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2 January 2015

33

VOL. XCI

JANUARY 2015

FEATURES
LAFRA Open House Celebration

Firefighters and their families got together to share some good cheer
at the 2014 Relief Association Open House in December . . . . 06

In Memoriam - Arnett Hartsfield

Remembering the fireman and civil rights pioneer who led the battle
for the desegregation of the LAFD in the 1950s .. . . . . . . . . . 11

Kitchen Table Wisdom

In this edition, three rated members address their role as it relates to

operational competence and engine house leadership . . . . . . . 36

On the cover: Structure Fire

Photo by: Shawn Kaye

Follow us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/firemensgrapevine

NO. 05

CONTENTS
Presidents Message ................................................................................05
Battalion News ..........................................................................................12
Retired Guys ...........................................................................................27
National Hot Rod Association
LAFD member inducted into Hall of Fame ................................................28
2014 NORRA Mexican 1000
Firefighters race through the Baja desert ............................................30
Station Fridge ...........................................................................................31
Department in Action ................................................................................33
LAFD Merit Scholars
8th annual awards for firefighter children ............................................38
Retirement Dinner Announcements ........................................................41
Craig Alder Golf Tournament
2014 event a great success ..................................................................42
Youve Hit a Nerve
Dealing with Sciatica ............................................................................43
Dollars & Sense
Making tough decisions for aging parents .............................................45
Memorials .................................................................................................47
Mailbox .....................................................................................................49
LAFD History
Chief Engineers of the LAFD, Part One ...................................................50
Minutes of the Board of Trustees ..............................................................54
Classifieds ................................................................................................57
Tailboard ................................................................................................61

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

COPYRIGHT 2015

Los Angeles Firemens Relief Association.

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

January 2015 3

FIREMENS GRAPEVINE
owned and published by the

Los Angeles Firemens Relief Association

815 Colorado Blvd, 4th Floor, Los angeles CA 90041

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

PSOs

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 FIREMENS RELIEF ASSOCIATION

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

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

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

CHAPLAINS

To contact a chaplain,
Please call Senior Chaplain Rick Godinez at (661) 904-3050
or the MFC Floor Captain at (213) 576-8920
Greg W. Gibson...................Chaplain
Danny Leon..........................Chaplain
George A. Negrete...............Chaplain
Aquil F. Basheer..................Chaplain
Tim Werle............................Chaplain

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

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

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

THE FIREMENS GRAPEVINE (USPS 191-060) is published monthly by the Los Angeles Firemens
Relief Association, 815 Colorado Blvd. 4th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90041. Annual $24 Subscription
included with Association membership; Non-members: $36. Single issues $3 postpaid. Back issues $6
postpaid. Periodicals postage paid at Los Angeles, CA and at additional mailing office. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to: THE FIREMENS GRAPEVINE Magazine, P.O. BOX 41903, Los Angeles, CA 90041.
Printed by Collective Color, Los Angeles CA. For Classified and Display Advertising rates please call (323)
259-5200, ext. 231, 232 or 260. All editorial matter must be received by the Editor eight weeks prior to the
month of publication. The opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect
the official views of the Los Angeles City Fire Department or the Los Angeles Firemens Relief Association.

4 January 2015


Happy New Year!

We here at LAFRA hope you and yours have a healthy and
bountiful 2015!

I would like to thank everyone for voting in the latest election. I want to let you know that the By-Law changes were approved by nearly 95.0% of the received ballots. These By-Law
revisions give flexibility to the Board and President in appointing
trustees. This will assist us in the prompt governance of the Association.

This year we have a new trustee. His name is Frank Aguirre. He is currently assigned to Fire Station 27 on the C Platoon.
He has 20 years on the job and is looking forward to working
with staff and the other trustees here at LAFRA on the many varied projects.

I would also like to welcome all of our new Medical Plan
members. We look forward to a long relationship. A reminder to
all, the Relief Association Medical Plan is managed by firefighters for firefighters! The Relief Medical Plan offers the highest
level of benefits at the lowest possible costs. There is also a vision
benefit and an available long term care plan. Our LAFRA staff,
trustees and consultants are always looking for ways to expand
and improve your benefits! If you are not already a Medical Plan
member, contact one of the Trustees for more information about
the Plan and they will get you ready for the next open enrollment
period in the Spring.

Speaking of the Medical Plan, the upcoming
change for Medicare eligible members is our most
recent effort to improve and enhance the pharmaceutical benefits. All Medicare eligible members
will automatically be enrolled in the Relief Express Scripts Medicare Part D plan. Members do
not need to do anything. Information has been
sent out. Please review it carefully. Each eligible
member will receive their own packet , so do not
throw anything away! Some of the key changes
are:

That you may obtain a 90 day refill at
the retail pharmacy of your choice using a 90-day
script from your provider.

No penalties on refills of maintenance
medications obtained at a retail pharmacy.

New ID cards. One for the prescription
plan (from Express Scripts) the other for medi-

cal benefits (from HealthSCOPE benefits). For a total of two (2)

cards.

If you have any questions please call Express Scripts at
(866) 544-6963. They are available 24 hours a day.

I would also remind you to use our LAFRA websites and
social media for the quickest and most recent updates that involve
any LAFRA related items. This includes death notifications and
changes in the Medical Plan or Relief benefits.

This year we will start the construction of your new
LAFRA offices at 7470 North Figueroa. We have cleared our tenant hurdles, have finalized plans for the remodel and have selected a general contractor. By the time you receive this Grapevine
we will have started what we hope is our home for the next 25
years!

The Staff, Board and I thank you for your support.

Juan Albarran
president@lafra.org
(323) 259-5200

Three generations of Albarrans

January 2015 5

6 January 2015

hile firefighters and their families

got together to share some good
cheer at the 2014 Relief Association
Open House in December, it was also a time
to bid adieu to the quarters on Colorado Blvd.
Next year LAFRA will be housed nearby at
7470 Figueroa St and the annual Open House
will also be a House Warming party.

And firemen do know how to throw a
party certainly when theres a host bar and
the specialty drinks are Boomtown Bloody
Marys and Merry Mai Tais. There was also
quite a spread for the party-goers, prepared
this year by Executive Chef Dennis Timashpolsky of Cornucopia Catering. There were
way too many great dishes to mention them all
but how about Pineapple & Goat Cheese Quesadillas, Hawaiian Crusted Tenderloin, Freshly
Roasted Pineapple Cranberry Glazed Turkey,
Boomtown Baby Back Ribs, Grilled Chicken
Kabobs, and Sausage with Peppers & Onions
in Beer Broth, just to name a few. And this year
there were two dessert rooms overflowing with

the likes of Lemon Drop Squares, Raspberry

Mousse Tarts, Cheesecake Tarts and Cannolis.

According to LAFRA Logistics Section Chief Juliette Brandolino, The desserts
are always a favorite, so we made sure that
there were more than enough of Dennis sweet
creations for everyone to enjoy.

This year the Relief Association honored recently retired Engineer Ray Mayo for
his decades of dedication to the LAFD, the Relief Association and his fellow firefighters. Ray,
accompanied by his wife Lorraine and what
seemed to be scores of family members was
introduced by LAFRA President Juan Albarran,
who presented him with a helmet plaque depicting his two most favorite assignments 14s
and 64s. Ray said just a few humble words,
declaring that the tribute really should be for
the many unsung guys who worked behind the
scenes to make all the events so successful.

In addition to the food, drink and
camaraderie, guests were entertained by a
strolling magician - Magic Castle award win-

ner Joe Skilton, had a chance to pose for pix

with photos and Fountains a mobile photo
booth owned operated by FF Jerrod Webster,
and were able to get a jump on Xmas shopping
for firefighter gifts from LAFD Fire Apparel who set up in the foyer downstairs.

Special thanks to the cadre of regular
LAFRA volunteers who took shifts to greet and
direct guests as they arrived: Lydia Andrews,
Lori Madden, Rose Franco, Jennifer Petty,
Virginia Newcomb, Cindy Firestine, Melissa
McComas, Jeanne Urquiza, Emily Pizinger,
Mary Pizinger and Karen Barnhill. Thanks
also to Cadet Post 89 members Rocio Pelayo,
Roee Losycer and Jenson Martinez who
greeted guests and provided parking control.

Be sure and mark your calendars for
next year for a visit to the new 7470 building. Youll want to stop by and see how your
LAFRA dollars are being used to assist the
membership.

January 2015 7

t was a very usual morning about 25 years

ago. Ray Mayo and his buddies Pete Xenios, Juan Oyeda and Dave Zar were headed for the beach to surf. On this particular day
they found about 20 guys from the department
out on the sand, waiting to sign up for the new
LAFD surf club.

Ray and company said their hellos,
and then headed out to catch a few waves. At
mid-day, the guys stopped for their usual lunch
break Subway sandwiches, chips and beer.
Only Ray decided they would buy lunch for
ALL of their LAFD friends on the beach. By
the end of the day everyone had opted out of
the LAFD surf club and wanted to join Rays
club instead.

Just two months later they had their
own event. More than 50 surfers showed up for
the waves and camaraderie, and they donated
the proceeds to the Widows and Orphans Fund.
The Ray Mayo Classic was born!

Ray makes it pretty clear though that
he is just the front man. He is the P.R. guy
signing up surfers for the event and finding the
sponsors. A dedicated group of guys handle everything else.

Its like a well-oiled fire company.
Everyone has their job to do. Just one phone
call and they all rally to get the job done, says
Mayo.

Ray entered the Drill Tower on April
12, 1981 and spent his probation in the harbor.
A massive rookie exchange sent him to 64s
in 1983. He took advantage of his time at the
Watts Fire Dept honing his skills, impressing
his captains with his ability and his co-workers
with his affability.

8 January 2015

Early in 1988, someone decided Ray
needed to be weighed on a scale meant for
Haoles and not Polynesians and guess what??
After missing numerous weigh-ins, Ray was
sent with claw marks all the way down the
405 to 79s.

Not to worry though by Fathers Day
he got his revenge and was promoted to engineer. They were cleaning house at FS 5 and he
was sent there to bring some order to the chaos.
After just a year he moved over to 14s to work
under the tutelage of the likes of Jim Ott, Bill
Finn and Dinko Klarin.

The devotion and commitment of Ray
Mayo is legendary, leading many to say that
he is a big hearted fellow. Only problem is the
doctors thought his heart was a little too big and
put him off duty in 2002. But less than a year
later Ray was back at Fire Station 64 for what
he calls a very special time. He now shared
the front seat of the engine with his rookie
from the first time around, Wendell Smith.
And he says that he was privileged to have his
new water buddy, Harry Balls Correll,
re-teach him how to drive.

Ray and Harry would develop a
very close relationship. Later, as cancer wracked Harrys body, Ray was
there to watch over and take care
of him. His final tribute to his old
friend was to snag the Fire Station
64 sign from the old station and
deliver it to his ailing buddy at his
ranch near Solvang.

His own health finally got the better
of Ray and he spent the last few years in light
duty. But never one to sit back and take it easy,
Ray dedicated himself wherever he was. At
Homeland Security he helped devise the Terminal Island evacuation plan. At Drivers Training at FHMTC, he spent many a weekend on
his own time teaching the young guys how to
drive a stick. At OCD, he came in on his days
off to practice his computer skills.

Every new assignment renewed my
vigor to learn, Ray said. Theres new friends,
new relationships, and doors opening to new
opportunities.

With Rays retirement there was concern that the surf classic would also be retired.
But Bill James has agreed to carry the torch
as long as Ray still lends his name and repute
to the event. So its back to Old Mans next
year. Hope to see you there.

While the annual LAFRA Open House provides an opportunity for the organization to thank the
membership, a few members wanted to voice their appreciation to the officers, trustees and staff.
Tom & Julie Stires (1998)
We really appreciate all the medical
devices that are available.

Ron & Darlene Curtis (2003)

Members can always rely
upon the Relief Association.
They are always helpful.

Steve & Mona Romas (75-A)

Inspired by John Lawrence and Lane
Kemper, LAFRA afforded a great opportunity for our daughter to volunteer.

Bruce Burkhart (48-A),

Shannon Saffo (48-C) & Joe Zabalaza (48-C)
The Relief Association is there when you
need them. They will never let you down.

Vito Maggipinto (1977)

I love the Department
Its just like my family.
Paul Del Pinto,
M.B. Reed &
Lyle Hall
Its our Relief Association which is here
only for us.

Ed & Juang Eliot (2007)

Nothing but hardworking
and honest people who
are selfless with their time
and skills.

Del Thompson (1990)

& Frank Baker (1980)
We might not have a fire dept
if it werent for the Relief Assn,
not the other way around.

