wife
of retired LAFD. (951) 231-1600.
www.goodwinfamilycounseling.
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CRAIG SANFORD HEATING &
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Specialties: Relationship difficulties, work stress, spiritual issues
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FIRE FAMILY ESTATE SALES
Call us when a loved one passes,
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FIREMAN WHOLESALE NURSERY & ROCK YARD. All your

landscape materials @ wholesale
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GARAGE DOOR INSTALLATION
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openers. Need to replace your
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door need repair, even replaced?
We do it all from new product to
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Grassroots Garage Doors, Inc.
Lic# 950020. Son of 35 year veteran fireman.
HIRE A VETERAN. Owner operated. Reasonable rates. Dump truck,
Bob Cat, Back hoe for landscape
renewal, Grading demo & more.
Larry D. Brown (818) 489-5126
ITS TAX TIME AGAIN! Specializing in Firefighter and Paramedic
Returns, Electronic Filing available, year round bookkeeping
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partnership returns, payroll. All
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(818) 216-1040.
PISTOLS, RIFLES & SHOTGUNS
DEALER - Firearm background
checks, FFL transfers, handgun
safety certificate, consignment
sales, gun registration and personal transfers. Personal firearms
instructor and gunsmithing. All
handguns and long guns must be
listed on the California DOJ for
sale roster. Call Bill Evans - 112-C
LAFD (714) 330-9825 email:
firehousegunz@gmail.com
REC COVERS DIRECT - Specializing in RV, boat & golf cart covers!
We have quality and durable
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TAX ALERT FOR FIREFIGHTERS. Dont lose thousands of
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WAYNE PRESS CHIROPRACTIC. Work, Auto, DMV, Wellness.
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DrWaynePress.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

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for LAFD 8-89 discount. Owner
active LAFD.
DESERT CONDOS, RANCHO MIRAGE (near Palm Springs). 2 bed,
2 bath. Fully furnished condo, TV,
internet, pools and spas. Gated
community from $115/night. 3
bed from $125/night. No smoking.
Barbara (626) 798-2484.
JUNE LAKE CABIN - 2BR/2BA
cabin with Carson Peak view.
Close to fishing & skiing. Furnished, wood deck, equipped
kitchen, wood burning stove, tree
swing, cable /DVD/phone. Garage/
ample parking. $95/night plus
cleaning fee. Email for pictures.
Jeff Easton 93-A (805) 217-5602.
junebound@gmail.com
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 Village. 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 Community.
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
downtown shops & restaurants.
View of the lake. Quiet street in
good neighborhood. No pets. No
smoking. Snowbird rates. Call
Mike (661) 510-6246
LAKE NACIMIENTO. Oak Shores
gated community. 3 bedroom, 2

1/2 bath, large loft. 3minute drive

to main marina in Oak Shores.
Large flat driveway. Fully equipped
kitchen, BBQ, washer/dryer, TV/
DVD. No cable. No pets/smoking.
$185/night. 3 night minimum. Call
Ben (805) 444-2264.
MAMMOTH - 1 bedroom Summit condo, sleeps 6. Convenient
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 mammoth241@aol.com
MAMMOTH CONDO. 1 Bed/ 1.25
Bath sierra manors condo. 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 FFs
starting @100/nt
oldtownmammothcondo.ownernetworks.com
mammothmtncondo@yahoo.
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.
www.discoveryfour.com
MAMMOTH CONDO - CHAMONIX. 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 - 2 bdrm, 2
bath, 2 TVs, 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 NEXT TO
THE GONDOLA VILLAGE 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, restaurants
and ski in on the new comeback
trail. Parking at the front door.
Winter: $250/night. Summer $150/
night. Holidays $300/night. Cleaning is included. Call Mike Whitehouse, Retired, 805-987-6122,
email: btkwhitey@yahoo.com
or Bruce Galien, Retired, 661-6457448, email: luvbaja2@aol.com
MAMMOTH CONDO Cozy 2
bedrooms, 2 bath. Fully furnished,
WIFI, 3 TVs, pool, spa, walk
to shuttle, Old Mammoth area.
Winter $115, Summer $90, plus
cleaning fee $139 and 14% city
tax. Includes linens. No pets, no
smoking. Call (310) 540-4648.
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 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 throughout, woodburning fireplace, pets
OK FIREFIGHTER DISCOUNTS,
rates from $150/night
facebook.com/mammothmtncondo@yahoo.com
Ryan @ (310) 717-8483
MAMMOTH CONDO - Sierra
Manors Sleeps 7. 3 bedroom 2 1/2
bath. Fully furnished except linens.
2 TVs/VCR/DVD, stereo/CD.
Dishwasher, microwave, 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 amenities,
close to shuttle. Antiques, art,
satellite TV, fireplace. Sleeps 4.
Winter $110, Summer $85 plus
cleaning fees. Call Bill Clark (818)
371-6722
Email: shakesong@aol.com

MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET:

