July 2014
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
$25 per player - 3 to 5 players per team
30 TEAMS MAX.
CHECK IN - 8AM GAME STARTS - 9AM
Santa Monica Beach
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INFORMATION:
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Best Team Name!
Best Costume!
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PURCHASE TSHIRTS AT:
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Winner Need Not be Present to Win
Participants will receive ticket stubs by mail prior to event
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2 • July 2014
Signature:
MAIL TO: Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund
Development & Marketing Department. ATTN: J. Brandolino PO Box 41903 - Los Angeles CA 90041
(3 2 3 ) 2 5 9 - 5 2 1 5
33
VOL. XC
JULY 2014
NO. 11
• FEATURES •
Keeping the Spirit Alive
A venue change and last minute date adjustment don’t
hamper the intense competition or the friendly firehouse
camaraderie of the 2014 Lane Kemper Softball Classic • . . . . . 06
Five Days of Friendship and Fun
This year’s LAFRA Reunion at the Pechanga Resort in
Temecula is bigger and better than ever as scores of active
and retired LAFD members gather to relax and reconnect • .. . . 10
Elite California USAR Teams Train in LA
The 2014 Western Region Multi-Task Force exercise (MOBEX)
is a real time deployment designed to test the effectiveness
of the USAR response system within our state • . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
• CONTENTS •
President’s Message • ................................................................................05
Battalion News • ..........................................................................................14
Retired Guys • .............................................................................................35
Department in Action • ................................................................................36
Captain Promotion Ceremony
48 new captains receive their badges • .....................................................40
Station Fridge • ...........................................................................................42
LAFD Handball
Carlos and Steiner spring doubles champs • .............................................43
Chaplain’s Corner
We are here for you • ...............................................................................45
Retirement Dinner Announcement • ............................................................47
Mailbox • .....................................................................................................48
Memorials • .................................................................................................50
On the cover: Traffic Accident - West Hills
Photo by: Gavin Kaufman, FS 84
Dollars & Sense
Do you need rental car insurance? • ........................................................51
LAFD History
1938 Malibu brush fire • ...........................................................................53
Minutes of the Board of Trustees • ..............................................................56
Follow us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/firemensgrapevine
Classifieds • ................................................................................................58
Notice: Production of The Firemen’s Grapevine magazine is very expensive, and while your dues
serve to underwrite a portion of the magazine’s costs, the bulk of funding comes from advertisers.
Many businesses advertise in the Grapevine. This does not mean that LAFRA endorses these
advertisers. Use of a Grapevine advertiser is at the risk of the member. If you are interested in any
of the advertisements, we urge you to use any and all means at your disposal to investigate them.
COPYRIGHT © 2014
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association.
No material may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.
July 2014 • 3
FIREMEN’S GRAPEVINE
owned and published by the
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
815 Colorado Blvd, 4th Floor, Los angeles CA 90041
Future and
Current Paramedics:
YOU should be HERE.
Paramedic Education course starts January 2015 Application & entrance exam deadline is July 25th
Current Paramedics:
PARAMEDIC REFRESHER/California Paramedic Transition
Course is Nov 17-20, 2014. Registration now open.
Other courses for EMTs & Paramedics:
Paramedic Prep, PHTLS, ACLS, PALS, EMT Recert,
1 12-Lead EKG with STEMI, on-line EMT, and more.
UCLA Center for Prehospital Care
10990 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles 90024
310-267-5959/ e-mail: [email protected]
www.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu
EDITORIAL STAFF
Dave Wagner • Editor..........................................................editor@lafra.org
Juan-Carlos Sánchez • Project [email protected]
Eric Santiago • Creative [email protected]
David Vienna • Web/Social Media [email protected]
DisplayAdvertising....................................(323) 259-5200 ext. 231, 232, 260
PSO’s
Katherine Main, Brian Humphrey, Erik Scott
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mike Mastro, Frank Borden, David Vienna,
Jody Houser, Michael Stefano, Monte Egherman, Steve Ruda
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ryan Babroff, David Blaire, Doc DeMulle’, Greg Doyle, Harry Garvin,
Steve Gentry, Juan Guerra, Brian Haimer, Gavin Kaufman, Ryan Ling, Rick McClure,
Mike Meadows, Lloyd Payne, Jeff Zimmerman, Yvonne Griffin, Laura Lichter.
LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
Juan Albarran........................................................President
Robert Steinbacher .......................................Vice-President
Andrew Kuljis ........................................................Secretary
Barry Hedberg
Chris Hart
Chris Stine
Craig White
David Lowe
David Ortiz
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
David Peters
Doak Smith
Frank Hernandez
Gene Bednarchik
James E. Coburn
Jeff Cawdrey
Mark Akahoshi
Rick Godinez
Steve Berkery
Steve Ruda
Steve Tufts
Steven Domanski
Tim Larson
CHAPLAINS
To contact a chaplain,
Please call 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
Roger Fowble......................Chaplain
Hershy Z. Ten.......................Chaplain
Rick A. Godinez..............Sr. 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
Marlene Casillas • Development & Marketing Director(323) 259-5217
Becky Valverde • Human ResourcesAdministrator......(323) 259-5247
Todd Layfer • Controller/Treasurer........................(323) 259-5243
Bob Dillon • Operations Manager...............................(323) 259-5233
Ana Salazar • Member Services Coordinator..............(323) 259-5223
HealthSCOPE Benefits
Claims & Benefit Information...................................(866) 99-LAFRA
THE FIREMEN’S GRAPEVINE (USPS 191-060) is published monthly by the Los Angeles Firemen’s
Relief Association, 815 Colorado Blvd. 4th Floor, Los Angeles, Cal or ia 90041. Annual $24 Subscription
if n
included with Association mem er hip; Non-members: $36. Single issues $3 postpaid. Back issues $6
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postpaid. Pe i d als post ge paid at Los Angeles, CA and at additional mailing office. POST AS ER: Send
r o ic
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ad ress changes to: THE FIREMEN’S GRAPE INE Magazine, P.O. BOX 41903, Los An ees, CA 90041.
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Printed by Collective Color, Los Angeles CA. For Clas i ed and Display Ad erisng rates please call (323)
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259-5200, ext. 231, 232 or 260. All editorial matter must be received by the Editor eight weeks prior to the
month of pubi aion. The opinons ex ressed heren are those of the writ rs and do not nec s ary reflect
lc t
i
p
i
e
e s il
the official views of the Los An ees City Fire De art ent or the Los An ees Firemen’s Relief Association.
g l
p m
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4 • July 2014
Hello Again – Here we are in July and 2014 is flying by
at an unbelievable speed.
Last month we provided an overview of Relief Medical
Plan changes which took place on July 1, 2014. Please refer to
your LAFRA website to answer any questions you might have
prior to contacting Member Services. You will be automatically
re-directed to the Health Scope Benefits site, our health plan manager. Just click on the “member” button, then type in “LAFRA”
for the company name. In the Member Self-Service section you
will find a tutorial, information on how to read an EOB or understanding your ID card, plus access to your claim status, eligibility
status, a listing of network providers and more.
LAFRA Staff and our membership have been extremely
busy recently. The LAFRA Reunion at Pechanga was a great success! Many of the old guard showed up, as well as new attendees. The highlights involved food and wine. We broke bread as
a group on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Club House. We had
110 eaters on Wednesday and a good time was had by all. The
wine tasting “tour” was a also a big hit! Apparently there was a
pact made that what happened on the trolley, stayed on the trolley. This was obvious because everyone came back laughing and
tired, but was “mum” about what had taken place. Come and join
us next year!
The Lane Kemper Softball Classic was held on May 21,
2014. The event started with 21 teams. In the end, Fire Station
33 came out victorious, Congratulations Tre-Tre!
On June 5, 2014, the 17th Annual Hope for
Firefighters Event was held downtown. We would like
to thank everyone involved in making this the great
success that it was. Special thanks to Steve Robinson
and Heather Ross for their continued passion for this
event that benefits our Widows & Orphans Fund.
This past month the LAFRA Scholarships
were presented to the well deserving winners. The
awardees represent our future - and the future is in
good hands. Special thanks to Rick Godinez, Becky
Valverde and Steve Ruda.
If you have a need of a Chaplain, please contact the on-duty Metro Fire Communications Floor
Captain at (213) 576-8920. These very able officers
will reach out any time of day and assist you in this
matter. The number is also listed on the Grapevine masthead on
page four of every Grapevine issue under the Chaplain Roster.
Your Relief Association provides “nudges” in many areas. This time I would like to give everyone a good solid push.
Please have your beneficiary forms accurate and up-to-date. This
must be maintained with all of the other associated agencies.
Prepare a Trust! If you allow things to go to probate, you
are giving the State of California your hard earned assets. Your
assets should be directed to where you want them to go. Protect
yourself and your family. Take advantage of the $600 trust preparation benefit to help accomplish this.
Take care of each other.
Juan Albarran
Remember to save the date for the LAFRA Golf Tournament on
September 22, 2014!
Look for coverage of the 2014 Hope for
Firefighters event in next month’s issue.
July 2014 • 5
6 • July 2014
L
ike the federal government, LAFD management has taken a beating lately for
things that it has or hasn’t done . . . or
said it will or will not do . . . from those who
have to carry out the tasks at hand. And like
true Americans, LAFD members cowboy-up
with the given tools, training and time, and endeavor to do the right thing. During the recent
Captain I badge pinning ceremony held at the
Firefighter’s Museum, the Fire Chief identified
the two things firemen hate most:
1) They don’t like change
2) They don’t like the way things are.
True that! From there he went on to
challenge the newest wave of LAFD officers to
do the right thing - lead by example and advocate the mission of the department. Oh yeah,
don’t forget the wants and needs of your crew,
whims of your B/C, the political correctness of
the department and city managers and the public who demand and deserve professional service. I wonder what Lane Kemper thinks when
he looks down on the circus?
On May 21, 2014 the annual Lane
Kemper Softball Classic took place. Hope-
more play time which translated into more fun
and camaraderie and a fair shot at advancing.
For the powerhouse teams, the formula was
simple - just keep scoring more runs than the
other team and show up for the next game.
There were around 25 teams from all
areas of the city and MFC, although the North
Division stations were markedly under represented. Interestingly, there was a confirmed
sighting of the highest ranking officer in the
Valley rubbing shoulders with the workers.
Nice gesture, chief. Thanks.
Obviously, some teams came to win
while others seemed content to simply enjoy a
taste of friendly firehouse fun without interference from any book, memo or directive. Competition this year was intense with no surprises
in the late rounds of play. 46’s, 15’s, 64’s and
33’s showed plenty of grit late in the day. The
all- Battalion 13 final four resulted in last year’s
champs 46’s being eliminated by 33‘s. Then,
perennial favorite 15’s lost a heartbreaker in the
semifinal which left the young, strong teams
from 64’s and 33’s to duke it out in the championship game. It was close and hard fought but
fully, when Lane looks down on the one day
we set aside for fun and camaraderie, with a
little charity on the side, he smiles and gives
us a thumbs up. Lane’s legacy lives on in the
softball tourney that bears his name and the
firefighting techniques he developed and promoted in his training seminars. Lane had his
beefs with the establishment and some of its
characters but never let them hinder his passion
for living, helping someone in need or having
fun with his fire department friends. This is
the spirit we aim to keep alive by continuing
the day of fun in the form of the Lane Kemper
Softball Classic. That being said, let’s recap the
festivities and thank the folks who helped make
it happen.
The biggest hiccup this year was
the date change. Remember that thing about
firemen hating change? Well, the decision
wasn’t made lightly. And there was plenty of
logistical “shuffling” to get it to happen. But
you all stepped up, again, and the end result
was a much cooler day for competition and
less teams defaulting due to LAFD extreme
weather deployment issues. As it happened, we
only had one team less than originally planned.
Thanks for being flexible and thanks to the
teams who donated lost entry fees to Widows
and Orphans.
Other “changes” this year included
a new complex and playing two “fun” games,
giving everyone a chance to play at the main
venue prior to elimination. The new fields
worked out well with a central area suited
for refreshment, rest and the raffle. Unseen
to the players was the extreme difficulty trying to bracket the competition with an uneven
number of teams and without full team rosters
ahead of time. Hopefully, everyone got a little
July 2014 • 7
only one team can be the winner and this year
the trophy and bragging rights go to 33’s. Congratulations. It’s good to be young and strong!
Just remember that thing about firemen and
change. P.S. The cooler over the coach thing
needs a little work.
Hopefully the Lane Kemper Softball
Classic 2014 was a healthy dose of fun and
camaraderie for all. Now is the time to thank
those who helped make it happen. Lane always
shunned the spotlight but was gracious and appreciative of those who helped him. There is a
lot of effort behind the scenes and preliminary
work that goes into the event and many people
are responsible for its success. The list is long
and there is no way to thank everyone by name
but certain people who volunteer their time and
energy and talents and property to keep the tradition alive need to be acknowledged.
Arguably, the biggest challenge is
keeping the troops fed and “hydrated”. Again,
Mark Curry did a stellar job coordinating the
tactical task force of BBQ’s and producing
mass quantities of great tasting grub. Thanks
also to Greg Pascola and Eric Stephens for
your equipment and services and all those who
helped serve. The other huge challenge is getting quality umpires to come out and risk life
and limb while making accurate and unbiased
judgement calls without having to invoke the
“no guff” rule. Thank you all for your bravery, especially ironmen Doak Smith and Craig
Fletcher for staying to the end.
By far, the most extra-curricular activity surrounds the raffle which is the passion
of Valerie Lawrence. She is assisted by Mona
Romas and Rebecca Stephens with tons of help
from the LAFRA staffers and others. From the
tens or hundreds of dollars raised in the old
days we now contribute many thousands of
dollars to the Widows, Orphans and Disabled
Firemen’s Fund. And the quality and quantity
of raffle prizes increases each year.
Thank you, Valerie.
Thank you to Galloway and First
Investors for your generous donation and support.
Thank you, Jennifer Frain for your
beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
Thank you, Hoy Talbott for your support and generous donations.
Thank you, Mona and Steve Romas,
again for allowing us to impose on your family
and home for support and storage.
Thanks, Bill Bringas for keeping the
dream alive.
Thank you, Keith Bandy for agreeing
to carry the torch for a while. Have you any
clue how arduous a journey your groomingby-Bringas will be? You may begin recruiting
helpers, just be wary of personal friends and
relatives.
THANK YOU! To all who
participated in the Lane Kemper Softball
Classic 2014.
8 • July 2014
T
he atmosphere at the tournament
this year was one of camaraderie,
with cheers and applause ringing
out constantly. It was just the way Lane
Kemper would have wanted it, as mentioned by organizer Bill Bringas in his
opening address. “Lane Kemper, his main
goal was really just to get the guys together
and have fun. And that’s what we’re trying
to do. And on top of that, we’re just trying
to give a little money back to the Widows
& Orphans Fund. And that is our Widows
& Orphans Fund.” He also took time to
thank the two big sponsors for this year’s
event, Galloway Asset Management and
First Investors.
As strong as the spirit of competition is among firefighters, those present
knew that they were playing for far more
than just a place in the rankings. The Widows & Orphans cause was a particularly
important one for player, Al Camacho from
MFC. “My wife died four years ago. The
Widows & Orphans was there to help me
out when I needed help. So it’s definitely a
good thing to have. You don’t think you’re
going to need it until something happens.
After about sixteen years on the job, my
wife passed away and by them being there
. . . that’s a great feeling.”
With the last minute date change
for the event, a few teams had to drop out.
23’s and 69’s couldn’t field a team, so FF/
PM Al Naeole from 23’s hooked up instead
with his old partners from the 114’s/90’s
squad. “The only reason they let me play
was so I could be their scapegoat,” remarked Naole. “If I played poorly or got
hurt they could blame the loss on me.”
Al brought along his wife Jen as his own
personal cheering section. “It’s just fun to
come out here and watch the guys play,”
said Jen with a smile. “No one plays too
hard and they all are having a good time. I
just hope Al doesn’t get hurt,” she added.
All in all, it was a day of sportsmanship and fun in the name of a very
worthy cause. The Widows, Orphans and
Disabled Firemen’s Fund is grateful to the
firefighters who come out to play year after
year. In our eyes, you’re all winners.
July 2014 • 9
T
he epicenter of the 2014 LAFRA
Reunion was the clubhouse at the
Pechanga Resort & Casino. In addition to the formal gatherings held here,
members could be found congregated
around the folding tables from the crack
of dawn until late into the night – coffee
mugs or beer bottles in hand, retelling old
stories and sharing new ones. The only
complaints came from the clean-up crew
– the B.S. was so deep they had to wear
knee-high rubber boots and use scoop
shovels! But - as you have read in these
pages many, many times – a good time
was had by all!
It turns out that the Pechanga
venue is really the perfect spot for an
LAFD event. There were as many folks
who brought their homes on wheels as
there were staying at the hotel. And with
10 • July 2014
the location relatively close to all of SoCal, others were able to just stop by and
visit for a day or night.
The activities commenced on
Monday, May 19th with a get-together
reception at the clubhouse. The next morning, representatives from LAFRA member
services and your Medical Plan were on
hand to answer questions and provide the
personalized service you’ve come to expect. Reps from Firefighters First Credit
Union (you know them – the rebranded
LA Firemen’s C.U.) and our pension
department were also in the house to assist
members. A hosted pizza, beer and wine
party topped off the day.
Wednesday was time for the
“Wine Trolley Tour” of the surrounding
Temecula Valley AVA. For wine aficionados, the mission padres first made wine
in California at San Juan Capistrano. The
tradition still exists today just a few miles
east in Temecula, where mission vineyards
were established in 1820.
So it was only fitting that the first
stop of the tour was Old Town Temecula,
which sprung up in 1882 as a whistle stop
when the railroad finally found its way
through the valley. After a hearty lunch,
the tour continued with stops at three wineries. Known for its diversity, wineries in
the Temecula Valley grow and produce
more than 50 different varietals of wine;
from Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon
Blanc, and Merlot to Mourvedre.
Dinner that night was again at
the clubhouse. The BBQ buffet was hosted by your Relief Association. Nobody
went away hungry, with Duke’s Mesquite
Broiler stepping up and whipping up a
delicious meal of BBQ chicken and
smoked tri-tip. The crowd was going
through the food so fast, Steve Domanski
ran back into town to get a second load of
the delicious meats.
Rich and Joyce Howe just happened to be celebrating their 36th wedding
anniversary the evening of the FREE BBQ
buffet (with FREE beer and wine) and
Rich wasn’t about to miss this opportunity. With the money he saved on a romantic
dinner and cocktails, he said he was going to buy Joyce a new vacuum cleaner to
celebrate the occasion. Congratulations to
you both!
Thursday dawned slightly overcast but the balmy weather was perfect for
a day on the links. Reservations had been
made for our duffers on Pechanga’s Journey course. Journey is built on a portion
of Pechanga’s ancestral land that has been
their “home” for countless generations.
This land is also home to “The Great Oak”
– one of the largest natural-growing, indigenous coast, live oak trees in the United
States and estimated to be anywhere from
850 to 1,500 years old.
The green grass, great oaks and
mountain air were having their effect on
Tim Larson as he plied the fairways. He
was really feeling the Native American
spirits. So when he saw that a Great White
Heron had caught a fish in one of the small
July 2014 • 11
lakes, he wanted to do the same. Tim always carries a fishing rod in his golf bag
(doesn’t everyone??) and he quickly set
his bait. On his very first cast, before the
lure had even hit the water, a 12 inch bass
jumped up and snagged the hook.
Only problem was Tim had overlooked the need for a tribal fishing license.
And on the reservation justice is swift –
Tim was detained, booked and before the
magistrate within an hour. He thought he
would get off easy when he discovered
that the judge was his old buddy Bob “Two
Bears” Munoa. But Tim was on his knees,
begging for mercy like a first-house rookie
when he saw how much the fine was. Sorry I can’t tell you how this all turned out
because of the gag order imposed by Judge
Large Bear.
On Thursday evening, everyone
met in the hotel for the Pechanga Buffet
– “an all new dining adventure that awaits
the hungry.” We were told that the buffet
features an all new menu with 250 fresh
items and action stations. There were a
couple of old truckmen there that did at
least sample all 250 items!
It was back to the clubhouse after
dinner for some, but many wandered into
the casino to try their luck. I saw a few
small jackpots being collected at the machines, some lively action at the craps (no
dice) table and learned one valuable lesson – “If you can’t win with 20, just walk
away from the table.”
When all was said and done,
the 2014 LAFRA Reunion was a rousing
success. Many thanks to the hard work
of Juan Albarran. Bob Steinbacher, Tim
and Wendy Larson, and Steve and Chris
Domanski. One thing I did hear over and
over again was members saying, “We’re
going to have to tell our friends so they
can come next year.” So pass the word
along and we’ll see you next year.
12 • July 2014
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association Medical Plan may
cover this examination. Contact your plan provider to verify.
Paid Advertisement:
July 2014 • 13
Companies deploy for
a jumper at 429 E 5th
Street on 5/24/14.
Photo by Yvonne Griffin
Engine 10 was deployed
with a strike team that
went to San Diego in May.
Photo by Steve Gentry
14 • July 2014
What Is The...
Extinguisher Fund?
The brain child of Ted Bailie,
retired from the LAFD and LAFRA,
your station’s Extinguisher Fund is a
simple way to collect donations for the
Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund. Ted saw the accumulation
of change that the cook dumped into
the mess fund box each shift and had a
better idea. If this change was instead
collected for the WODFF he figured it
could really add up. With an average of
50 cents per day per station, in a year
there would be . . . well, you can do the
math!
9’s and 10’s, along with the entire LAFD, participated in the Fill-The-Boot campaign to support the fight against Muscular Dystrophy on May 7-9, 2014.
Photos by Yvonne Griffin
So take your turn in the cooking
rotation and remember to drop all your
change into your station’s extinguisher.
There should be one in every firehouse.
And any loose change in your pockets,
any that you find in the TV chairs, or
hoarded in the “ashtray” of your vehicle
can be thrown in for good measure.
The Widows, Orphans & Dis-
abled Firemen’s Fund is the heart of
the Relief Association. This fund provides assistance to our firefighters and
families who are faced with personal
difficulties and tragedies. Donations are
the sole means of support for this Fund.
Firefighters
risk
their
lives
to protect the community on a daily
basis. Thus, they and their families can
Companies extinguished an
attic fire on Baldwin Street in
Lincoln Heights on 5/20/14.
Photos by Adam Van Gerpen
be comforted in knowing that the “Fire
Department Family,” supported by the
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund, is there for them in times
of need.
July 2014 • 15
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16 • July 2014
www.ai-mgmt.com
Participants in the City of LA’s Fire Police Pension System
(LAFPP) are blessed with a very generous retirement system.
Now of course we have to “put our time in”, but if we choose to go
the distance to retirement we can receive 50% - 90% of our Final
Average Salary (FAS). For most firemen or police officers this will
be a sufficient income to support a very comfortable retirement.
PLUS the vast majority of plan participants are contributors to the
City’s Deferred Compensation Plan (DC) and additionally participate in the DROP Program. So, a healthy pension plus DROP and
DC assets can ad up to retirement income that can equal or exceed
your FAS. This leads to a point I’m trying to convey with this
article. Given the previously mentioned factors the proposition
that someone suggests you purchase an annuity with your DROP
or DC assets seems very suspect.
To further support the statement that annuities usually aren’t best
suited for investors with a large pension, some background information is in order. Annuities broadly fall into two categories: fixed and
variable. Within these two groups they are typically either immediate
or deferred. Quickly this is where confusion gains momentum and
the financial wordsmiths come out in full force. Terms like Variable
Annuity, Equity Indexed Annuity, Life Annuity and Indexed Annuities are thrown at potential investors. FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) has issued an “Investor Alert” regarding
Equity-Indexed Annuities (EIAs) titled Variable Annuities: Beyond
the Hard Sell. Further, the SEC has weighed in also with an “Investor
Bulletin” on Indexed Annuities that outlines many factors that are
typically not discussed with prospective purchasers of these insurance
products. Annuities have gained in popularity after investors have
witnessed two significant bear markets in recent years. But, most
individuals sold these insurance products (which is what they are as
an advisor must hold an insurance license to sell these products) are
frequently not informed of an annuity’s high sales fees, lockup periods
and from FINRA “a variable annuity with a tax-deferred account..may
not be a good idea”. For more information go to: www.finra.org.
| Tel. 562.433.1400 | [email protected]
5941 Naples Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90803 Fax 562.683.2683
Fire Service Day at Fire
Station 44 on May 10, 2014.
Photos by Yvonne Griffin
July 2014 • 17
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18 • July 2014
Engine 51 and Rescue 51 handle
an EMS call at Dockweiler Beach
on 5/17/14.
Photos by Yvonne Griffin
Ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel
or 63’s kitchen
table?
While FS 63 is only the second oldest firehouse in the city, the kitchen table there
may very well be the oldest piece of furniture
still in use at any station. But thanks to Rosie
Tos, local artist and wife of Eric V. Johnson
from FS 63, the 16 foot long, more than 100
year old table recently received a facelift and
is sporting a new look. Rosie has created
artistic pieces for a
number of firehouses and wanted
to have the table at
63’s finished before
annual inspection.
According to Rosie,
“There was an
amazing response
from all the captains and the chiefs!” And the
Venice community was also very impressed
when the table was displayed at 63’s annual
pancake breakfast.
July 2014 • 19
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brushfire high above the Glendale Mountains. As the two were sitting on the hillside reflecting on their
exhausting day on the fire lines, they had a vision to create a premium line of beverages that would quench their
thirst and help them relax. From this vision emerged Fireman’s Brew, Inc., a California corporation that
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20 • July 2014
San Pedro Rotary
Club Honors
It’s been a while since you’ve heard
from Battalion 6, but we like it that way.
Much has happened, so if I forget to mention
anything, I apologize.
First, let’s say goodbye to those who
have retired from the Department - some are
recent, some are old, and I’m sure I’ll forget to
mention someone because there are so many.
So long to Captains O’Gorman, Valencia,
Schneider. Goff and Sebourn, Firefighters
Page and Escamilla. Have a good and long
retirement.
Congratulations to all the
new captains on the recent promotions. From 38’s - Eng Smith,
40’s - Eng Svorinich, 48’s - FF L.
Kemp, and 85’s - Eng DiScala.
Good luck guys, I know you’re
gonna do well, but in today’s
climate, you’re gonna need it!
From 36’s - It seems like
they don’t make ‘em like they used
to. The two members with the least
amount of time on the job are both
off ID. With all the old guys there,
you’d expect them to be the last to
be off, but I guess they don’t make
‘em like they used to.
From 38’s - They’re still
the house of complainers. It seems
that some members of 38’s wanted
House Dues to pay for a $3,500
item, so they put it up to vote.
What was that item? A super-large
screen HDTV that they can’t watch
because they’re too busy? Some
tool or equipment to make life
easier? NO! Somebody wanted
new BLINDS! (Isn’t that the
City’s responsibility?) For $3,500!
Can you believe that? Of course it was voted
down. Maybe if they were still a Task Force
with an RA and 800 they might have a slim
chance, but with just an Engine and Rescue?
Not a chance. What’s the assessment for six
members, more than $200 each? I guess they
have Beverly Hills taste over there.
From 40’s - They’re still there and
no one’s saying anything.
From 48’s - Not much to say, except
we’re all sorry for the members working the
only 800 that serves the Harbor area.
That’s a photo of Greg Newland,
Captain II at 48-A being awarded “LAFD
Firefighter of the Year Award” by the San
Pedro Rotary Club. The Rotary Club’s “Community Heroes Awards Dinner” was held at
the Doubletree Hotel in San Pedro on May 22,
2014. Battalion Chief Graham Everett stepped
up to present the award.
From 49’s, 112’s and the rest of the
Boats - Zzzzzzzzzzz
From 85’s - They’re still “Hateyfives.” Can’t we all just get along?
From 101’s - Well, it seems 101’s is
Fire City. They’ve had a few structures, and
a Major at the Elks Lodge. Story goes, after
2-3 hours of fire fight, a certain B/C sent a
Battalion 13 company in to put the remaining
fire out. Never mind that Battalion 6 companies had been there ALL NIGHT, and saved
the sanctuary and all the valuables in it, with a
very poor water supply. Never mind that most
of the roof had already caved in, and residual
fire was hidden inside an unsafe area. I guess
the Harbor guys get no respect, but send in
the Battalion 13 company to complete the job.