Rick Watters (2002)

The Grapevine editor does
a terrific job.

Bob Sherwin & Gold Lee

The Relief goes over and above
in taking care of its members.

Dick Balzano (1990)

& Dick Thomas (1986)
Firemen are always there
for each other, and the Relief
always had our backs.

Andy & Clara Muniz (85-C)

All the services and the
staff are outstanding.

January 2015 9

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10 January 2015

Born: June 14, 1918

Appointed LAFD: November 18, 1940
Retired: December 31, 1960
Died: October 31, 2014

rnett Hartsfield Jr. made it perfectly

clear that he never led a fight against
the Department. His fight was only
against segregation. He believed that the Department was a great organization. He just
wanted to be a full member of that organization.

When Hartsfield came on the job in
1940, black firemen could only work at two
stations on Central Ave. He wanted to make
the fire department his lifelong career but soon
realized that the existing system was blocking
him from promotion. With all the positions in
the black companies filled, he had no place to
go. He knew the only real solution was integration.

So he went back to school and earned a
law degree from USC. He used his knowledge
to become a civil rights pioneer and lead the
battle for desegregation of the LAFD in the mid
1950s. Later he was a professor at Cal State
Long Beach and a legal advisor to the Compton Police Department. He was also a founder
of the African American Firefighters Museum,
located in the old quarters of a segregated firehouse in South Los Angeles where he was stationed in the 1940s and early 50s.

Hartsfield was born in Bellingham,
Wash., on June 14, 1918. He grew up in an interracial family as the grandson of a white Irish
Canadian and a black woman who had left
slavery. The only black people he knew growing up were his relatives.

Until his family moved to California in
1929, I never had a black neighbor or a colored kid in my class. I had no racial hostility
at all, he recalled in a 2009 interview for the
California Firefighters History Project.

He graduated from Manual Arts High
School in South Los Angeles and worked in
construction before joining the Department.
He was on duty at Station 30, one of the citys

two all-black stations, when Pearl Harbor was

bombed in 1941. Because he had been in the
ROTC, he was commissioned as an Army infantry lieutenant but served in a segregated
unit.

Bolstered by Brown vs. Board of Education, the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court
decision against school segregation, Hartsfield
and some 30 other black firefighters formed
the Stentorians a Greek term for those who
speak out that year. Later he authored The
Old Stentorians, a history of the Fire Departments integration.

In 2010, he received the Fire Departments first Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Douglas Barry, the departments first
African American chief.

Arnett Hartsfield died on October 31st
of natural causes. Although he endured much
pain and prejudice in his 96 years, he always
tried to look at every experience with a positive
attitude. He would often say, Ive been enjoying a pension for more than 50 years and now
its paying me more than ten times as many
dollars as when it started.

January 2015 11

Stolen ambulance
Photo by Martin Nate Rawner

Mike Coffey, recently promoted to
captain, came back to Fire Station 10 to give
the guys a promotional dinner. Mike was stationed at 10s as a firefighter and returned as
an A/O. He was stationed at 9s before that. He
has worked nearly 20 years in downtown area.
Hell now be learning the ropes over at Fire
Station 90. In addition to his family, all of the
crew was in attendance at Mikes dinner - with
both of his reliefs as well. Truck 9 and Engine
9 stopped by as well to pay their respects. Congrats to one of the finest members of the LAFD.

The crew from Rescue 4 was treating
a man for hallucinations back on 10/19/2014,
when the patient suddenly got up and ran away.
A little later, he came back to the scene, jumped
into the drivers seat of the ambulance and sped
off. After a brief chase, the ambulance bumped
into a minivan at Beverly Boulevard and Union
Place. The ambulance thief was quickly arrested after the accident but two people from
the minivan had to be transported with injuries.

Mike Coffey promotional dinner at FS 10

12 January 2015

More than 80 firefighters controlled a blaze at 1409 S Santee St on 11/29/14. Photos by Rick McClure, EPN

On 11/8/14, companies extinguished a fire in a cabinet shop at 3724 Whittier Blvd. Photos by Jeff Zimmerman, EPN

TF 3 worked a physical rescue on the 110 Fwy on

11/13/14. Photo by Martin Nate Rawner

January 2015 13

Your

best
interest alwaYs
comes first

Financial New Years Resolutions

Try to max out contributions to your deferred compensation account
Pay yourself first, saving money in your deferred comp account means that you
never see the money in a checking account where it will quickly be spent
If you are considering refinancing your mortgage, start this process now as
banks have increased lending requirements and this can be a long process

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14 January 2015

Visit our website for our Q3 2014 investment newsletter.

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5941 Naples Plaza Long Beach, CA 90803

Master Sgt. Dave Navarro (FS 5) and Sgt. Major

Bill Staples (FS 80) with Major Richard Rusnok at
the USMC birthday party on 11/10/14.

On 11/24/14, firefighters worked a greater

alarm fire at a tire store on La Brea Ave.
Photos by Rick McClure, EPN

January 2015 15

E76 battles a well involved auto on

Forest Lawn Dr & 134 Fwy.
Photos by Rick McClure, EPN

On Saturday, November 22, 2014,
scores of firefighters and their families descended upon the Fire Station 39 for some laughin,
scratchin, smokin and jokin. All previously
assigned members, both active and retired,

were invited to attend the annual Alumni BBQ

to honor The Hub and to see old friends. It
also happened to be the 75th anniversary of the
opening of the oldest fire station (still in use) in
the City.

39s celebrates 75th an

16 January 2015

Companies fought a structure fire in 1300

block of Maltman Ave on 12/6/14.
Photos by Jeff Zimmerman, EPN

brates 75th anniversary

January 2015 17

18 January 2015

75s and 87s handled a five-car fatal traffic with

fire on 11/14/14, on the S/B 405 at Devonshire.

Howdy folks- Its been a long time
since we have heard any dirt out of battalion
12, and though it was just a SOD day, I heard
my share. I was lucky (?) enough to get a day
at the barn, which is now 7s, and those guys
somehow find time to laugh. I should have
known better than to get them started when I
asked about their Moral Compass hanging

on the wall. Apparently, if youre up to cook

but the SOD captain volunteers to cook out of
the goodness of his special duty heart, shops
for both meals, prepares both meals, and cooks
both meals - you still get to the C just for sharing a recipe? Thats not the way I remember it,
and neither did the folks at 7s . . . So the story
goes that they spoke to him about it, and told
him to do the right thing and follow his moral
compass. He went into a tail spin and hasnt
been heard from since! In his defense, I did
hear he cut a tomato, but I still dont think that
counts! Just like the plaque says, theres only
one right.

Now 7s has been waiting on their new
station for quite some time (about 50 years),
and its about time for it to be done. Its lookin
good, and has plenty of room for a task force.
With all the talk of response times, GPS, and
district boundaries, it seems that 81s is going
to inherit the busiest part of 7s district - lovingly referred to as the finger. Well I wish
them luck, and say give them the finger and
send them on their way...

Battalion 12 does need a Grapevine
writer, so if someone feels like steppin up,
send in an email to the editor. Until next time, I
tip my hat and ride into the sunset.

Photos by Greg Doyle

January 2015 19

Firefighters extinguished an attic fire at

9217 Dorrington Place on 11/10/14.
Photos by Shawn Kaye

On 11/28/14 firefighters responded to a three car

accident at Terra Bella St and Woodman Ave.
Photos by Mike Meadows

20 January 2015


Greetings from the Battalion that never
sleeps!

Well the holidays are over and hopefully we made it through without being naughty
on emergency incidents when you should have
been nice. It was too early as of this writing to
see if the coded assign hire system will survive
the busiest time of the year for hiring. At least
we have ability to start up four new bureaus
and all the accompanying staffing. Does anyone not get the citizens dont want more gold
badges and staff, they want boots on the ground
that will show up at their door. Which provides
a nice segue to my next topic.

With the new quick launch, kudos goes
out to Engine 64 with a daily high record of
34 runs and Engine 57, a close second, with 28
runs - and that was in just the first few days of
the new Tiered Dispatch System. I have a feeling that in January, when Christmas Tree Burning season is in full swing, those records will be

shattered. Does anyone remember the recommended workload limits for Engine Companies
is only twelve runs per shift?

Over at 64s, the new seasoned captain
profiling for the next Twos test showed up
for his first day ready to make a name for himself. Meeting a few of the guys, walking around
and checking out the office. A few minutes
later, one of the guys asked on the PA, Capt.
where did you put the donuts? The quick reply
was theyre at the donut shop. Really? Ten
Bells for Tradition, and not from someone that
doesnt know, but from someone who should
know better. Sign of things to come?

57s has had many battles, such as the
captains bedroom furniture war, the I can hang
my sweat stained work out gear wherever I
want war, the door stop war, the message machine voice war, the kitchen remodel war, the
workout area war, the never ending sticky note
war and now the latest war . . . the computer
icon and background war. Rumor has it only
one captain at 57s thinks he should be able to
claim the title of Station Commander. In the
words of Rodney King cant we all just get
along?

One of my spies tell me Joe Hill was
spotted at four oclock in the morning loading up his stuff and high tailing it out of 64s,
and taking off his last segment so he wouldnt
have to cook his last meal. I guess a zebra cant
change its stripes. Good luck to you at 35s and
remember, you only end up in the Grapevine
two ways - either good or bad.

66s has a celebrity on their hands - our
very own Trevor Insley was on ESPN highlighting his days in the NFL. Trevor laid it all
out (literally) in the end zone to catch one of
Payton Mannings 500 career touchdown passes. Trevor, in the eyes of the public you made
all firefighters look like awesome.

A heartfelt thank you to Ray Mayo for
putting on another Mayo Classic Widows
and Orphans fundraiser. I know there are a
lot of behind the scenes helpers that make the
Mayo a success that go without recognition.
So to them, here is an Atta-Boy.

Never let the truth stand in the way of
a good story! Remember if I dont get stories I
have to start making stuff up.
wattsfire@gmail.com

Engine 64 works an auto at 92 Street

and Main. Photo by Tod Sudmeier, EPN

Engine 57 handled an auto fire on the 105 Freeway

at Vermont Ave. Photo by Jeff Zimmerman, EPN

January 2015 21

Two firefighters were injured when the ceiling fell on them at

3820 Buena Park Drive on 11/3/14. Photos by Mike Meadows

On 11/30/14, TF 89 extricated a victim from his car at

Bellaire Ave and Vanowen St. Photos by Mike Meadows

22 January 2015


The guys at Fire Station 87 hosted a
pancake breakfast to raise funds for Javier
Martinez and his family after Javier was severely injured in a traffic accident. Kenny Breskin spearheaded the event which included a
classic car show in addition to the hearty meal.

Over at FS 18 . . . dont worry Callison,
just be patient. Youll get your shot. You will

soon be free of the buffoonery that you deal

with on the RA. We only fear what will happen
when you leave without your guidance on RA
18.

Question #1. When responding to a T/A
on a truck company, and you hit a hydrant, who
is responsible? The driver or the tiller-man?
Question #2. If after you hit a hydrant, what
is the priority? Shutting down the hydrant that
has no impact on the incident or extricate the
patient from the vehicle? Thank goodness for
the portable electric Holmotro that can take
place of the truckies.

And finally, ex FS 96 member, Theodore Debs, still thinks that he can take a hook
when he works a SOD day at 96s. Yes, they
are still waiting for you to pay for meals (and
DESSERT). Its only been three months.
Keep the emails coming. We need more to keep
this thread active.
LAFDBatt15@gmail.com

Firefighters extinguished an attic fire at 17265 Exeter

in Northridge on 11/7/14. Photos by Greg Doyle

January 2015 23

TF 87 works a physical rescue at Haskell and Plummer

Engine 8-A with Captain Beach, Engineer Miller, FF/PM

Kough and FF Guzman are ready for action.

on 11/12/14. Photo by Adam VanGerpen

FS 87 hosts pancake breakfast

24 January 2015

Battalion Writers
Needed Now!
Contact
editor@lafra.org

There were three injuries in a two car T/A at Palms and Overland Boulevards in November. Photo by Martin Nate Rawner

January 2015 25

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26 January 2015

emember the tattoo and cell phone

crowd I met while in Vegas and again
later at a Dodger game? Yea, well as
unbelievable as it sounds, this same group happened to be on the same flight as my wife and
I. We decided to be adventurous, so we flew to
a destination that we believed would be relaxin, tranquil and provide breathtakin vistas of
Mother Nature. Well, I did get breath takin vistas, they just werent the vistas I had in mind.