Studio/loft, 2 bath, king bed,
sleeps 4. Full kitchen, TV, VCR,
DVD. Garage parking. Walk to
Canyon Lodge. Ski back trail. 2
night minimum. Winter $100/nite,
$125 Fri, Sat & Holidays. Summer
$60/nite. Plus $120 cleaning &
linens. Jeff & Lisa Moir (661) 2545788.
MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET:
Walk to Canyon Lodge. Studio loft
sleeps 4. Queen beds, full kitchen,
2 baths, garage parking, TV, VCR,
DVD. Winter Sun-Thurs $100.nite;
Fri & Sat $115/nite plus cleaning
fee $100. Non smoking complex.
Joel Parker, LAFD retired.
email: cat25sailor@juno.com or
(213) 399-6534.
MAMMOTH CONDO- SEASONS
FOUR RESORT. Charming and
cozy furnished 1 Bedroom sleeps
5. Updated unit with amenities
including wifi, sauna, jacuzzi,
phone, rec room, 2 flat screens ,
DVD players. W/D on site. Shuttle
stop. Walking distance to village.
$120/night + $80 Cleaning fee
Bobby@310-350-5552.
MAUI BEACH FRONT CONDO
ON NAPILI BAY - 50 from water.
Studios and 1 bedroom. Luxury
furnishings + full kitchen. All the
amenities! Mauis 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: pmimaui@aol.
com or visit:
www.napilibaymaui.com
MAUI CONDO 1 AND 2 BEDROOMS. Centrally located on
beautiful Maalaea Bay. Excellent
swimming and snorkeling; white
sandy beach. Minutes from golf,
tennis, fishing, shopping, airport
and resort areas. Marsha Smith or
Jeanne McJannet. Toll free (800)
367-6084. www.maalaeabay.com
MAUIS MOST BEAUTIFUL
BEACH - Napili Bay. Beautiful furnished condo that sleeps 4. Lanai/
balcony, full kitchen, king bed, flat
screen TVs/DVD, ACs free WiFi
(internet), complimentary maid service, complimentary coffee every
morning and breakfast on Fridays.
Special firefighters discount - Best
value in West Maui! Nice pool &
BBQ area - Close to beach! (800)
336-2185 www.napilivillage.com
Don Sprenger - retired LAFD (949)
929-0989

November 2015 59

MONTANA ROCKY MT. FRONT

GETAWAY - 80 miles south of
Glacier Natl Park, in the foothills
of the Rockies, mountain and
canyon views. 1,000s of miles of
trailheads, fishing, etc. 2 bedroom,
1.5 bath, dining, living, kitchen
& washer/dryer. SatTV, wireless
internet. $125.00 night + cleaning.
Call Dan (805) 279-8143 or www.
VRBO.com (#494959)
PALM DESERT-3 bed/2bath,
one level. New re-model, fully
furnished w/linens. Cable TV/

DVR, Private Patio, BBQ, Laundry,

Garage, Gated Community, two
(Pools, Jacuzzis, Tennis Courts).
Near College of the Desert. $175
Dan Cook 310 418 1577.
SEE NEW ORLEANS MARDI
GRAS. Beautiful 2 BD - 2BA with a
sauna. Hillcrest Villas. Next to golf
course in Adita Springs, LA. Only
$450/week. Feb 13th thru Feb
20th. (562) 799-1134
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE. Romantic
Chalet Family getaway. 3 bed/2

bath plus loft. Sleeps 810. Cable

TV, washer/dryer, microwave,
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.

VACATION
VEHICLES
MOTOR HOMES FOR RENT:
Several 2006 Class A 32 Foot

Motor Homes, with Double Slide

Outs, Fully Loaded, Free Housekeeping Kit, Camping Kit, Discount Prices Starting at $150.00
to $180.00 per night. Serving
family & friends of LAPD , LASD,
IPD, OXPD, OX Fire, LA CO., LA
City, Ski Clubs ask for our 25%
off weekly rental rates. Visit us at
www.so-calrv.com or call 661714-7689 or 661-297-2398. ALSO
AVAILABLE BIG BEAR CABINS,
3 bedroom 2 bath with pool tables
& spas. PLEASE CALL FOR
MORE DETAILS.

For advertising information, please contact:

Eric Santiago - (323) 259-5231
or email: eric@lafra.org
or visit our website at www.lafra.org/advertising

Deal direct with authorized Factory Dealers

Offering members of the Los Angeles Fire Department
Courteous, Ethical, and Special Consideration in the purchase of your new car.

GALPIN FORD

#1 Volume Ford Dealer in the world for 20

consecutive years!

Lincoln / Mercury / Honda / Mazda /

Volvo / Ford / Jaguar / Lotus / Aston
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For special pricing contact
Terry MillerFleet Sales & Leasing
15505 Roscoe Blvd
North Hills CA 91343
818-797-3800 l www.galpin.com
1.800.GO.GALPIN

60 November 2015

HAMER TOYOTA, INC.

Camry / Celica / Corolla / Tundra
Tacoma / Sienna / Supra / Solara
11041 Sepulveda Blvd
Mission Hills CA
Ask for Steve DensonFleet Mgr
steve@hamertoyota.com
818-365-9621
Specializing in hassle-free car buying

HONDA OF HOLLYWOOD
Honda - Sales and Leasing
Large Selection of Used Vehicles
6511 Santa Monica Blvd
Hollywood CA
Ask for Dave Erickson
323-466-3251 l Fax: 323-462-0187
DaveE@hondaofhollywood.com

KEVIN D. WRIGHT
Senior Vice President
Financial Advisor
Morgan Stanley
CA Insurance License #0E11022

SUPPORTER / SPONSOR
LAFD Invitational
Historic Society Member
Lane Kemper Team Sponsor
LAFD Golf Club
PALS -LAPD

THANK YOU!

All Members and Family of the LAFD

Active/Retired call for a oneonone
investment review and consultation

818.713.4788

Kevin.D.Wright@MorganStanley.com

Retirement Planning
Insurance/Long Term Care
Income Planning
Estate Planning Strategies
SPECIAL NOTE:
Last 2 years in DROP
Complimentary Review of Your Deferred Comp Assets
MORGAN STANLEY
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in
conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.
Morgan Stanley and its Financial Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice.
Individuals should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
(C) 2015 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

CRC 1240988 7/15

Paid Advertisement

November 2015 61

Los Angeles Firemens Relief Association

7470 N Figueroa Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90041-1725

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