Even after they were warned, they said “The
chief told us to do it.” So, they threw a ladder
to a free-standing wall, the roof was gone, and
while everyone was using a 2 1/2 inch line,
they came in with an 1 1/2 inch line. Unfortunately, they had to retreat and came back with
their tails between their legs. Hey, we may be
old down here, but we got experience. How
does that song go? “We ain’t as good as we
once was, but we’re good once, as we ever
was.”
See you next time, when you come
down for drilling on the boats.
Send all your news and photos to:
[email protected]
On May 18, 2014, LAFD and LAPD held an evacuation exercise
in Mandeville Canyon, followed by a community safety fair.
Photos by Juan Guerra, juanguerra.smugmug.com
July 2014 • 21
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22 • July 2014
Brent Ruff recently received his wings at FS 114.
Photos by Dave Peters
Eric Rice gets his wings from the Fire Chief.
Photos by Dave Peters
Gib Martin at 109’s
wears the proper PPE
while preparing for
Hope for Firefighters
July 2014 • 23
Task Force 11 members exit 601 So Figueroa Street
after determining it was a false alarm on 5/28/14.
Photo by Yvonne Griffin
Truck 26 overhauls the roof of 4015
Dalton Ave on 5/14/14.
Photo by Yvonne Griffin
LF 75 handled a T/A with fire at Paxton
St and the 5 freeway on 5/24/14.
Photos by Rick McClure, EPN
A Jeep rear-ended an MTA bus
on Van Nuys Blvd on 5/17/14.
Photos by Greg Doyle
24 • July 2014
Paid Advertisement:
Five companies extinguished this grass fire along the
405 freeway near Orion St. on 5/13/14.
Photo by David “Doc” DeMulle’, The Foothills Paper,
Greg Doyle and Juan Guerra
July 2014 • 25
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26 • July 2014
Greetings from the battalion that never sleeps!
First off, congratulations to all the
teams that participated in this years Annual Lane Kemper Softball Tournament. As
always, it’s a great opportunity for camaraderie and sportsmanship. Some teams brought
their lucky bats, some brought mascots, and
most brought the inevitable strike out shirt.
Although, I hear that one player from 2’s
eschewed the strike out shirt for strike out sunglasses . . . uhhhh, this just in, I was just told
that those hideous white sunglasses were his
normal eye wear. Moving on, after a long day
on multiple diamonds, the championship was
set to be decided between 33’s and 64’s. Everything was set: rosters were ready, and everybody - well most everybody on these teams
- was going to play for the final game. In the
end, after a tough and well-played game, 33’s
eked out a win with a score of 8-7. A final
picture was taken with the 1st and 2nd place
teams together and I hear that the guys from
33’s were nice enough to let Casey Stevens
and Mike Correy be in the picture even though
they wouldn’t let them play. Congrats again
to all the teams that played and especially to
our Battalion 13 reps from 33’s and 64’s . . .
#badnewsbears #playtowinatallcosts #strikeoutshades #worselookingthanastrikeoutshirt
Congratulations to all the recently
promoted Captain 1’s and the most recent recruit class. Both deserve a long awaited “way
to go.” I know that both will have an opportunity to relieve a little, tiny, eencie amount of
pressure from all the vacancies in those ranks,
so hopefully they take this chance to work a
bit more and outside of their comfort zone to
get a tad more experience. It’s not always the
easiest thing to do, but it’s usually the “right”
thing to do.
So far this spring . . . summer? has
started off with a blast. Multiple days of 100
degree temps, pre-deploys across the northern
end of the City, and many a planner worried
about the possibility of a chance of brush fire;
but not at all concerned with the level of staffing and lack of resources to cover the normal
daily calls and then some during a “heat
wave.” South Division engines that handle
a majority of the daily call load are moved
to somewhere in the north end, run the runs
that would normally be given to the North
Division companies, then when two greater
alarms happen at the same time in the south
end, they’re moved back. Only to be sent back
to the north end for the rest of the night to
run more north end calls . . . somewhere this
makes complete sense! Anyway, to battle the
north end, we in the Battalion have upped our
“brush” responses. Case in point, recently TF
64, Engine 57, and BC 13 were dispatched
to a “brush” response on the EB 105 Fwy
at Vermont. A loom-up was spotted from
quarters and all rigs hurried to the scene. Yes,
a “brush” fire had broken out on the freeway.
Look-outs were posted, escape routes were
set, and BC 13 ordered water drops from our
LAFD helicopters . . . wait! what?!? Apparently, companies had encountered a triangle
shaped wedge about 100’ long and 20’ wide
bordered on all three sides by a major freeway
to the north (Alpha), Vermont Ave to the east
(Echo), and a major freeway off-ramp with a
15’ high brick wall to the south (Zulu). Companies were getting ready to flank this slow
moving “brush” fire through medium “brush”
when the alert came out that a water drop was
headed their way. The chopper came and went
. . . and missed the intended target. Luckily
the 2nd chopper was on its way in. They also
came and went . . . and missed. So much for
that plan. Luckily these crews remembered the
basics and were able to handle this “campaign
brush fire” with traditional equipment like 1”
hose lines and shovels. I can’t imagine what
the 105 Fwy looked like after two water drops
during the middle of the day. Soooo, is this
a new tactic that we are going to be using?
When Metro dispatches units to a “Structure
Fire” at a 3-story center hallway building,
should we ask to get the Super Scooper loaded
with water and Phos-Chek and up in the air?
Ready to paint a 1/4 mile red stripe a full
block wide down 73rd Street with one drop. Is
this what we’re teaching now in COCEP and
OCEP? Looks like we might need to re-think
our plans and use our equipment for what it
should be used for. I know they like to talk
about “thinking outside the box” and “incident
driven SOG’s,” but if it ain’t broke, don’t
order water drops on the freeway. Sorry chief,
but don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get another
chance at a Battalion 13 “brush” fire again
soon . . . just the story I heard. #evenlacountylookedconfused #sticktostructureprotection
#wetstuffonredstuff
Over at 65’s, it’s good to be on
the Paramedic Rescue. Apparently on the
“A” shift, many an 800 series ambulance
has recently had the opportunity to respond
into 65’s district . . . with Engine 65 already
on-scene and RA 65 told to go available. That
way, instead of giving the patient better care,
the engine is able to leave themselves a “quote
– unquote shield.” Apparently, it goes a little
something like this . . . Engine 65 and RA 65
are dispatched to an ALS level medical call.
After a full evaluation, including multiple vital
signs and head-to-toe assessment, the patient
is deemed to be a patient that fits into the BLS
criteria of the PRG. RA 65 is then sent on
their way and Engine 65 orders an 800 series
ambulance emergency. Why emergency you
ask? Because THEY don’t want to have to
wait on-scene any longer than they have to .
. . moving on . . . Fortunately RA’s 865, 864,
857, 833, 846, and 821 don’t mind. I guess
“what’s better for you” trumps” what’s better
for the patient,” as an ALS RA can transport
just as easily, especially since they’re already
there. And like I’ve said before, by the time an
800 series ambulance is dispatched and arrives
on-scene, RA 65 will most likely already have
loaded up, transported, and gotten the patient
a bed. It’s all about patient care . . . or going
available . . . or keeping your RA available
so you can go on less runs. The only other
place I know that uses this option is Battalion
6 companies, and when they hear that they’re
getting RA 866 non-emergency at 13.6 miles
away, they usually re-think their last request
and just have the RA that’s already on-scene
transport. Is it because they don’t want to wait
that long or because they realize that they
have the option to “do the right thing?” Hey,
wasn’t this one of my New Year’s Resolution
options? “Call an already overworked 800 to
do your job?” I believe it was! Just sayin’ . . .
#i’vegotnothin’
With all the vacancies throughout
the City, especially in the paramedic rank, it’s
not uncommon to see new faces from all over
the City during a segment. Recently at 64’s,
FF/PM Rankin was working a 72 hour stint.
He was hired for RA 264 on days 1 and 3, and
RA 864 on day 2. An out-of-house medic was
hired for RA 264 on the middle shift, so for
the comfort of the in-house guy, the obvious
thing to do would be to just let Rankin ride
RA 264 all three shifts, instead of moving
gear back and forth . . . Right? FF/PM Rankin
tried to call the SOD guy multiple times but he
would never answer, so FF/PM Rankin left a
few voicemails with his request. After unsuccessfully trying to call, Rankin finally texted,
and low-and-behold got the “I don’t want to
talk to you on the phone, but I’ll happily text
you” response. You know, when someone
doesn’t want to do something and hopes they
can dodge-duck-dip-dive-and dodge the situation even though they’re wrong. Anyway,
our out-of-house hero responded that he hated
riding on the 800 and refused to swap with the
in-house guy. After a little befuddlement over
the whole situation, FF/PM Rankin accepted it
and told him that he’d see him in the morning. Later that shift, FF/PM Rankin ended up
getting detailed to a FF/PM spot at 57’s since
he was a medic riding in a FF spot. So round
two ensues. FF/PM Rankin again texts the outof-house guy to see if he’d go to 57’s since he
would be on an RA anyway and Rankin could
stay at his own station. The response was
exactly as you would’ve expected . . . that he
would not go to FS57 for him. To top it off, he
ended the text conversation by stating that he
could have Rankin’s captain or Battalion EIT
call him, as he had no further “business” with
him. WOW! And we wonder why CTS is so
messed up? In the morning, Rankin packed up
all his gear, got relief from the FF/PM, who by
the way showed up barely before 8am because
he was coming from Hollywood, and headed
to FS 57 to make relief with a guy who was
trying to get home after another rough night.
The shift went by as most do and again in the
morning Rankin packed up his gear to head
back to FS 64. As he arrived back to make
relief he was notified that he would be on RA
64. Turns out RA 264 was shut down earlier
that morning due to staffing and no relief was
needed, so his relief got to sleep in. Way to
look out for your fellow firefighters! #thisissoeasy, whydowemakeitsohard? #FFbrotherhood #IGM
Finally a story that will warm the
deepest cockles of your heart . . . if you have a
heart. We always read and hear all the stories
about every “terrible and atrocious” thing that
we do in the newspapers and on TV. But the
good things that we do EVERY day usually never see the light of day. We all know
that these deeds aren’t done for recognition
or praise, but because it’s the right thing to
do. One evening at 21’s as everybody was
33’s and 64’s at the Lane Kemper Classic
July 2014 • 27
transitioning from the early-evening rest
period to the end-of-day rest period, there was
a knock at the front door. Upon opening the
door, they greeted a homeless family consisting of a 30 year-old mother with four kids
ages 5-10. The family was seeking shelter and
a ride downtown to look for a place to spend
the night. Now being 2330 hours, most people
would’ve told the family, “Sorry, there’s nothing we can do. Good luck.” and shut the door.
Not here. They were welcomed in the station
and given water and energy bars for each kid.
Meanwhile, phone calls were made to downtown shelters and finally the Union Rescue
Mission said that they could accept the family.
Metro was notified of the circumstances and
RA 821 was placed CAV to take the family
downtown. While they were transporting, the
FF’s on RA 821 were made aware that the
family hadn’t eaten for several hours, so they
stopped at the closest McDonald’s and bought
complete meals for the family. The family was
so thankful for this complete act of kindness.
Upon arrival at the Rescue Mission, the FF’s
carried the sleeping kids past security and all
the way to their room to ensure their safety.
Before leaving the family, FF Thomas gave
the mother $40 to feed the kids the next day.
At 0100 RA 821 made it back and finished
out the shift. I know that most of us would
do the same thing, but a serious “Thank You”
goes out to the guys at 21’s for this; moreover,
thanks to FF Tom Hyland, FF Tyler Cashman,
FF Cesar Garcia, and FF Adrian Thomas. Way
to make us look good, even if we’re the only
ones that know. #aboveandbeyond #shouldbenewsworthy #nicework
OK, that’s all I’ve got! Keep taking
care of one another. Stay safe and remember that 2+2 makes sense, play nice, know
your audience, get a cool nickname, figure
out which formula to use before the media
gets ahold of it, “you get out what you put
in”, FI-1, read the label, if you’re tired sleep
in, when in need of a driver call an already
overworked 800 to do your job, watch out for
irony, don’t fumble tradition, take 1st relief so
you can go back to sleep, never “Stand By”,
check boxes for politics always beat common
sense, when you have the opportunity to do
the right thing - take the EIT spot instead!, a #
makes everything seem much nicer, if it rains
and you don’t feel like doing your job - just
journalize it, when you need to go to the DMV
-wear your uniform, show up late to your own
ceremony, a bad idea is still a BAD idea, water
drops for all “brush” fires, call out an already
overworked 800 to keep your “shield” available, and finally, answer only a text instead
of a phone call if what you’re about to do is
the wrong thing. Keep sending your stories to
[email protected]
Engine 21 was part of a strike team
that went to San Diego in May
Photos by Rick McClure and
Jeff Zimmerman, EPN
28 • July 2014
Welcome back to Battalion 14 news.
I guess it’s difficult to write about your battalion when the writer is in paramedic school.
I hope everyone enjoyed Battalion 14’s slide
show of fires and other incidents in the meantime.
First off, congratulations to Cameron Langhans (FS 102), Danny Wu (FS 89) and
Nicholas Pellegrini (FS 102) for promoting to
captain. Hats off to all that have studied ’til
their brains hurt, missed social gatherings, and
stayed diligent and patient during this process.
A big thank you goes out to Danny
Wu for running the Cadet Post at 89’s for
more than ten years. Danny spent countless
volunteer hours with Post 89. We appreciate
all that you have done, and you will be missed.
Thankfully, John Goshorn (FS 60) will be taking over and is up for the task.
It’s hard to believe that Battalion
14 only produced one team to play in the
Lane Kemper Classic, but only Task Force
89 stepped up to the plate. They played hard,
shook off their loss(es) gracefully and enjoyed
an outstanding lunch. It’s all about having
fun, right? They definitely would have had
a different fate if Battalion Chief Beaty was
playing, like he planned. Unfortunately, when
the original date changed he could not play his
last year (ever) and neither could 89’s star athletes due to other department classes going on
at the same time. So, Task Force 89 acquired
their “go to guy,” Jeff Block Division 4. Way
to always be there Jeff!
Crossfit workouts are all fun and
games until somebody tears an ACL or meniscus. So, some members have been performing
Extreme Yoga to stay fit!
Have a great July!
[email protected]
A couple more shots from the major in 89’s district last month.
Photos by Rick McClure, EPN
Companies worked a structure fire at 13308 Roscoe
Blvd on 5/18/14.
Photo by Juan Guerra, juanguerra.smumug.com
July 2014 • 29
On 5/6/14, E-86 and HR 56 were dispatched
to a car off the 101 Fwy south of Vineland.
Photos by Mike Meadows
Firefighters from Engine and RA 89 treat
the victim of a motorcycle vs auto at Laurel
Canyon Blvd and Victory Blvd on 5/26/14.
Photos by Rick McClure, EPN
60’s and 89’s handled a garage fire in the
6200 block of Willowcrest on 4/14/14.
Photo by Mike Meadows
30 • July 2014
Firefighters rescued two men after they collided with a
freeway bridge support at the 101/170 split on 5/13/14.
Photos by Juan Guerra, juanguerra.smumug.com
On 6/5/14 Engine 102 found a well involved
multi-vehicle garage at 12215 Burbank Blvd.
Photos by Sean Blum and Rick McClure, EPN
July 2014 • 31
Not too much news this month. Rumor has it
that the always controversial slogan for this
year’s Kemper Classic was “Looking for new
LAFD recruits - Family need not apply.” Gotta
love it.
Unfortunately, I was one of the
many who fell victim to the schedule change,
but Battalion 15 had a decent showing, even
winning a few games. The whopping three
guys from 96’s and two from 70’s teamed up
with 21’s as a mixed team. As the day was getting late, wives started calling inquiring where
the afternoon shift babysitters were. So they
Ryan “Rooney” Guthrie
let 15’s beat them. I heard it was a good day of
camaraderie. Next year.
In another bit of news, there has
been a sighting of an angry BEAR at 96’s.
Beware.
Not sure if anyone in the Battalion
knows that we have a movie star from the
classic movie “Ferris Buellers Day Off” working at Fire Station 70’s. Yes the one and only
ROONEY!
We would like
to congratulate Steve
Hamilton on being the first
employee of the month at
Fire Station 70, and also
wish him luck on the next
season of “The Big Bang
Theory.” Good job Steve!
Big Bang celebrity look-alike
Send all your news and photos to
[email protected]
Adam Knabe pulled out all the stops at
his promotional dinner at FS 87.
Photos by Adam Van Gerpen
87’s celebrates Memorial Day with
their pal, WWII Vet Pete Howenstein.
Photo by Adam Van Gerpen
Companies assisted Fire-5 in
hoisting an injured hiker from
Limekiln Canyon, near Tampa
and Sesnon on 5/16/14.
32 • July 2014
Photos by Greg Doyle
Firefighters from 70’s. 87, 103
and 107 handled a fire at 18600
Superior St on 5/15/14.
Photo by Greg Doyle
TF and RA 105, and RA 72 handled a T/A with three
patients at Platt Ave and Victory Blvd on 5/13/14.
Photos by Gavin Kaufman, LAFD
Companies extinguished a structure
fire at 7824 Aura Ave on 5/9/14.
Photo by Chuck Rozner
Send your stories and photos directly to your Battalion News writer
or to the editor at [email protected]
July 2014 • 33
MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 22, 2014
Benefiting Your
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12445 MountainGate Drive - Los Angeles, CA
90049
9am - 10:30am Registration/Putting Contest - 11am Shotgun Start - Reception & Awards Dinner Following Golf
Special Firefighter Rate
$125
Limited Spots!
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
Download form at www.lafra.org/golf and
mail in with payment to:
L.A. Firemen’s Relief Association
Development & Marketing / Attn: M. Casillas
PO Box 41903
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Phone: (323) 259-5217
Email: [email protected]
34 • July 2014
d
My wife had another birthday, so off
to Vegas we went. I couldn’t buy her anythin’
real expensive this time because I lost $1 on a
penny slot machine, which drastically reduced
what I had set aside for her birthday fund. She
was less than understandin’ with my accountin’ explanation and proceeded straight to the
“Forum Shops” at Caesars Palace. Obviously I
need to stay away from them penny slots!
With my wife busy tryin’ to decide
whether to buy a new Louis Vitton, Gucci,
Prada or Coach handbag, I could only standby
and guess what credit card was gettin’ the most
abuse. As it turned out, the MasterCard got
hammered, but as the ole’ sayin’ goes, “It took
a beatin’ but she couldn’t drain all the water
from the well!” The only explanation for this?
My wife must have called and convinced MasterCard that I was actually a retired Capt. II and
that my pockets were much deeper than previously reported. I’m just grateful that she didn’t
tell them I was a retired A/C!
Anyway, while nervously waitin’ for
her to come out of the store, I couldn’t help but
notice the throngs of passers-by. I soon realized
that there are two kinds of people in this world:
Vito Maggipinto grew up in New
York and joined the Navy during World War
II. His minesweeper was operating just off the
beach during the Normandy landings on June
6, 1944, when it was struck by a mine and exploded, sinking in less than two minutes. Vito
was one of the lucky crew members who survived and was rescued by a British patrol boat.
He was awarded the Purple Heart along with
other medals for his service to the country.
After the War, he became a member
of the LAFD. According to Vito “It seemed an
opportunity to serve people and do good things.
People are always happy to see a fireman coming to help.”
Between the emergencies Vito zeroed in on an activity that was not only exciting, it helped him keep in top physical condition. Handball became a passion that earned
him the distinction of becoming the department
handball champion 13 years in a row. Racquet ball was also a favorite sport. “I started
Those with tattoos and cell phones, and those
without. It was truly amazin’ to watch these
people on their cell phones; either talkin’, textin’ or just carassin’ their devices like a security
blanket.
Women far outnumbered the men in
the carassin’ category and their tattoo’s were
much more interestin’ too. The latest female
craze seems to be written script on the legs,
thighs, backs, arms and chest. But because
the fonts were so small, to fit the particular
space, it was extremely hard to read a leg or
thigh as they quickly past by my vantage point.
I didn’t have my readin’ glasses with me, and
faced with the possibility of gettin’ arrested
for perverted behavior, I could only attempt a
weakened version of my speed readin’ skills,
which only got me as far as the first two or
three words. Obviously I’ll have to bring more
money and my readin’ glasses with me on our
next trip.
And what’s with these guys wearin’ their pants around their knees? Ain’t it
about time for this fashion fad to die? And as
I watched a gaggle of guys walk by my check
point, with most of them pullin’ up their britch-
D-Day medal for Maggi
playing handball as a kid in New York.” Vito
reminisces. “I also played some baseball and
football while attending UCLA.” His athletic
prowess led to his participation in the National
Fireman’s Handball Championship in Chicago
and a first place trophy - along with Firemen’s
es so they wouldn’t completely fall off, I noticed these geniuses were too busy holdin’ up
their pants to use their cell phones. Maybe this
goofy fashion trend has a positive side!
You know, the only guy I know that
has to legitimately hold on to his pants so they
don’t hit the floor is a certain retired Capt. II.
Yea, that’s because he keeps gold bars stuffed
in each of his pockets. Now that’s a fashion
statement!
COWBOY HUMOR
The National Institute of
Health has just released the
results of a $200 million dollar research study completed
under a grant to Johns Hopkins University.
The new study has found
that women who carry a little extra weight live
longer than the men who mention it.
KEEP SMILIN!
AC - [email protected]
Olympic Gold medals. His trophies are now on
display at the Hollywood Fire Museum.
When Vito had 30 years on retirement, he put on a dinner at his last assignment
at Fire Station 1 for the crew and many of his
old friends to celebrate his time on the job and
his retirement.
Today Vito and his wife Dolores live
in Glendale near the Oakmont Country Club.
Vito continued playing handball and racquetball well into his 80’s. He would come to LAFD
tournaments and play in the senior’s bracket.
He put on demonstrations and taught the young
players some of his tricks on the court. Golf is
his game of choice now. He is a true champion
in every sense of the word and a true gentleman
on and off the court. He is one of the legends
of the LAFD and a survivor of the Normandy
landings 70 years ago.
We should never forget the sacrifices
made by our men and women of our military in
WWII. They are the “Greatest Generation.”
July 2014 • 35
GREATER ALARM STRUCTURE FIRE
Little Armenia
Photos by David Lake, FF/PM, FS 52-C
LAFD units were dispatched at 0709 hrs on May 6, 2014 to 1096
North Western Ave. Firefighters arrived in just three minutes
to find smoke issuing from the bricks and attic of the 2 story
commercial building. An aggressive interior fire attack ensued.
Twenty five minutes into the blaze, the IC noted fire activity
escalating dangerously. Firefighters were immediately ordered
off the roof and went into a defensive fire attack. A total of 153
firefighters extinguished the blaze in one hour and 38 minutes.
The fire was confined to the structure of origin.
36 • July 2014
SALVAGE YARD FIRE
Sun Valley
Photos by Mike Meadows and
Doc DeMulle’, The Foothills Paper
On April 29, 2014, companies worked a greater alarm
fire in an auto salvage yard at San Fernando Road and
Paxton. Firefighters using heavy streams knocked the
fire down in 30 minutes.
July 2014 • 37
by Eric Scott, PSO
Photos by Adam VanGerpen, Steve Gentry
and Juan Guerra
38 • July 2014
O
n May 20 & 21, 2014, FEMA and CalOES tested the USAR system through
a multi-team deployment exercise. The
2014 Western Region Multi-Task Force exercise, commonly referred to as the MOBEX
(mobilization exercise) Drill, is a real time
deployment exercise designed to test the readiness and effectiveness of the US&R response
system within our State of California.
Many of California’s elite USAR
teams and members have responded across
the nation to catastrophic events such as New
York City for the 9-11 attacks, the Gulf coast
for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike,
floodings, mudslides and terrorist attacks. The
USAR teams are comprised of two 70-member teams of men and women who are trained
to conduct search and rescue operations in the
most extreme conditions.
The following agencies participated
in this year’s drill: CA-TF1 (Los Angeles Fire
Department), CA-TF2 (Los Angeles County
Fire Department), CA-TF5 (Orange County
Fire Authority), CA-TF7 (Sacramento Fire
Department), FEMA Incident Support Team
(IST), FEMA Main US&R Office Heads, Cal
OES (California Office of Emergency Services) Chief Officers, and the LAFD Field Incident Management Team
The 2014 MOBEX Drill formally began with a press conference on May 20, 2014
at Fire Station 88. The drill portion commenced
at approximately 10:00 a.m. with a 9-1-1 response to an earthquake scenario that supposedly affected the Los Angeles region, taxing
local resources. First responders and US&R
personnel were dispatched in real time with
escalation procedures according to the State’s
Master Mutual Aid System and FEMA’s emergency response procedures.
Disaster exercises were conducted
throughout the day, starting at 11:00 am on
May 20 and continue until 2:00 p.m. on May
21. This drill took place at four separate locations requiring US&R technical rescue operations: LAFD Fire Station 88, Universal Studios, Castaic Lake and the Del Valle Training
Center.
July 2014 • 39
O
n Saturday, May 16, 2014, more than
four dozen members were promoted
to the rank of captain at a ceremony
at the LAFD Museum and Memorial Plaza at
old Fire Station 27 in Hollywood. Fire Chief
Jim Featherstone and his command staff were
on hand to personally present the new badge to
each member. Many family members, friends
and co-workers also gathered to help celebrate
this milestone occasion.
40 • July 2014
July 2014 • 41
42 • July 2014
O
n Saturday, May 31, 2014, Fire Station
92 hosted the finals of the 2014 Spring
Doubles Handball Tournament. New
Commissioner Chris Yokoyama did a great job
of organizing the first tournament of his term.
The tournament was a tribute to the LAFD tradition, with the shirt and shorts a copy of tournament gear from the 1970’s. Captain Craig
Nielsen prepared a lunch of smoked pulled
pork sandwiches, with coleslaw, baked beans
and fruit for all who attended.
The day started with the “D” Division, which went to a third game tie-breaker.
The home court advantage gave Branden Ibrahim and James Sharlein, both from Fire Station
92, just enough of an edge over Freddie Larios
and Bryan Newon from Fire Station 64 to pull
out the win.
The next match featured a battle of
the “B’s.” Veterans Tony Arnado (FS-50) and
Tony Cardona (FS-12) defeated John Garnica
and Marcus Meza (FS-66). Arnado and Cardona opened up large leads before Garnica
and Meza staged comebacks in both games.
Ultimately, Arnado and Cardona made the
big shots at the most critical moments of each
game, winning in two straight.
The Masters Division match featured
Alex Garcia (FS-66) and Sergio Guzman (FS73) against Mario Rueda (Chief Deputy) and
Daryl Arbuthnott (BES). Proving that there is
no rank on the court, Garcia and Guzman put
on a display of strong serves and kill shots defeating the “Gold Badges” in two straight.
2013 “A” Division Department Champions
Ryan Carlos (FS-92) and Joe Steiner (FS-95)
repeated as the top LAFD doubles team. Gary
Maga (FS-69) and Kevin Egizi (FS-80) nearly
unseated the champs by taking them to a third
game tie-breaker, which came down to Carlos
and Steiner retrieving more amazing digs and
making more kill shots down the stretch than
the veteran team of Maga and Egizi.
The final game of the day featured
the “C” Division, which was the most uneven
match of the day. “Sandbaggers” Chris Sebourn
(FS-20) and Victor Davila (FS-29) dominated
Ryon Jones and Mark Hatcher, both from Fire
Station 65, in two very uneven games.
Winners received backpacks with the
LAFD handball logo embroidered on the front.
Fire Station 66 had several players in the finals
of this tournament, and they are carrying their
momentum into a challenge of Fire Station
92 for “Top Handball House.” The games are
scheduled for June. Can the players from the
“battalion that never sleeps” dethrone Fire Station 92 after over two years on top? Stay tuned
for the results.
B Champs
A Champs
Masters
Champs
C Champs
D Champs
July 2014 • 43
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44 • July 2014
J
ust recently, a cadre of us chaplains
got together at Denny’s restaurant in
Hollywood. The meeting was chaired
by our new Senior Chaplain Rick Godinez, who replaced retired Chief Greg Gibson. Rick gathered us together to share his
thoughts and insights on where we were
in our ministry, and more importantly,
where we could improve to better serve our
members, Department and community.
reminded that wherever two or three are
gathered in his name, God is present.