But our plane was very nice, with all the
modern gizmos youd expect, includin monitors in the seat backs. This is really a nice feature, which made it very easy to watch a movie
or play video games. However, the downside
to this airplane was the seatin arrangements,
which was three rows wide and three seats
abreast. Because of this feature we had a 1 in
3 chance of sittin together and since I have no
luck, we each got aisle seats. Unbelievable,
huh? Ah, but the good part of this seatin configuration allowed us to hold hands all the way
to our destination, which really made the trip
worthwhile for my wife.

So, there I was with two empty seats
next to me and for a brief moment I believed
that Id be lucky enough to have this arrangement all the way to our destination. My dream
was shattered when one of the cell phone/tattoo
clowns sat down next to me. It was a guy, about
in his mid-30s, with colored tattoos coverin

n December 3, 2014 LARFPA had their

quarterly general membership meeting
at the Grace E. Simons Lodge. Guest
speaker Patrick M. Gannon, Chief of Airport
Police at LAX, spoke about the logistics of
working at the airport and some of the issues
policing LAX. He also gave an informative talk
about the shooting which occurred at the airport that resulted in the death of a TSA agent.

President Enox spoke regarding the Fry
vs. City of Los Angeles law suit and its current
status. He requested that both the police and fire
employee organizations consider making contributions to the LARFPA defense fund, which
is financing the case. It looks like LARFPA is
alone monetarily regarding this case (thats not
cop humor, sad but true).

On another sad note, 99 LARFPA fire
and police members went EOW (End of Watch)
between July and November 2014. Many of the

every inch of exposed skin. His head was

shaved and it too was completely coated with
tattoos: Stars, spider webs, daggers, hearts and
all sorts of run-on Chinese proverbs. Psychedelic, dude! For some reason I wanted to ask
him how job interviews went, but I immediately flashed back to the crash and burn results of
my Captain II interview. Livin in a glass house
aint what its cracked up to be, know what I
mean?

But I did think about how to explain
the vast number of tattoos this guy had and I
remembered back to my EMT classes. When
determinin burn percentages on the human
body we were taught the rule of 9s, right? If
I remember correctly each arm was 9%, the
torso, front and rear, was 18% each, the head
was 18% and each leg was 18%. Look, I only
scored 78% on my final EMT test, so if these
percentages are wrong, well, obviously the instructor wasnt that good!

Anyway, now you can almost accurately explain to your friends the percentage of tattoos someone has and smile knowin you came
close to learnin somethin from this twisted
article.

And yes, we had a great get-away and
enjoyed our peaceful surroundins. However,
my credit card took another beatin, but my
wife continually reminded me that our MasterCard dont expire until 2018!

EOW members were from the greatest generation, May they rest in peace.

Director Art Placencia organized a raffle to show appreciation for the continued support and attendance to the general membership
meetings. The Board realizes that some members consistently attend the meetings and travel
long distances to so.

Happy Holidays and hope to see you at
the Annual Holiday Celebration at the Sportsmens Lodge.

LARFPA Office staff Desiree Case (l) and

Maureen Cremins Incontro (r)

COWBOY HUMOR

Four friends signed up for
a weeks stay at a dude ranch.
Because Bob snored so badly,
the others decided it wasnt fair
to make one of them stay with
Bob the whole time, so they voted to take turns.

John was the first to sleep next to Bob
and came to breakfast the next mornin with his
hair a mess and eyes all bloodshot. John explained because of Bobs snorin, he sat up and
watched him all night.

Larry was next and also awoke the followin mornin with bloodshot eyes and his hair
a mess. His buddies said, You look awful!
Larry explained, Man, that Bob shakes the
roof with his snorin. I watched him all night.

The third night was Teds turn. Ted
was a tanned, older cowboy, a mans man.
When Ted awoke the next mornin he came to
breakfast bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Good
mornin! he said. The others couldnt believe
it. They asked, What happened last night?

Ted said, Well, we got ready for bed.
I went and tucked Bob into bed, patted him on
the butt and kissed him good night. Bob sat up
and watched me all night.
KEEP SMILIN!
AC
choppedup@att.net

Paul Pfaff (LAFD) and Bob Kosier

LAPD #7933 Raffle winners

Richard and Enedina Buckland celebrate their

66th wedding anniversary.
January 2015 27

hat are the odds that two former

LAFD members would be honored
by the National Hot Rod Association (NRHA) two years running? It did just that
when it honored retired Engineer John Rasmussen in 2013 (see Sept. 2014 Retired Guys
Grapevine article) and again in 2014 when they
honored retired B/C Hugh Tucker at the 23rd
Annual California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield. The annual event brings together many of
the pioneers and legends of drag racing, along
with thousands of their fans. The event kicked
off on Oct. 17th with NHRAs presentation of
The Wally to Hugh and the other 2014 Honorees. Hughs entire family from Washington
traveled south to witness this special event
that was also attended by several of his close
personal and fire family friends. The three day
reunion included nostalgic drag racing at the
Auto Club Formosa Raceway and literally hundreds of beautiful street rods and race cars on
display. A true car enthusiast dream weekend!

Hugh retired in 1996 with 28 years on
the department. Prior to joining the LAFD,
Hugh had a love for cars, what makes them
tick and drag racing. His first car was a 1949
Ford club coupe and after high school, he installed an Oldsmobile engine with six carburetors and a 37 Cadillac LaSalle transmission.
In 1956, after selling the car and keeping the
engine, Hugh found the body of a 28 Chevy
Roadster in a junkyard in Ojai, and mounted it
and the Olds engine on a 34 Ford chassis. He
and some car club friends put the pieces of his
soon to be famed 1928 Chevy Roadster together one weekend, and raced and WON with it
in Santa Maria the following weekend. During
that time, Hugh drove the car both on the street
and at various area drag strips.

In the early 60s, Hugh gained a reputation for building powerful Oldsmobile engines
and ran with a 402-cid Olds with Stromberg
97carburetors. From those early rock-n-roll
racing days, Hugh earned a reputation as a true
competitor and his car quickly became the one
to beat. By 1961, Hugh had modified his car
to race only. After getting outrun by a supercharged car at his first U.S. National event in
1961, he replaced his cars entire engine with

28 January 2015

SUPER ELIMINATOR Title - 1966 WINTERNATIONALS, Pomona, CA

a supercharged, fuel injected 476-cid Olds
and the 37 LaSalle transmission gave way to
a B&M Hydro Stick. The following year, he
swept his class and won his first major title of
Little Eliminator at the 1962 Winternationals.

Before joining the LAFD, Hugh worked
a variety of jobs as a mechanic and machinist.
In 1963, he went to work for B&M Hydro and
quickly built a reputation as a master machinist,
mechanic, innovator and drag racing legend. In
1963, he returned to the famed Winternationals to win the Junior Eliminator title and
later he won the Middle Eliminator title at
the U.S. Fuel & Gas Championships in Bakersfield. After replacing the Olds engine in 1965
with a more powerful Blown Chrysler Hemi,
the Roadster continued its winning ways when
it won the Super Eliminator title at the 1966
Winternationals. In class competition, Hugh
was undefeated at the NHRA Winternationals,

NHRA Nationals and March Meet from 1962

through 1967. It was this tremendous success
that led to his being honored by the NHRA at
this years reunion.

After joining the LAFD in 1968, Hugh
declared that his racing days were over and he
sold his race car (minus the engine) in 1970
for $2,500. After retiring in 1996, he and his
beautiful wife Charlene moved to Hansville,
Washington on the Puget Sound. In 1997,
Hughs son, Hugh Jr., located his dads original race car in an old barn (where else?) in
Bellingham, just 100 miles from where Hugh
lives today. Father and son spent the next 3
years (and Im guessing quite a few pesos)
restoring the car to its original grandeur (and
then some) and have never regretted a single
minute of that quality time spent together. The
fully restored 28 Chevy Roadster had its coming out party in 2001 and shortly after headed
to Pomona where it was placed in the NHRA

FRIENDS & PALS

From left to right - Cliff Dysart (LACoFD ret.), Hugh, Bob Teachnor, George Bauman,
Paul Burch, Dave Lowe, Gene Country Allen, Roger Gillis, & Terry Cooper

TUCKER FAMILY
From left to right Jonathan Nolley (son-in-law), Charlene,
Savannah & Maisy (granddaughters), Hugh Jr., Gayle, & Big Foot
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Museum in time for the 2002 Winternationals. At

the 2003Winternationals, Hugh took the car out
of the museum, and just prior to Sundays drag
racing finals, he drove it down the same track
and in the same lane that he had won the1963
Junior Eliminator Title exactly 40 years
earlier.

The 50th Anniversary of the NHRA
Nationals Championships was held at Indianapolis in 2004. They selected the 50 most
significant race cars in the history of that event
and Hughs roadster was included. Father and
son took the car to Indy on Labor Day weekend where it was on display and again driven
down the track. Since then they have taken
the car to the Seattle Nationals every year, as
well as to numerous drag reunions and cacklefest throughout the Northwest. The famed
28 Chevy Roadster has earned its reputation
as one of the most distinctive supercharged gas
burners in quarter mile history.

CONGRATULATUIONS Hugh on
your well-deserved recognition by the NHRA!

Note: You can see the car up close and
personal in the NHRA Museum at the Pomona Fairgrounds. Hugh will return to Pomona
for the 2016 Winternationals to take part in
the 50th anniversary celebration of his 1966
Super Eliminator victory. From there, the
award winning race car will return its home in
Washington.

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January 2015 29

he 2014 Mexican 1000, a four day adventure through 1300 miles

of the Baja California desert started on May 10 in Ensenada and
ended on May 14 in San Jose del Cabo. For the third year FireForce Racing campaigned a 1968 Ford F-100 Fire Truck. The group
included the Driver of Record Bob Motheral, with co-drivers Bruce
Galien and Greg Dreyer. Chase crew members were Mike Reitmayer,
Debbie Galien and Steve Saurman.

Saturday, May 10 was contingency and technical inspection
where all the cars are inspected for safety requirements and to make sure
they meet the specifications of the class. Thanks to IMPACT Racing
Products all our safety equipment passed. We were entered in Vintage
Open Truck with 18 others in our class and a total of 85 entrants in the
Vintage Division.

Race Day, Sunday, May 11 Ensenada to Bay of Los Angeles,
475 miles.

Line up at 0500 for 0600 start. Bob driving, Greg co-driver. All
is well until the exhaust pipes start coming loose due to amateur moves
by the prep guy. Get going again and then get stuck in the sand twice!
An hour later the motor just stops! Pop the hood, look around with the
help of some locals, who decide its a bad coil. Fortunately we have two.
Going again, an hour later the motor stops again. This time out of gas!
Another amateur move by installing a new carb with almost no test time.
4 mpg instead of 7 mpg means you cant go as far on a tank of gas. Chase
crew spends two hours finding and bringing gas to the race truck.

Change drivers Bruce driving. Five miles into it, an inebriated
local hurls a grapefruit size rock and hits the cab just above the drivers
head. Next we come upon one of the cars upside down. Spend some time
rolling him back over onto the rubber side. Ten minutes later WE are
stuck in the silt! Karma is on our side as a guy comes along and pulls
us out. All is going well, its dark, and we are hauling ass down a good
graded road. All of a sudden the lights go out and the engine stops. Lost
all electrical power - and did I say it was DARK outside? Spent an hour
tracing down the problem bad ignition switch. Used some old school
hot wire techniques and a pair of needle nose pliers for our key to
start the truck. We got going again with the co-driver holding the center
console up so we wouldnt short out the wires. The co-driver was so
excited to see our chase crew he dropped the console, shorting out the
wires, and the whole wiring loom burned up! After another hour of repair, we made it down the highway to Bay of Los Angeles at 1:00 AM!

Day 2 Bay of Los Angeles to Loreto 402 miles

Spent the morning changing the carburetors. Checked fluids, nuts
and bolts, changed our K&N filter. Greg is driving, Bob is co-driver off
to a good start until Greg finds a large rock at about 70 mph and breaks a
front wheel. Stop to change it, then gets the truck stuck in the soft shoulder. Hit the highway and we discover a coilover shock leaking badly.
Pulled into Rice and Beans in San Ignacio and changed shocks with our
one spare that we had to make work. Next up Bruce driving and Steve S.
co-driver. 85 mph down the San Ignacio Lagoon road (now paved unfortunately), hit the beach road, soft sand for 30 plus miles. Thanks to Steve
Culhane our C6 trans held up. Over the mountains from La Purisima to
Hwy 1 and transition down to Loreto, arriving just after dark.