Since the inception of the chaplain program many things in this world
and culture have changed. One example
is new electronic technology which has
been both a blessing and a curse with new
challenges of its own. But as much as everything has changed, God’s message remains the same. It is to love Him with all
our hearts, soul and strength and to love
our neighbors as ourselves. As firefighters, we have all been gifted with a vocation to serve others, a ministry that is able
to change people’s lives forever, even if
at times we don’t stop and realize the importance and impact of our presence. For
many of us it is a job that we love to do and
we do it to the best of our ability.
If I may be so bold to speak for
my fellow chaplains, our message is simple - it is to spread God’s love by making
ourselves available to our members in any
capacity that we may be of help. We are
not just names in the Grapevine but your
brothers in Christ who are willing to hear
you, meet with you, and touch you in any
way possible. We want to help to make
you the best versions of yourselves by
bringing you closer to God. We are just as
human, weak, vulnerable and capable of
sin as any one else in this journey of life.
But through the grace and help of God we
are willing to put ourselves out there to be
of any assistance.
Please feel free to contact us; no
chain of command is necessary when your
boss trumps all.
As I looked across the room, I
noticed that we all came from different
backgrounds and are at different stages
in our lives and careers. Some younger
and some older, but all with different
experiences. What stood out was that
we all gathered as one in Christ, as his
disciples armored for battle to spread
God’s message in word and in deed in
what ever ministry we were called. I was
Peace be with you,
Chaplain Jess Pasos
Editors Note: A list of your LAFD chaplains is found on page 4 of every issue of
The Grapevine. You can contact any of
them through the MFC Floor Captain at
(213) 576-8920.
July 2014 • 45
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SIN
ROBERT “BOB” MOTHERAL, Firefighter, FS 99-C
JOSEPH JOHNSON, Inspector II, Legal Liaison Unit
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014
SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2014
Towsley Lodge at Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon
24335 The Old Road, Newhall/Santa Clarita CA
Friendly Hills Country Club
8500 S. Villaverde Drive, Whittier CA 90605
Social Hour: 4:00 PM
Dinner: 5:00 PM
Social Hour: 6:00 PM
Dinner: 7:00 PM
Barbecue Dinner - $50 includes food, drinks & gift
Chicken, Fish or Vegetarian - $55 includes tax, tip & gift
Call FS 99 - (818) 981-6379 or email: [email protected]
It’s an outside event so dress casual for a BBQ. RSVP by July 1, 2014
Mail payment to: Joseph Johnson, PO Box 1377, Chino CA 91708-1317
or call (909) 590-0699. RSVP by July 1, 2014
GARY ZIEGER, Engineer, FS 109-A
ED TAPIA, A/O, FS 87-B
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
Fire Station 109
16500 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air
Castle Catering - 50 East Green Street, Pasadena CA
Social Hour: 4:00 PM
Lunch: 5:00 PM
$10 per person - Taco Buffet
Call FS 109 Grapevine - (310) 476-0272
RSVP by August 22, 2014
Social Hour: 4:30 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Open Bar & Buffet Dinner - $55 per person
Send a check to: Melodie Tapia, 16215 Menahka, Apple Valley CA 92307
Call (760) 946-9186 for more info. Special hotel rates at Marriott Pasadena
through 8/15/2014. Contact: (626) 403-7600. Code: Ed Tapia LAFD Party
RSVP by August 13, 2014
MATTHEW POWELL, Engineer, FS 85
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014
Dalmatian American Club of San Pedro
1639 S Palos Verdes Street, San Pedro CA 90731
Social Hour: 1:00 PM
Lunch: 2:30 PM
$40 per person includes tax, tip & gift
Call FS 85 - (310) 548-7585 or
Rachel @ Fire Prevention Harbor - (310) 732-4593
RSVP by September 1, 2014
Paid Advertisements:
July 2014 • 47
To LAFRA:
Send your letters & comments to the editor at: [email protected]
Dear Widows, Orphans and Disabled
Firemen’s Fund
Please accept this donation in memory of Willis
A. (Willie) Friend. I worked with Willie twice early
in my career. The first time was at “old - long since
closed - 22’s” where he was an auto fireman on the
“A” platoon and I was a rookie on the “C” platoon.
A few years later I was promoted to auto fireman
and again had the opportunity to work with Willie
at “old - now demolished – 4’s, where he was a
captain II for part of my stay there. One thing I
remember is that he preferred not to wear a seatbelt
and even with the poor brakes on the Thibault truck
I could levitate him off his seat for a few seconds, at
least for the first two stops – after which the brakes
faded.
I seem to remember that he promoted to B/C
and was assigned to a battalion in the Valley where
he wasn’t like too well (for what reason I have no
idea). In his defense, I always got along just fine
with him and have nothing but good memories
about him.
May he rest in peace,
Richard Watters, LAFD retired
Agoura Hills, CA
Attention Andre Kuljis:
First, I want to thank you for the flag and the
fact that FS 18 firefighters assembled in front of the
station and stood at attention. Frank would have
appreciated that as he took his job seriously and
told me many stories of his time in the service of
the fire department.
48 • July 2014
We had 25 wonderful years of marriage, and he
was both a great person, aloving husband and my
best friend. I know he is no longer suffering and
is in the care of our Almighty. He went through a
terrible time in the hospital and the worst part was
he went to have a knee replacement and was in
good physical condition. He contracted sepsis, then
pneumonia, then c-diff and went downhill fast. I
felt he was trying to stay alive for me, so I took his
face in both my hands, kissed him and told him I
would be able to take care of myself, to just let go.
The most beautiful expression came over him and
I knew he would be gone soon. A few days later he
was.
If there would be more people in the world like
Frank, what a better place it would be. My thanks
to all who knew him and cared for him. A special
thanks to FS 18. He is missed.
Sincerely,
Janice Wommack, wife of
Capt. Francis L. Wommack
Sun City, AZ
Dear Widows and Orphans Fund –
I have very fond memories of Joe Lockwood,
both as a really good friend and as one of the most
effective A/C’s on the job. We shared our problems
and expectations about what was happening in the
Department. If you were looking for an answer to a
problem, Joe had it. Please accept this donation in
memory of a really close friend.
Jack Bennett
Bluffton, SC
Please accept this donation to the Widows,
Orphans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund in memory
of retired Assistant Chief Joseph Lockwood. Joe
was a fireman for the city of Norfolk and later was
a captain on the New Orleans Naval Air Station
Fire Department. I had the good fortune to work
with Joe several times starting as rookies at FS 2
and then we worked in battalion 1 – Joe at Truck
28 and me at Squad 23. While studying for our first
promotional exams, for engineer and then captain,
Joe was looked upon as the guy to beat.
After appointment to engineer, Joe and I were
assigned to the one year job of redesigning and
revising the LAFD Manual of Operations into
five volumes (that was 50 years ago). As we
were finishing the revision, we both received
appointment to captain on the same day. Several
years later we worked together at Truck and Engine
15-B. After that Joe made more promotions, finally
retiring as an assistant chief of Division I.
Joe had very high standards and spent a lot
of time training. Members of his command were
always very knowledgeable, hardworking and
aggressive firefighters.
My wife Girlen and I were privileged to spend
time with Joe and Jeane a month before he passed
away. We talked for hours about what a great job
we had and the many wonderful longtime friends
we knew over the years.
I am sure that Joe and Jeane would join us in
expressing how fortunate we were to be part of
such a great group of past and present friends on
the LAFD, and to be members of the best fire
department anywhere.
Sincerely,
Gerry and Girlen McClanahan
Fremont, MO
To WODFF:
Please accept the enclosed donation in memory
of Willis A. “Willie” Friend. I had the pleasure of
working with him at FS 4 in the early 70’s. He was
a fine captain and eventual chief officer. A true
gentleman.
John C. Ware, LAFD retired
Westminster, CA
LA Firemen’s Relief Assn,
Please accept this donation in memory of Mate
Ron Smith from Boat 2. He was a good friend and
a good mate.
Thank you,
Donald Spreeman
Huntington Beach, CA
To the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association;
I would like to thank you for all the help that
you gave my sister Pat Baker during her illness. Pat
was the widow of Fireman Joseph Baker. There are
two checks enclosed for donation to the Widows,
Orphans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
Thanks so very much,
Mary Kebler
Torrance, CA
Gentlemen:
Our mother, Della Crenshaw passed away on
August 5, 2013. In lieu of flowers in our mother’s
memory, we asked that donations could be sent for
a Memorial bench to be placed on Euclid Avenue
in Upland or to the Widows, Orphans and Disabled
Firemen’s Fund.
Many friends and relatives have lovingly
donated. We are able to order the memorial Bench
and the balance of the monies sent are enclosed as
a donation to the Widows, Orphans and Disabled
Firemen’s Fund.
Thank you,
Bonnie Ipsen, Pattie Crenshaw,
Elaine Helm and families
Upland, CA
Andy Kuljis,
Please accept this donation to the Widows and
Orphans Fund for my friend Vern Begley. He was a
really funny guy to be around.
Thank you,
Harry Morck
Helendale, CA
Frank and Laura thought they had plenty of time to get an
Estate Plan. But when Frank passed away unexpectedly, Laura
realized they were not prepared.
Five Key Steps:
1. Pick a planner. Word-of-mouth references are a good place to start, but you
should always take time to research credentials, experience, on-going education
levels and select the Estate Planning professional that best suits your needs. When
comparing costs make sure you know all the documents included and services
provided so you compare “apples to apples.” Each planner may break it down
differently.
2. Assemble a team. Your estate planning professional can advise you about
contacting a tax expert, an accountant and someone who can give you advice about
charitable giving.
3. Compile documents. Ask your attorney or other Estate Planning professional
what you'll need to bring to the first meeting. It’s usually just a few simple
documents and could include the deed(s) to your property, insurance policies,
retirement accounts and a proper I.D.
4. Ask for guidance. When you meet with members of your team, describe your
goals and ask about the best way to reach them.
5. Cover all the bases. Understand the options when considering a will or trust,
durable power of attorney, a living will, a health care power of attorney, trusts for
your children, your charity and even yourself.
For your “Getting Started Kit” contact
Marlene Casillas, Development & Marketing Director, at
July 2014
(323) 259-5217 or email [email protected] • 49
MEMBERS
Hallack F. Robb, Fireboat Mate.
Appointed May 1, 1950.
Retired on a service pension June 1, 1978 from Fireboat 5-C.
Passed away May 5, 2014.
Aldo Zuliani, Captain.
Appointed July 14, 1947.
Retired on a service pension January 1, 1978 from FS 101.
Passed away May 7, 2014.
James R. LaFlamme, Engineer.
Appointed February 1, 1955.
Retired on a service pension February 3, 1980 from FS 14-C.
Passed away May 10, 2014.
Ray M. Carpenter, Captain.
Appointed September 1, 1962.
Retired on a service pension September 29, 1995 from FS 85.
Passed away May 14, 2014.
Joseph E. Lockwood, Assistant Chief.
Appointed September 23, 1957.
Retired on a disability pension May 14, 1987 from FS 88.
Passed away May 17, 2014.
Mario J. Lara, Fireman.
Appointed January 2, 1962.
Retired on a disability pension February 24, 1977 from FS 11.
Passed away May 21, 2014.
Ora D. Mendenhall, Engineer.
Appointed November 1, 1956.
Retired on a service pension September 1, 1989 from FS 37.
Passed away May 22, 2014.
Timothy A. Walgren, Firefighter III.
Appointed April 17, 1971.
Retired on a service pension April 4, 1994 from FS 60-B.
Passed away May 30, 2014.
FAMILY
Bonnie J. Rowe, surviving spouse of Ellsworth J. Rowe, passed away April 29, 2014.
Loretta Eaton, surviving spouse of Arnold C. Eaton, passed away May 4, 2014.
Helene M. Jochheim, surviving spouse of James H. Jochheim, passed away May 6, 2014.
Mary Reed, surviving spouse of Golbert A. Reed Jr., passed away May 15, 2014.
Patricia J. Baker Jr., surviving spouse of Joseph H. Baker Jr., passed away May 16, 2014.
Betty J. Rodgers, surviving spouse of Eugene E. Rodgers, passed away May 24, 2014.
50 • July 2014
by Mike Mastro, President/CEO
Firefighters First Credit Union
Y
ou may have heard that you don’t need
to buy the extra rental car insurance
when you rent a car because your credit card or personal auto insurance will cover
any problems. So when the clerk at the rental
car agency asks you if you want their coverage
you say, “No.” After all, you are covered, right?
But it turns out that you may not have
all the coverage you need.
Rental car companies have changed
the way they do business by adding new liabilities that are not covered by your credit card or
insurance policies. Whether you are in an accident or a tree falls on the car outside your hotel,
these new charges can result in thousands of
dollars that are not covered, leaving you stuck
with the bill.
Here is a summary of the new charges typically not covered by your credit card or personal insurance:
#1: Diminution in Value
According to uslegal.com, diminution in value (DV) is “a reduction in the worth
of something caused by an action of a third
party or entity.” In relation to auto accidents,
DV is a dollar amount that represents the gap
between the car’s pre-accident value and the
car’s value after it is involved in an accident
and is repaired.
How the Rental Agency uses it:
Several years ago, DV became one of the
things rental car companies held you liable for
should you have an accident in their car. While
both credit cards and auto insurance carriers
will cover the cost of repairs, neither of them
cover DV. Many court cases have upheld that in
the absence of insurance coverage it becomes
the responsibility of the renter, as they signed
a binding contract (do you remember that long
document you signed that you didn’t really
read?)
What this means to you: Basically
it means that the rental car company can charge
you thousands of dollars for the DV even if
they have the car repaired. And in many cases, they don’t repair the car. So imagine that
you rented a Ford Focus and it was valued at
$26,500. You have an accident and the repair
estimate comes to $7,800. The rental car company chooses to sell the wrecked Focus for
parts and gets $11,700 for it at the auto auction.
You, the renter, will receive a bill for $14,800.
While your insurance company or credit card is
likely to pay the $7,800 that they would have
for the repairs, you will still be on the hook for
$7,000.
#2: Loss of Use of the Rental Vehicle
Another new charge by the rental
car companies is the “Loss of Use” charge.
This would apply if the damaged vehicle was
repaired. Under this provision, the renter is responsible for the loss of the car from the fleet of
available rentals while the car is repaired.
How the Rental Agency uses it:
If the rental car company does repair the car,
they charge you the daily rate for every day it is
unavailable for rental while it is repaired. This
charge is not covered by insurance or credit
card coverage.
What this means to you: As the
renter, you can be facing additional charges for
every day that the car sits in the shop waiting
for parts or to be repaired, which can be a week
or more. Since the charges are not covered by
the insurance, you are responsible for these
fees out of pocket as well.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
The best way to protect yourself
from thousands of dollars in liability is to sign
the Loss Damage Waiver the Rental Agency
provides. The additional charges for this coverage are typically $15 to $30 and will generally
indemnify you from these types of liabilities in
the case of an accident (for specific legal advice, consult with a qualified professional) . . .
unless of course you don’t follow all the guidelines in the agreement. Wait, what?
There are certain activities that will
void the Loss Damage Waiver agreement.
These include:
•
Being intoxicated or under the influence at the time of the accident
•
Using the vehicle on specific gravel
and dirt roads not regularly maintained
•
Improper operation of the vehicle at
the time of the accident
•
Travel across U.S. borders
•
In some instances, travelling across
state lines may be prohibited
•
Letting an unauthorized driver have
the keys; this includes the valet parking attendant at the hotel or restaurant
With this in mind, it is clear that the
best defense for a renter is to take the Loss
Damage Waiver and read the contract thoroughly before signing it.
Remember the next time you are
renting a car on vacation or for business and
“Dave” from the rental car company asks if you
want their optional Loss Damage Waiver for an
additional $30 a day, you may want to reconsider how to respond. Paying a little more now
could save you thousands in uncovered charges
down the road.
At the Credit Union, firefighters are
first. We look out for your best interests by offering products and services tailored to your
unique lifestyle. I encourage you to contact us
to learn about the warranty and other protection services automatically included with your
Firefighters First credit and debit cards. And
when you meet with a Firefighter Insurance
Services Representative, they’ll take the time
to review your existing insurance policies with
you and make recommendations to ensure you
have adequate coverage. A representative can
be reached at (800) 231-1626.
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
Funds on deposit at Firefighters First Credit Union are insured up to
$500,000 per account by American Share Insurance. This institution
is not federally insured and if the institution fails, the Federal Government does not guarantee that depositors will get back their money.
Accounts with this institution are not insured by any state government.
Firefighters First Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Lender.
Material provided is for your information and convenience only. For
specific legal advice, consult with a qualified professional. Your credit
card issuer can also provide you with disclosure information for any
included benefits.
July 2014 • 51
Donations to Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund
June 2014
KENNY H. BRADY in gratitude to the LAFD for
33 great years!
FIRE STATION NO. 99 from our Fire Service Day
PRISCELLA J. MOORE in memory of Ronald Smith
MARIE K. WAKEFIELD - WIVES OF FIREMEN SAN
PEDRO CHAPTER in memory of Lela Cotinger
ROBERT J. MUNOA from the Buzzard Bait Run
MAUREEN E. MIGAUD in memory of Ronald D. Smith
ELAINE A. HELM in memory of our mother
MARION & SHIRLEY COOPER in memory of Pat Baker
Della F. Crenshaw
RED BELL REAL ESTATE for the 2014 Fire Hogs Event
PAULA J. MEIER in memory of Jerry & Betty Andrew
HOTELIERS FOR CHARITY INC.
JOHN ADAMS
RICHARD WATTERS in memory of Willis A. (Willie) Friend
DELBERT C. THOMPSON in memory of Aldo Zuliani,
GERRY MCCLANAHAN in memory of Joseph Lockwood
FIRE STATION NO. 28 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund
JAMES E. GILLUM from the Simi Valley Breakfast Club
WILLIAM R. SWITZER
JAMES E. CRAIG in memory of Bill Burnidge
PAUL R. FULTON in gratitude for the DME
Reno, Angelo & Paul
CHARLES B. OSBORNE in memory of Bob LaFlamme
JUDITH C. SWEDLUND in honor of Ronald Dwight Smith
JACK A. BENNETT in memory of Joe Lockwood
HELEN L. SCHULZ
FIRE STATION NO. 68 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund
KAREN K. RINGER in memory of Ronald D. Smith
STEVEN SMITH C/O AT&T EMPLOYEE
KELLY S. RADETICH in memory of Ronald D. Smith
PAUL & KIKUNO NAKAMURA in memory of Pat Baker
DONALD R. SPREEMAN in memory of mate Ron Smith
JOHN C. WARE in memory of Willis A. “Willie” Friend
FIRE STATION NO. 90 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund
FIRE STATION NO. 87 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund
JULIET A. TSUCHIYA in memory of Clay Stapel
52 • July 2014
GIVING CAMPAIGN
RICHARD PEARSON C/O UNITED WAY INC.
JOHN M. LAY
DAVID L. SAWLSVILLE
GERALD R. MALAIS
ROBERT L. ROBAR
Submitted by Frank Borden • Director of Operations, LAFDHS
LAFD History - The 1938 Malibu Brush Fire
By Larry Schneider, B/C retired
Dear Frank,
I for one appreciate your many articles regarding the history of our Department.
Hopefully some of our newer members will
read and learn and become as interested in
preserving our history as you. The other day
I was thinking of some of the historic brush
fires of the past. One came to mind - the ’38
Malibu Fire. Although this fire was mostly in
L.A. it was talked about for years. This was the
first time the Department transported so many
men into one fire. It was also the first time the
new Alarm System was used for a Department
Recall. In addition, this recall was the longest
in duration (five days) in Department history. It
also gave Chief Scott credence when requesting more water mains be installed throughout
the city, including the Mountain District.
I wrote a small article regarding this
fire and some of the problems encountered. If
you wish, you may use at your discretion.
Your ole fire buddy
Larry Schneider
THE 1938 BRUSH FIRE
On November 23, 1938, a fire started
on the boundary of Los Angeles and the unincorporated area of Malibu. At that time, Fire
Protection in Malibu was provided by the Los
Angeles County Forester and Fire Warden Department and consisted of a few tank wagons
and small patrols. Because of this, and the fact
that the fire started in Los Angeles, the LAFD
dispatched a mass of fire companies and personnel into the fire.
The area was experiencing low humidity and high winds. The fire spread all the
way east to Mandeville Canyon (approximately
six miles) where it was brought under control.
Approximately half of the area that burned was
burned in the first 16 hours of this 11 day fire.
The ability of the LAFD to contain
and finally extinguish this large brush fire was
remarkable. One has to only look back (over
75 years ago) to appreciate this feat. To begin with, the country was in the throes of the
“Great Depression.” The Department hadn’t
had the luxury of purchasing any new fire apparatus from 1931 to 1937-38! Apparatus used at
this fire included apparatus dating back to 1924
(Engine Co. 71) and 1923 (Engine Co. 76),
many of which were still “chain drive” (1924
American La France). Most engine apparatus
were equipped with water tanks of only 60 to
120 gallon capacity and had a limited amount
of small hose. Most were also equipped with
hose reels containing 1” rubber hose approximately 200’ in length. In addition, all engine
companies were equipped with 200’ of 1 1/2”
hose which was part of the standard LAFD 1
1/2” “Wye Assembly.” The Wye Assembly
consisted of two 100’ 1 1/2” hose lines connected to a 2 1/2” x 1 1/2” wye. Operation of
the Wye Assembly was very quick and was
standard procedure throughout the Department
when small lines were indicated.
The LAFD organization included a
“Mountain Patrol” component. This unit was
organized in the same manner as a battalion.
At one time, there were three patrol stations
which were located along the top of the Santa
Monica mountain area of the City on or adjacent to Mulholland Hwy. The patrol operated
tank companies similar to the LA County Forester and Fire Warden. They had small brush
fire equipment and in addition operated small
patrols with one or two patrolmen. To bolster
this group’s firefighting capability, Engine
Company 76 was placed into service with a
1923 Seagrave 1000 GPM apparatus at Patrol
1 located at 12601 Mulholland Blvd. Engine
Company 71 was located at 10801 Bellagio
Rd. and was upgraded with a 1924 American
Engine Company 71 “A” Platoon.
May, 1938 at 10801 Bellagio Rd. 1924
American LaFrance Engine.
La France 750 GPM Engine replacing a 1919
American La France Engine.
Today, most apparatus not only have
closed cabs, they have air conditioning and
heating as well. Most apparatus built in the
1920’s did not have closed cabs nor doors and
windshields! All firemen stood on the tailboard
or running board while responding to fires.
Windshields were later added by the Department Shops. Most apparatus had two wheel
mechanical brakes. Driving in the Mountain
areas with these brakes was extremely dangerous.
This fire resulted in the first “Department Recall” over the “new” Fire Alarm System (1932 Alarm System). The Alarm System
had been in use for seven flawless years and
dispatched fire companies to thousands of incidents.
Recognizing this fire would require
many fire companies and also a large commitment of manpower, the Chief Engineer, Ralph
Scott, ordered the Fire Alarm Office to transmit
a “Total Recall.” The Alarm Office thereupon
transmitted the signal 9-9-9. Each Fire Station, upon receiving the signal, resulted in the
company officers initiating the total recall of
all off duty firemen. Although transmitting of
the 9-9-9 alarm took only 15 seconds, the task
of contacting each off duty member was much
more difficult. Until the 1960’s, fire stations in
Los Angeles did not have dial telephones in
them. The two telephones (fire and business)
in each station were both connected to a Fire
Department operator located in one of the four
Signal Offices. (The
four Signal Offices were
Westlake, Metro area,
West L.A. at Fire Station 59, Van Nuys at Fire
Station 39, and San Pedro at Fire Station 36.)
Therefore, in addition
to the members assigned
to the Signal Office calling members’ homes by
telephone, the station
grapevines were used
to make notification of
the off-duty members
for recall. In addition, in
1938, some firemen did
July 2014 • 53
Engine Company 31 with their brand new 1938 American LaFrance Triple“.
700 W. Slauson Ave.”] Frank’s Note. As a young boy I lived just a few blocks
from FS 31 and saw them respond many times in that ’38 Lulabelle
not have a telephone in their residence, and in
some cases their neighbors notified them upon
being called by the Department. The public radio also assisted in announcing the recall.
It must also be noted that in 1938,
many firemen did not own an automobile and
had to respond to their stations by street car or
bus. Included in the Transit Company franchise
was the provision that firemen could ride free
Division 4, Assistant Chief Forrest Moore was
the first chief on scene. In addition to requesting additional companies for the fire, Chief
Moore requested that 100 men also be dispatched. This additional manpower was transported via the four transportation apparatus
operated by the Department. These consisted
of a truck with cab for the driver and officer.
The rear was open with bench type seating facing each other for 10 men. These four apparatus
had to be staffed with a driver and instructed to
go to a Fire Station and pick up men and then
transport them to the location requested. The
Department of Water and Power came to the
rescue and provided vehicles to assist. More
than 400 LAFD personnel were transported to
this fire.
The total recall of the Department
and the staffing of all companies and the dispatching of 100 additional firemen originally
requested to the fire were accomplished in approximately 2 1/2 hours!
Even with the state of
the art computers, cell
phones, freeways, and
other equipment, it
would be a challenge to
accomplish this feat today.
In 1938, the
LAFD operated under the “Two Platoon”
system - “A”and”B”
platoons. The Department had no means to
pay overtime for hours
worked by its members.
If a member worked at
an emergency while off
duty he would receive
54 • July 2014
“credits” for time worked. The member would
be compensated for hours worked with a comparable time off.
Because the Department actuated the
Total Recall of all personnel, every member
had therefore earned credits and was recorded
in his Personal Record Book. Most time off
was granted in small increments of a few hours
and therefore getting the credit time off took
many years to accomplish. This time became
known as “38 Time”.
This was a very loose operation and
a few individuals were thought to be taking
advantage of their “38 Time.” This went on
until the late 1950’s when the Department said
enough is enough and cleared the books of any
such time owed.
Frank’s note: Larry Schneider retired from
the LAFD with 53 years of service. Prior to the
LAFD he was a Call Man on the LA County
Fire Department in 1944 for five years and was
a Fireman and Engineer on the Torrance Fire
Department for five years - for a grand total
of 63years in the fire service. His father was a
member of the LAFD in 1912 and his son Larry
just retired as a LAFD Captain II from Fireboat
4. Both Larry and his son are great historians of
the LAFD. Check Larry’s website at LAFIRE.
com.
Brush Fire in Malibu, Santa
Monica Mountains 1938. A view
from Pacific Coast Hwy.
LAFDHS Board of Directors
Thanks to all our members who voted in our Board of Directors election in June.
The 2014/15 Board members are: Jim Finn,
Don Dodd, Tim Kennoy, Tom Moran, Joe Ortiz, Don Nash, Ryan Penrod, Dave Cox, Walt
Jaeger, Tom Brennan, and Bill Rolland. After
serving on the Board for over 12 years, Bill
Dahlquist will now focus on his family and of
course the preservation of Old Fireboat 2, “The
Ralph J. Scott” where he is the job supervisor
for our volunteer workers.
Bill Dahlquist got to pilot Old Fireboat 2 on
its last trip to Larsen’s boat yard in 2004
for work on the hull. Bill was a LAFD Fireboat Pilot on this boat for 16 years.
LAFD Firsts Continued
Throughout the history of the LAFD
the Department has been a leader in innovations, developing new procedures, organizations, equipment, etc. The following is a short
list of some of those “firsts” on the LAFD and
in the Fire Service: First Department to have
assigned SCUBA divers trained for firefighting
1938 American LaFrance Manifold Wagon. 2 ½” transverse hose beds in two side
compartments.
1938 Seagrave Manifold Wagon. Transverse hose beds with 9 outlets on each
side. Both of the rigs would be paired
with the LAFD Duplex Pump with 2,000 or
3,000 grm pumping capacity. A concept
from Fire Chief Ralph J. Scott.
and rescue as dive teams - 1960; Developed fire
spread ratings with the NFPA in test fires at Stevenson Jr. High School -1957; First transverse
hose bed in 1938 American LaFrance and Seagrave Manifold Wagons; Established smoke
alarm requirements with NFPA 1978; First fire
department to have its own Arson Squad – Not
part of the Police Department; Assistant Chief
Samuel Dodd established the first Fire College
in 1925 (Don Dodd’s Grandfather); LAFD
Captain “Mo” Bullard developed the first carbide tipped chain saw blade; LAFD developed
the first high-rise firefighting plan and procedures using the Incident Command System –
1978.