Day 3 Loreto to La Paz 268 miles

Late start time so we had time in the morning to do all our prep
work. Greg driving, Bruce co-driving. All is well in the lineup until it is
our turn to go. Start the motor, GPS goes out. Hit the wash, I drop the

30 January 2015

route book on the floor. Luckily I have been up this road before and have
a good idea where to go OOOPS missed the first turn out of the wash.
U-turn and Greg has got it. Shows me some of his Pikes Peak skills on
the road to San Javier. Change drivers Bob driving, Mike R. co-driver.
126 mile section First half to the highway no issues, after that silt, silt,
silt. Bob did a great job getting that old two wheel drive truck thru some
nasty stuff. But with all his efforts the sway bar mount broke. Tried to
work on it using the welder loaned to us by Jim and Jen at Higher Ground
4x4.

Day 4 last day La Paz to San Jose del Cabo 164 miles.

Start in La Paz up the wash - what? This is not a race section? Oh
well, put on a good show, then cruised to Los Divisideros. Worked thru
the slippery, twisty, turny, rancho roads. Had a close call passing another
competitor, getting around two broken down trucks, then up and over the
hill to the Sea of Cortez. Down the to Las Barriles, then race past my
house in Las Barracas around the East Cape road and on to San Jose del
Cabo. Nothing better, red lights and siren, racing down the main street in
town, all four barrels open, flames belching out the exhaust to the finish
line!

Vince Lombardi comes to mind with his timeless quote: I firmly
believe that any mans finest hour, his greatest fulfillment of all the he
holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in good
cause and lies exhausted on the field of batttle victorious!

We came out in the middle of the pack, against some stiff competition, 9th in class, and 40th overall out of 85 vintage entries. As backyard mechanics with limited resources, we consider this victorious.

We also want to thank Mike Ryan of Picture Vehicles Unlimited
for giving the truck a place to live and work this last year.

January 2015 31

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE

800.332.BUGS

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32 January 2015

GREATER ALARM STRUCTURE FIRE

Westlake

Photos Jeff Zimmerman EPN

On November 8, 2014, firefighters found fire through the roof of a commercial

book store on Alvarado St between James Wood and 8th Street.

January 2015 33

STRUCTURE FIRE
Mount Washington

Photos by Martin Nate Rawner &

Jeff Zimmerman, EPN

On November 6, 2014, in the 4200 block of Marmion Way, companies found a two-story single family dwelling with fire on the second floor in the rear. Firefighters stretched lines and
attacked the blaze but not before it flashed in the attic space above. The main bulk of fire in the older Mt. Washington district house was knocked down in under an hours time.

34 January 2015

STRUCTURE FIRE
South Los Angeles

Photos by Jeff Zimmerman, EPN and Steve Gentry

On Monday, November 24, 2014, at 9:30 p.m., companies responded to a reported structure fire at 13231 S Hoover St in the Athens area of Los Angeles. First companies on scene reported
a one story SFD well involved. Units knocked down the fire in 17 minutes. No reports of injuries and cause is under investigation.

January 2015 35

In this edition of KTW three rated members

address their role as it relates to operational
competence and engine-house leadership.
These topics and experienced-based opinions
should be points of discussion for all of us.

As an experienced rated member, can

you define your success on the fireground,
and what advice might you have for a newly
promoted A/O or engineer?

Engineer Steve Canchola, FS 87-A:
My advice to a new engineer is to be hands-on
and proactive, especially on the fireground. In
order to do this you must be a good firefighter.
Initiative, decisiveness and situational awareness are all skills that translate well into both
ranks. Remaining calm, communicating well
and supporting company SOGs are also traits
of a good engineer.

36 January 2015

New engineers
must recognize their
potential impact during
the early stages of a fire.
My first tactical opportunity for example takes
place prior to arrival in
the form of laying-a-line.
Correctly placing apparatus, troubleshooting and
communicating tactical
considerations are all
keys to becoming a good
engineer.

Mistakes are excellent teaching points,
but only if you learn from
them. Be accountable for
your actions that didnt
go well and always remain alert to the needs
of the incident. Never allow yourself to become
a mannequin in a brush
jacket standing by your
panel. After each incident, ask, Was my team
prepared and did I give
them the best chance to
succeed?

A/O Steve Hall,
FS 87-A: To me success
on the fireground is a safe
and efficient operation. In
order to achieve this you need to be part of a
good team, and to do this you need to teach and
train. Utilizing the unique strengths and talents
of the crew will raise the overall performance
of the team.

I believe much of my success on the
fireground stems from my love of the A/Os
position. I love driving, ladders, roofs, cutting
roofs and cars. Throughout my career Ive been
blessed to have worked with excellent examples. People who have lead and taught, not just
by their words, but more importantly by their
actions.

I like the KISS standard for SOGs
- keeping your operation basic makes it easier
to teach and apply. My experience with trick
operations is that they lead to confusion and
mistakes. Remaining calm in front of the crew
and captain helps keep the anxiety level down,
giving a sense of comfort which in turn makes
the incident go smoother.

Oscar Gutierrez, FS 114-C: I believe
my success on the fireground is a direct result
of my confidence and attitude. Knowing I can
complete any task presented to me (securing
water, adding handlines, problem solving)
while anticipating what will be needed as the
incident progresses is crucial. Operating on
scene is like playing chess - you should always
be thinking two moves ahead.

Confidence will be your best accessory.
The key is preparation and training. Ensuring my equipment has been checked and Im
ready before the bell rings is how I prepare.
Challenging myself to lay lines, break and fill
lines in the least amount of steps is how I train.
How quick can you put the wet stuff on the red
stuff safely.

Keep a cool head its not the situation that presents itself, its how you react to it.
I never want to be complacent. My advice to
new engineers is remember to challenge yourself, take pride in what you do, expect the unexpected and be prepared for anything. An old
engineer once told me, Its not the load that
breaks you down, its in the way you carry it.

How do you view your role when a
young officer is assigned to your shift who
lacks operational experience?

Hall: I believe my role in this situation would be to act as the middleman between
the crew and captain. It is important to build
a strong relationship between the A/O and the
new captain. Things rarely go well if the captain and A/O are not on the same page. This
relationship is probably not going to happen
overnight.

If and when I establish this relationship with my new captain I can share the level
of experience and knowledge his/her crew

possesses. In the mean time I would encourage the crew to be patient and continue doing
their normal SOGs. Through daily training
and critiques my hope would be that we as
a crew would soon increase the operational
background of our new captain. Dont try and
change things in one day, give it time.

Gutierrez: My role is to be supportive of any officer my crew feels is lacking the
experience were accustomed to. With any
change, theres always a learning curve. I believe in the team concept. Weve all heard the
saying, Youre only as strong as your weakest
link. We have an obligation to make our team
as strong as possible, and we do this by passing on our experiences and knowledge to one
another.

In the case of a young captain one can
do this by passing on information about our
first-in, target hazards, etc. While working
overtime at other stations I dont have the time
to assess the experience level of every member,
but I do have expectations regarding their abilities, which they should also have of me.

As an engineer who doesnt know the
experience level of the captain, I make it a
point to slow down a block before the incident
to allow him time to formulate a plan so the
crew gets off on the right foot. I never expect
the captain to know everything, but everyone
should strive to learn at least one new thing every day, myself included.

Canchola: I view my role as being supportive of the entire team, including our captain. In the situation described I have a responsibility to ensure the standards placed upon all
of us are met. Equally important, I feel the expectations placed on a new captain should NOT
be based on the experience level of the officer
he replaced.

I am not a vocal Locker-room Leader,
as I prefer to lead by example. I place high standards on my crew and comparable standards on
myself. I would attempt to establish trust between the new captain and crew, and develop a
strong team from which to build from. I would
identify the new officers skill set and recommend training exercises in which they could
identify ours.

Quality training in the basics is paramount, as failure to consistently perform these
at a high level exposes our members to undue
risk. The bottom line is that we are a team and
as such its our collective effort that counts. If
any member of our team falters its up to each
of us to be supportive, even if that member is
the captain.

Executing a Trust

Now that you and your family have a living trust, do

you know what to do when the time comes?

Be prepared by attending a free educational

seminar for trustors, trustees and beneficiaries.
Visit FiremensRelief.org for dates, locations
and details.

In next months article Captains Jeff Hass,

Bob Rosario and Jody Garfield will discuss (1)
Mezzanine fire considerations, and (2) Engine
Co ventilation concerns.

January 2015 37

his year the Los Angeles Fire Department Scholarship Fund awarded four
$5000 scholarship grants. The Merit
Scholar Awards are cash grants, made possible
through the Jean Perkins Foundation, of up
to $20,000 ($5,000 per year while the student
continues to be enrolled and making normal
progress toward a college degree). To be eligible, a student must be the child or stepchild
of an active or fallen LAFD sworn employee.
The eligible student must be a high school senior or college freshman, who will be enrolled
in the fall as a full-time student in an accredited college or university. The scholarships are
awarded on the basis of merit. The single most
important factor is academic achievement, but
the all-civilian selection committee considered
other relevant criteria, including personal character and extracurricular accomplishments.

The selection committee reviewed each
application which consisted of two essays,
school transcripts and two letters of recommendation. Of the 42 eligible applicants, 11 finalists were selected to interview and four were

38 January 2015

chosen as the 2014 Merit Scholar winners. A

ceremony to recognize this years winners was
conducted by Capt. II Jaime Moore at FHMTC
on June 10, 2014, followed by a reception.

This years seven Runner-Up Award
winners are to be congratulated for their outstanding merits. Each received a one time grant
of $2,500. They are Catherine Collins, Amy
Fistonich, Ryan Flynn, Maya Harmon, Vanessa
Lopez, Victoria Lopez, and Ayanna McKnight.

This years Best Essay award of
$2,500 was generously sponsored by the
LAFD Foundation. Karen Wagener, President
of the LAFD Foundation, presented the award
to this years winner, Catherine Collins.

The four 2014 award recipients and their bios
are as follows:
Candace Johnson is a graduating senior from
Palos Verdes High School and the daughter of
Captain II Andre Johnson, assigned to the High
Rise Unit (28 years LAFD). Candace will be
attending Columbia University, Fu Founda-

tion School of Engineering majoring in Computer Science. Candace has devoted over 500
hours as a volunteer for Kiwanis Project Shoe,
delivering shoes and backpacks to under privileged children. She served as a Project L.I.F.E.
instructor for black middle school students.
Candace served as captain of her Real Estate
and Stock Market team while participating as
a UCLA Riordan Scholar. She was also the
president and founder of PVHS FIRST Robotic Competition. Candace has been captain
of PVHS Varsity Track and Field Team since
her freshman year. She competes in hurdles and
sprints and helped set the school record twice
in the 4 by 100 relay. Candace has received
awards for Principals Honor Roll, National
Honors Society, California Scholarship Federation, and AP Scholar. Candace is graduating
with a 4.7 GPA
Madison Miller is a graduating senior from
Bishop Montgomery High School, and the
daughter of Captain II Kenneth S. Miller, F.S.
48 (23 years LAFD). She will be attending UC

Berkeley, majoring in Political Science. Madison is a Eucharistic minister and peer team
leader at her parish. She also helps facilitate
leadership workshops for middle school students during Student Leadership Day at BMHS.
She has been a volleyball athlete for four years
and chosen team captain her junior and senior
years. She also volunteers as head coach of 7th
and 8th grade boys volleyball team at church
and at a local park. Madison has earned Scholar
Athlete Award 2011-2014. She has served as an
ASB officer two years. She received awards for
Principals Honor Roll and National Honor Society. She has also received the George Montgomery Scholar Award for 4.3+ GPA and will
be Gold Seal Bearer at graduation. Madison
graduates with a 4.4 GPA.

Jake Reyna is a graduating senior at La Serna

High School and is the son of Capt. II Gilbert A. Reyna, assigned to FS 112 (35 years
LAFD). He will be attending UCLA and majoring in Systems and Informatics Biology.
Jake enjoys volunteering for Operation Smile,
which raises funds to provide free surgery to
repair cleft lip and other facial deformation for
children around the globe. He also participates
with Key Club with over 150 volunteer hours.
Jake is an active Link Crew member, assisting
high school freshman with transitioning into
high school. Jake is a varsity doubles tennis
player and during the summer he works as a
tennis instructor. He is a member of the Spanish Honors Society and has received the NHRP
Scholar award, is a National Merit Scholar and
Scholar Athlete. He has received Top 25
Honors from 2011 - 2014. Jake graduates with
a 4.4 GPA.

We were honored to have three of our
past scholarship recipients attend the awards
ceremony: Molly Casanova 07, Christina
Johnson 07, Carrine Johnson 10. They not
only shared their college experiences, but provided words of encouragement to our 2014
winners

We would like to thank Mr. James Carroll III and Mr. Joe Connolly, Executive Board
Members of the Jean Perkins Foundation and,
the LAFD Merit Scholarship Funds Board of
Directors, John Anglin, Dick Barrett, Barbara
Bagley, G. Louis Graziadio III, Tom Mizo and
Robert Nicholas for their dedication and support of our members and their children. We are
also grateful to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation for their sponsorship of the
Best Essay award and to the LAFD Sertoma
Club, the United Firefighters of Los Angeles
City, LAFD Historical Society, the Los Angeles Firefighters Association, and the Firefighters First Credit Union, who sponsored the
awards reception, Thank You for your continued support.