LAFD members: Be proud of your
heritage!
LAFDHS Planned Events 2014
August
• The Tall Ships in San Pedro. Wed. Aug. 20
to Sat. Aug. 24 Featuring the “Ralph J. Scott”
Fireboat
• Harbor Museum Tour Group, Tue. 8/26,
1430 hrs.
• Harbor Museum Tour Group, Tue. 8/28,
1430 hrs.
September
• Annual 9-11 Memorial at LAFD Fallen Firefighters Memorial, Thu. 9/11
October
• LAFD Memorial at LAFD Fallen Firefighters Memorial, Sat. 10/11
• Fireboat 2 “Ralph J. Scott” 89th Birthday
Sat. 10/18 Harbor Museum
November
• Tour Group – Harbor Fire Museum, Wed.
Nov. 5 at 2:30 pm
• Marine Corps Birthday at Museum 27, Mon.
11/10
December
• Hollywood Christmas Parade- December
TBD
• HS Annual Holiday Party, Sat. 12/13
*Fridays from 0800 to 1200 are work days on
the “Ralph J. Scott” Fireboat
Calendar for July 2014
The Hollywood Museum is located in “Old Fire Station 27” at
1355 No. Cahuenga, Hollywood,
CA 90028. The Harbor Museum is
located in San Pedro City Hall at
638 S. Beacon St., San Pedro CA
90731.
Anyone interested in joining our
great cause by becoming a member, or volunteering to work, or
make a donation of money or an
LAFD item may contact us by
mail:
LAFDHS Museum & Memorial
1355 No. Cahuenga Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: 323 464 2727. But remember we are currently staffed part
time, so leave a message and we
will return your call. The fax number is 323-464-7401. Our E-mail
is: [email protected]. Web
site at www.lafdmuseum.org. If
you want to look at some great
LAFD history check www.lafire.
com. and check the LAFD web
site for information and events at
www.LAFD.org. We look forward
to hearing from you and seeing
you at the Museum.
The Los Angeles Fire Department
Historical Society is a non-profit
501 (C) (3) organization.
“PRESERVE, EDUCATE,
MEMORIALIZE”
July 2014 • 55
LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
May 7, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
PRESIDENT REPORT
President Juan Albarran called the meeting
of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles
Firemen’s Relief Association to order at
9:57a.m.
1) Juan Albarran mentioned the LAFRA staff
training sessions took place on April 21st –
23rd. He indicated that the training was well
received by all and stated that they focused on
communication, customer service and conflict
resolution.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Juan Albarran, President
Robert Steinbacher, Vice President
Andrew Kuljis, Secretary
Trustee James Coburn
Trustee Steven Domanski
Trustee Jeff Cawdrey
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Chris Hart
Trustee Steve Ruda
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Francisco Hernandez
Trustee Steve Tufts
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee David Ortiz
Trustee Mark Akahoshi
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Trustee Barry Hedberg – Pension
Todd Layfer - Executive Director
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Chris Stine (Excused)
Trustee Doak Smith (Excused)
Trustee Craig White (Excused)
Trustee David Lowe – Pension (Excused)
GUESTS:
Bob Olsen, L.A. Retired Fire & Police
Lee Kebler, L.A. Retired Fire & Police
Tom Stires, Retired
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
2) Juan Albarran mentioned that he and a
handful of Trustees attended the Firefighter of
the Year Luncheon honoring Dana Larsen.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
3) Juan Albarran reported that he and Bob
Steinbacher attended the Pension Board
meeting and stated that the Pension Board
approved the recommendation of the 7%
medical subsidy increase for retirees.
1) Todd Layfer reported that the candidate
chosen for the Facility/Operation Supervisor
position has decided to stay with his current
employer. He indicated that they have chosen
another candidate, Kevin Thome who will
begin on May 12th. He mentioned that Mr.
Thome comes with 10 years of facilities
operations experience.
4) Juan Albarran provided an update on 7470
Figueroa building and indicated that LAFRA
is currently negotiating with one tenant to
vacate the building.
2) Todd Layfer mentioned that the Hook &
Ladder Enduro event raised $18K net for the
WODFF. He thanked Craig White and Bruce
Galien for their hard work and efforts.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
3) Todd Layfer indicated that the MAS 90
software demo was successful for Grapevine
uses to better track their ads. He indicated
that they will use the MAS 90 software and
stated that it will cost $3,000 for the add-on
software.
Tonetta Conner with the Harrington Group
provided a brief summary of their findings
for the 2013 Audit Report. She mentioned
that they had met with the Audit Committee
and reviewed in detail the financials of the
organization. She stated that the Harrington
Group issued a clean opinion for both LAFRA
and the WODFF and stated that there were no
issues with regard to the systems and policies.
She indicated that they made a few minor
recommendations they feel would strengthen
certain areas and benefit the organization.
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to approve
the 2013 Audit Report. David Ortiz so moved.
Rick Godinez seconded. There was no
discussion or objections.
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Dennis
Mendenhall led the flag salute.
Motion carried to approve the 2013 Audit
Report.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to ratify
and dispense with the reading of the minutes
of the Board of Trustees meeting held April
2, 2014. David Peters so moved. Tim Larson
seconded. There was no further discussion or
objections.
1) Bob Steinbacher mentioned that he and
Dave Peters attended the SIIA Conference
and indicated that it was very informative.
He mentioned the conference coming up in
Boston and asked those Trustees attending to
book their flights.
Motion carried to ratify and dispense with
the reading of the minutes of the Board of
Trustees held April 2, 2014.
INVESTMENT REPORT
56 • July 2014
Garth Flint reviewed the market performance
and reported on stock speculations. Mike
Breller
reviewed
LAFRA’s
portfolio
performance for the quarter and indicated that
it earned 1.7% and the allocation and policy
indexes earned between 1.9% and 1.3% which
was what they had expected.
Garth Flint and Mike Breller presented the
2014 1st Quarter Investment Performance
Review.
4) Todd Layfer reported on the Hope for
Firefighters planning and indicated that they
would like as many Trustees as possible to
volunteer for that day. He mentioned that so
far there are 22 fire stations signed up to cook
and have around $65K in sponsorships and
pledges.
SCHOLARSHIP REPORT
Rick Godinez reported on the scholarship
program and stated that the essays have been
graded. He indicated that the winners have
been identified and will be presented with
their awards at the June 4th Board meeting.
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 $1,074,755.62. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary
bills in the amount of $1,074,755.62.
The committee recommends and I so move
to pay the professional fees in the amount
of $155,203.61. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to pay the professional fees
in the amount of $155,203.61.
The committee recommends and I so move
to enter into a 5-year printer lease for the
Marketing Department. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to enter into a 5-year printer
lease for the Marketing Department.
The committee recommends and I so move
to enter into contract with Simon Wong &
Associates. He stated that they will be the
mechanical engineer for the new building
build out. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to enter into contract with
Simon Wong & Associates.
The committee recommends and I so move
to enter into contract with Interscape. He
stated that they will be the general contractor
for the build out. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to enter into contract with
Interscape.
The committee recommends and I so move to
approve up to $250 to support the California
Firefighter Memorial. There was no discussion
or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $250 to
support the California Firefighter Memorial.
The committee recommends and I so move to
approve up to $200 for the LAFD Captain’s
Badge Presentation. There was no discussion
or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $200 for the
LAFD Captain’s Badge Presentation.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
David Peters presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to
accept the applications to the Medical Plan.
There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to accept all applications to
the Medical Plan.
RELIEF COMMITTEE REPORT
James Coburn presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to
pay:
The Sick & Injury benefits in the amount of
$0,
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of
$4,400,
The Life & Accident Death benefit in the
amount of $12,000,
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of
$22,500.
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
Lyle W. Marvin, Jr.
Stephen A. Haz
Jack Rein
James S. Rossie Sr.
William A. Burnidge
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
James Coburn
motions.
presented
the
following
The committee recommends and I so move
to accept the donations in the amount of
$31,840.11 to the Widows, Orphans &
Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in
the amount of $31,840.11 to the Widows,
Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s 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.
Motion carried to approve the financial
assistance applications for surviving spouses,
active and retired members.
EMERGENCY ADVANCEMENTS
James Coburn presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move
to approve the emergency advancement
applications for active and retired members.
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the emergency
advancement applications for active and
retired members.
GRAPEVINE/WEB REPORT
Chris Hart indicated that we received several
questions about what to do when getting ready
to retire. He suggested that we create some
type of checklist and/or document to assist
the members and also make it available on the
website.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Andy Kuljis asked Trustees to check their
emails and try to assist with the flying of flags.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Lane Kemper Softball Tournament –
May 14th
2) LAFRA Reunion Pechanga –
May 19th – 23rd
3) Hope for Firefighters – June 5th
(Picnic May 18th)
4) Fire Hogs Memorial Ride – June 28th
5) Get Together Foundation Concert @
Canyon Club – July 3rd
6) World Fire Games – August 15th – 24th
7) Over the Line Tournament – September 3rd
8) LAFD Invitational Golf Tournament –
September 22nd
9) IFEBP Annual Conference (Boston) –
October 12th – 15th
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) Tom Yost – May 17th Woodland Hills
Marriott Hotel
2) Joe Klein – May 21st Brookside
Golf Course
3) Ben Simpson – June 7th Edgemont Ranch
4) Paul Sebourn – June 20th Ports
O’Call Restaurant
5) Curtis O. Black – June 20th Newport Beach
6) Deresa Teller – June 29th Simi Valley
7) Robert “Bob” Motheral – July 10th
Towsley Lodge
8) Joseph Johnson – July 19th Friendly Hills
County Club
9) Ed Tapia – September 6th Castle
Catering Pasadena
ADJOURNMENT
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to adjourn.
David Ortiz moved. Tim Larson seconded.
There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of
Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:29 a.m.
Juan Albarran, President
July 2014 • 57
CLASSIFIEDS
MERCHANDISE
FOR SALE
2004 30’ AIRSTREAM LAND
YACHT. Fully loaded, immaculate
inside and out! No slideouts. 8.1L
Vortec gasoline engine. 45,500 miles.
Alison Transmission. 4000 lb. towbar
with Brake Buddy. Includes Onan
Generator. 2 A/C - Heaters. Oak
cabinetry with Corian countertops.
Fridge/Freezer, micro-wave, 3 burner
stove/oven. 2 TV’s. Winterized. Twin
XL beds. Sleeps 4. $38,500.00 obo.
Contact: Larry (I Swear I Didn’t Work
On it!) Jarvis - 661-212-1154
2008 MONTE VISTA 5TH WHEEL.
35.6’, 1 1/4 BA, 4 bunks, master, 2
dinettes, big screen TV, fireplace,
4 slideouts, fridge, convection
microwave, surround sound, forced
air-heat, water heater, ceiling fan,
spot for washer/dryer, 5.5K generator
(Onan). Will sell truck if needed. (310)
514-1633, [email protected]
COLLECTOR CARS. 1990 Chevy
SS454 “pick-up from hell” runs perfect. Needs some TLC. Best offer!
1979 VW Convert “last year ever
made” white/white/white. 780 miles
on engine. New tires on polished
porsche wheels. Best offer over
$5500. Stored inside in Palmdale.
Call Monty Majesky - retired LAFD
anytime (661) 265-6557
FIAT COLLECTORS. Check this out.
1927 Fiat X19 Bertone convertible
stored for years. New tires less than
80,000 miles looks and runs good.
Needs smog, pump and bracket for
California driving. $4500 OBO. (760)
878-2269 (Independence CA). Leave
message. Sorry no agents.
MAGGI¹S USED CARS FINAL SALE
2012 Ford Fiesta, only 1,100 miles,
like brand new, $11,000, call Vito
Maggipinto at (818) 249-0240
PROJECT CARS. 1940 Ford 2-door
and 4-door sedans. 1939 deluxe
2-door sedan. 1941 Ford 123 inch
wheelbase railway express agency
truck. 1954 mercury hardtop, 1957
Ford hardtop. 1961 T-Bird convertible.
Miscellaneous parts and sheet metal.
Contact Jim McPherson LAFD retired
(805) 501-8102 or email
[email protected]
REAL ESTATE
FOR SALE
ACROSS FROM GOLF COURSE.
Eagle Point, Oregon, 2008 custom
home, 2783 sf., 3 BD 2 BA, two story.
Birch floors, island kitchen, oversized
58 • July 2014
garage (724 sf), gas fireplace. Quiet
cul-de-sac within walking distance
to restaurants, shops, fitness club
and walking trail around golf course.
$306,000. www.southerncustomhome.com or call (541) 772-3790.
COMMERCIAL AUTO REPAIR
SHOP has everything - tools, books,
inventory, 2 lifts, two 20 ft containers,
tire machine - way too much to list.
Plus small 2 bedroom house all on
half acre corner lot, ready to move in
and start working. Hwy 395, Independence CA. LAFD Widow. (760) 8782269. Shown by appointment only.
Great deal at $220,000 cash.
FOR SALE BY OWNER
International Living $170.000
Ecuador, Esmeraldas, South Pacific,
Lagos de la Cumbia Resort, beautiful
SFH, 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, fully
furnished vacation pool home. Access
to 20-horses stable, and tennis court.
Between SAME and SUA beaches
this home is a gem. For more details
contact: Hilda Rendon (714) 5866729
GREAT FISHING/HUNTING - 2700
sq ft home overlooking the wind river
located in the gifford pinchot national
forest north of carson, washington.
- 2 story 3 b/r, 3 bath with storage
building. $300k call 360/696-1592 for
details & photos.
GREAT HOME in gated neighborhood on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina. Located in a gated neighborhood, has a dock in place on deep
water. Home features five bedrooms
and five bathrooms with master on
main. Kitchen has granite countertops
and stainless steel appliances. There
are two decks on that is screened in.
There is an additional 2300 square
feet in basement partially finished.
Easy walk to lake. $649,900. 105
Chapelwood Drive, Anderson, South
Carolina.
www.callelizabeth.com
NEW HOME IN SOUTHERN OREGON. 2014 custom home, 2,000
sf, 3 BD 2 BA one story home on
cul-de-sac. Redwood 3 1/4” sanded
finish floors, 9’ ceilings, shed vault
in living and dining rooms, island
kitchen, granit counter tops, stainless
steel appliances, pantry gas fireplace,
and utility room. Beautiful views in
Medford, Oregon. $329,900.
www.foothillcustomhome.com or
call (541) 772-3790.
SERVICES
911 CALL ELIZABETH
WILLAHAN (LAFD wife) for any real
estate needs. Donation to fire-related
organizations and/or help with some
escrow fees with every closed sale!
Specializing in Orange County, parts
of Los Angeles/Riverside Counties.
Lender information available. Century
21 Award, BRE #00966984. (949)
293-2401
ALTERNATIVE & TRADITIONAL
Termite & Pest Control - ECOLA
Ecological Solutions. Smart choices,
simple solutions. Problem solved.
Call for FREE termite estimate or
pest quotes over the phone - escrow
and inspections excluded. Fireman
wife Sue Fries - Termite Lady. (818)
652-7171.
[email protected]
BUSY BEAVER TREE AND LANDSCAPE. Tree trimming and removal,
stumpgrinding, and firewood sales.
Mixed firewood, eucalyptus and oak.
Delivery available or pick up. Licensed and insured. Dwayne Kastor,
FS 63-B - (818) 535-6368.
CALIFORNIA FIREARMS
DEALER - DOJRS background
checks, FFL transfers, handgun
safety certificate, consignment sales,
gun registration and personal transfers. Personal firearms instructor,
tactical casualty management and
gunsmithing. All handguns and long
guns must be listed on the California
DOJ for sale roster. Call Bill Evans active LAFD (714) 330-9825 email:
[email protected]
COUNSELING SERVICES. Licensed
Clinical Psychologist Dr. Susan Purrington specializes in anxiety, depression, relational difficulties, eating disorders, spiritual or personal growth,
marital conflict, family of origin issues.
Find a supportive and confidential
place for healing and growth. Located
in Old Towne Orange. Questions or
consultation: (949)648-7875
[email protected]
CRAIG SANFORD HEATING & AIR
- Free estimates, residential, commercial. Great rates for LAFD and
LAPD. Toll free (877) 891-1414, (661)
298-3070, FAX (661) 298-3069. State
License No. 527114
FIRE FAMILY ESTATE SALES – Call
us when a loved one passes, moves
to a nursing facility or downsizes. Our
professional staff can handle every
aspect of estate liquidation. We have
worked with many fire families and
are here to help. Rebecca Martin,
LAFD wife (818) 216-3637 www.
firefamilyestatesales.com
FIREMAN DESIGN LANDSCAPE
INC. A complete landscape service
A-Z. Sod irrigation / stamped concrete
/ driveways / patio cover / low voltage
lighting / artificial turf / rockscapes /
walls. FREE landscape design. Free
estimates. Serving all Southern CA.
Eric Mendoza 96-B (760) 221-1912.
Call or text. CA Lic # 807078.
Bonded & insured
www.firemanlandscape.com
FIREMAN WHOLESALE NURSERY
& ROCK YARD. All your landscape
materials @ wholesale prices. Trees
/ plants / decorative rock / boulders /
firewood / sod / artificial turf. Delivery
available. Located in Victorville CA.
(760) 243-9500
www.firemanwholesalenursery.
com Your 1 stop shop!
GARAGE DOOR INSTALLATION
& SERVICE. Garage doors and openers. Need to replace your broken
springs? or does your door need
repair, even replaced? We do it all
from new product to repairing old. Call
(661) 860-4563 Grassroots Garage
Doors, Inc. Lic# 950020. Son of 35
year veteran fireman.
MARRIAGE, FAMILY, INDIVIDUAL
COUNSELING. Licensed therapist
Cathy Chambliss helps couples and
individuals work through conflicts
in relationships, stress, anxiety,
affairs, communication issues, and
divorce. All counseling is confidential.
Insurance taken. Call Cathy at (310)
303-9132. Office located in Hermosa
Beach.
www.cathychamblissmft.com
REAL ESTATE SERVICES. Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Moorpark,
Simi Valley, Camarillo, Ventura and
the San Fernando Valley. Homes,
lots, commercial and investment
properties. Over 20 years experience.
Please call me with your real estate
questions and also request your activity reports for your area. Mike Rhodes
- Prudential California Realty. Realtor
- BRE License 0177388. LAFD
retired. Cell (805) 501-6044. Email:
[email protected]
TAX ALERT FOR FIREFIGHTERS.
Don’t lose thousands of dollars during
your professional career to taxes!
Let HEWITT FINANCIAL GROUP
prepare your tax return. We specialize
in tax preparation and financial planning for firefighters. We offer a FREE
REVIEW of your last three years of
tax returns. Call us today at (800)
573-4829 or visit us at
www.hewittfinancial.com
WINDOWS & PATIO DOORS - vinyl
replacement windows & Patio doors. I
also carry aluminum, wood and entry
door systems. Rick Brandelli, Capt.
LACoFD, FS 8-C (800) 667-6676.
www.GeeWindows.com
VACATION
RENTALS
BIG BEAR CABIN - All season,
restful views from decks. Two story,
sleeps 6, half mile to lake, two plus
miles to slopes. Fireplace/Wood,
cable TV/DVD/VCR. Full kitchen,
completely furnished except linens.
Pets ok. $95/$105 (two day minimum). $550/$600 a week, Beep or
Donna Schaffer 1+(760) 723-1475.
www.schaffercabin.com
BIG BEAR CABIN. 2 bedroom, 2
bath, 2 story. Sleeps 6-8. About 6
miles from ski slopes & lake. Fireplace/
wood, cable, full kitchen - furnished.
$100 per night M - Th. $110 per night
F-Sun. Weekly available. Sheri (909)
851-1094 or (760) 948-2844.
BIG BEAR LAKE’S FINEST- Deluxe
lakeside townhouse, 2 bedrooms,
3 baths, 2 cable TVs, HBO, DVD,
WiFi, 2 wood burning fireplaces,
laundry room, tennis court, indoor
pool, sauna, spa, boat dock. Fully
equipped, including all linens. Sleeps
6. 310-541-8311 or email: [email protected]
BIG BEAR CABIN - Sugarloaf - Cozy
upgraded 2 bedroom cabin. Sleeps
8. Fireplace, deck, Wifi - internet and
cable TV. On a large lot with sled hill.
Fully furnished except linens. $125
Winter $100 summer. Details and
availability, Call/text/email Jessica
(949) 874-5294
[email protected] sugarloafcabin.com
CATALINA BEACH
COTTAGE - 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, one
block to beach, view, fully equipped
housekeeping unit. Marci (818) 3476783 or Clarence (310) 510-2721.
FABULOUS CAYUCOS
BEACH CONDO. 180-degree ocean
front view, 1 bedroom, 1 1/4 bath,
living room, sofa bed, outdoor patio
ocean front view. Morro Bay/ Hearst
Castle, Central California Area. Steps
to beach and fishing pier. Nearby public golf & tennis. Weekly or monthly.
Contact Sondra (818) 985-9066.
JUNE LAKE CABIN - 2BR/2BA
cabin with Carson Peak view. Close
to fishing & skiing. Furnished, wood
deck, equipped kitchen, wood 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.
[email protected]
LAKE ARROWHEAD BLUE JAY
CABIN. Charming 2-story with creek,
large deck, two baths, complete kitchen, TV/VCR/DVD, fireplace, washer
& dryer. Walk to Blue Jay 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 amenitiesLaundry & 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 email: [email protected]
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 FF’s starting @100/nt
oldtownmammothcondo.ownernetworks.com
[email protected]
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 Cozy 2 bedrooms, 2 bath. Fully furnished, WIFI,
3 TV’s, pool, spa, walk to shuttle, Old
Mammoth area. Winter $115, Summer $90, plus maid $126. Includes
linens. No pets, no smoking. Call
(310) 540-4648.
MAMMOTH CONDO AT MAMMOTH
ESTATES, 4BR/3BA, sleeps 10, fully
furnished, 2 TVs, DVDs, WiFi, towels/
linens, fireplace. Full kitchen. Walk to
Gondola Village and shuttle. Complex
has pool, spa, sauna, laundry. Winter
$335/night, Summer $215/night, plus
cleaning. Includes city bed tax. No
pets, no smoking. Dory Jones (310)
918-0631 or Kelly Corcoran (310)
619-5355
MAMMOTH CONDO - 2 bdrm, 2
bath, 2 TV’s, phone, garage, pool,
jacuzzi, fully furnished - exept linens.
Near shuttle/chair 15. Winter $125/
night. Weekends and Holidays $110
midweek. Summer $95/night. $495/
week. No smoking. No pets. Jim
Johnson (818) 992-7564, FS 80C.
MAMMOTH CONDO rental. Large
2bed/2bath winterset condo. Fully furnished, across from Vons, on shuttle
route, easily sleeps 8. Hot tub, heated
pool, sauna, full size in unit W/D
HDTV/WiFi throughout, woodburning
fireplace, pets OK FIREFIGHTER
DISCOUNTS, rates from $150/night
facebook.com/[email protected]
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: [email protected]
MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET:
Studio/loft, 2 bath, king bed, sleeps 4.
Full kitchen, TV, VCR, DVD. Garage
parking. Walk to Canyon Lodge. Ski
back wall. 2 night minimum. Winter
$100/nite, $126 Fri, Sat & Holidays.
Summer $50/nite. Plus $95 cleaning
& linens. Jeff & Lisa Moir. LAFD Air
Ops (661) 254-5788.
MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET: Walk
to Canyon Lodge. Studio loft sleeps
4. Queen beds, full kitchen, 2 baths,
garage 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: [email protected] or
(213) 399-6534.
MARIPOSA/GOLD COUNTRY. North
entrance to Yosemite. 2 bedrooms, 1
bath, sleeps 6. Newly built. Complete
kitchen, washer & dryer, wi-fi, satellite
TV. Seasonal rates. www.thecottageonevergreenlane.com
Call 888-977-1006
MAUI BEACH FRONT CONDO ON
NAPILI BAY - 50’ from water. Studios
and 1 bedroom. Luxury furnishings +
full kitchen. All the amenities! Maui’s
best snorkeling/beach. All island
activities & Kapalua within 4 minutes.
5-day minimum, from $150 per night
(regularly $310/night). Call Sherrie or Bill for info/reservations (805)
530-0007 or email: pmimaui@aol.
com or visit:
www.napilibaymaui.com
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: [email protected]
or Bruce Galien, Retired, 661-6457448, email: [email protected]
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
MAUI’S MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACH
- Napili Bay. Beautiful furnished condo
that sleeps 4. Lanai/balcony, full kitchen, king bed, flat screen TV’s/DVD,
AC’s 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)
548-5659
MONTANA ROCKY MT. FRONT
GETAWAY - 80 miles south of Glacier
Nat’l Park, in the foothills of the
Rockies, mountain and canyon views.
1,000’s 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) 270-8143 or
www.VRBO.com (#494959)
PALACE RESORTS ALL INCLUSIVE. Cancun, Riviera Maya, Isla
Mujeres, Cozumel - Exclusive
member service and treatment. Visit
palaceresorts.com to view various
resorts and amenities. Price is for one
week, two persons, any day travel
and includes airport transportation,
massages and two tours. Price varies
by season. John @ (626) 757-5341
or [email protected]
PALM DESERT-3 bed/2bath, one
level. New re-model, fully furnished w/
linens. Cable TV/DVR, Private Patio,
July 2014 • 59
BBQ, Laundry, Garage, Gated
Community, two (Pools, Jacuzzi’s,
Tennis Courts). Near College of
the Desert. $175 Dan Cook 310
418 1577.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Romantic
Chalet Family getaway. 3 bed/2
bath plus loft. Sleeps 8–10. Cable
TV, washer/dryer, 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
LUXURY RV FOR RENT. New
class A 40’ motorhome. Sleeps 8,
bunk beds, 4 slides, 4 TVs, fully
loaded. $270/day (with active/retired firefighter/police discount), includes cleaning fee and unlimited
miles. 3-day minimum, tow dolly
available. Get more, pay less. Call
Shawn, LAFD. (888) 540-4835.
www.ocdreamrv.com
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.
OTHER
12’ DUMP TRAILER. $85/day.
Contact Gregg Avery, FS 98-A.
(805) 320-8311
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.
DELILLO CHEVROLET
Special pricing on any Chevrolet car
or truck (except Stingrays and SS) for
firefighters and family
John “Hollywood” Heinle—Fleet Manager
18211 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach CA 92648
714-624-7555 / [email protected]
Please call me direct for a no
hassle experience
----------------------------
GALPIN FORD
“#1 Volume Ford Dealer in the world for 20
consecutive years!”
Lincoln / Mercury / Honda / Mazda /
Volvo / Ford / Jaguar / Lotus / Aston
Martin / Spyker / Galpin Auto Sports
For special pricing contact
Terry Miller—Fleet Sales & Leasing
15505 Roscoe Blvd
North Hills CA 91343
818-797-3800 l www.galpin.com
1.800.GO.GALPIN
60 • July 2014
GOUDY HONDA
Auto Leasing & Fleet Sales Since 1989
Fastest Growing Dealer in the Nation
1400 W Main St, Alhambra CA 91801
Eddie Wang—Fleet & Lease Mgr
626-300-4222 l 800-423-1114
---------------------------HAMER TOYOTA, INC.
Camry / Celica / Corolla / Tundra
Tacoma / Sienna / Supra / Solara
11041 Sepulveda Blvd
Mission Hills CA
Ask for Steve Denson—Fleet Mgr
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
Paid Advertisement
July 2014 • 61
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
815 Colorado Blvd FL 4
Los Angeles CA 90041-1745
WE HAVE
YOUR BACK...
Money Market APY* Rates
Minimum
Balance
Credit Union1
Golden 1
Credit Union2
Arrowhead
Credit Union3
Bank of America4
Chase Bank5
$2,500
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0.01%
$50,000
0.45%
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0.01%
$100,000
0.60%
0.20%
0.30%
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Earn more interest with us, while saving for the future!
*APY=Annual Percentage Yield. All rates are accurate as of May 19, 2014. Fees or other conditions could reduce earnings on any of the listed accounts. The dividend rate and APY on all accounts are subject to
may only have a maximum balance of $200,000 each.
2. Golden 1 Credit Union: The minimum opening deposit is $2,500. There is no minimum balance requirement to obtain the APY. If the account balance does
not maintain an average of $2,500 monthly balance, a $5 fee will be assessed.
3. Arrowhead Credit Union: Programs and rates are subject to change daily without notice.
4. BofA: The bank may cancel or modify any matching promotions at any time without prior notice. Overdraft Protection Transfer fees may apply.
5. CHASE: An active checking account is one that has at least one customer initiated transaction in a monthly statement cycle.
Open a money market with us today and jump start your savings goals
Now You Can Payroll Deduct
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[email protected]
Member Eligibility:
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2. You must be an active or retired City or DWP employee.
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PayCheck Direct is currently not available to LA County, State of CA, or LAUSD Club members.
Enroll today at CityEmployeesClub.com
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
$25 per player - 3 to 5 players per team
30 TEAMS MAX.
CHECK IN - 8AM GAME STARTS - 9AM
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1200 PCH, Lot 3 North
INFORMATION:
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Winner Need Not be Present to Win
Participants will receive ticket stubs by mail prior to event
PAYMENT INFORMATION
First Name:
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Work
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Discover Credit Card No:
Exp. Date:
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2 • July 2014
Signature:
MAIL TO: Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund
Development & Marketing Department. ATTN: J. Brandolino PO Box 41903 - Los Angeles CA 90041
(3 2 3 ) 2 5 9 - 5 2 1 5
33
VOL. XC
JULY 2014
NO. 11
• FEATURES •
Keeping the Spirit Alive
A venue change and last minute date adjustment don’t
hamper the intense competition or the friendly firehouse
camaraderie of the 2014 Lane Kemper Softball Classic • . . . . . 06
Five Days of Friendship and Fun
This year’s LAFRA Reunion at the Pechanga Resort in
Temecula is bigger and better than ever as scores of active
and retired LAFD members gather to relax and reconnect • .. . . 10
Elite California USAR Teams Train in LA
The 2014 Western Region Multi-Task Force exercise (MOBEX)
is a real time deployment designed to test the effectiveness
of the USAR response system within our state • . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
• CONTENTS •
President’s Message • ................................................................................05
Battalion News • ..........................................................................................14
Retired Guys • .............................................................................................35
Department in Action • ................................................................................36
Captain Promotion Ceremony
48 new captains receive their badges • .....................................................40
Station Fridge • ...........................................................................................42
LAFD Handball
Carlos and Steiner spring doubles champs • .............................................43
Chaplain’s Corner
We are here for you • ...............................................................................45
Retirement Dinner Announcement • ............................................................47
Mailbox • .....................................................................................................48
Memorials • .................................................................................................50
On the cover: Traffic Accident - West Hills
Photo by: Gavin Kaufman, FS 84
Dollars & Sense
Do you need rental car insurance? • ........................................................51
LAFD History
1938 Malibu brush fire • ...........................................................................53
Minutes of the Board of Trustees • ..............................................................56
Follow us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/firemensgrapevine
Classifieds • ................................................................................................58
Notice: Production of The Firemen’s Grapevine magazine is very expensive, and while your dues
serve to underwrite a portion of the magazine’s costs, the bulk of funding comes from advertisers.
Many businesses advertise in the Grapevine. This does not mean that LAFRA endorses these
advertisers. Use of a Grapevine advertiser is at the risk of the member. If you are interested in any
of the advertisements, we urge you to use any and all means at your disposal to investigate them.
COPYRIGHT © 2014
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association.
No material may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.
July 2014 • 3
FIREMEN’S GRAPEVINE
owned and published by the
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
815 Colorado Blvd, 4th Floor, Los angeles CA 90041
Future and
Current Paramedics:
YOU should be HERE.
Paramedic Education course starts January 2015 Application & entrance exam deadline is July 25th
Current Paramedics:
PARAMEDIC REFRESHER/California Paramedic Transition
Course is Nov 17-20, 2014. Registration now open.
Other courses for EMTs & Paramedics:
Paramedic Prep, PHTLS, ACLS, PALS, EMT Recert,
1 12-Lead EKG with STEMI, on-line EMT, and more.
UCLA Center for Prehospital Care
10990 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles 90024
310-267-5959/ e-mail: [email protected]
www.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu
EDITORIAL STAFF
Dave Wagner • Editor..........................................................editor@lafra.org
Juan-Carlos Sánchez • Project [email protected]
Eric Santiago • Creative [email protected]
David Vienna • Web/Social Media [email protected]
DisplayAdvertising....................................(323) 259-5200 ext. 231, 232, 260
PSO’s
Katherine Main, Brian Humphrey, Erik Scott
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mike Mastro, Frank Borden, David Vienna,
Jody Houser, Michael Stefano, Monte Egherman, Steve Ruda
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ryan Babroff, David Blaire, Doc DeMulle’, Greg Doyle, Harry Garvin,
Steve Gentry, Juan Guerra, Brian Haimer, Gavin Kaufman, Ryan Ling, Rick McClure,
Mike Meadows, Lloyd Payne, Jeff Zimmerman, Yvonne Griffin, Laura Lichter.
LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
Juan Albarran........................................................President
Robert Steinbacher .......................................Vice-President
Andrew Kuljis ........................................................Secretary
Barry Hedberg
Chris Hart
Chris Stine
Craig White
David Lowe
David Ortiz
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
David Peters
Doak Smith
Frank Hernandez
Gene Bednarchik
James E. Coburn
Jeff Cawdrey
Mark Akahoshi
Rick Godinez
Steve Berkery
Steve Ruda
Steve Tufts
Steven Domanski
Tim Larson
CHAPLAINS
To contact a chaplain,
Please call 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
Roger Fowble......................Chaplain
Hershy Z. Ten.......................Chaplain
Rick A. Godinez..............Sr. 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
Marlene Casillas • Development & Marketing Director(323) 259-5217
Becky Valverde • Human ResourcesAdministrator......(323) 259-5247
Todd Layfer • Controller/Treasurer........................(323) 259-5243
Bob Dillon • Operations Manager...............................(323) 259-5233
Ana Salazar • Member Services Coordinator..............(323) 259-5223
HealthSCOPE Benefits
Claims & Benefit Information...................................(866) 99-LAFRA
THE FIREMEN’S GRAPEVINE (USPS 191-060) is published monthly by the Los Angeles Firemen’s
Relief Association, 815 Colorado Blvd. 4th Floor, Los Angeles, Cal or ia 90041. Annual $24 Subscription
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included with Association mem er hip; Non-members: $36. Single issues $3 postpaid. Back issues $6
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month of pubi aion. The opinons ex ressed heren are those of the writ rs and do not nec s ary reflect
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i
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e s il
the official views of the Los An ees City Fire De art ent or the Los An ees Firemen’s Relief Association.
g l
p m
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4 • July 2014
Hello Again – Here we are in July and 2014 is flying by
at an unbelievable speed.
Last month we provided an overview of Relief Medical
Plan changes which took place on July 1, 2014. Please refer to
your LAFRA website to answer any questions you might have
prior to contacting Member Services. You will be automatically
re-directed to the Health Scope Benefits site, our health plan manager. Just click on the “member” button, then type in “LAFRA”
for the company name. In the Member Self-Service section you
will find a tutorial, information on how to read an EOB or understanding your ID card, plus access to your claim status, eligibility
status, a listing of network providers and more.
LAFRA Staff and our membership have been extremely
busy recently. The LAFRA Reunion at Pechanga was a great success! Many of the old guard showed up, as well as new attendees. The highlights involved food and wine. We broke bread as
a group on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Club House. We had
110 eaters on Wednesday and a good time was had by all. The
wine tasting “tour” was a also a big hit! Apparently there was a
pact made that what happened on the trolley, stayed on the trolley. This was obvious because everyone came back laughing and
tired, but was “mum” about what had taken place. Come and join
us next year!
The Lane Kemper Softball Classic was held on May 21,
2014. The event started with 21 teams. In the end, Fire Station
33 came out victorious, Congratulations Tre-Tre!
On June 5, 2014, the 17th Annual Hope for
Firefighters Event was held downtown. We would like
to thank everyone involved in making this the great
success that it was. Special thanks to Steve Robinson
and Heather Ross for their continued passion for this
event that benefits our Widows & Orphans Fund.
This past month the LAFRA Scholarships
were presented to the well deserving winners. The
awardees represent our future - and the future is in
good hands. Special thanks to Rick Godinez, Becky
Valverde and Steve Ruda.
If you have a need of a Chaplain, please contact the on-duty Metro Fire Communications Floor
Captain at (213) 576-8920. These very able officers
will reach out any time of day and assist you in this
matter. The number is also listed on the Grapevine masthead on
page four of every Grapevine issue under the Chaplain Roster.
Your Relief Association provides “nudges” in many areas. This time I would like to give everyone a good solid push.
Please have your beneficiary forms accurate and up-to-date. This
must be maintained with all of the other associated agencies.
Prepare a Trust! If you allow things to go to probate, you
are giving the State of California your hard earned assets. Your
assets should be directed to where you want them to go. Protect
yourself and your family. Take advantage of the $600 trust preparation benefit to help accomplish this.
Take care of each other.
Juan Albarran
Remember to save the date for the LAFRA Golf Tournament on
September 22, 2014!
Look for coverage of the 2014 Hope for
Firefighters event in next month’s issue.
July 2014 • 5
6 • July 2014
L
ike the federal government, LAFD management has taken a beating lately for
things that it has or hasn’t done . . . or
said it will or will not do . . . from those who
have to carry out the tasks at hand. And like
true Americans, LAFD members cowboy-up
with the given tools, training and time, and endeavor to do the right thing. During the recent
Captain I badge pinning ceremony held at the
Firefighter’s Museum, the Fire Chief identified
the two things firemen hate most:
1) They don’t like change
2) They don’t like the way things are.
True that! From there he went on to
challenge the newest wave of LAFD officers to
do the right thing - lead by example and advocate the mission of the department. Oh yeah,
don’t forget the wants and needs of your crew,
whims of your B/C, the political correctness of
the department and city managers and the public who demand and deserve professional service. I wonder what Lane Kemper thinks when
he looks down on the circus?
On May 21, 2014 the annual Lane
Kemper Softball Classic took place. Hope-
more play time which translated into more fun
and camaraderie and a fair shot at advancing.
For the powerhouse teams, the formula was
simple - just keep scoring more runs than the
other team and show up for the next game.
There were around 25 teams from all
areas of the city and MFC, although the North
Division stations were markedly under represented. Interestingly, there was a confirmed
sighting of the highest ranking officer in the
Valley rubbing shoulders with the workers.
Nice gesture, chief. Thanks.
Obviously, some teams came to win
while others seemed content to simply enjoy a
taste of friendly firehouse fun without interference from any book, memo or directive. Competition this year was intense with no surprises
in the late rounds of play. 46’s, 15’s, 64’s and
33’s showed plenty of grit late in the day. The
all- Battalion 13 final four resulted in last year’s
champs 46’s being eliminated by 33‘s. Then,
perennial favorite 15’s lost a heartbreaker in the
semifinal which left the young, strong teams
from 64’s and 33’s to duke it out in the championship game. It was close and hard fought but
fully, when Lane looks down on the one day
we set aside for fun and camaraderie, with a
little charity on the side, he smiles and gives
us a thumbs up. Lane’s legacy lives on in the
softball tourney that bears his name and the
firefighting techniques he developed and promoted in his training seminars. Lane had his
beefs with the establishment and some of its
characters but never let them hinder his passion
for living, helping someone in need or having
fun with his fire department friends. This is
the spirit we aim to keep alive by continuing
the day of fun in the form of the Lane Kemper
Softball Classic. That being said, let’s recap the
festivities and thank the folks who helped make
it happen.
The biggest hiccup this year was
the date change. Remember that thing about
firemen hating change? Well, the decision
wasn’t made lightly. And there was plenty of
logistical “shuffling” to get it to happen. But
you all stepped up, again, and the end result
was a much cooler day for competition and
less teams defaulting due to LAFD extreme
weather deployment issues. As it happened, we
only had one team less than originally planned.
Thanks for being flexible and thanks to the
teams who donated lost entry fees to Widows
and Orphans.
Other “changes” this year included
a new complex and playing two “fun” games,
giving everyone a chance to play at the main
venue prior to elimination. The new fields
worked out well with a central area suited
for refreshment, rest and the raffle. Unseen
to the players was the extreme difficulty trying to bracket the competition with an uneven
number of teams and without full team rosters
ahead of time. Hopefully, everyone got a little
July 2014 • 7
only one team can be the winner and this year
the trophy and bragging rights go to 33’s. Congratulations. It’s good to be young and strong!
Just remember that thing about firemen and
change. P.S. The cooler over the coach thing
needs a little work.
Hopefully the Lane Kemper Softball
Classic 2014 was a healthy dose of fun and
camaraderie for all. Now is the time to thank
those who helped make it happen. Lane always
shunned the spotlight but was gracious and appreciative of those who helped him. There is a
lot of effort behind the scenes and preliminary
work that goes into the event and many people
are responsible for its success. The list is long
and there is no way to thank everyone by name
but certain people who volunteer their time and
energy and talents and property to keep the tradition alive need to be acknowledged.
Arguably, the biggest challenge is
keeping the troops fed and “hydrated”. Again,
Mark Curry did a stellar job coordinating the
tactical task force of BBQ’s and producing
mass quantities of great tasting grub. Thanks
also to Greg Pascola and Eric Stephens for
your equipment and services and all those who
helped serve. The other huge challenge is getting quality umpires to come out and risk life
and limb while making accurate and unbiased
judgement calls without having to invoke the
“no guff” rule. Thank you all for your bravery, especially ironmen Doak Smith and Craig
Fletcher for staying to the end.
By far, the most extra-curricular activity surrounds the raffle which is the passion
of Valerie Lawrence. She is assisted by Mona
Romas and Rebecca Stephens with tons of help
from the LAFRA staffers and others. From the
tens or hundreds of dollars raised in the old
days we now contribute many thousands of
dollars to the Widows, Orphans and Disabled
Firemen’s Fund. And the quality and quantity
of raffle prizes increases each year.
Thank you, Valerie.
Thank you to Galloway and First
Investors for your generous donation and support.
Thank you, Jennifer Frain for your
beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
Thank you, Hoy Talbott for your support and generous donations.
Thank you, Mona and Steve Romas,
again for allowing us to impose on your family
and home for support and storage.
Thanks, Bill Bringas for keeping the
dream alive.
Thank you, Keith Bandy for agreeing
to carry the torch for a while. Have you any
clue how arduous a journey your groomingby-Bringas will be? You may begin recruiting
helpers, just be wary of personal friends and
relatives.
THANK YOU! To all who
participated in the Lane Kemper Softball
Classic 2014.
8 • July 2014
T
he atmosphere at the tournament
this year was one of camaraderie,
with cheers and applause ringing
out constantly. It was just the way Lane
Kemper would have wanted it, as mentioned by organizer Bill Bringas in his
opening address. “Lane Kemper, his main
goal was really just to get the guys together
and have fun. And that’s what we’re trying
to do. And on top of that, we’re just trying
to give a little money back to the Widows
& Orphans Fund. And that is our Widows
& Orphans Fund.” He also took time to
thank the two big sponsors for this year’s
event, Galloway Asset Management and
First Investors.
As strong as the spirit of competition is among firefighters, those present
knew that they were playing for far more
than just a place in the rankings. The Widows & Orphans cause was a particularly
important one for player, Al Camacho from
MFC. “My wife died four years ago. The
Widows & Orphans was there to help me
out when I needed help. So it’s definitely a
good thing to have. You don’t think you’re
going to need it until something happens.
After about sixteen years on the job, my
wife passed away and by them being there
. . . that’s a great feeling.”
With the last minute date change
for the event, a few teams had to drop out.
23’s and 69’s couldn’t field a team, so FF/
PM Al Naeole from 23’s hooked up instead
with his old partners from the 114’s/90’s
squad. “The only reason they let me play
was so I could be their scapegoat,” remarked Naole. “If I played poorly or got
hurt they could blame the loss on me.”
Al brought along his wife Jen as his own
personal cheering section. “It’s just fun to
come out here and watch the guys play,”
said Jen with a smile. “No one plays too
hard and they all are having a good time. I
just hope Al doesn’t get hurt,” she added.
All in all, it was a day of sportsmanship and fun in the name of a very
worthy cause. The Widows, Orphans and
Disabled Firemen’s Fund is grateful to the
firefighters who come out to play year after
year. In our eyes, you’re all winners.
July 2014 • 9
T
he epicenter of the 2014 LAFRA
Reunion was the clubhouse at the
Pechanga Resort & Casino. In addition to the formal gatherings held here,
members could be found congregated
around the folding tables from the crack
of dawn until late into the night – coffee
mugs or beer bottles in hand, retelling old
stories and sharing new ones. The only
complaints came from the clean-up crew
– the B.S. was so deep they had to wear
knee-high rubber boots and use scoop
shovels! But - as you have read in these
pages many, many times – a good time
was had by all!
It turns out that the Pechanga
venue is really the perfect spot for an
LAFD event. There were as many folks
who brought their homes on wheels as
there were staying at the hotel. And with
10 • July 2014
the location relatively close to all of SoCal, others were able to just stop by and
visit for a day or night.
The activities commenced on
Monday, May 19th with a get-together
reception at the clubhouse. The next morning, representatives from LAFRA member
services and your Medical Plan were on
hand to answer questions and provide the
personalized service you’ve come to expect. Reps from Firefighters First Credit
Union (you know them – the rebranded
LA Firemen’s C.U.) and our pension
department were also in the house to assist
members. A hosted pizza, beer and wine
party topped off the day.
Wednesday was time for the
“Wine Trolley Tour” of the surrounding
Temecula Valley AVA. For wine aficionados, the mission padres first made wine
in California at San Juan Capistrano. The
tradition still exists today just a few miles
east in Temecula, where mission vineyards
were established in 1820.
So it was only fitting that the first
stop of the tour was Old Town Temecula,
which sprung up in 1882 as a whistle stop
when the railroad finally found its way
through the valley. After a hearty lunch,
the tour continued with stops at three wineries. Known for its diversity, wineries in
the Temecula Valley grow and produce
more than 50 different varietals of wine;
from Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon
Blanc, and Merlot to Mourvedre.
Dinner that night was again at
the clubhouse. The BBQ buffet was hosted by your Relief Association. Nobody
went away hungry, with Duke’s Mesquite
Broiler stepping up and whipping up a
delicious meal of BBQ chicken and
smoked tri-tip. The crowd was going
through the food so fast, Steve Domanski
ran back into town to get a second load of
the delicious meats.
Rich and Joyce Howe just happened to be celebrating their 36th wedding
anniversary the evening of the FREE BBQ
buffet (with FREE beer and wine) and
Rich wasn’t about to miss this opportunity. With the money he saved on a romantic
dinner and cocktails, he said he was going to buy Joyce a new vacuum cleaner to
celebrate the occasion. Congratulations to
you both!
Thursday dawned slightly overcast but the balmy weather was perfect for
a day on the links. Reservations had been
made for our duffers on Pechanga’s Journey course. Journey is built on a portion
of Pechanga’s ancestral land that has been
their “home” for countless generations.
This land is also home to “The Great Oak”
– one of the largest natural-growing, indigenous coast, live oak trees in the United
States and estimated to be anywhere from
850 to 1,500 years old.
The green grass, great oaks and
mountain air were having their effect on
Tim Larson as he plied the fairways. He
was really feeling the Native American
spirits. So when he saw that a Great White
Heron had caught a fish in one of the small
July 2014 • 11
lakes, he wanted to do the same. Tim always carries a fishing rod in his golf bag
(doesn’t everyone??) and he quickly set
his bait. On his very first cast, before the
lure had even hit the water, a 12 inch bass
jumped up and snagged the hook.
Only problem was Tim had overlooked the need for a tribal fishing license.
And on the reservation justice is swift –
Tim was detained, booked and before the
magistrate within an hour. He thought he
would get off easy when he discovered
that the judge was his old buddy Bob “Two
Bears” Munoa. But Tim was on his knees,
begging for mercy like a first-house rookie
when he saw how much the fine was. Sorry I can’t tell you how this all turned out
because of the gag order imposed by Judge
Large Bear.
On Thursday evening, everyone
met in the hotel for the Pechanga Buffet
– “an all new dining adventure that awaits
the hungry.” We were told that the buffet
features an all new menu with 250 fresh
items and action stations. There were a
couple of old truckmen there that did at
least sample all 250 items!
It was back to the clubhouse after
dinner for some, but many wandered into
the casino to try their luck. I saw a few
small jackpots being collected at the machines, some lively action at the craps (no
dice) table and learned one valuable lesson – “If you can’t win with 20, just walk
away from the table.”
When all was said and done,
the 2014 LAFRA Reunion was a rousing
success. Many thanks to the hard work
of Juan Albarran. Bob Steinbacher, Tim
and Wendy Larson, and Steve and Chris
Domanski. One thing I did hear over and
over again was members saying, “We’re
going to have to tell our friends so they
can come next year.” So pass the word
along and we’ll see you next year.
12 • July 2014
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association Medical Plan may
cover this examination. Contact your plan provider to verify.
Paid Advertisement:
July 2014 • 13
Companies deploy for
a jumper at 429 E 5th
Street on 5/24/14.
Photo by Yvonne Griffin
Engine 10 was deployed
with a strike team that
went to San Diego in May.
Photo by Steve Gentry
14 • July 2014
What Is The...
Extinguisher Fund?
The brain child of Ted Bailie,
retired from the LAFD and LAFRA,
your station’s Extinguisher Fund is a
simple way to collect donations for the
Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund. Ted saw the accumulation
of change that the cook dumped into
the mess fund box each shift and had a
better idea. If this change was instead
collected for the WODFF he figured it
could really add up. With an average of
50 cents per day per station, in a year
there would be . . . well, you can do the
math!
9’s and 10’s, along with the entire LAFD, participated in the Fill-The-Boot campaign to support the fight against Muscular Dystrophy on May 7-9, 2014.
Photos by Yvonne Griffin
So take your turn in the cooking
rotation and remember to drop all your
change into your station’s extinguisher.
There should be one in every firehouse.
And any loose change in your pockets,
any that you find in the TV chairs, or
hoarded in the “ashtray” of your vehicle
can be thrown in for good measure.
The Widows, Orphans & Dis-
abled Firemen’s Fund is the heart of
the Relief Association. This fund provides assistance to our firefighters and
families who are faced with personal
difficulties and tragedies. Donations are
the sole means of support for this Fund.
Firefighters
risk
their
lives
to protect the community on a daily
basis. Thus, they and their families can
Companies extinguished an
attic fire on Baldwin Street in
Lincoln Heights on 5/20/14.
Photos by Adam Van Gerpen
be comforted in knowing that the “Fire
Department Family,” supported by the
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund, is there for them in times
of need.
July 2014 • 15
ANDORRA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT is a Registered Investment Advisor providing independent
financial advisory services to Deferred Compensation and DROP participants.
WHAT WE DO
An “Investor Alert”
We are a trusted investment advisor
and wealth manager to our clients.
For more information about using a
financial advisor on Charles Schwab’s
institutional platform, please visit:
www.riastandsforyou.com
As a Registered Investment Advisor,
Andorra utilizes Charles Schwab’s
Self Directed Brokerage Option
available in the city’s Deferred
Compensation plan. This allows our
clients to keep their funds within the
city’s plan, while having an independent advisor oversee their assets.
Paid Advertisement:
OUR GOAL
To be your advisor on Deferred
Compensation, DROP and retirement issues. We strive to grow our
client’s assets by effectively reducing overall risk through strategic
asset allocation and a disciplined
investment process. We tailor our
strategy to each client’s risk profile
and investment objective.
16 • July 2014
www.ai-mgmt.com
Participants in the City of LA’s Fire Police Pension System
(LAFPP) are blessed with a very generous retirement system.
Now of course we have to “put our time in”, but if we choose to go
the distance to retirement we can receive 50% - 90% of our Final
Average Salary (FAS). For most firemen or police officers this will
be a sufficient income to support a very comfortable retirement.
PLUS the vast majority of plan participants are contributors to the
City’s Deferred Compensation Plan (DC) and additionally participate in the DROP Program. So, a healthy pension plus DROP and
DC assets can ad up to retirement income that can equal or exceed
your FAS. This leads to a point I’m trying to convey with this
article. Given the previously mentioned factors the proposition
that someone suggests you purchase an annuity with your DROP
or DC assets seems very suspect.
To further support the statement that annuities usually aren’t best
suited for investors with a large pension, some background information is in order. Annuities broadly fall into two categories: fixed and
variable. Within these two groups they are typically either immediate
or deferred. Quickly this is where confusion gains momentum and
the financial wordsmiths come out in full force. Terms like Variable
Annuity, Equity Indexed Annuity, Life Annuity and Indexed Annuities are thrown at potential investors. FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) has issued an “Investor Alert” regarding
Equity-Indexed Annuities (EIAs) titled Variable Annuities: Beyond
the Hard Sell. Further, the SEC has weighed in also with an “Investor
Bulletin” on Indexed Annuities that outlines many factors that are
typically not discussed with prospective purchasers of these insurance
products. Annuities have gained in popularity after investors have
witnessed two significant bear markets in recent years. But, most
individuals sold these insurance products (which is what they are as
an advisor must hold an insurance license to sell these products) are
frequently not informed of an annuity’s high sales fees, lockup periods
and from FINRA “a variable annuity with a tax-deferred account..may
not be a good idea”. For more information go to: www.finra.org.
| Tel. 562.433.1400 | [email protected]
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Fire Service Day at Fire
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Photos by Yvonne Griffin
July 2014 • 17
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18 • July 2014
Engine 51 and Rescue 51 handle
an EMS call at Dockweiler Beach
on 5/17/14.
Photos by Yvonne Griffin
Ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel
or 63’s kitchen
table?
While FS 63 is only the second oldest firehouse in the city, the kitchen table there
may very well be the oldest piece of furniture
still in use at any station. But thanks to Rosie
Tos, local artist and wife of Eric V. Johnson
from FS 63, the 16 foot long, more than 100
year old table recently received a facelift and
is sporting a new look. Rosie has created
artistic pieces for a
number of firehouses and wanted
to have the table at
63’s finished before
annual inspection.
According to Rosie,
“There was an
amazing response
from all the captains and the chiefs!” And the
Venice community was also very impressed
when the table was displayed at 63’s annual
pancake breakfast.
July 2014 • 19
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20 • July 2014
San Pedro Rotary
Club Honors
It’s been a while since you’ve heard
from Battalion 6, but we like it that way.
Much has happened, so if I forget to mention
anything, I apologize.
First, let’s say goodbye to those who
have retired from the Department - some are
recent, some are old, and I’m sure I’ll forget to
mention someone because there are so many.
So long to Captains O’Gorman, Valencia,
Schneider. Goff and Sebourn, Firefighters
Page and Escamilla. Have a good and long
retirement.
Congratulations to all the
new captains on the recent promotions. From 38’s - Eng Smith,
40’s - Eng Svorinich, 48’s - FF L.
Kemp, and 85’s - Eng DiScala.
Good luck guys, I know you’re
gonna do well, but in today’s
climate, you’re gonna need it!
From 36’s - It seems like
they don’t make ‘em like they used
to. The two members with the least
amount of time on the job are both
off ID. With all the old guys there,
you’d expect them to be the last to
be off, but I guess they don’t make
‘em like they used to.
From 38’s - They’re still
the house of complainers. It seems
that some members of 38’s wanted
House Dues to pay for a $3,500
item, so they put it up to vote.
What was that item? A super-large
screen HDTV that they can’t watch
because they’re too busy? Some
tool or equipment to make life
easier? NO! Somebody wanted
new BLINDS! (Isn’t that the
City’s responsibility?) For $3,500!
Can you believe that? Of course it was voted
down. Maybe if they were still a Task Force
with an RA and 800 they might have a slim
chance, but with just an Engine and Rescue?
Not a chance. What’s the assessment for six
members, more than $200 each? I guess they
have Beverly Hills taste over there.
From 40’s - They’re still there and
no one’s saying anything.
From 48’s - Not much to say, except
we’re all sorry for the members working the
only 800 that serves the Harbor area.