The announcement for the 2015 competition should be posted early January 2015,
at www.lafd.org/scholarship. Thank you again,
and we look forward to the ninth LAFD Merit
Scholarship competition.

Paid Advertisements:

Marek Olivas is a graduating senior at High

Tech High North County and the son of Firefighter III Jose Tony Olivas, assigned to
MFC (33 years LAFD). Marek will be attending USC, majoring in Biology. Last summer
Marek traveled to the Amazon Rain Forest
where he farmed, installed solar panes, and
taught dental hygiene in Spanish. He has also
acted as a lead student facilitator in HTHNCs
School-Wide Community Day of P.E.A.C.E.,
a student organization that empowers students
to assist one another with the stresses of adolescence. Marek is currently interning at Salk

Institute for Biological Studies which provides

opportunities for high school students to experience life in a scientific laboratory, and explore
careers in science. Marek played club football
as a center defender and in 2013 played center
defender, and as team captain lead HTHNCs
Varsity Soccer Team to become league champions. Marek is an honors student and received
the National Hispanic Scholar Award. Marek
graduates with a 4.2 GPA.

January 2015 39

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40 January 2015

faci
faci

RAYMOND MAYO, Engineer, Metro Fire

JIM JURE, Inspector I, FPB Environmental Unit

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Ports OCall
1200 Nagoya Way, Berth 76, San Pedro CA
Social Hour: 5:30 PM

Dinner: 7:00 PM

Dinner Buffet & Prime Rib

$65 per person includes tax, tip & gift

San Antonio Winery, Vintage Room

737 Lamar Street, Los Angeles CA
Place orders: 10:30 AM

Luncheon: 11:00 AM

Assorted Lunch Menu (Self pay at resto / cafeteria style)

$10 per person includes tip & gift

Call FS 49 - (310) 548-7549 Business or (310) 513-8900 Grapevine

TRADITIONAL DINNER (NO SENSITIVE EARS)

Call Environmental Unit - (213) 978-3710 or (213) 978-3692

MIKE KETAILY, Captain II, FS 69-A

TIMOTHY MANNING, Assistant Chief

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2015

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Dukes Malibu - Ocean Room

21150 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu CA

Brookside Country Club

1133 Rosemont Avenue, Pasadena CA

Social Hour: 11:30 AM

Luncheon: 12:30 PM

Social Hour: 6:00 PM

Dinner: 7:00 PM

Buffet Style
$40 per person includes food, parking, tax, tip & gift

Menu TBA
$50 per person includes food, tax, tip & gift

Call FS 69 - (310) 575-8569 or email Brandi Ketaily at:

brandiketaily@yahoo.com - RSVP by January 28th

Aggie Rodriguez (N. Division) - (818) 756-8638

Business Casual Attire - RSVP by February 9th

PAUL M. HILLEARY, Fireboat Mate

with special guest, Harold Stuby Dils, FF/Diver

GREGORY ACEVEDO, Firefighter III, MFC-C

CARLOS VARGAS, Firefighter III, MFC-C

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015

Banning Landing Community Center

100 E Water Street, Berth 185, Wilmington CA

Knollwood Country Club

12024 Balboa Blvd, Granada Hills CA

Social Hour: 5:00 PM w/ no host bar

Dinner: 6:00 PM

Concert: JB Walker Band (Country/Blue Grass Band 7 PM - 8 PM)

BBQ w/ Beef & Chicken and concert - $60 per person

Social Hour: 6:00 PM

Luncheon: 7:00 PM

Buffet Style - $60 per person includes tax, tip & gift

Call FS 49 - (310) 548-7549 or (310) 513-8900. RSVP by Feb 28th

Call Natalie Goshi, MFC - (213) 576-8900 or email: natalie.goshi@lacity.org

RSVP by March 16th

GREGORY E. NEWLAND, Captain II, FS 48-A

RANDY BEACH, Captain I, FS 8-A

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Dalmatian American Club of San Pedro

1639 South Palos Verdes Street, San Pedro CA

Porter Valley Country Club

19216 Singing Hills Drive, Northridge CA

Social Hour: 5:00 PM

Dinner: 6:00 PM

Social Hour: 6:30 PM

Dinner: 7:30 PM

Family Style Chicken or Beef

$60 per person includes tax, tip & gift

Buffet Dinner
$50 per person includes tax, tip & gift

Call FS 48 - (310) 548-7548 or Robbie Trevino - (949) 370-4703

RSVP by April 9th

Call FS 8 - (818) 368-1443 or Janie - (805) 404-6212

RSVP by April 15th

January 2015 41

n September 8, 2014, more than 130

firefighters from Los Angeles City and
San Bernardino City, plus many friends
and families turned out to play or volunteer to
assist in any way possible to make the 18th annual Craig Alder Charity Golf Tournament a
success once again. The event was held at the
Temecula Creek Inn and Country Club and began with a wonderful reception hosted by Rich
and Cathy Alder the evening before the tournament. This was a great time to get together with
long time (not old) friends from the LAFD and
their families along with many other friends
who attend the tournament each year.

In case you quickly glanced over it, I
did say the EIGHTEENTH annual tournament.
The family is truly Blessed that the fire family
and friends have continued to support this tournament for so many years. I have seen many
loyal participants at the tournament EVERY
year since the beginning, along with many new
faces each year to keep it going. Along with
participating, many of these folks have donated

raffle prizes and helped in any way possible to make the day a success.

Craig is the son of retired LAFD
Captain Rich Alder and the brother of
retired San Bernardino City Chief Mike
Alder. Craig was a San Bernardino City
Firefighter whose career was cut short
when he suffered serious brain injuries after being struck by a car while
crossing the street in his home town
of Temecula. This annual tournament
provides a great deal of the annual income for Craig, his wife Buffy and
two sons, Jake and Wyatt and the
family is very thankful for the continued support.

This is truly a testimony to the
loyalty and strength of the Fire Family
as they rally around on of their own in
need. A HUGE THANK YOU to each
and every one for your support. May
the Lord Bless you and your families.

Paid Advertisements:

phone:
(800) 244-3439
42 January 2015

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

visit:
www.LAFRA.org

s might be expected, firefighters are at

increased risk of back injury compared
to other professions due to the rigorous
physical requirements of the occupation. You
can experience back pain when lifting a tool, a
patient, or dragging a hose line. The IAFFs annual Death and Injury Survey reveals that back
injuries often result in significant lost time and
medical expense, and account for approximately 50% of all line-of-duty injury retirements
each year.

Sciatica is often a symptom of a back
injury and there are several reasons a patient may experience sciatica. A herniated or
slipped disc, is the most common cause and
occurs when a disc in the lower spine shifts
out of alignment and pinches or damages the
sciatic nerve. Sciatica can result from weakening of the discs. A ruptured disc occurs when

the tough fibrous ring of the disc breaks down

or cracks and the gel-like substance within the
disc leaks out and irritates the nerve. Spondylolisthesis is the medical term for one or more
vertebra shifting out of normal alignment in the
spine. If this occurs, the disc can also be involved and pressure or damage to the nerve can
result. Chronic bending, twisting and heavy
lifting as well as prolonged sitting, obesity,
poor posture, and pregnancy can cause sciatica.

The sciatic nerve is formed from a network of nerves that exit the spinal cord and
form in the lower back extending through the
buttock and runs down the length of the posterior leg bilaterally to the ankle and foot. At its
largest diameter, the sciatic nerve is about an
inch; which is about the width of your thumb.

Sciatica refers to symptoms that result
from a pinched or damaged sciatic nerve. One

important fact to remember: sciatica refers to symptoms; it is not a diagnosis.

The pain of sciatica can be described as
burning, searing, aching, tingling, and/
or dull or sharp shooting pain. Other
symptoms can include numbness and
weakness. Symptoms can be felt anywhere along the path of the nerve and
range from mild to severe intensity. The
pain can be chronic or intermittent and
usually involves pain radiating down
only one leg.
If you present with sciatica, your
healthcare provider will perform a history and physical and muscle testing
to identify the potential source of your
symptoms. If necessary, imaging studies
such as X-rays and MRI or CT scan may
be ordered to identify the exact location
of the problem. A nerve conduction velocity/electromyography may also be
ordered to further evaluate your symptoms.
The new and sudden onset (acute)
of sciatica typically responds to conservative therapy. Initially, rest may be
prescribed to reduce inflammation of
the nerve but dont stay in bed too
long (no longer than two days). Prolonged bed rest has been shown to actually worsen sciatica. Ice or heat, over
the counter analgesics and the tincture
of time are usually sufficient to help
reduce or alleviate sciatica which usually resolves in a few days or weeks.
Its important to get moving as soon as
possible. Stretching, walking, gentle exercise, and patience are important. Chiropractic manipulation may also help.
Chiropractic spinal adjustments involve
specific manual maneuvers aimed at restoring the proper biomechanics of the
spine and removing nerve impingement.
Severe sciatica may call for epidural injections into the spinal canal or surgery
to remove the disc causing the pain.
Taking care of your lower back may
help prevent sciatica. If youre overweight,
losing weight will help. The more overweight
a person is, the greater strain is placed on the
lower back muscles. Exercise, such as brisk
walking, yoga, and core strengthening exercises will also help. Maintaining proper posture
and avoiding sitting for prolonged periods of
time is also advised. Also use proper body mechanics when liftinglift with your legs, not
your back.

Anyone whos ever had sciatica knows
how painful it can beso an ounce of prevention is definitely the best way to go. So stay
healthy and watch your back!

January 2015 43

 On August 12th, 2013, Captain/Paramedic Matthew G. McKnight suddenly collapsed and died while
on duty at MFC. He had faithfully served the citizens of Los Angeles for over 31 years and passed away at
the young age of 51 from a duty related condition.
Searching for a means to honor Captain McKnight for his dedication to the LAFD and specifically to
OCD and MFC, the members at MFC gained approval to dedicate the dispatch floor in his honor. At a dedication ceremony on February 13th, 2015, the dispatch floor will be officially renamed, a memorial plaque
will be unveiled and the new MFC logo will be proudly displayed.

44 January 2015

by Mike Mastro, President/CEO

Firefighters First Credit Union

he number of Americans living longer continues to rise. In fact, Americans are living well
beyond their 70s and living more of their life
in better health than before. Its a positive outlook,
yet problems still remain. Caring for our aging parents and dealing with the inevitable outcomes of aging can be difficult for almost everyone. The reversal
of roles can be overwhelming as adult children take
on the responsibility of caregivers.

For this months article, Id like to talk about
the tough decisions you may face as a parents ability
to care for him or herself becomes more difficult.
Warning signs that may signal a need for help

The aging process is different for everyone. Perhaps you may have noticed that a parents
house is cluttered with stacks of unopened mail and
piles of laundry. Or you may notice a decline in a
parents grooming habits and personal appearance.
Thats why its important to look for warning signs
that an aging parent may need help. Parents are reluctant to admit a need for help. Accepting assistance
with daily tasks may suggest they can no longer help
themselves, representing a loss of independence.

Often times it can be challenging for adult
children to recognize these signs. By communicating regularly with parents youll have a better idea
on their situation. Whether or not these signs have
started to appear, its important to start the planning
process now than to make decisions under pressure
later.

Have a plan

With early planning, you can avoid a lot
of stress and anxiety in the future for all parties
involved. There are many factors to consider for a
parents long-term medical, financial, and housing
needs, so youll need to find a solution he or she is
most comfortable with. Additionally, consider your
own situation. Jeopardizing your own situation could
put you and your family in a tough position down the
road as well.

When youre ready to have the conversation
with an aging parent, consider these basic questions
to help draft a plan.
-What type of long-term care will be needed?
- How does a parent envision their care needs?
-How will care be paid for?
-Who could assist with caregiving?
- Could a family member or friend provide assistance?
-Can a parent stay in their own home to receive care?
-What will be the impact on my family?
Financial considerations

Long-term care can be expensive. Most of
the burden of long-term care falls on family and
friends who step in. Medicare only covers medicallynecessary nursing home facilities or home care for
those who qualify, and it covers none of what most
elderly need called basic custodial care like help
with dressing, bathing, or shopping. To help cover
the cost of caregiving youll need to research a parents finances. What type of insurance do they have?
Will they qualify for any government benefits? Its
also important for the parent to name a financial
agent who will be authorized to make financial decisions on their behalf.
Housing considerations

The decision to receive care at home or at
an assisted living facility is perhaps one of the most
difficult situations to address. Giving up a house and
friends to move into a care facility or into a family
members home can be emotionally challenging for
all parties involved. Additionally, if the plan is to
stay home or move into a family members home,
consider whether modifications are required to
accommodate unique needs. For example, would
doorways need to be widened for wheelchair access,
would grab rails need to be installed, or would a first
floor bedroom or bathroom need to be constructed?
Lastly, when staying home, be sure to consider the
availability of community services for transportation
and shopping.