That’s a photo of Greg Newland,
Captain II at 48-A being awarded “LAFD
Firefighter of the Year Award” by the San
Pedro Rotary Club. The Rotary Club’s “Community Heroes Awards Dinner” was held at
the Doubletree Hotel in San Pedro on May 22,
2014. Battalion Chief Graham Everett stepped
up to present the award.
From 49’s, 112’s and the rest of the
Boats - Zzzzzzzzzzz
From 85’s - They’re still “Hateyfives.” Can’t we all just get along?
From 101’s - Well, it seems 101’s is
Fire City. They’ve had a few structures, and
a Major at the Elks Lodge. Story goes, after
2-3 hours of fire fight, a certain B/C sent a
Battalion 13 company in to put the remaining
fire out. Never mind that Battalion 6 companies had been there ALL NIGHT, and saved
the sanctuary and all the valuables in it, with a
very poor water supply. Never mind that most
of the roof had already caved in, and residual
fire was hidden inside an unsafe area. I guess
the Harbor guys get no respect, but send in
the Battalion 13 company to complete the job.
Even after they were warned, they said “The
chief told us to do it.” So, they threw a ladder
to a free-standing wall, the roof was gone, and
while everyone was using a 2 1/2 inch line,
they came in with an 1 1/2 inch line. Unfortunately, they had to retreat and came back with
their tails between their legs. Hey, we may be
old down here, but we got experience. How
does that song go? “We ain’t as good as we
once was, but we’re good once, as we ever
was.”
See you next time, when you come
down for drilling on the boats.
Send all your news and photos to:
[email protected]
On May 18, 2014, LAFD and LAPD held an evacuation exercise
in Mandeville Canyon, followed by a community safety fair.
Photos by Juan Guerra, juanguerra.smugmug.com
July 2014 • 21
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22 • July 2014
Brent Ruff recently received his wings at FS 114.
Photos by Dave Peters
Eric Rice gets his wings from the Fire Chief.
Photos by Dave Peters
Gib Martin at 109’s
wears the proper PPE
while preparing for
Hope for Firefighters
July 2014 • 23
Task Force 11 members exit 601 So Figueroa Street
after determining it was a false alarm on 5/28/14.
Photo by Yvonne Griffin
Truck 26 overhauls the roof of 4015
Dalton Ave on 5/14/14.
Photo by Yvonne Griffin
LF 75 handled a T/A with fire at Paxton
St and the 5 freeway on 5/24/14.
Photos by Rick McClure, EPN
A Jeep rear-ended an MTA bus
on Van Nuys Blvd on 5/17/14.
Photos by Greg Doyle
24 • July 2014
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Five companies extinguished this grass fire along the
405 freeway near Orion St. on 5/13/14.
Photo by David “Doc” DeMulle’, The Foothills Paper,
Greg Doyle and Juan Guerra
July 2014 • 25
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26 • July 2014
Greetings from the battalion that never sleeps!
First off, congratulations to all the
teams that participated in this years Annual Lane Kemper Softball Tournament. As
always, it’s a great opportunity for camaraderie and sportsmanship. Some teams brought
their lucky bats, some brought mascots, and
most brought the inevitable strike out shirt.
Although, I hear that one player from 2’s
eschewed the strike out shirt for strike out sunglasses . . . uhhhh, this just in, I was just told
that those hideous white sunglasses were his
normal eye wear. Moving on, after a long day
on multiple diamonds, the championship was
set to be decided between 33’s and 64’s. Everything was set: rosters were ready, and everybody - well most everybody on these teams
- was going to play for the final game. In the
end, after a tough and well-played game, 33’s
eked out a win with a score of 8-7. A final
picture was taken with the 1st and 2nd place
teams together and I hear that the guys from
33’s were nice enough to let Casey Stevens
and Mike Correy be in the picture even though
they wouldn’t let them play. Congrats again
to all the teams that played and especially to
our Battalion 13 reps from 33’s and 64’s . . .
#badnewsbears #playtowinatallcosts #strikeoutshades #worselookingthanastrikeoutshirt
Congratulations to all the recently
promoted Captain 1’s and the most recent recruit class. Both deserve a long awaited “way
to go.” I know that both will have an opportunity to relieve a little, tiny, eencie amount of
pressure from all the vacancies in those ranks,
so hopefully they take this chance to work a
bit more and outside of their comfort zone to
get a tad more experience. It’s not always the
easiest thing to do, but it’s usually the “right”
thing to do.
So far this spring . . . summer? has
started off with a blast. Multiple days of 100
degree temps, pre-deploys across the northern
end of the City, and many a planner worried
about the possibility of a chance of brush fire;
but not at all concerned with the level of staffing and lack of resources to cover the normal
daily calls and then some during a “heat
wave.” South Division engines that handle
a majority of the daily call load are moved
to somewhere in the north end, run the runs
that would normally be given to the North
Division companies, then when two greater
alarms happen at the same time in the south
end, they’re moved back. Only to be sent back
to the north end for the rest of the night to
run more north end calls . . . somewhere this
makes complete sense! Anyway, to battle the
north end, we in the Battalion have upped our
“brush” responses. Case in point, recently TF
64, Engine 57, and BC 13 were dispatched
to a “brush” response on the EB 105 Fwy
at Vermont. A loom-up was spotted from
quarters and all rigs hurried to the scene. Yes,
a “brush” fire had broken out on the freeway.
Look-outs were posted, escape routes were
set, and BC 13 ordered water drops from our
LAFD helicopters . . . wait! what?!? Apparently, companies had encountered a triangle
shaped wedge about 100’ long and 20’ wide
bordered on all three sides by a major freeway
to the north (Alpha), Vermont Ave to the east
(Echo), and a major freeway off-ramp with a
15’ high brick wall to the south (Zulu). Companies were getting ready to flank this slow
moving “brush” fire through medium “brush”
when the alert came out that a water drop was
headed their way. The chopper came and went
. . . and missed the intended target. Luckily
the 2nd chopper was on its way in. They also
came and went . . . and missed. So much for
that plan. Luckily these crews remembered the
basics and were able to handle this “campaign
brush fire” with traditional equipment like 1”
hose lines and shovels. I can’t imagine what
the 105 Fwy looked like after two water drops
during the middle of the day. Soooo, is this
a new tactic that we are going to be using?
When Metro dispatches units to a “Structure
Fire” at a 3-story center hallway building,
should we ask to get the Super Scooper loaded
with water and Phos-Chek and up in the air?
Ready to paint a 1/4 mile red stripe a full
block wide down 73rd Street with one drop. Is
this what we’re teaching now in COCEP and
OCEP? Looks like we might need to re-think
our plans and use our equipment for what it
should be used for. I know they like to talk
about “thinking outside the box” and “incident
driven SOG’s,” but if it ain’t broke, don’t
order water drops on the freeway. Sorry chief,
but don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get another
chance at a Battalion 13 “brush” fire again
soon . . . just the story I heard. #evenlacountylookedconfused #sticktostructureprotection
#wetstuffonredstuff
Over at 65’s, it’s good to be on
the Paramedic Rescue. Apparently on the
“A” shift, many an 800 series ambulance
has recently had the opportunity to respond
into 65’s district . . . with Engine 65 already
on-scene and RA 65 told to go available. That
way, instead of giving the patient better care,
the engine is able to leave themselves a “quote
– unquote shield.” Apparently, it goes a little
something like this . . . Engine 65 and RA 65
are dispatched to an ALS level medical call.
After a full evaluation, including multiple vital
signs and head-to-toe assessment, the patient
is deemed to be a patient that fits into the BLS
criteria of the PRG. RA 65 is then sent on
their way and Engine 65 orders an 800 series
ambulance emergency. Why emergency you
ask? Because THEY don’t want to have to
wait on-scene any longer than they have to .
. . moving on . . . Fortunately RA’s 865, 864,
857, 833, 846, and 821 don’t mind. I guess
“what’s better for you” trumps” what’s better
for the patient,” as an ALS RA can transport
just as easily, especially since they’re already
there. And like I’ve said before, by the time an
800 series ambulance is dispatched and arrives
on-scene, RA 65 will most likely already have
loaded up, transported, and gotten the patient
a bed. It’s all about patient care . . . or going
available . . . or keeping your RA available
so you can go on less runs. The only other
place I know that uses this option is Battalion
6 companies, and when they hear that they’re
getting RA 866 non-emergency at 13.6 miles
away, they usually re-think their last request
and just have the RA that’s already on-scene
transport. Is it because they don’t want to wait
that long or because they realize that they
have the option to “do the right thing?” Hey,
wasn’t this one of my New Year’s Resolution
options? “Call an already overworked 800 to
do your job?” I believe it was! Just sayin’ . . .
#i’vegotnothin’
With all the vacancies throughout
the City, especially in the paramedic rank, it’s
not uncommon to see new faces from all over
the City during a segment. Recently at 64’s,
FF/PM Rankin was working a 72 hour stint.
He was hired for RA 264 on days 1 and 3, and
RA 864 on day 2. An out-of-house medic was
hired for RA 264 on the middle shift, so for
the comfort of the in-house guy, the obvious
thing to do would be to just let Rankin ride
RA 264 all three shifts, instead of moving
gear back and forth . . . Right? FF/PM Rankin
tried to call the SOD guy multiple times but he
would never answer, so FF/PM Rankin left a
few voicemails with his request. After unsuccessfully trying to call, Rankin finally texted,
and low-and-behold got the “I don’t want to
talk to you on the phone, but I’ll happily text
you” response. You know, when someone
doesn’t want to do something and hopes they
can dodge-duck-dip-dive-and dodge the situation even though they’re wrong. Anyway,
our out-of-house hero responded that he hated
riding on the 800 and refused to swap with the
in-house guy. After a little befuddlement over
the whole situation, FF/PM Rankin accepted it
and told him that he’d see him in the morning. Later that shift, FF/PM Rankin ended up
getting detailed to a FF/PM spot at 57’s since
he was a medic riding in a FF spot. So round
two ensues. FF/PM Rankin again texts the outof-house guy to see if he’d go to 57’s since he
would be on an RA anyway and Rankin could
stay at his own station. The response was
exactly as you would’ve expected . . . that he
would not go to FS57 for him. To top it off, he
ended the text conversation by stating that he
could have Rankin’s captain or Battalion EIT
call him, as he had no further “business” with
him. WOW! And we wonder why CTS is so
messed up? In the morning, Rankin packed up
all his gear, got relief from the FF/PM, who by
the way showed up barely before 8am because
he was coming from Hollywood, and headed
to FS 57 to make relief with a guy who was
trying to get home after another rough night.
The shift went by as most do and again in the
morning Rankin packed up his gear to head
back to FS 64. As he arrived back to make
relief he was notified that he would be on RA
64. Turns out RA 264 was shut down earlier
that morning due to staffing and no relief was
needed, so his relief got to sleep in. Way to
look out for your fellow firefighters! #thisissoeasy, whydowemakeitsohard? #FFbrotherhood #IGM
Finally a story that will warm the
deepest cockles of your heart . . . if you have a
heart. We always read and hear all the stories
about every “terrible and atrocious” thing that
we do in the newspapers and on TV. But the
good things that we do EVERY day usually never see the light of day. We all know
that these deeds aren’t done for recognition
or praise, but because it’s the right thing to
do. One evening at 21’s as everybody was
33’s and 64’s at the Lane Kemper Classic
July 2014 • 27
transitioning from the early-evening rest
period to the end-of-day rest period, there was
a knock at the front door. Upon opening the
door, they greeted a homeless family consisting of a 30 year-old mother with four kids
ages 5-10. The family was seeking shelter and
a ride downtown to look for a place to spend
the night. Now being 2330 hours, most people
would’ve told the family, “Sorry, there’s nothing we can do. Good luck.” and shut the door.
Not here. They were welcomed in the station
and given water and energy bars for each kid.
Meanwhile, phone calls were made to downtown shelters and finally the Union Rescue
Mission said that they could accept the family.
Metro was notified of the circumstances and
RA 821 was placed CAV to take the family
downtown. While they were transporting, the
FF’s on RA 821 were made aware that the
family hadn’t eaten for several hours, so they
stopped at the closest McDonald’s and bought
complete meals for the family. The family was
so thankful for this complete act of kindness.
Upon arrival at the Rescue Mission, the FF’s
carried the sleeping kids past security and all
the way to their room to ensure their safety.
Before leaving the family, FF Thomas gave
the mother $40 to feed the kids the next day.
At 0100 RA 821 made it back and finished
out the shift. I know that most of us would
do the same thing, but a serious “Thank You”
goes out to the guys at 21’s for this; moreover,
thanks to FF Tom Hyland, FF Tyler Cashman,
FF Cesar Garcia, and FF Adrian Thomas. Way
to make us look good, even if we’re the only
ones that know. #aboveandbeyond #shouldbenewsworthy #nicework
OK, that’s all I’ve got! Keep taking
care of one another. Stay safe and remember that 2+2 makes sense, play nice, know
your audience, get a cool nickname, figure
out which formula to use before the media
gets ahold of it, “you get out what you put
in”, FI-1, read the label, if you’re tired sleep
in, when in need of a driver call an already
overworked 800 to do your job, watch out for
irony, don’t fumble tradition, take 1st relief so
you can go back to sleep, never “Stand By”,
check boxes for politics always beat common
sense, when you have the opportunity to do
the right thing - take the EIT spot instead!, a #
makes everything seem much nicer, if it rains
and you don’t feel like doing your job - just
journalize it, when you need to go to the DMV
-wear your uniform, show up late to your own
ceremony, a bad idea is still a BAD idea, water
drops for all “brush” fires, call out an already
overworked 800 to keep your “shield” available, and finally, answer only a text instead
of a phone call if what you’re about to do is
the wrong thing. Keep sending your stories to
[email protected]
Engine 21 was part of a strike team
that went to San Diego in May
Photos by Rick McClure and
Jeff Zimmerman, EPN
28 • July 2014
Welcome back to Battalion 14 news.
I guess it’s difficult to write about your battalion when the writer is in paramedic school.
I hope everyone enjoyed Battalion 14’s slide
show of fires and other incidents in the meantime.
First off, congratulations to Cameron Langhans (FS 102), Danny Wu (FS 89) and
Nicholas Pellegrini (FS 102) for promoting to
captain. Hats off to all that have studied ’til
their brains hurt, missed social gatherings, and
stayed diligent and patient during this process.
A big thank you goes out to Danny
Wu for running the Cadet Post at 89’s for
more than ten years. Danny spent countless
volunteer hours with Post 89. We appreciate
all that you have done, and you will be missed.
Thankfully, John Goshorn (FS 60) will be taking over and is up for the task.
It’s hard to believe that Battalion
14 only produced one team to play in the
Lane Kemper Classic, but only Task Force
89 stepped up to the plate. They played hard,
shook off their loss(es) gracefully and enjoyed
an outstanding lunch. It’s all about having
fun, right? They definitely would have had
a different fate if Battalion Chief Beaty was
playing, like he planned. Unfortunately, when
the original date changed he could not play his
last year (ever) and neither could 89’s star athletes due to other department classes going on
at the same time. So, Task Force 89 acquired
their “go to guy,” Jeff Block Division 4. Way
to always be there Jeff!
Crossfit workouts are all fun and
games until somebody tears an ACL or meniscus. So, some members have been performing
Extreme Yoga to stay fit!
Have a great July!
[email protected]
A couple more shots from the major in 89’s district last month.
Photos by Rick McClure, EPN
Companies worked a structure fire at 13308 Roscoe
Blvd on 5/18/14.
Photo by Juan Guerra, juanguerra.smumug.com
July 2014 • 29
On 5/6/14, E-86 and HR 56 were dispatched
to a car off the 101 Fwy south of Vineland.
Photos by Mike Meadows
Firefighters from Engine and RA 89 treat
the victim of a motorcycle vs auto at Laurel
Canyon Blvd and Victory Blvd on 5/26/14.
Photos by Rick McClure, EPN
60’s and 89’s handled a garage fire in the
6200 block of Willowcrest on 4/14/14.
Photo by Mike Meadows
30 • July 2014
Firefighters rescued two men after they collided with a
freeway bridge support at the 101/170 split on 5/13/14.
Photos by Juan Guerra, juanguerra.smumug.com
On 6/5/14 Engine 102 found a well involved
multi-vehicle garage at 12215 Burbank Blvd.
Photos by Sean Blum and Rick McClure, EPN
July 2014 • 31
Not too much news this month. Rumor has it
that the always controversial slogan for this
year’s Kemper Classic was “Looking for new
LAFD recruits - Family need not apply.” Gotta
love it.
Unfortunately, I was one of the
many who fell victim to the schedule change,
but Battalion 15 had a decent showing, even
winning a few games. The whopping three
guys from 96’s and two from 70’s teamed up
with 21’s as a mixed team. As the day was getting late, wives started calling inquiring where
the afternoon shift babysitters were. So they
Ryan “Rooney” Guthrie
let 15’s beat them. I heard it was a good day of
camaraderie. Next year.
In another bit of news, there has
been a sighting of an angry BEAR at 96’s.
Beware.
Not sure if anyone in the Battalion
knows that we have a movie star from the
classic movie “Ferris Buellers Day Off” working at Fire Station 70’s. Yes the one and only
ROONEY!
We would like
to congratulate Steve
Hamilton on being the first
employee of the month at
Fire Station 70, and also
wish him luck on the next
season of “The Big Bang
Theory.” Good job Steve!
Big Bang celebrity look-alike
Send all your news and photos to
[email protected]
Adam Knabe pulled out all the stops at
his promotional dinner at FS 87.
Photos by Adam Van Gerpen
87’s celebrates Memorial Day with
their pal, WWII Vet Pete Howenstein.
Photo by Adam Van Gerpen
Companies assisted Fire-5 in
hoisting an injured hiker from
Limekiln Canyon, near Tampa
and Sesnon on 5/16/14.
32 • July 2014
Photos by Greg Doyle
Firefighters from 70’s. 87, 103
and 107 handled a fire at 18600
Superior St on 5/15/14.
Photo by Greg Doyle
TF and RA 105, and RA 72 handled a T/A with three
patients at Platt Ave and Victory Blvd on 5/13/14.
Photos by Gavin Kaufman, LAFD
Companies extinguished a structure
fire at 7824 Aura Ave on 5/9/14.
Photo by Chuck Rozner
Send your stories and photos directly to your Battalion News writer
or to the editor at [email protected]
July 2014 • 33
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Email: [email protected]
34 • July 2014
d
My wife had another birthday, so off
to Vegas we went. I couldn’t buy her anythin’
real expensive this time because I lost $1 on a
penny slot machine, which drastically reduced
what I had set aside for her birthday fund. She
was less than understandin’ with my accountin’ explanation and proceeded straight to the
“Forum Shops” at Caesars Palace. Obviously I
need to stay away from them penny slots!
With my wife busy tryin’ to decide
whether to buy a new Louis Vitton, Gucci,
Prada or Coach handbag, I could only standby
and guess what credit card was gettin’ the most
abuse. As it turned out, the MasterCard got
hammered, but as the ole’ sayin’ goes, “It took
a beatin’ but she couldn’t drain all the water
from the well!” The only explanation for this?
My wife must have called and convinced MasterCard that I was actually a retired Capt. II and
that my pockets were much deeper than previously reported. I’m just grateful that she didn’t
tell them I was a retired A/C!
Anyway, while nervously waitin’ for
her to come out of the store, I couldn’t help but
notice the throngs of passers-by. I soon realized
that there are two kinds of people in this world:
Vito Maggipinto grew up in New
York and joined the Navy during World War
II. His minesweeper was operating just off the
beach during the Normandy landings on June
6, 1944, when it was struck by a mine and exploded, sinking in less than two minutes. Vito
was one of the lucky crew members who survived and was rescued by a British patrol boat.
He was awarded the Purple Heart along with
other medals for his service to the country.
After the War, he became a member
of the LAFD. According to Vito “It seemed an
opportunity to serve people and do good things.
People are always happy to see a fireman coming to help.”
Between the emergencies Vito zeroed in on an activity that was not only exciting, it helped him keep in top physical condition. Handball became a passion that earned
him the distinction of becoming the department
handball champion 13 years in a row. Racquet ball was also a favorite sport. “I started
Those with tattoos and cell phones, and those
without. It was truly amazin’ to watch these
people on their cell phones; either talkin’, textin’ or just carassin’ their devices like a security
blanket.
Women far outnumbered the men in
the carassin’ category and their tattoo’s were
much more interestin’ too. The latest female
craze seems to be written script on the legs,
thighs, backs, arms and chest. But because
the fonts were so small, to fit the particular
space, it was extremely hard to read a leg or
thigh as they quickly past by my vantage point.
I didn’t have my readin’ glasses with me, and
faced with the possibility of gettin’ arrested
for perverted behavior, I could only attempt a
weakened version of my speed readin’ skills,
which only got me as far as the first two or
three words. Obviously I’ll have to bring more
money and my readin’ glasses with me on our
next trip.
And what’s with these guys wearin’ their pants around their knees? Ain’t it
about time for this fashion fad to die? And as
I watched a gaggle of guys walk by my check
point, with most of them pullin’ up their britch-
D-Day medal for Maggi
playing handball as a kid in New York.” Vito
reminisces. “I also played some baseball and
football while attending UCLA.” His athletic
prowess led to his participation in the National
Fireman’s Handball Championship in Chicago
and a first place trophy - along with Firemen’s
es so they wouldn’t completely fall off, I noticed these geniuses were too busy holdin’ up
their pants to use their cell phones. Maybe this
goofy fashion trend has a positive side!
You know, the only guy I know that
has to legitimately hold on to his pants so they
don’t hit the floor is a certain retired Capt. II.
Yea, that’s because he keeps gold bars stuffed
in each of his pockets. Now that’s a fashion
statement!
COWBOY HUMOR
The National Institute of
Health has just released the
results of a $200 million dollar research study completed
under a grant to Johns Hopkins University.
The new study has found
that women who carry a little extra weight live
longer than the men who mention it.
KEEP SMILIN!
AC - [email protected]
Olympic Gold medals. His trophies are now on
display at the Hollywood Fire Museum.
When Vito had 30 years on retirement, he put on a dinner at his last assignment
at Fire Station 1 for the crew and many of his
old friends to celebrate his time on the job and
his retirement.
Today Vito and his wife Dolores live
in Glendale near the Oakmont Country Club.
Vito continued playing handball and racquetball well into his 80’s. He would come to LAFD
tournaments and play in the senior’s bracket.
He put on demonstrations and taught the young
players some of his tricks on the court. Golf is
his game of choice now. He is a true champion
in every sense of the word and a true gentleman
on and off the court. He is one of the legends
of the LAFD and a survivor of the Normandy
landings 70 years ago.
We should never forget the sacrifices
made by our men and women of our military in
WWII. They are the “Greatest Generation.”
July 2014 • 35
GREATER ALARM STRUCTURE FIRE
Little Armenia
Photos by David Lake, FF/PM, FS 52-C
LAFD units were dispatched at 0709 hrs on May 6, 2014 to 1096
North Western Ave. Firefighters arrived in just three minutes
to find smoke issuing from the bricks and attic of the 2 story
commercial building. An aggressive interior fire attack ensued.
Twenty five minutes into the blaze, the IC noted fire activity
escalating dangerously. Firefighters were immediately ordered
off the roof and went into a defensive fire attack. A total of 153
firefighters extinguished the blaze in one hour and 38 minutes.
The fire was confined to the structure of origin.
36 • July 2014
SALVAGE YARD FIRE
Sun Valley
Photos by Mike Meadows and
Doc DeMulle’, The Foothills Paper
On April 29, 2014, companies worked a greater alarm
fire in an auto salvage yard at San Fernando Road and
Paxton. Firefighters using heavy streams knocked the
fire down in 30 minutes.
July 2014 • 37
by Eric Scott, PSO
Photos by Adam VanGerpen, Steve Gentry
and Juan Guerra
38 • July 2014
O
n May 20 & 21, 2014, FEMA and CalOES tested the USAR system through
a multi-team deployment exercise. The
2014 Western Region Multi-Task Force exercise, commonly referred to as the MOBEX
(mobilization exercise) Drill, is a real time
deployment exercise designed to test the readiness and effectiveness of the US&R response
system within our State of California.
Many of California’s elite USAR
teams and members have responded across
the nation to catastrophic events such as New
York City for the 9-11 attacks, the Gulf coast
for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike,
floodings, mudslides and terrorist attacks. The
USAR teams are comprised of two 70-member teams of men and women who are trained
to conduct search and rescue operations in the
most extreme conditions.
The following agencies participated
in this year’s drill: CA-TF1 (Los Angeles Fire
Department), CA-TF2 (Los Angeles County
Fire Department), CA-TF5 (Orange County
Fire Authority), CA-TF7 (Sacramento Fire
Department), FEMA Incident Support Team
(IST), FEMA Main US&R Office Heads, Cal
OES (California Office of Emergency Services) Chief Officers, and the LAFD Field Incident Management Team
The 2014 MOBEX Drill formally began with a press conference on May 20, 2014
at Fire Station 88. The drill portion commenced
at approximately 10:00 a.m. with a 9-1-1 response to an earthquake scenario that supposedly affected the Los Angeles region, taxing
local resources. First responders and US&R
personnel were dispatched in real time with
escalation procedures according to the State’s
Master Mutual Aid System and FEMA’s emergency response procedures.
Disaster exercises were conducted
throughout the day, starting at 11:00 am on
May 20 and continue until 2:00 p.m. on May
21. This drill took place at four separate locations requiring US&R technical rescue operations: LAFD Fire Station 88, Universal Studios, Castaic Lake and the Del Valle Training
Center.
July 2014 • 39
O
n Saturday, May 16, 2014, more than
four dozen members were promoted
to the rank of captain at a ceremony
at the LAFD Museum and Memorial Plaza at
old Fire Station 27 in Hollywood. Fire Chief
Jim Featherstone and his command staff were
on hand to personally present the new badge to
each member. Many family members, friends
and co-workers also gathered to help celebrate
this milestone occasion.
40 • July 2014
July 2014 • 41
42 • July 2014
O
n Saturday, May 31, 2014, Fire Station
92 hosted the finals of the 2014 Spring
Doubles Handball Tournament. New
Commissioner Chris Yokoyama did a great job
of organizing the first tournament of his term.
The tournament was a tribute to the LAFD tradition, with the shirt and shorts a copy of tournament gear from the 1970’s. Captain Craig
Nielsen prepared a lunch of smoked pulled
pork sandwiches, with coleslaw, baked beans
and fruit for all who attended.
The day started with the “D” Division, which went to a third game tie-breaker.
The home court advantage gave Branden Ibrahim and James Sharlein, both from Fire Station
92, just enough of an edge over Freddie Larios
and Bryan Newon from Fire Station 64 to pull
out the win.
The next match featured a battle of
the “B’s.” Veterans Tony Arnado (FS-50) and
Tony Cardona (FS-12) defeated John Garnica
and Marcus Meza (FS-66). Arnado and Cardona opened up large leads before Garnica
and Meza staged comebacks in both games.
Ultimately, Arnado and Cardona made the
big shots at the most critical moments of each
game, winning in two straight.
The Masters Division match featured
Alex Garcia (FS-66) and Sergio Guzman (FS73) against Mario Rueda (Chief Deputy) and
Daryl Arbuthnott (BES). Proving that there is
no rank on the court, Garcia and Guzman put
on a display of strong serves and kill shots defeating the “Gold Badges” in two straight.
2013 “A” Division Department Champions
Ryan Carlos (FS-92) and Joe Steiner (FS-95)
repeated as the top LAFD doubles team. Gary
Maga (FS-69) and Kevin Egizi (FS-80) nearly
unseated the champs by taking them to a third
game tie-breaker, which came down to Carlos
and Steiner retrieving more amazing digs and
making more kill shots down the stretch than
the veteran team of Maga and Egizi.
The final game of the day featured
the “C” Division, which was the most uneven
match of the day. “Sandbaggers” Chris Sebourn
(FS-20) and Victor Davila (FS-29) dominated
Ryon Jones and Mark Hatcher, both from Fire
Station 65, in two very uneven games.
Winners received backpacks with the
LAFD handball logo embroidered on the front.
Fire Station 66 had several players in the finals
of this tournament, and they are carrying their
momentum into a challenge of Fire Station
92 for “Top Handball House.” The games are
scheduled for June. Can the players from the
“battalion that never sleeps” dethrone Fire Station 92 after over two years on top? Stay tuned
for the results.