Medical considerations

As the aging process advances, health care
services will shift to end-of-life care. These issues
are critically important and should be addressed to
ensure a parents wishes are fulfilled. Some issues to
be addressed include the living will, DNR order (Do
Not Resuscitate), and any final disposition wishes he
or she may have. Just as a person names a financial
agent, it is important that the parent name a health
care agent for end-of-life issues.
Resources

There are a lot of resources available to assist with caring for aging parents. Save yourself and
your family members the grief and frustration often
associated with the unanticipated responsibility of
caring for a loved one by planning ahead. You can
start planning by exploring these resources:
Medicare: www.medicare.gov
AARP: www.AARP.com
U.S. Administration on Aging: www.AOA.gov
National Care Planning Council (NCPC): www.
longtermcarelink.net
Final thoughts

The needs of aging parents and their reliance
on family members becomes greater as time goes on.
By having the difficult conversations sooner than later, youll be able to come up with a plan thats comfortable for everyone. The best decisions are those
made with a clear conscious and well in advance, not
during a crisis.

As always, your Credit Union is here to help.
We offer unique financial and insurance products tailored to firefighters and their families. For additional
details, please contact a Credit Union Representative
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
* Material provided is for your information and convenience only.

January 2015 45

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46 January 2015

MEMBERS
Samuel E. Mundt, Apparatus Operator.
Appointed November 4, 1973.
Retired on a service pension January 31, 2008 from FS 114-A. Passed away November 19, 2014.
William D. Saunders, Fire Inspector II.
Appointed March 15, 1948.
Retired on a service pension April 14, 1979 from Building Standards Unit. Passed away November 21, 2014.
Harvey E. Hixson, Fireman.
Appointed July 14, 1947.
Retired on a service pension May 8, 1973 from 95-B. Passed away November 24, 2014.
Dale W. Kanagy, Battalion Chief.
Appointed February 27, 1950.
Retired on a disability pension January 1, 1980 from Batt 18-B. Passed away November 30, 2014.
Joseph G. Malais, Captain II.
Appointed May 12, 1962
Retired on a disability pension October 26, 1989 from FS 61-B. Passed away December 1, 2014.

FAMILY
Teresa Tichenor, spouse of Ferdinand Tichenor, passed away October 30, 2014.
Betty L. Malmquist, spouse of Billy G. Storey, passed away November 4, 2014.
Patricia L. Hobart, spouse of Donald L. Hobart, passed away November 10, 2014.

January 2015 47

Shop online at Amazon and support your

Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemens Fund
Its the Amazon you know supporting a cause you care about.

Visit givetoahero.org/amazon to learn more.

Paid Advertisements:

48 January 2015

 Dan was an accomplished sailor and boat builder.

My wife and I did have the opportunity many years
ago to go out sailing with Dan and Lynn, launching
their sailboat from the beach in Malibu.

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

Mr. Kuljis,

God bless all that were involved in the ceremony.

My family has helped me every step of the way and

your help in taking care of the necessary paperwork
required for the LAFD has truly made this chapter in
my life much easier. You, or course, always do the
extra thing like sending me a bouquet of beautiful
flowers when I was in the hospital for the knee
replacement. Thank you so much.
I am enclosing a check for the Widows, Orphans
and Disabled Firemens Fund in memory of my late
husband of 63 years, Joseph O. Michell.
I am traveling to Texas on Saturday to meet my
new great grandson, Sawyer Joseph Penoli (born
October 30), and to celebrate Thanksgiving with all of
his family.

Kathy Barton

Sincerely,

Dear LAFRA,

Marie Michell
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

I am Kathy Barton, eldest daughter of Richard

Arlt. We received the beautiful flag and letter
from the department. We are overwhelmed by the
thoughtfulness of the Firemans Relief Association.
My mother Marlene, sends her thanks also. My
husband and I live with my mother as her caregiver, as
she requires fulltime care, and we were caring for my
father until his death here in his home.
We are having a mass and memorial this Sunday.
We will be taking the flag and letter.

Please accept this donation in the name of Vernon

B. Larson, retired engineer. Most know him as Bruce
or Snake. Bruce is currently undergoing treatment
for a recurring illness.
I had the fortune and privilege of sharing the same
assignment, Task Force 10, for ten years with Bruce. I
thank him for the awesome example that he provided
for all. Bruce always performed all duties and tasks
with a high degree of professionalism. He is also
one of the sneakiest and most accurate artists with a
bucket I ever worked with. Most importantly, Bruce
has a depth of love and faith in God that should be an
example for us all.
Bud Molle, LAFD retired
Victor, MT
Dear Bob Steinbacher,
Thank you for everything that you did, especially
helping Lea Jefferis out with all that she needed done.
Thank you for the bed at the house for Tom and for the
beautiful flowers the Relief Association sent.
With appreciation and gratitude,
Betty Burroughs
Canoga Park, CA
Dear Andy,
I have been very busy this past year and cannot
quite believe that a year has gone by since Joe passed
away. I have managed to get the outside of the house
painted, had several faucets and one toilet replaced,
fixed the outdoor watering system and received a new
knee from Kaiser (not necessarily in that order).

Dave,
Im sure there were a few surprised June 54 B
Shifters who enjoyed some memories on seeing their
pics in your last Grapevines Tailboard (Dec2014).
Unfortunately, that was only half of that class the A Shift being left out. From their half we often
see mention in the Grapevine of Bill Dahlquist who
keeps active on behalf of the cause at the harbor and
[the Hollywood]Museum. The longest active serving
member at 53 years before retirement - he liked the
job - Chief Larry Schneider also was part of the A
shift of that class. And, youve probably heard of Sam
Diannito, also from that class!
Regards and thanks.
Jim Mills
Solvang, CA
Dear WODFF
Please accept this donation in memory of Rose
(Lynn) Isreal, wife of Gordon L. Isreal, who was a
classmate of mine in the April 1968 class.
Gordon (who I always knew as Dan) and Rose (who
I always knew as Lynn) , while not quite neighbors,
lived a few blocks away in West Van Nuys, and due to
proximity, we became friends and ride partners during
the Drill Tower. If memory serves me, Dan and Lynn
lived next door to B/C Rudy Landgraf, which may
have had a part in getting Dan interested in the Fire
Department. After graduating and going to our field
assignments, I dont think we ever worked together
other than at adjacent Stations 22s and possibly
66s, but we remained in contact over the years.

Richard Watters
Agoura Hills, CA
Dear Andy and LA Firemens Relief Assn. Family,
My family and I want to sincerely thank you
from the bottom of our hearts for the beautiful floral
arrangements you had delivered to my husbands
Larry Munden celebration of life memorial service.
I could just picture him looking down on all of us that
day with a huge smile on his face happy he got his
going way party after all. Your gorgeous flowers
helped to make his celebration a little brighter.
I especially want to thank you Andy for all the help,
support and guidance during a very difficult time. You
took care of everything for me when I needed help and
I am so very grateful for all youve done. Larry and I
have been blessed to have LAFRA in our lives since
1970, knowing there is help just a phone call away.
Bless you all!
On behalf of my family, please accept the enclosed
donation to the Widows, Orphans and Disabled
Firemens Fund in memory of my dear husband Larry
Munden, engineer retired, and a wonderful father who
we love and miss so much.
With sincere gratitude,
Gwen Munden
Arroyo Grande, CA
To All Who Guided Me
I felt so blessed to have been assisted and guided
through all the many departments I had to search out
and contact when my husband, Carleton J. Phillipse,
passed away. So many whys and hows. Please pass
this one to all who were so helpful at our sad time. I
truly was so surprised how well everything fell into
place as I was completely in the dark where to go next.
Again: Bless all of you and pass on my message.
Donna R. Phillipse & family
1000 Palms, CA
Dear Juan Albarran:
On behalf of the Toluca Lake Chamber of
Commerce we are proud to enclose a check in support
of the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemens
Fund. This was part of the proceeds from our annual
pancake breakfast on Fire Service Day at Fire Station
86. We hope to be back next year to join with our local
firemen to educate the community on fire safety and
raise funds for your fine organization.
Yours truly,
Reynold M. Blight, president
Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce

January 2015 49

Submitted by Frank Borden Director of Operations, LAFDHS

LAFD History - Chief Engineers of the LAFD, Part One

n 1850 the Los Angeles City Council had

the authority to form a fire department,
however no action was taken until 1871
when the Volunteer Fire Department was
formed. This was preceded by an informal volunteer organization born in Buffums Saloon
in November of 1869. In 1874 the volunteers
temporarily disbanded in anger when the City
pulled appropriations for two horses to pull
their apparatus; this was resolved by 1875
when the funding was restored. The members
of Engine Company #1 reorganized under the
banner of the Thirty-Eights #1, named for the
38 original members. Charles E. Miles was
elected Foreman. Shortly after the founding
of the Thirty-Eights a second engine company
was formed and named Confidence Engine
Company #2 with George Furman being the
first foreman.

Charles E. Miles was the first Chief
Engineer of the Volunteer Fire Department and
Walter S. Moore was the first Chief Engineer
of the LAFD, the paid fire department. The official start for the paid Department was January
12, 1886 when the Board of Fire Commissioners was created.

After unsuccessfully trying to put a
suitable ladder truck into service, the department purchased a 65 foot extension ladder
in 1876 which would be known as Vigilance
Hook and Ladder Company #1. In 1878, the
residents in the area of the 6th Street Park organized the Park Hose Company #1 which
was furnished with a four wheel hose carriage
drawn by two horses. During the fall of 1883
the last volunteer company was organized in
the Morris Vineyard. The company was provided a fire house and a hose cart; their name
would be Morris Vineyard Hose Company #3.
During 1882, the employees of the Southern
Pacific Railroad formed an engine company
not affiliated with the City department; it was
known as the Southern Pacific #1.

At the time the paid Department was
formed the volunteers consisted of three hundred and eighty members: Engine Company #1
(the Thirty-Eights) situated in the Plaza, Confidence Engine #2 at 2nd and Main Streets, Vigilance Hook and Ladder Company #2 on Aliso
Street below Alameda Street and Park House
Company #1 at 5th and Spring Streets.

50 January 2015

The paid Fire Department was created
by the City Council on January 12, 1886 by the
selection of a Board of Fire Commissioners.
The Board elected Walter S. Moore, Chief Engineer of the Department on January 28, 1886,
and handed him the responsibility for all 29
square miles of the City; todays Department
covers a city of 464.5 square miles. His career
in the fire service began with his serving as a
runner with Philadelphia Fire Company #18.
Chief Moore had been active in the fire service
in Los Angeles since 1875 when he joined Confidence Engine Company #2.

Chief Engineer Jacob Kurtz was

also a City Councilman.

Chief Engineer Walter Moores

replica badge is on display in
our Hollywood museum.

Chief Moore resigned on September
26, 1887 and was succeeded by Jacob Kuhrts
(pro-tem) September 26, 1887. Jacob Kuhrts
joined the Volunteer Fire Department in 1871
and was later elected president of the Volunteer
Fire Department and served as the Foreman of
38s Engine Company #1. Later in life he went
on to serve for many years as a Fire Commissioner. The Amoskeg steamer in our Museum
was named the Kurtz steamer because he
was responsible for obtaining it for the LAFD.
The first rig for the paid department.

Thomas Strohm succeeded Jacob
Kuhrts in October of 1887 when he was elected
by the City Council. Strohm would become
Chief Engineer three different times. His career started on the Volunteer Fire Department
as a member of the 38s Engine Company #1
in 1876 where he served until the paid Department was formed. Chief Strohm was succeeded
by D. A. Moriarity in January of 1888.

Moriarity served on volunteer departments in Nebraska, Nevada and Arizona before coming to Los Angeles. When he arrived
in Los Angeles he joined Confidence Engine
Company #2 and became foreman.

Thomas Strohm again became Chief
Engineer in March of 1889 and was succeeded
by Walter S. Moore in February of 1891. Michael Curran became Chief Engineer February 1, 1893. Chief Currans career started as did
the others, with the old volunteer companies.

D.A. Moriarity succeeded Michael
Curran in December of 1893. Walter S. Moore
succeeded Chief Moriarity in February of 1895
and Thomas Strohm succeeded Chief Moriarity
in April of 1900.


Walter Lips succeeded Thomas Strohm
in February of 1905. Chief Lips had been engineer on Engine Company #3 just five years before he became Chief Engineer. He started his
career by being appointed Call Man in April of
1895.

After Walter Lips resigned in March of
1910, John G. Todd became Acting Chief Engineer from March of 1910 to May, 1910 when
Archie J. Eley became Chief Engineer.

Chief Eley was originally appointed
Call Man in May of 1892 and Lieutenant First
Class in January of 1900. During this period the
two platoon system was established changing
to 24 hour shifts. George H. ODonnell became
Acting Chief Engineer from August 1917 until
April of 1918, in the absence of Chief Eley.

Chief Ralph J. Scott succeeded Chief
Eley in July of 1919. Ralph J. Scott was appointed to the Fire Department in 1905, became a Lieutenant in 1909, Captain in 1913,
Acting Battalion Chief and then to the rank of
Battalion Chief, a rank which he held for one
day before being appointed Chief Engineer on
July 18, 1919. He started on a Department having 163 horses and saw the entire department
go to motorized apparatus. As a man of great
vision he would go on to form the LAFD Fire
College for advanced training of department
members.

Chief Scott was 34 years old when
appointed Chief Engineer; he was single and
lived with his mother and sister. Shortly after
being appointed Chief Engineer he married
Adeline Haas and for seven years they lived in
the Chiefs quarters on the third floor of Engine
23. Mrs. Adeline Haas Scott was the only wife
of a Chief Engineer to live in the Chiefs quarters.

When Chief Scott was appointed the
City of Los Angeles was 400 square miles and
had a population of 850,000. The LAFD had
57 pieces of equipment and 725 firemen. The
Department averaged 3,000 fires per years with
a loss of $1,600,000. Chief Scott was the longest serving Chief Engineer, serving from July
18, 1919 to April 1, 1940. During his tenure
the City of Los Angeles absorbed the City of
Venice in 1925, expanding the area of the City
to 418.85 square miles This added two engine
companies and one truck company to the apparatus inventory as well as twenty-nine men
including one Captain, four Lieutenants, eight
Auto Firemen and sixteen Firemen. Retired
Chief Engineer Ralph J. Scott passed away at
the age of 74 on September 17, 1958.
Next month - Chief Engineers of the LAFD,
Part Two
LAFDHS APPARATUS RESTORATION
The Seagrave Anderson City Service Truck

In November our 1910 Seagrave Anderson returned to the Museum after months of
work to restore it. The Anderson City Service

Truck was originally horse drawn and went

into service as Truck Co. 1, located with Engine Co. 4 at 227 Aliso Street. The designation
City Service Truck means that it does not have
an aerial ladder, just an assortment of ground
ladders. The Anderson also had a 60 gallon
chemical tank and hose to extinguish small
fires.

In 1919, a 1913 Seagrave tractor (that
had previously pulled Engine Co. 30s steamer)
was attached to the Anderson City Service replacing the horses as motive power and became
thereafter Shop Number 73 and continued to be
assigned to Truck Co. 1. Its last assignment was
Truck 16, located at 139 No. Hope St.

Thanks to the volunteer work by Tim
McHenry the rig is now a museum quality display. Tim was given the assignment to manage
the restoration. He fabricated many of the replacement parts himself including the chemical
tank, equipment boxes and several fenders. The
rig was sent to Ray Claridge (Tims friend) of
Cinema Vehicles Services for paint and decals.
They did an excellent job from top to bottom.
Tim and Johnny Garcia have been doing the
finishing work on it.

The Anderson Truck on a full run in downtown LA.

Chief Ralph J. Scott was responsible for the construction of the most modern
fireboat in the country in 1925, Fireboat No. 2, later named for him.

The Seagrave Anderson is now on display

in the Hollywood Fire Museum.

January 2015 51

LAFDHS VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

- 2014

The Historic Society is again honoring
our Volunteers of the Year for their contributions to the mission and goals of the Society.
Retired Battalion Chief Don Cate for
the Harbor Fire Museum
Retired Apparatus Operator Johnny
Garcia for the Hollywood Fire Museum
Kevin Corcoran and Lea Safer for the
Ralph J. Scott.

We congratulate you and appreciate all
the work you have done during the past year.

We thank the Ralph M. Parsons

Foundation for the generous donation to restore Old Fireboat 2 The
Ralph J. Scott.
Current LAFDHS Planned Events 2015
January
Annual LAFDHS Volunteer of the Year
Brunch Sun. Jan. 25
Harbor Fire Museum Tour Fri. Jan. 30
February
LAFD 129th Year Anniversary (2-1-15 Celebrated Sat. Jan. 31 at Hollywood Fire
Museum)

March
St. Patricks Day Event, Tue. 3-17
April
San Pedro Chamber of Commerce Mixer at
the Ralph J. Scott (Date TBD)
May
HS Annual Pancake Breakfast Sat. May 9th
Hollywood Fire Museum
L.A. Wood Car Show, San Pedro (Date TBD)
June
Fire Hogs Memorial Run Museum 27 Start
- Sat. June 13
LAFD Retired Member Luncheon
Museum 27 Thur. June 18
Port of LA Cars & Stripes Forever
(Date TBD)
LAFDHS Golf Tournament (Date to be
determined)
Ralph J. Scott Fundraiser Party - Sun.
June 28
September
Annual 9-11 Memorial at LAFD Fallen
Firefighters Memorial, Fri. 9/11
October
LAFD Memorial at LAFD Fallen
Firefighters Memorial, Sat. 10/10
Fireboat 2 Ralph J. Scott 90th Birthday
Sat. Oct. 17
November
Marine Corps Birthday at Museum 27,
Tue. 11/10
December
HS Annual Holiday Party at Museum 27,
Sat. 12/12

Calendar for January 2015

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 mem-

ber, 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 323-4647401. Our E-mail is: LAFDHS27@

aol.com. 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

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

Donations to Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemens Fund

December 2014

TOLUCA LAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE from proceeds

of FS 86 Annual Pancake Breakfast on Fire Service Day
JOAN R. MCRAE in gratitude for the work of LAFRA
HARLAN R. WOOD
F. E. HARRIS in gratitude for use of DME for wife Beverly
WILLIAM F. HASSOLDT in memory of Beverly Harris
M. M. LEAHEY in memory of Dennis Thorn
CONSTANCE M. HOLLAND/HOLLAND FAMILY in memory
of husband and father Edward M. Holland

ROBERT BERRIER in memory of Ed Holland

BUD & MARY CREATH in gratitude for the use of the DME
DENNIS & SUE COVILLE in memory of Jerry Johns
ROBERT & MOIRA FITCH in celebration of Howard Dunfords
birthday
DIANA SCHENKMAN/ROBERT SCHENKMAN in memory of
Captain Dennis Thorn
JOHN E. KESLER JR., in memory of Ronnie Jesolva
MARGARET A. HODGSON in memory of Jerry Johns

DANIEL LEON in memory of James Pitcher

DEMPSEY J. BILLEY in memory of Jerry Johns

HELEN L. SCHULZ

PHYLLIS R. STAPEL in memory of my spouse Clarence Stapels

birthday 11/23/25

EUGENIA M. WALSER in memory of Dede Walser and in honor

of Ted Nonini

HARRY & DORIS MORCK in memory of Gilbert E. Nash

ROBERT BLACK in memory of Edward Holland

HELEN INFANGE in memory of Jerry Johns

DONALD O. MANNING in memory of Deputy Chief Keith A.

Wilson

CHERYL BELLING in memory of Dennis Thorn

BILL J. WELSH in memory of Jerry Johns

GEORGE M. WEBSTER in memory of Natalie Arnds
ARLENE J. BURNHAM in memory of my husband Edwin C.
Burnham

JOY L. AGNEW in memory of Dennis Thorn

FIRE STATION NO. 39 from the Fire Extinguisher Fund
JANICE HIMEGARNER in memory of Barbara Nelson

LEE H. KEBLER in memory of Mary Dudley, widow of Darryl

Dudley
RICHARD L. WATTERS in memory of Rose (Lynn) Israel, wife
of Gordon L. Israel
MARCIA H. BREWER in memory of Captain Russ McMenamin
SHERRY N. WALSH in memory of Captain Joseph Everett
JOHN N. VIDOVICH in memory of Captain Joseph Everett
JUDITH K. TATEISHI in memory of Captain Joseph Everett
WENDY BEST in memory of Captain Joseph Everett
MARIE G. MICHELL in memory of Joseph O. Michell, huband
and father
JAME E. GILLUM from the Simi Valley Breakfast Club
ANSELMO/SONNY J. GARRIDO in memory of Jerry Johns

mail:
P.O. Box 41903
Los Angeles CA
90041
phone:
(800) 244-3439

visit:
www.LAFRA.org
January 2015 53

LOS ANGELES FIREMENS RELIEF ASSOCIATION MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

November 5, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
President Juan Albarran called the meeting
of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles
Firemens Relief Association to order at
10:20a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Juan Albarran, President
Robert Steinbacher, Vice President
Andrew Kuljis, Secretary
Trustee James Coburn
Trustee Jeff Cawdrey
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Chris Hart
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Doak Smith
Trustee Chris Stine
Trustee Steven Domanski
Trustee Tim Larson Pension
Todd Layfer - Executive Director
Liberty Unciano Controller-Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustee Gene Bednarchik (Excused)
Trustee Francisco Hernandez (Excused)
Trustee Rick Godinez (Excused)
Trustee Steve Tufts (Excused)
Trustee Craig White (Excused)
Trustee David Ortiz (Excused)
Trustee Steve Ruda (Excused)
Trustee Mark Akahoshi (Excused)
Trustee Barry Hedberg Pension (Excused)
Trustee David Lowe Pension (Excused)
GUESTS:
Dave Wagner, Grapevine Editor
Bob Olsen, L.A. Retired Fire & Police
Lee Kebler, L.A. Retired Fire & Police
Dennis Mendenhall, Retired
Tom Stires, Retired
Jim Dolan, Asst. Secretary

INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Tim Larson led the invocation. Steve Berkery
led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to ratify

54 January 2015

and dispense with the reading of the minutes

of the Board of Trustees meeting held October
1, 2014. James Coburn so moved. Tim Larson
seconded. There was no further discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to ratify and dispense with
the reading of the minutes of the Board of
Trustees held October 1, 2014.
PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Juan Albarran provided an update on some
members. He mentioned that there will be
fundraisers scheduled for members Wendy
Cummings and Javier Martinez. He indicated
that he had a meeting with the Fire Family
Foundation to discuss the type of assistance for
the members.
2) Juan provided an update on the 7470
Figueroa building and indicated we are
waiting on electrical and drywall bids. He also
indicated that correspondence to the remaining
tenants has been sent regarding their possible
relocation of space.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Bob Steinbacher reported on the IFEBP
Conference in Boston and indicated that there
were 10 Trustees in attendance. He mentioned
that this conference was well attended and
worthwhile. He indicated that he has been
researching other conferences for 2015.
BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT
Steve Domanski reported that we received
the construction budget from the general
contractor. It increased by $500K compared to
the preliminary budget due to some changes.
He stated that they will revisit the dry wall bid
among other things.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT
1) Todd Layfer informed the Board that they
will be having CPR training for the staff on
November 20th.
2) Todd Layfer reported that Open Enrollment
has been running smoothly with not many
questions from the membership. He mentioned

that they will have additional mailers going out

by December concerning the EGWP program.
3) Juan reported on the Mayo Classic event and
stated that it was a great turn out. He indicated
that they are waiting to determine what the net
proceeds for the WODFF will be.
4) Todd Layfer referred to the Pension MOU
agreement with LAFRA and indicated that
negotiations continue with Dawna Gray. He
mentioned that the dependent eligibility and
verification project is being discussed. He
stated that when they receive more information
on the negotiations, he will report back.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
REPORT
Jeff Cawdrey presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to
pay the usual and customary bills in the amount
of $939,901.04. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary
bills in the amount of $939,901.04.
The committee recommends and I so move
to pay the professional fees in the amount
of $76,210.65. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to pay the professional fees in
the amount of $76,210.65.
The committee recommends and I so move
to approve $5,000 in start-up money for the
Buzzard Bait event. There was no discussion
or objections.
Motion carried to approve $5,000 in start-up
money for the Buzzard Bait event.
The committee recommends and I so move
to approve $250 for the L.A. Retired Fire and
Police Annual Christmas Celebration. There
was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $250 for the L.A.
Retired Fire & Police Annual Christmas
Celebration.