B Champs
A Champs
Masters
Champs
C Champs
D Champs
July 2014 • 43
Paid Advertisements:
44 • July 2014
J
ust recently, a cadre of us chaplains
got together at Denny’s restaurant in
Hollywood. The meeting was chaired
by our new Senior Chaplain Rick Godinez, who replaced retired Chief Greg Gibson. Rick gathered us together to share his
thoughts and insights on where we were
in our ministry, and more importantly,
where we could improve to better serve our
members, Department and community.
reminded that wherever two or three are
gathered in his name, God is present.
Since the inception of the chaplain program many things in this world
and culture have changed. One example
is new electronic technology which has
been both a blessing and a curse with new
challenges of its own. But as much as everything has changed, God’s message remains the same. It is to love Him with all
our hearts, soul and strength and to love
our neighbors as ourselves. As firefighters, we have all been gifted with a vocation to serve others, a ministry that is able
to change people’s lives forever, even if
at times we don’t stop and realize the importance and impact of our presence. For
many of us it is a job that we love to do and
we do it to the best of our ability.
If I may be so bold to speak for
my fellow chaplains, our message is simple - it is to spread God’s love by making
ourselves available to our members in any
capacity that we may be of help. We are
not just names in the Grapevine but your
brothers in Christ who are willing to hear
you, meet with you, and touch you in any
way possible. We want to help to make
you the best versions of yourselves by
bringing you closer to God. We are just as
human, weak, vulnerable and capable of
sin as any one else in this journey of life.
But through the grace and help of God we
are willing to put ourselves out there to be
of any assistance.
Please feel free to contact us; no
chain of command is necessary when your
boss trumps all.
As I looked across the room, I
noticed that we all came from different
backgrounds and are at different stages
in our lives and careers. Some younger
and some older, but all with different
experiences. What stood out was that
we all gathered as one in Christ, as his
disciples armored for battle to spread
God’s message in word and in deed in
what ever ministry we were called. I was
Peace be with you,
Chaplain Jess Pasos
Editors Note: A list of your LAFD chaplains is found on page 4 of every issue of
The Grapevine. You can contact any of
them through the MFC Floor Captain at
(213) 576-8920.
July 2014 • 45
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SIN
ROBERT “BOB” MOTHERAL, Firefighter, FS 99-C
JOSEPH JOHNSON, Inspector II, Legal Liaison Unit
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014
SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2014
Towsley Lodge at Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon
24335 The Old Road, Newhall/Santa Clarita CA
Friendly Hills Country Club
8500 S. Villaverde Drive, Whittier CA 90605
Social Hour: 4:00 PM
Dinner: 5:00 PM
Social Hour: 6:00 PM
Dinner: 7:00 PM
Barbecue Dinner - $50 includes food, drinks & gift
Chicken, Fish or Vegetarian - $55 includes tax, tip & gift
Call FS 99 - (818) 981-6379 or email: [email protected]
It’s an outside event so dress casual for a BBQ. RSVP by July 1, 2014
Mail payment to: Joseph Johnson, PO Box 1377, Chino CA 91708-1317
or call (909) 590-0699. RSVP by July 1, 2014
GARY ZIEGER, Engineer, FS 109-A
ED TAPIA, A/O, FS 87-B
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
Fire Station 109
16500 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air
Castle Catering - 50 East Green Street, Pasadena CA
Social Hour: 4:00 PM
Lunch: 5:00 PM
$10 per person - Taco Buffet
Call FS 109 Grapevine - (310) 476-0272
RSVP by August 22, 2014
Social Hour: 4:30 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Open Bar & Buffet Dinner - $55 per person
Send a check to: Melodie Tapia, 16215 Menahka, Apple Valley CA 92307
Call (760) 946-9186 for more info. Special hotel rates at Marriott Pasadena
through 8/15/2014. Contact: (626) 403-7600. Code: Ed Tapia LAFD Party
RSVP by August 13, 2014
MATTHEW POWELL, Engineer, FS 85
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014
Dalmatian American Club of San Pedro
1639 S Palos Verdes Street, San Pedro CA 90731
Social Hour: 1:00 PM
Lunch: 2:30 PM
$40 per person includes tax, tip & gift
Call FS 85 - (310) 548-7585 or
Rachel @ Fire Prevention Harbor - (310) 732-4593
RSVP by September 1, 2014
Paid Advertisements:
July 2014 • 47
To LAFRA:
Send your letters & comments to the editor at: [email protected]
Dear Widows, Orphans and Disabled
Firemen’s Fund
Please accept this donation in memory of Willis
A. (Willie) Friend. I worked with Willie twice early
in my career. The first time was at “old - long since
closed - 22’s” where he was an auto fireman on the
“A” platoon and I was a rookie on the “C” platoon.
A few years later I was promoted to auto fireman
and again had the opportunity to work with Willie
at “old - now demolished – 4’s, where he was a
captain II for part of my stay there. One thing I
remember is that he preferred not to wear a seatbelt
and even with the poor brakes on the Thibault truck
I could levitate him off his seat for a few seconds, at
least for the first two stops – after which the brakes
faded.
I seem to remember that he promoted to B/C
and was assigned to a battalion in the Valley where
he wasn’t like too well (for what reason I have no
idea). In his defense, I always got along just fine
with him and have nothing but good memories
about him.
May he rest in peace,
Richard Watters, LAFD retired
Agoura Hills, CA
Attention Andre Kuljis:
First, I want to thank you for the flag and the
fact that FS 18 firefighters assembled in front of the
station and stood at attention. Frank would have
appreciated that as he took his job seriously and
told me many stories of his time in the service of
the fire department.
48 • July 2014
We had 25 wonderful years of marriage, and he
was both a great person, aloving husband and my
best friend. I know he is no longer suffering and
is in the care of our Almighty. He went through a
terrible time in the hospital and the worst part was
he went to have a knee replacement and was in
good physical condition. He contracted sepsis, then
pneumonia, then c-diff and went downhill fast. I
felt he was trying to stay alive for me, so I took his
face in both my hands, kissed him and told him I
would be able to take care of myself, to just let go.
The most beautiful expression came over him and
I knew he would be gone soon. A few days later he
was.
If there would be more people in the world like
Frank, what a better place it would be. My thanks
to all who knew him and cared for him. A special
thanks to FS 18. He is missed.
Sincerely,
Janice Wommack, wife of
Capt. Francis L. Wommack
Sun City, AZ
Dear Widows and Orphans Fund –
I have very fond memories of Joe Lockwood,
both as a really good friend and as one of the most
effective A/C’s on the job. We shared our problems
and expectations about what was happening in the
Department. If you were looking for an answer to a
problem, Joe had it. Please accept this donation in
memory of a really close friend.
Jack Bennett
Bluffton, SC
Please accept this donation to the Widows,
Orphans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund in memory
of retired Assistant Chief Joseph Lockwood. Joe
was a fireman for the city of Norfolk and later was
a captain on the New Orleans Naval Air Station
Fire Department. I had the good fortune to work
with Joe several times starting as rookies at FS 2
and then we worked in battalion 1 – Joe at Truck
28 and me at Squad 23. While studying for our first
promotional exams, for engineer and then captain,
Joe was looked upon as the guy to beat.
After appointment to engineer, Joe and I were
assigned to the one year job of redesigning and
revising the LAFD Manual of Operations into
five volumes (that was 50 years ago). As we
were finishing the revision, we both received
appointment to captain on the same day. Several
years later we worked together at Truck and Engine
15-B. After that Joe made more promotions, finally
retiring as an assistant chief of Division I.
Joe had very high standards and spent a lot
of time training. Members of his command were
always very knowledgeable, hardworking and
aggressive firefighters.
My wife Girlen and I were privileged to spend
time with Joe and Jeane a month before he passed
away. We talked for hours about what a great job
we had and the many wonderful longtime friends
we knew over the years.
I am sure that Joe and Jeane would join us in
expressing how fortunate we were to be part of
such a great group of past and present friends on
the LAFD, and to be members of the best fire
department anywhere.
Sincerely,
Gerry and Girlen McClanahan
Fremont, MO
To WODFF:
Please accept the enclosed donation in memory
of Willis A. “Willie” Friend. I had the pleasure of
working with him at FS 4 in the early 70’s. He was
a fine captain and eventual chief officer. A true
gentleman.
John C. Ware, LAFD retired
Westminster, CA
LA Firemen’s Relief Assn,
Please accept this donation in memory of Mate
Ron Smith from Boat 2. He was a good friend and
a good mate.
Thank you,
Donald Spreeman
Huntington Beach, CA
To the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association;
I would like to thank you for all the help that
you gave my sister Pat Baker during her illness. Pat
was the widow of Fireman Joseph Baker. There are
two checks enclosed for donation to the Widows,
Orphans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
Thanks so very much,
Mary Kebler
Torrance, CA
Gentlemen:
Our mother, Della Crenshaw passed away on
August 5, 2013. In lieu of flowers in our mother’s
memory, we asked that donations could be sent for
a Memorial bench to be placed on Euclid Avenue
in Upland or to the Widows, Orphans and Disabled
Firemen’s Fund.
Many friends and relatives have lovingly
donated. We are able to order the memorial Bench
and the balance of the monies sent are enclosed as
a donation to the Widows, Orphans and Disabled
Firemen’s Fund.
Thank you,
Bonnie Ipsen, Pattie Crenshaw,
Elaine Helm and families
Upland, CA
Andy Kuljis,
Please accept this donation to the Widows and
Orphans Fund for my friend Vern Begley. He was a
really funny guy to be around.
Thank you,
Harry Morck
Helendale, CA
Frank and Laura thought they had plenty of time to get an
Estate Plan. But when Frank passed away unexpectedly, Laura
realized they were not prepared.
Five Key Steps:
1. Pick a planner. Word-of-mouth references are a good place to start, but you
should always take time to research credentials, experience, on-going education
levels and select the Estate Planning professional that best suits your needs. When
comparing costs make sure you know all the documents included and services
provided so you compare “apples to apples.” Each planner may break it down
differently.
2. Assemble a team. Your estate planning professional can advise you about
contacting a tax expert, an accountant and someone who can give you advice about
charitable giving.
3. Compile documents. Ask your attorney or other Estate Planning professional
what you'll need to bring to the first meeting. It’s usually just a few simple
documents and could include the deed(s) to your property, insurance policies,
retirement accounts and a proper I.D.
4. Ask for guidance. When you meet with members of your team, describe your
goals and ask about the best way to reach them.
5. Cover all the bases. Understand the options when considering a will or trust,
durable power of attorney, a living will, a health care power of attorney, trusts for
your children, your charity and even yourself.
For your “Getting Started Kit” contact
Marlene Casillas, Development & Marketing Director, at
July 2014
(323) 259-5217 or email [email protected] • 49
MEMBERS
Hallack F. Robb, Fireboat Mate.
Appointed May 1, 1950.
Retired on a service pension June 1, 1978 from Fireboat 5-C.
Passed away May 5, 2014.
Aldo Zuliani, Captain.
Appointed July 14, 1947.
Retired on a service pension January 1, 1978 from FS 101.
Passed away May 7, 2014.
James R. LaFlamme, Engineer.
Appointed February 1, 1955.
Retired on a service pension February 3, 1980 from FS 14-C.
Passed away May 10, 2014.
Ray M. Carpenter, Captain.
Appointed September 1, 1962.
Retired on a service pension September 29, 1995 from FS 85.
Passed away May 14, 2014.
Joseph E. Lockwood, Assistant Chief.
Appointed September 23, 1957.
Retired on a disability pension May 14, 1987 from FS 88.
Passed away May 17, 2014.
Mario J. Lara, Fireman.
Appointed January 2, 1962.
Retired on a disability pension February 24, 1977 from FS 11.
Passed away May 21, 2014.
Ora D. Mendenhall, Engineer.
Appointed November 1, 1956.
Retired on a service pension September 1, 1989 from FS 37.
Passed away May 22, 2014.
Timothy A. Walgren, Firefighter III.
Appointed April 17, 1971.
Retired on a service pension April 4, 1994 from FS 60-B.
Passed away May 30, 2014.
FAMILY
Bonnie J. Rowe, surviving spouse of Ellsworth J. Rowe, passed away April 29, 2014.
Loretta Eaton, surviving spouse of Arnold C. Eaton, passed away May 4, 2014.
Helene M. Jochheim, surviving spouse of James H. Jochheim, passed away May 6, 2014.
Mary Reed, surviving spouse of Golbert A. Reed Jr., passed away May 15, 2014.
Patricia J. Baker Jr., surviving spouse of Joseph H. Baker Jr., passed away May 16, 2014.
Betty J. Rodgers, surviving spouse of Eugene E. Rodgers, passed away May 24, 2014.
50 • July 2014
by Mike Mastro, President/CEO
Firefighters First Credit Union
Y
ou may have heard that you don’t need
to buy the extra rental car insurance
when you rent a car because your credit card or personal auto insurance will cover
any problems. So when the clerk at the rental
car agency asks you if you want their coverage
you say, “No.” After all, you are covered, right?
But it turns out that you may not have
all the coverage you need.
Rental car companies have changed
the way they do business by adding new liabilities that are not covered by your credit card or
insurance policies. Whether you are in an accident or a tree falls on the car outside your hotel,
these new charges can result in thousands of
dollars that are not covered, leaving you stuck
with the bill.
Here is a summary of the new charges typically not covered by your credit card or personal insurance:
#1: Diminution in Value
According to uslegal.com, diminution in value (DV) is “a reduction in the worth
of something caused by an action of a third
party or entity.” In relation to auto accidents,
DV is a dollar amount that represents the gap
between the car’s pre-accident value and the
car’s value after it is involved in an accident
and is repaired.
How the Rental Agency uses it:
Several years ago, DV became one of the
things rental car companies held you liable for
should you have an accident in their car. While
both credit cards and auto insurance carriers
will cover the cost of repairs, neither of them
cover DV. Many court cases have upheld that in
the absence of insurance coverage it becomes
the responsibility of the renter, as they signed
a binding contract (do you remember that long
document you signed that you didn’t really
read?)
What this means to you: Basically
it means that the rental car company can charge
you thousands of dollars for the DV even if
they have the car repaired. And in many cases, they don’t repair the car. So imagine that
you rented a Ford Focus and it was valued at
$26,500. You have an accident and the repair
estimate comes to $7,800. The rental car company chooses to sell the wrecked Focus for
parts and gets $11,700 for it at the auto auction.
You, the renter, will receive a bill for $14,800.
While your insurance company or credit card is
likely to pay the $7,800 that they would have
for the repairs, you will still be on the hook for
$7,000.
#2: Loss of Use of the Rental Vehicle
Another new charge by the rental
car companies is the “Loss of Use” charge.
This would apply if the damaged vehicle was
repaired. Under this provision, the renter is responsible for the loss of the car from the fleet of
available rentals while the car is repaired.
How the Rental Agency uses it:
If the rental car company does repair the car,
they charge you the daily rate for every day it is
unavailable for rental while it is repaired. This
charge is not covered by insurance or credit
card coverage.
What this means to you: As the
renter, you can be facing additional charges for
every day that the car sits in the shop waiting
for parts or to be repaired, which can be a week
or more. Since the charges are not covered by
the insurance, you are responsible for these
fees out of pocket as well.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
The best way to protect yourself
from thousands of dollars in liability is to sign
the Loss Damage Waiver the Rental Agency
provides. The additional charges for this coverage are typically $15 to $30 and will generally
indemnify you from these types of liabilities in
the case of an accident (for specific legal advice, consult with a qualified professional) . . .
unless of course you don’t follow all the guidelines in the agreement. Wait, what?
There are certain activities that will
void the Loss Damage Waiver agreement.
These include:
•
Being intoxicated or under the influence at the time of the accident
•
Using the vehicle on specific gravel
and dirt roads not regularly maintained
•
Improper operation of the vehicle at
the time of the accident
•
Travel across U.S. borders
•
In some instances, travelling across
state lines may be prohibited
•
Letting an unauthorized driver have
the keys; this includes the valet parking attendant at the hotel or restaurant
With this in mind, it is clear that the
best defense for a renter is to take the Loss
Damage Waiver and read the contract thoroughly before signing it.
Remember the next time you are
renting a car on vacation or for business and
“Dave” from the rental car company asks if you
want their optional Loss Damage Waiver for an
additional $30 a day, you may want to reconsider how to respond. Paying a little more now
could save you thousands in uncovered charges
down the road.
At the Credit Union, firefighters are
first. We look out for your best interests by offering products and services tailored to your
unique lifestyle. I encourage you to contact us
to learn about the warranty and other protection services automatically included with your
Firefighters First credit and debit cards. And
when you meet with a Firefighter Insurance
Services Representative, they’ll take the time
to review your existing insurance policies with
you and make recommendations to ensure you
have adequate coverage. A representative can
be reached at (800) 231-1626.
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
Funds on deposit at Firefighters First Credit Union are insured up to
$500,000 per account by American Share Insurance. This institution
is not federally insured and if the institution fails, the Federal Government does not guarantee that depositors will get back their money.
Accounts with this institution are not insured by any state government.
Firefighters First Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Lender.
Material provided is for your information and convenience only. For
specific legal advice, consult with a qualified professional. Your credit
card issuer can also provide you with disclosure information for any
included benefits.
July 2014 • 51
Donations to Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund
June 2014
KENNY H. BRADY in gratitude to the LAFD for
33 great years!
FIRE STATION NO. 99 from our Fire Service Day
PRISCELLA J. MOORE in memory of Ronald Smith
MARIE K. WAKEFIELD - WIVES OF FIREMEN SAN
PEDRO CHAPTER in memory of Lela Cotinger
ROBERT J. MUNOA from the Buzzard Bait Run
MAUREEN E. MIGAUD in memory of Ronald D. Smith
ELAINE A. HELM in memory of our mother
MARION & SHIRLEY COOPER in memory of Pat Baker
Della F. Crenshaw
RED BELL REAL ESTATE for the 2014 Fire Hogs Event
PAULA J. MEIER in memory of Jerry & Betty Andrew
HOTELIERS FOR CHARITY INC.
JOHN ADAMS
RICHARD WATTERS in memory of Willis A. (Willie) Friend
DELBERT C. THOMPSON in memory of Aldo Zuliani,
GERRY MCCLANAHAN in memory of Joseph Lockwood
FIRE STATION NO. 28 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund
JAMES E. GILLUM from the Simi Valley Breakfast Club
WILLIAM R. SWITZER
JAMES E. CRAIG in memory of Bill Burnidge
PAUL R. FULTON in gratitude for the DME
Reno, Angelo & Paul
CHARLES B. OSBORNE in memory of Bob LaFlamme
JUDITH C. SWEDLUND in honor of Ronald Dwight Smith
JACK A. BENNETT in memory of Joe Lockwood
HELEN L. SCHULZ
FIRE STATION NO. 68 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund
KAREN K. RINGER in memory of Ronald D. Smith
STEVEN SMITH C/O AT&T EMPLOYEE
KELLY S. RADETICH in memory of Ronald D. Smith
PAUL & KIKUNO NAKAMURA in memory of Pat Baker
DONALD R. SPREEMAN in memory of mate Ron Smith
JOHN C. WARE in memory of Willis A. “Willie” Friend
FIRE STATION NO. 90 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund
FIRE STATION NO. 87 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund
JULIET A. TSUCHIYA in memory of Clay Stapel
52 • July 2014
GIVING CAMPAIGN
RICHARD PEARSON C/O UNITED WAY INC.
JOHN M. LAY
DAVID L. SAWLSVILLE
GERALD R. MALAIS
ROBERT L. ROBAR
Submitted by Frank Borden • Director of Operations, LAFDHS
LAFD History - The 1938 Malibu Brush Fire
By Larry Schneider, B/C retired
Dear Frank,
I for one appreciate your many articles regarding the history of our Department.
Hopefully some of our newer members will
read and learn and become as interested in
preserving our history as you. The other day
I was thinking of some of the historic brush
fires of the past. One came to mind - the ’38
Malibu Fire. Although this fire was mostly in
L.A. it was talked about for years. This was the
first time the Department transported so many
men into one fire. It was also the first time the
new Alarm System was used for a Department
Recall. In addition, this recall was the longest
in duration (five days) in Department history. It
also gave Chief Scott credence when requesting more water mains be installed throughout
the city, including the Mountain District.
I wrote a small article regarding this
fire and some of the problems encountered. If
you wish, you may use at your discretion.
Your ole fire buddy
Larry Schneider
THE 1938 BRUSH FIRE
On November 23, 1938, a fire started
on the boundary of Los Angeles and the unincorporated area of Malibu. At that time, Fire
Protection in Malibu was provided by the Los
Angeles County Forester and Fire Warden Department and consisted of a few tank wagons
and small patrols. Because of this, and the fact
that the fire started in Los Angeles, the LAFD
dispatched a mass of fire companies and personnel into the fire.
The area was experiencing low humidity and high winds. The fire spread all the
way east to Mandeville Canyon (approximately
six miles) where it was brought under control.
Approximately half of the area that burned was
burned in the first 16 hours of this 11 day fire.
The ability of the LAFD to contain
and finally extinguish this large brush fire was
remarkable. One has to only look back (over
75 years ago) to appreciate this feat. To begin with, the country was in the throes of the
“Great Depression.” The Department hadn’t
had the luxury of purchasing any new fire apparatus from 1931 to 1937-38! Apparatus used at
this fire included apparatus dating back to 1924
(Engine Co. 71) and 1923 (Engine Co. 76),
many of which were still “chain drive” (1924
American La France). Most engine apparatus
were equipped with water tanks of only 60 to
120 gallon capacity and had a limited amount
of small hose. Most were also equipped with
hose reels containing 1” rubber hose approximately 200’ in length. In addition, all engine
companies were equipped with 200’ of 1 1/2”
hose which was part of the standard LAFD 1
1/2” “Wye Assembly.” The Wye Assembly
consisted of two 100’ 1 1/2” hose lines connected to a 2 1/2” x 1 1/2” wye. Operation of
the Wye Assembly was very quick and was
standard procedure throughout the Department
when small lines were indicated.
The LAFD organization included a
“Mountain Patrol” component. This unit was
organized in the same manner as a battalion.
At one time, there were three patrol stations
which were located along the top of the Santa
Monica mountain area of the City on or adjacent to Mulholland Hwy. The patrol operated
tank companies similar to the LA County Forester and Fire Warden. They had small brush
fire equipment and in addition operated small
patrols with one or two patrolmen. To bolster
this group’s firefighting capability, Engine
Company 76 was placed into service with a
1923 Seagrave 1000 GPM apparatus at Patrol
1 located at 12601 Mulholland Blvd. Engine
Company 71 was located at 10801 Bellagio
Rd. and was upgraded with a 1924 American
Engine Company 71 “A” Platoon.
May, 1938 at 10801 Bellagio Rd. 1924
American LaFrance Engine.
La France 750 GPM Engine replacing a 1919
American La France Engine.
Today, most apparatus not only have
closed cabs, they have air conditioning and
heating as well. Most apparatus built in the
1920’s did not have closed cabs nor doors and
windshields! All firemen stood on the tailboard
or running board while responding to fires.
Windshields were later added by the Department Shops. Most apparatus had two wheel
mechanical brakes. Driving in the Mountain
areas with these brakes was extremely dangerous.
This fire resulted in the first “Department Recall” over the “new” Fire Alarm System (1932 Alarm System). The Alarm System
had been in use for seven flawless years and
dispatched fire companies to thousands of incidents.
Recognizing this fire would require
many fire companies and also a large commitment of manpower, the Chief Engineer, Ralph
Scott, ordered the Fire Alarm Office to transmit
a “Total Recall.” The Alarm Office thereupon
transmitted the signal 9-9-9. Each Fire Station, upon receiving the signal, resulted in the
company officers initiating the total recall of
all off duty firemen. Although transmitting of
the 9-9-9 alarm took only 15 seconds, the task
of contacting each off duty member was much
more difficult. Until the 1960’s, fire stations in
Los Angeles did not have dial telephones in
them. The two telephones (fire and business)
in each station were both connected to a Fire
Department operator located in one of the four
Signal Offices. (The
four Signal Offices were
Westlake, Metro area,
West L.A. at Fire Station 59, Van Nuys at Fire
Station 39, and San Pedro at Fire Station 36.)
Therefore, in addition
to the members assigned
to the Signal Office calling members’ homes by
telephone, the station
grapevines were used
to make notification of
the off-duty members
for recall. In addition, in
1938, some firemen did
July 2014 • 53
Engine Company 31 with their brand new 1938 American LaFrance Triple“.
700 W. Slauson Ave.”] Frank’s Note. As a young boy I lived just a few blocks
from FS 31 and saw them respond many times in that ’38 Lulabelle
not have a telephone in their residence, and in
some cases their neighbors notified them upon
being called by the Department. The public radio also assisted in announcing the recall.
It must also be noted that in 1938,
many firemen did not own an automobile and
had to respond to their stations by street car or
bus. Included in the Transit Company franchise
was the provision that firemen could ride free
Division 4, Assistant Chief Forrest Moore was
the first chief on scene. In addition to requesting additional companies for the fire, Chief
Moore requested that 100 men also be dispatched. This additional manpower was transported via the four transportation apparatus
operated by the Department. These consisted
of a truck with cab for the driver and officer.
The rear was open with bench type seating facing each other for 10 men. These four apparatus
had to be staffed with a driver and instructed to
go to a Fire Station and pick up men and then
transport them to the location requested. The
Department of Water and Power came to the
rescue and provided vehicles to assist. More
than 400 LAFD personnel were transported to
this fire.
The total recall of the Department
and the staffing of all companies and the dispatching of 100 additional firemen originally
requested to the fire were accomplished in approximately 2 1/2 hours!
Even with the state of
the art computers, cell
phones, freeways, and
other equipment, it
would be a challenge to
accomplish this feat today.
In 1938, the
LAFD operated under the “Two Platoon”
system - “A”and”B”
platoons. The Department had no means to
pay overtime for hours
worked by its members.
If a member worked at
an emergency while off
duty he would receive
54 • July 2014
“credits” for time worked. The member would
be compensated for hours worked with a comparable time off.
Because the Department actuated the
Total Recall of all personnel, every member
had therefore earned credits and was recorded
in his Personal Record Book. Most time off
was granted in small increments of a few hours
and therefore getting the credit time off took
many years to accomplish. This time became
known as “38 Time”.
This was a very loose operation and
a few individuals were thought to be taking
advantage of their “38 Time.” This went on
until the late 1950’s when the Department said
enough is enough and cleared the books of any
such time owed.
Frank’s note: Larry Schneider retired from
the LAFD with 53 years of service. Prior to the
LAFD he was a Call Man on the LA County
Fire Department in 1944 for five years and was
a Fireman and Engineer on the Torrance Fire
Department for five years - for a grand total
of 63years in the fire service. His father was a
member of the LAFD in 1912 and his son Larry
just retired as a LAFD Captain II from Fireboat
4. Both Larry and his son are great historians of
the LAFD. Check Larry’s website at LAFIRE.
com.
Brush Fire in Malibu, Santa
Monica Mountains 1938. A view
from Pacific Coast Hwy.
LAFDHS Board of Directors
Thanks to all our members who voted in our Board of Directors election in June.
The 2014/15 Board members are: Jim Finn,
Don Dodd, Tim Kennoy, Tom Moran, Joe Ortiz, Don Nash, Ryan Penrod, Dave Cox, Walt
Jaeger, Tom Brennan, and Bill Rolland. After
serving on the Board for over 12 years, Bill
Dahlquist will now focus on his family and of
course the preservation of Old Fireboat 2, “The
Ralph J. Scott” where he is the job supervisor
for our volunteer workers.
Bill Dahlquist got to pilot Old Fireboat 2 on
its last trip to Larsen’s boat yard in 2004
for work on the hull. Bill was a LAFD Fireboat Pilot on this boat for 16 years.
LAFD Firsts Continued
Throughout the history of the LAFD
the Department has been a leader in innovations, developing new procedures, organizations, equipment, etc. The following is a short
list of some of those “firsts” on the LAFD and
in the Fire Service: First Department to have
assigned SCUBA divers trained for firefighting
1938 American LaFrance Manifold Wagon. 2 ½” transverse hose beds in two side
compartments.
1938 Seagrave Manifold Wagon. Transverse hose beds with 9 outlets on each
side. Both of the rigs would be paired
with the LAFD Duplex Pump with 2,000 or
3,000 grm pumping capacity. A concept
from Fire Chief Ralph J. Scott.
and rescue as dive teams - 1960; Developed fire
spread ratings with the NFPA in test fires at Stevenson Jr. High School -1957; First transverse
hose bed in 1938 American LaFrance and Seagrave Manifold Wagons; Established smoke
alarm requirements with NFPA 1978; First fire
department to have its own Arson Squad – Not
part of the Police Department; Assistant Chief
Samuel Dodd established the first Fire College
in 1925 (Don Dodd’s Grandfather); LAFD
Captain “Mo” Bullard developed the first carbide tipped chain saw blade; LAFD developed
the first high-rise firefighting plan and procedures using the Incident Command System –
1978.
LAFD members: Be proud of your
heritage!
LAFDHS Planned Events 2014
August
• The Tall Ships in San Pedro. Wed. Aug. 20
to Sat. Aug. 24 Featuring the “Ralph J. Scott”
Fireboat
• Harbor Museum Tour Group, Tue. 8/26,
1430 hrs.
• Harbor Museum Tour Group, Tue. 8/28,
1430 hrs.
September
• Annual 9-11 Memorial at LAFD Fallen Firefighters Memorial, Thu. 9/11
October
• LAFD Memorial at LAFD Fallen Firefighters Memorial, Sat. 10/11
• Fireboat 2 “Ralph J. Scott” 89th Birthday
Sat. 10/18 Harbor Museum
November
• Tour Group – Harbor Fire Museum, Wed.
Nov. 5 at 2:30 pm
• Marine Corps Birthday at Museum 27, Mon.
11/10
December
• Hollywood Christmas Parade- December
TBD
• HS Annual Holiday Party, Sat. 12/13
*Fridays from 0800 to 1200 are work days on
the “Ralph J. Scott” Fireboat
Calendar for July 2014
The Hollywood Museum is located in “Old Fire Station 27” at
1355 No. Cahuenga, Hollywood,
CA 90028. The Harbor Museum is
located in San Pedro City Hall at
638 S. Beacon St., San Pedro CA
90731.
Anyone interested in joining our
great cause by becoming a member, or volunteering to work, or
make a donation of money or an
LAFD item may contact us by
mail:
LAFDHS Museum & Memorial
1355 No. Cahuenga Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: 323 464 2727. But remember we are currently staffed part
time, so leave a message and we
will return your call. The fax number is 323-464-7401. Our E-mail
is: [email protected]. Web
site at www.lafdmuseum.org. If
you want to look at some great
LAFD history check www.lafire.
com. and check the LAFD web
site for information and events at
www.LAFD.org. We look forward
to hearing from you and seeing
you at the Museum.
The Los Angeles Fire Department
Historical Society is a non-profit
501 (C) (3) organization.
“PRESERVE, EDUCATE,
MEMORIALIZE”
July 2014 • 55
LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
May 7, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
PRESIDENT REPORT
President Juan Albarran called the meeting
of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles
Firemen’s Relief Association to order at
9:57a.m.
1) Juan Albarran mentioned the LAFRA staff
training sessions took place on April 21st –
23rd. He indicated that the training was well
received by all and stated that they focused on
communication, customer service and conflict
resolution.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Juan Albarran, President
Robert Steinbacher, Vice President
Andrew Kuljis, Secretary
Trustee James Coburn
Trustee Steven Domanski
Trustee Jeff Cawdrey
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Chris Hart
Trustee Steve Ruda
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Francisco Hernandez
Trustee Steve Tufts
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee David Ortiz
Trustee Mark Akahoshi
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Trustee Barry Hedberg – Pension
Todd Layfer - Executive Director
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Chris Stine (Excused)
Trustee Doak Smith (Excused)
Trustee Craig White (Excused)
Trustee David Lowe – Pension (Excused)
GUESTS:
Bob Olsen, L.A. Retired Fire & Police
Lee Kebler, L.A. Retired Fire & Police
Tom Stires, Retired
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
2) Juan Albarran mentioned that he and a
handful of Trustees attended the Firefighter of
the Year Luncheon honoring Dana Larsen.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
3) Juan Albarran reported that he and Bob
Steinbacher attended the Pension Board
meeting and stated that the Pension Board
approved the recommendation of the 7%
medical subsidy increase for retirees.
1) Todd Layfer reported that the candidate
chosen for the Facility/Operation Supervisor
position has decided to stay with his current
employer. He indicated that they have chosen
another candidate, Kevin Thome who will
begin on May 12th. He mentioned that Mr.
Thome comes with 10 years of facilities
operations experience.
4) Juan Albarran provided an update on 7470
Figueroa building and indicated that LAFRA
is currently negotiating with one tenant to
vacate the building.
2) Todd Layfer mentioned that the Hook &
Ladder Enduro event raised $18K net for the
WODFF. He thanked Craig White and Bruce
Galien for their hard work and efforts.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
3) Todd Layfer indicated that the MAS 90
software demo was successful for Grapevine
uses to better track their ads. He indicated
that they will use the MAS 90 software and
stated that it will cost $3,000 for the add-on
software.
Tonetta Conner with the Harrington Group
provided a brief summary of their findings
for the 2013 Audit Report. She mentioned
that they had met with the Audit Committee
and reviewed in detail the financials of the
organization. She stated that the Harrington
Group issued a clean opinion for both LAFRA
and the WODFF and stated that there were no
issues with regard to the systems and policies.
She indicated that they made a few minor
recommendations they feel would strengthen
certain areas and benefit the organization.
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to approve
the 2013 Audit Report. David Ortiz so moved.
Rick Godinez seconded. There was no
discussion or objections.
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Dennis
Mendenhall led the flag salute.
Motion carried to approve the 2013 Audit
Report.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to ratify
and dispense with the reading of the minutes
of the Board of Trustees meeting held April
2, 2014. David Peters so moved. Tim Larson
seconded. There was no further discussion or
objections.
1) Bob Steinbacher mentioned that he and
Dave Peters attended the SIIA Conference
and indicated that it was very informative.
He mentioned the conference coming up in
Boston and asked those Trustees attending to
book their flights.
Motion carried to ratify and dispense with
the reading of the minutes of the Board of
Trustees held April 2, 2014.
INVESTMENT REPORT
56 • July 2014
Garth Flint reviewed the market performance
and reported on stock speculations. Mike
Breller
reviewed
LAFRA’s
portfolio
performance for the quarter and indicated that
it earned 1.7% and the allocation and policy
indexes earned between 1.9% and 1.3% which
was what they had expected.
Garth Flint and Mike Breller presented the
2014 1st Quarter Investment Performance
Review.
4) Todd Layfer reported on the Hope for
Firefighters planning and indicated that they
would like as many Trustees as possible to
volunteer for that day. He mentioned that so
far there are 22 fire stations signed up to cook
and have around $65K in sponsorships and
pledges.
SCHOLARSHIP REPORT
Rick Godinez reported on the scholarship
program and stated that the essays have been
graded. He indicated that the winners have
been identified and will be presented with
their awards at the June 4th Board meeting.
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 $1,074,755.62. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary
bills in the amount of $1,074,755.62.
The committee recommends and I so move
to pay the professional fees in the amount
of $155,203.61. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to pay the professional fees
in the amount of $155,203.61.
The committee recommends and I so move
to enter into a 5-year printer lease for the
Marketing Department. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to enter into a 5-year printer
lease for the Marketing Department.
The committee recommends and I so move
to enter into contract with Simon Wong &
Associates. He stated that they will be the
mechanical engineer for the new building
build out. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to enter into contract with
Simon Wong & Associates.
The committee recommends and I so move
to enter into contract with Interscape. He
stated that they will be the general contractor
for the build out. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to enter into contract with
Interscape.
The committee recommends and I so move to
approve up to $250 to support the California
Firefighter Memorial. There was no discussion
or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $250 to
support the California Firefighter Memorial.
The committee recommends and I so move to
approve up to $200 for the LAFD Captain’s
Badge Presentation. There was no discussion
or objections.
Motion carried to approve up to $200 for the
LAFD Captain’s Badge Presentation.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
David Peters presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to
accept the applications to the Medical Plan.
There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to accept all applications to
the Medical Plan.
RELIEF COMMITTEE REPORT
James Coburn presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to
pay:
The Sick & Injury benefits in the amount of
$0,
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of
$4,400,
The Life & Accident Death benefit in the
amount of $12,000,
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of
$22,500.
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
Lyle W. Marvin, Jr.
Stephen A. Haz
Jack Rein
James S. Rossie Sr.
William A. Burnidge
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
James Coburn
motions.
presented
the
following
The committee recommends and I so move
to accept the donations in the amount of
$31,840.11 to the Widows, Orphans &
Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in
the amount of $31,840.11 to the Widows,
Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s 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.
Motion carried to approve the financial
assistance applications for surviving spouses,
active and retired members.
EMERGENCY ADVANCEMENTS
James Coburn presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move
to approve the emergency advancement
applications for active and retired members.
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the emergency
advancement applications for active and
retired members.
GRAPEVINE/WEB REPORT
Chris Hart indicated that we received several
questions about what to do when getting ready
to retire. He suggested that we create some
type of checklist and/or document to assist
the members and also make it available on the
website.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Andy Kuljis asked Trustees to check their
emails and try to assist with the flying of flags.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Lane Kemper Softball Tournament –
May 14th
2) LAFRA Reunion Pechanga –
May 19th – 23rd
3) Hope for Firefighters – June 5th
(Picnic May 18th)
4) Fire Hogs Memorial Ride – June 28th
5) Get Together Foundation Concert @
Canyon Club – July 3rd
6) World Fire Games – August 15th – 24th
7) Over the Line Tournament – September 3rd
8) LAFD Invitational Golf Tournament –
September 22nd
9) IFEBP Annual Conference (Boston) –
October 12th – 15th
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) Tom Yost – May 17th Woodland Hills
Marriott Hotel
2) Joe Klein – May 21st Brookside
Golf Course
3) Ben Simpson – June 7th Edgemont Ranch
4) Paul Sebourn – June 20th Ports
O’Call Restaurant
5) Curtis O. Black – June 20th Newport Beach
6) Deresa Teller – June 29th Simi Valley
7) Robert “Bob” Motheral – July 10th
Towsley Lodge
8) Joseph Johnson – July 19th Friendly Hills
County Club
9) Ed Tapia – September 6th Castle
Catering Pasadena
ADJOURNMENT
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to adjourn.
David Ortiz moved. Tim Larson seconded.
There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of
Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:29 a.m.
Juan Albarran, President
July 2014 • 57
CLASSIFIEDS
MERCHANDISE
FOR SALE
2004 30’ AIRSTREAM LAND
YACHT. Fully loaded, immaculate
inside and out! No slideouts. 8.1L
Vortec gasoline engine. 45,500 miles.
Alison Transmission. 4000 lb. towbar
with Brake Buddy. Includes Onan
Generator. 2 A/C - Heaters. Oak
cabinetry with Corian countertops.
Fridge/Freezer, micro-wave, 3 burner
stove/oven. 2 TV’s. Winterized. Twin
XL beds. Sleeps 4. $38,500.00 obo.
Contact: Larry (I Swear I Didn’t Work
On it!) Jarvis - 661-212-1154
2008 MONTE VISTA 5TH WHEEL.
35.6’, 1 1/4 BA, 4 bunks, master, 2
dinettes, big screen TV, fireplace,
4 slideouts, fridge, convection
microwave, surround sound, forced
air-heat, water heater, ceiling fan,
spot for washer/dryer, 5.5K generator
(Onan). Will sell truck if needed. (310)
514-1633, [email protected]
COLLECTOR CARS. 1990 Chevy
SS454 “pick-up from hell” runs perfect. Needs some TLC. Best offer!
1979 VW Convert “last year ever
made” white/white/white. 780 miles
on engine. New tires on polished
porsche wheels. Best offer over
$5500. Stored inside in Palmdale.
Call Monty Majesky - retired LAFD
anytime (661) 265-6557
FIAT COLLECTORS. Check this out.
1927 Fiat X19 Bertone convertible
stored for years. New tires less than
80,000 miles looks and runs good.
Needs smog, pump and bracket for
California driving. $4500 OBO. (760)
878-2269 (Independence CA). Leave
message. Sorry no agents.
MAGGI¹S USED CARS FINAL SALE
2012 Ford Fiesta, only 1,100 miles,
like brand new, $11,000, call Vito
Maggipinto at (818) 249-0240
PROJECT CARS. 1940 Ford 2-door
and 4-door sedans. 1939 deluxe
2-door sedan. 1941 Ford 123 inch
wheelbase railway express agency
truck. 1954 mercury hardtop, 1957
Ford hardtop. 1961 T-Bird convertible.
Miscellaneous parts and sheet metal.
Contact Jim McPherson LAFD retired
(805) 501-8102 or email
[email protected]
REAL ESTATE
FOR SALE
ACROSS FROM GOLF COURSE.
Eagle Point, Oregon, 2008 custom
home, 2783 sf., 3 BD 2 BA, two story.
Birch floors, island kitchen, oversized
58 • July 2014
garage (724 sf), gas fireplace. Quiet
cul-de-sac within walking distance
to restaurants, shops, fitness club
and walking trail around golf course.
$306,000. www.southerncustomhome.com or call (541) 772-3790.
COMMERCIAL AUTO REPAIR
SHOP has everything - tools, books,
inventory, 2 lifts, two 20 ft containers,
tire machine - way too much to list.
Plus small 2 bedroom house all on
half acre corner lot, ready to move in
and start working. Hwy 395, Independence CA. LAFD Widow. (760) 8782269. Shown by appointment only.
Great deal at $220,000 cash.
FOR SALE BY OWNER
International Living $170.000
Ecuador, Esmeraldas, South Pacific,
Lagos de la Cumbia Resort, beautiful
SFH, 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, fully
furnished vacation pool home. Access
to 20-horses stable, and tennis court.
Between SAME and SUA beaches
this home is a gem. For more details
contact: Hilda Rendon (714) 5866729
GREAT FISHING/HUNTING - 2700
sq ft home overlooking the wind river
located in the gifford pinchot national
forest north of carson, washington.
- 2 story 3 b/r, 3 bath with storage
building. $300k call 360/696-1592 for
details & photos.
GREAT HOME in gated neighborhood on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina. Located in a gated neighborhood, has a dock in place on deep
water. Home features five bedrooms
and five bathrooms with master on
main. Kitchen has granite countertops
and stainless steel appliances. There
are two decks on that is screened in.
There is an additional 2300 square
feet in basement partially finished.
Easy walk to lake. $649,900. 105
Chapelwood Drive, Anderson, South
Carolina.
www.callelizabeth.com
NEW HOME IN SOUTHERN OREGON. 2014 custom home, 2,000
sf, 3 BD 2 BA one story home on
cul-de-sac. Redwood 3 1/4” sanded
finish floors, 9’ ceilings, shed vault
in living and dining rooms, island
kitchen, granit counter tops, stainless
steel appliances, pantry gas fireplace,
and utility room. Beautiful views in
Medford, Oregon. $329,900.
www.foothillcustomhome.com or
call (541) 772-3790.
SERVICES
911 CALL ELIZABETH
WILLAHAN (LAFD wife) for any real
estate needs. Donation to fire-related
organizations and/or help with some
escrow fees with every closed sale!
Specializing in Orange County, parts
of Los Angeles/Riverside Counties.
Lender information available. Century
21 Award, BRE #00966984. (949)
293-2401
ALTERNATIVE & TRADITIONAL
Termite & Pest Control - ECOLA
Ecological Solutions. Smart choices,
simple solutions. Problem solved.
Call for FREE termite estimate or
pest quotes over the phone - escrow
and inspections excluded. Fireman
wife Sue Fries - Termite Lady. (818)
652-7171.
[email protected]
BUSY BEAVER TREE AND LANDSCAPE. Tree trimming and removal,
stumpgrinding, and firewood sales.
Mixed firewood, eucalyptus and oak.
Delivery available or pick up. Licensed and insured. Dwayne Kastor,
FS 63-B - (818) 535-6368.
CALIFORNIA FIREARMS
DEALER - DOJRS background
checks, FFL transfers, handgun
safety certificate, consignment sales,
gun registration and personal transfers. Personal firearms instructor,
tactical casualty management and
gunsmithing. All handguns and long
guns must be listed on the California
DOJ for sale roster. Call Bill Evans active LAFD (714) 330-9825 email:
[email protected]
COUNSELING SERVICES. Licensed
Clinical Psychologist Dr. Susan Purrington specializes in anxiety, depression, relational difficulties, eating disorders, spiritual or personal growth,
marital conflict, family of origin issues.
Find a supportive and confidential
place for healing and growth. Located
in Old Towne Orange. Questions or
consultation: (949)648-7875
[email protected]
CRAIG SANFORD HEATING & AIR
- Free estimates, residential, commercial. Great rates for LAFD and
LAPD. Toll free (877) 891-1414, (661)
298-3070, FAX (661) 298-3069. State
License No. 527114
FIRE FAMILY ESTATE SALES – Call
us when a loved one passes, moves
to a nursing facility or downsizes. Our
professional staff can handle every
aspect of estate liquidation. We have
worked with many fire families and
are here to help. Rebecca Martin,
LAFD wife (818) 216-3637 www.
firefamilyestatesales.com
FIREMAN DESIGN LANDSCAPE
INC. A complete landscape service
A-Z. Sod irrigation / stamped concrete
/ driveways / patio cover / low voltage
lighting / artificial turf / rockscapes /
walls. FREE landscape design. Free
estimates. Serving all Southern CA.
Eric Mendoza 96-B (760) 221-1912.
Call or text. CA Lic # 807078.
Bonded & insured
www.firemanlandscape.com
FIREMAN WHOLESALE NURSERY
& ROCK YARD. All your landscape
materials @ wholesale prices. Trees
/ plants / decorative rock / boulders /
firewood / sod / artificial turf. Delivery
available. Located in Victorville CA.
(760) 243-9500
www.firemanwholesalenursery.
com Your 1 stop shop!
GARAGE DOOR INSTALLATION
& SERVICE. Garage doors and openers. Need to replace your broken
springs? or does your door need
repair, even replaced? We do it all
from new product to repairing old. Call
(661) 860-4563 Grassroots Garage
Doors, Inc. Lic# 950020. Son of 35
year veteran fireman.
MARRIAGE, FAMILY, INDIVIDUAL
COUNSELING. Licensed therapist
Cathy Chambliss helps couples and
individuals work through conflicts
in relationships, stress, anxiety,
affairs, communication issues, and
divorce. All counseling is confidential.
Insurance taken. Call Cathy at (310)
303-9132. Office located in Hermosa
Beach.
www.cathychamblissmft.com
REAL ESTATE SERVICES. Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Moorpark,
Simi Valley, Camarillo, Ventura and
the San Fernando Valley. Homes,
lots, commercial and investment
properties. Over 20 years experience.
Please call me with your real estate
questions and also request your activity reports for your area. Mike Rhodes
- Prudential California Realty. Realtor
- BRE License 0177388. LAFD
retired. Cell (805) 501-6044. Email:
[email protected]
TAX ALERT FOR FIREFIGHTERS.
Don’t lose thousands of dollars during
your professional career to taxes!
Let HEWITT FINANCIAL GROUP
prepare your tax return. We specialize
in tax preparation and financial planning for firefighters. We offer a FREE
REVIEW of your last three years of
tax returns. Call us today at (800)
573-4829 or visit us at
www.hewittfinancial.com
WINDOWS & PATIO DOORS - vinyl
replacement windows & Patio doors. I
also carry aluminum, wood and entry
door systems. Rick Brandelli, Capt.
LACoFD, FS 8-C (800) 667-6676.
www.GeeWindows.com
VACATION
RENTALS
BIG BEAR CABIN - All season,
restful views from decks. Two story,
sleeps 6, half mile to lake, two plus
miles to slopes. Fireplace/Wood,
cable TV/DVD/VCR. Full kitchen,
completely furnished except linens.
Pets ok. $95/$105 (two day minimum). $550/$600 a week, Beep or
Donna Schaffer 1+(760) 723-1475.
www.schaffercabin.com
BIG BEAR CABIN. 2 bedroom, 2
bath, 2 story. Sleeps 6-8. About 6
miles from ski slopes & lake. Fireplace/
wood, cable, full kitchen - furnished.
$100 per night M - Th. $110 per night
F-Sun. Weekly available. Sheri (909)
851-1094 or (760) 948-2844.
BIG BEAR LAKE’S FINEST- Deluxe
lakeside townhouse, 2 bedrooms,
3 baths, 2 cable TVs, HBO, DVD,
WiFi, 2 wood burning fireplaces,
laundry room, tennis court, indoor
pool, sauna, spa, boat dock. Fully
equipped, including all linens. Sleeps
6. 310-541-8311 or email: [email protected]
BIG BEAR CABIN - Sugarloaf - Cozy
upgraded 2 bedroom cabin. Sleeps
8. Fireplace, deck, Wifi - internet and
cable TV. On a large lot with sled hill.
Fully furnished except linens. $125
Winter $100 summer. Details and
availability, Call/text/email Jessica
(949) 874-5294
[email protected] sugarloafcabin.com
CATALINA BEACH
COTTAGE - 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, one
block to beach, view, fully equipped
housekeeping unit. Marci (818) 3476783 or Clarence (310) 510-2721.
FABULOUS CAYUCOS
BEACH CONDO. 180-degree ocean
front view, 1 bedroom, 1 1/4 bath,
living room, sofa bed, outdoor patio
ocean front view. Morro Bay/ Hearst
Castle, Central California Area. Steps
to beach and fishing pier. Nearby public golf & tennis. Weekly or monthly.
Contact Sondra (818) 985-9066.
JUNE LAKE CABIN - 2BR/2BA
cabin with Carson Peak view. Close
to fishing & skiing. Furnished, wood
deck, equipped kitchen, wood 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.
[email protected]
LAKE ARROWHEAD BLUE JAY
CABIN. Charming 2-story with creek,
large deck, two baths, complete kitchen, TV/VCR/DVD, fireplace, washer
& dryer. Walk to Blue Jay 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 amenitiesLaundry & 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 email: [email protected]
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 FF’s starting @100/nt
oldtownmammothcondo.ownernetworks.com
[email protected]
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 Cozy 2 bedrooms, 2 bath. Fully furnished, WIFI,
3 TV’s, pool, spa, walk to shuttle, Old
Mammoth area. Winter $115, Summer $90, plus maid $126. Includes
linens. No pets, no smoking. Call
(310) 540-4648.
MAMMOTH CONDO AT MAMMOTH
ESTATES, 4BR/3BA, sleeps 10, fully
furnished, 2 TVs, DVDs, WiFi, towels/
linens, fireplace. Full kitchen. Walk to
Gondola Village and shuttle. Complex
has pool, spa, sauna, laundry. Winter
$335/night, Summer $215/night, plus
cleaning. Includes city bed tax. No
pets, no smoking. Dory Jones (310)
918-0631 or Kelly Corcoran (310)
619-5355
MAMMOTH CONDO - 2 bdrm, 2
bath, 2 TV’s, phone, garage, pool,
jacuzzi, fully furnished - exept linens.
Near shuttle/chair 15. Winter $125/
night. Weekends and Holidays $110
midweek. Summer $95/night. $495/
week. No smoking. No pets. Jim
Johnson (818) 992-7564, FS 80C.
MAMMOTH CONDO rental. Large
2bed/2bath winterset condo. Fully furnished, across from Vons, on shuttle
route, easily sleeps 8. Hot tub, heated
pool, sauna, full size in unit W/D
HDTV/WiFi throughout, woodburning
fireplace, pets OK FIREFIGHTER
DISCOUNTS, rates from $150/night
facebook.com/[email protected]
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: [email protected]
MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET:
Studio/loft, 2 bath, king bed, sleeps 4.
Full kitchen, TV, VCR, DVD. Garage
parking. Walk to Canyon Lodge. Ski
back wall. 2 night minimum. Winter
$100/nite, $126 Fri, Sat & Holidays.
Summer $50/nite. Plus $95 cleaning
& linens. Jeff & Lisa Moir. LAFD Air
Ops (661) 254-5788.
MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET: Walk
to Canyon Lodge. Studio loft sleeps
4. Queen beds, full kitchen, 2 baths,
garage 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: [email protected] or
(213) 399-6534.
MARIPOSA/GOLD COUNTRY. North
entrance to Yosemite. 2 bedrooms, 1
bath, sleeps 6. Newly built. Complete
kitchen, washer & dryer, wi-fi, satellite
TV. Seasonal rates. www.thecottageonevergreenlane.com
Call 888-977-1006
MAUI BEACH FRONT CONDO ON
NAPILI BAY - 50’ from water. Studios
and 1 bedroom. Luxury furnishings +
full kitchen. All the amenities! Maui’s
best snorkeling/beach. All island
activities & Kapalua within 4 minutes.
5-day minimum, from $150 per night
(regularly $310/night). Call Sherrie or Bill for info/reservations (805)
530-0007 or email: pmimaui@aol.
com or visit:
www.napilibaymaui.com
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: [email protected]
or Bruce Galien, Retired, 661-6457448, email: [email protected]
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
MAUI’S MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACH
- Napili Bay. Beautiful furnished condo
that sleeps 4. Lanai/balcony, full kitchen, king bed, flat screen TV’s/DVD,
AC’s 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)
548-5659
MONTANA ROCKY MT. FRONT
GETAWAY - 80 miles south of Glacier
Nat’l Park, in the foothills of the
Rockies, mountain and canyon views.
1,000’s 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) 270-8143 or
www.VRBO.com (#494959)
PALACE RESORTS ALL INCLUSIVE. Cancun, Riviera Maya, Isla
Mujeres, Cozumel - Exclusive
member service and treatment. Visit
palaceresorts.com to view various
resorts and amenities. Price is for one
week, two persons, any day travel
and includes airport transportation,
massages and two tours. Price varies
by season. John @ (626) 757-5341
or [email protected]
PALM DESERT-3 bed/2bath, one
level. New re-model, fully furnished w/
linens. Cable TV/DVR, Private Patio,
July 2014 • 59
BBQ, Laundry, Garage, Gated
Community, two (Pools, Jacuzzi’s,
Tennis Courts). Near College of
the Desert. $175 Dan Cook 310
418 1577.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Romantic
Chalet Family getaway. 3 bed/2
bath plus loft. Sleeps 8–10. Cable
TV, washer/dryer, 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
LUXURY RV FOR RENT. New
class A 40’ motorhome. Sleeps 8,
bunk beds, 4 slides, 4 TVs, fully
loaded. $270/day (with active/retired firefighter/police discount), includes cleaning fee and unlimited
miles. 3-day minimum, tow dolly
available. Get more, pay less. Call
Shawn, LAFD. (888) 540-4835.
www.ocdreamrv.com
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.
OTHER
12’ DUMP TRAILER. $85/day.
Contact Gregg Avery, FS 98-A.
(805) 320-8311
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.
DELILLO CHEVROLET
Special pricing on any Chevrolet car
or truck (except Stingrays and SS) for
firefighters and family
John “Hollywood” Heinle—Fleet Manager
18211 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach CA 92648
714-624-7555 / [email protected]
Please call me direct for a no
hassle experience
----------------------------
GALPIN FORD
“#1 Volume Ford Dealer in the world for 20
consecutive years!”
Lincoln / Mercury / Honda / Mazda /
Volvo / Ford / Jaguar / Lotus / Aston
Martin / Spyker / Galpin Auto Sports
For special pricing contact
Terry Miller—Fleet Sales & Leasing
15505 Roscoe Blvd
North Hills CA 91343
818-797-3800 l www.galpin.com
1.800.GO.GALPIN
60 • July 2014
GOUDY HONDA
Auto Leasing & Fleet Sales Since 1989
Fastest Growing Dealer in the Nation
1400 W Main St, Alhambra CA 91801
Eddie Wang—Fleet & Lease Mgr
626-300-4222 l 800-423-1114
---------------------------HAMER TOYOTA, INC.
Camry / Celica / Corolla / Tundra
Tacoma / Sienna / Supra / Solara
11041 Sepulveda Blvd
Mission Hills CA
Ask for Steve Denson—Fleet Mgr
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
Paid Advertisement
July 2014 • 61
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
815 Colorado Blvd FL 4
Los Angeles CA 90041-1745
WE HAVE
YOUR BACK...
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