The committee recommends and I so move

to approve $300 to the Fire Station 39 75th
Anniversary community event. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $300 for the Fire
Station 39 75th Anniversary community event.
The committee recommends and I so move to
approve $500 for the Javier Martinez fundraiser.
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $500 for the Javier
Martinez fundraiser.
The committee recommends and I so move
to approve $250 for the LAFD Leadership
Academy Graduation Ceremony. On the
question, there was an objection.
Motion carried to approve $250 for the LAFD
Leadership Academy Graduation Ceremony.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
Steve Domanski informed the Board that with
the termination of Stralem & Co. and London
Co., transition to new managers has been
completed. He indicated that the committee will
meet to discuss another possible termination.
Garth Flint presented the 3rd Quarter
investments for LAFRA. He reviewed market
performance and how it affects LAFRAs
portfolio. International and Domestic Equity
funds were down for the quarter while
Alternatives were up. He discussed manager
performance and their approach to investing.
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

$22,294.77,
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of
$6,175,
The Life & Accident Death Benefit in the
amount of $36,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of
$36,000.
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the above Relief
benefits.

Motion carried to approve the emergency

advancement applications for active and
retired members.
GRAPEVINE/WEB REPORT
Chris Hart indicated that they are still trying to
encourage members to write in and send stories
and pictures for the Battalion News section of
the Grapevine.
SECRETARYS REPORT

James Coburn read the names of members who

recently passed and asked for a moment of
silence from the Board.

Andy Kuljis reported that they have been able

to update the FRITS much easier since the new
conversion has been implemented.

MEMORIALS
Roy B. Swanhart
Roy W. Kline
Robert E. Dingwall
Roger T. Hirdler
Jerry R. Johns
Keith A. Wilson
Edward M. Holland
Dennis D. Thorn

BYLAWS COMMITTEE REPORT

ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
James Coburn presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to
accept the donations in the amount of $8,555.69
to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemens
Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the
amount of $8,555.69 to the Widows, Orphans
& Disabled Firemens Fund.
The committee recommends and I so move to
approve the financial assistance applications for
surviving spouses, active and retired members.
There was no discussion or objections.
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.

Juan Albarran informed that they will be

counting the ballots from this years election
on Tuesday, November 25th.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Fire Station 39 75th Anniversary November
22nd
2) Javier Martinez Fundraiser November
23rd
3) LAFRA Open House December 6th
4) L.A. Retired Fire & Police Christmas
Celebration December 7th
RETIREMENT DINNERS

1) Daniel Mattera November 16th
Old FS 27s Fire Museum
2) Ray Mayo January 22nd Ports OCall
3) Mike Ketaily February 7th Dukes Malibu,
Ocean Room
4) Gregory E. Newland April 11th Dalmatian
American Club San Pedro
**All motions approved by Board on hold due
to lack of quorum.
ADJOURNMENT
Juan Albarran entertained a motion to adjourn.
David Peters so moved. Chris Hart seconded.
There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of
Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:42 a.m.

Juan Albarran, President

January 2015 55

56 January 2015

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

MERCHANDISE
FOR SALE
COCA-COLA 1942 ICE CHEST
with tray, bottle opener, swing up
handles, latches (with flathead
screws), metal drain capired, with
white letters (drink Coca-Cola in
bottles) one each side - All above
original - $1,199.00, cash $999.00.
(714) 842-2801. All calls returned
9am/9pm.
FIAT COLLECTORS. Check this
out. 1977 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.

REAL ESTATE
FOR SALE
GREAT HOME in gated neighborhood on Lake Hartwell, South
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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

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
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choices, simple solutions. Problem
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phone - escrow and inspections
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termitelady@ecolatermite.com
BUSY BEAVER TREE AND
LANDSCAPE. Tree trimming
and removal, stumpgrinding, and
firewood sales. Mixed firewood,
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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: firehousegunz@
gmail.com
COMPLETE DRYWALL SERVICE. New construction and
remodel. Acoustic ceiling removal.
Spray texture and hand textures.
Greg Avery (805) 320-8311 or
Mark Avery (805) 551-6041.

891-1414, (661) 298-3070, FAX

(661) 298-3069. State License No.
527114

Rick Brandelli, Capt. LACoFD, FS

8-C (800) 667-6676.
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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

VACATION
RENTALS

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Located in Victorville CA. (760)
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www.firemanwholesalenursery.
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Returns, Electronic Filing available, year round bookkeeping
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partnership returns, payroll. All
computerized processing with over
30 years experience. Call early
for an appointment around your
schedule. Robert Sanchez LAFDOCD retired (818) 367-7017, cell
(818) 216-1040.

BIG BEAR CABIN - All season,

restful views from decks. Two
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BIG BEAR CABIN. 2 bedroom,
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gmail.com
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) 8745294
sugarloafcabin@cox.net sugarloafcabin.com

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
susanpurrington@gmail.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: 2MikeRhodes@gmail.com

CARPINTERIA BEACH CONDO.

2 bedroom, 2 bath. Three blocks
to beach, five blocks to downtown. Sleeps 8 - Monthly rentals
only - completely furnished - cable
+ WiFi. (vrbo.com - 603800 search). Jill Johns (805) 490-8196.

CRAIG SANFORD HEATING &

AIR - Free estimates, residential, commercial. Great rates for
LAFD and LAPD. Toll free (877)

WINDOWS & PATIO DOORS

- vinyl replacement windows &
Patio doors. I also carry aluminum,
wood and entry door systems.

DESERT CONDOS, RANCHO

MIRAGE (near Palm Springs). 2
bed, 2 bath. Fully furnished condo,
TV, internet, pools and spas. Gated

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

January 2015 57

community from $115/night. 3

bed from $125/night. No smoking.
Barbara (626) 798-2484.
JUNE LAKE CABIN - 2BR/2BA
cabin with Carson Peak view.
Close to fishing & skiing. Furnished, wood deck, equipped
kitchen, wood burning stove, tree
swing, cable /DVD/phone. Garage/
ample parking. $95/night plus
cleaning fee. Email for pictures.
Jeff Easton 93-A (805) 217-5602.
junebound@gmail.com
LAKE ARROWHEAD BLUE JAY
CABIN. Charming 2-story with
creek, large deck, two baths,
complete kitchen, TV/VCR/DVD,
fireplace, washer & dryer. Walk to
Blue Jay Village. Sleeps 8. $90/
night. NO PETS! Bruce or Sue
Froude, (805) 498-8542.
LAKE HAVASU LANDING-Waterfront, steps to the water. Boat
mooring out front, off-road desert
behind house. 3 bed/3 bath, fully
furnished w/linens. Direct TV/DVR,
BBQ, Casino, Grocery/Meat Market, Launch Ramp, Marina with
Boat House, Gated Community.
No pets/smoking. $350 Dan Cook
310 418 1577.
LAKE HAVASU BEAUTY FOR
RENT - 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 1600 sq.ft.
Fully furnished with all amenities- Laundry & BBQ. 13,000 sq.ft.
lot. 3 car boat-deep garage. 3
miles from launch ramp. Close to
downtown shops & restaurants.
View of the lake. Quiet street in
good neighborhood. No pets. No
smoking. Snowbird rates. Call
Mike (661) 510-6246
LAKE NACIMIENTO. Oak Shores
gated community. 3 bedroom, 2
1/2 bath, large loft. 3minute drive
to main marina in Oak Shores.
Large flat driveway. Fully equipped
kitchen, BBQ, washer/dryer, TV/
DVD. No cable. No pets/smoking.
$185/night. 3 night minimum. Call
Ben (805) 444-2264.
MAMMOTH CONDO. 1 Bed/ 1.25
Bath sierra manors condo. In town,
on shuttle route. Sleeps 4 easily.
Pets OK. Fully furnished with new
furniture/HDTV/WIFI Woodburning
fireplace. Hot Tub, sauna, W/D in
complex. Reduced rates for FFs
starting @100/nt
oldtownmammothcondo.ownernetworks.com
mammothmtncondo@yahoo.com
Ryan (310) 717 8483 for more info/
rates

58 January 2015

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 TVs, pool, spa, walk
to shuttle, Old Mammoth area.
Winter $115, Summer $90, plus
cleaning fee $139 and 14% city
tax. Includes linens. No pets, no
smoking. Call (310) 540-4648.
MAMMOTH CONDO - 2 bdrm, 2
bath, 2 TVs, phone, garage, pool,
jacuzzi, fully furnished - exept
linens. Near shuttle/chair 15.
Winter $125/night. Weekends and
Holidays $110 midweek. Summer
$95/night. $495/week. No smoking. No pets. Jim Johnson (818)
992-7564, FS 80C.
MAMMOTH CONDO AT MAMMOTH ESTATES, 4BR/3BA,
sleeps 10, fully furnished, 2
TVs, DVDs, WiFi, towels/linens,
fireplace. Full kitchen. Walk to
Gondola Village and shuttle. Complex has pool, spa, sauna, laundry.
Winter $335/night, Summer $215/
night, plus cleaning. Includes city
bed tax. No pets, no smoking.
Dory Jones (310) 918-0631 or
Kelly Corcoran (310) 619-5355
MAMMOTH CONDO rental. Large
2bed/2bath winterset condo. Fully
furnished, across from Vons, on
shuttle route, easily sleeps 8. Hot
tub, heated pool, sauna, full size
in unit W/D HDTV/WiFi throughout, woodburning fireplace, pets
OK FIREFIGHTER DISCOUNTS,
rates from $150/night
facebook.com/mammothmtncondo@yahoo.com
Ryan @ (310) 717-8483

MAMMOTH CONDO - Sierra

Manors Sleeps 7. 3 bedroom 2 1/2
bath. Fully furnished except linens.
2 TVs/VCR/DVD, stereo/CD.
Dishwasher, microwave, sauna,
jacuzzi, pool. No smoking/No
Pets. Shuttle at door. Winter $155/
night, Summer $100/night, Plus
$80 cleaning fee and City Bed
Tax. Brian & Karen Salvage LAFD
Retired (805) 499-7752.
MAMMOTH LAKES - One
bedroom, extremely charming
wildflower condo. Full amenities,
close to shuttle. Antiques, art,
satellite TV, fireplace. Sleeps 4.
Winter $110, Summer $85 plus
cleaning fees. Call Bill Clark (818)
371-6722
Email: shakesong@aol.com
MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET:
Studio/loft, 2 bath, king bed,
sleeps 4. Full kitchen, TV, VCR,
DVD. Garage parking. Walk to
Canyon Lodge. Ski back 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: cat25sailor@juno.com or
(213) 399-6534.
MAUI BEACH FRONT CONDO
ON NAPILI BAY - 50 from water.
Studios and 1 bedroom. Luxury
furnishings + full kitchen. All the
amenities! Mauis best snorkeling/beach. All island activities &
Kapalua within 4 minutes. 5-day
minimum, from $150 per night
(regularly $310/night). Call Sherrie
or Bill for info/reservations (805)
530-0007 or email: pmimaui@aol.
com or visit:
www.napilibaymaui.com
MAMMOTH CONDO NEXT TO
THE GONDOLA VILLAGE Fully
furnished, three bedroom, two bath
with towels and linens, newly remodeled kitchen, internet and cable
TV, pool and Jacuzzi. Walk to the
gondola, shops, restaurants and
ski in on the new comeback trail.
Parking at the front door. Winter:
$250/night. Summer $150/night.
Holidays $300/night. Cleaning is
included. Call Mike Whitehouse,
Retired, 805-987-6122, email:

btkwhitey@yahoo.com
or Bruce Galien, Retired, 661-6457448, email: luvbaja2@aol.com
MAUI CONDO 1 AND 2 BEDROOMS. Centrally located on
beautiful Maalaea Bay. Excellent
swimming and snorkeling; white
sandy beach. Minutes from golf,
tennis, fishing, shopping, airport
and resort areas. Marsha Smith or
Jeanne McJannet. Toll free (800)
367-6084. www.maalaeabay.com
MAUIS MOST BEAUTIFUL
BEACH - Napili Bay. Beautiful furnished condo that sleeps 4. Lanai/
balcony, full kitchen, king bed, flat
screen TVs/DVD, ACs free WiFi
(internet), complimentary maid service, complimentary coffee every
morning and breakfast on Fridays.
Special firefighters discount - Best
value in West Maui! Nice pool &
BBQ area - Close to beach! (800)
336-2185 www.napilivillage.com
Don Sprenger - retired LAFD (949)
548-5659
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 jgonzlz@
hotmail.com
PALM DESERT-3 bed/2bath,
one level. New re-model, fully
furnished w/linens. Cable TV/
DVR, Private Patio, BBQ, Laundry,
Garage, Gated Community, two
(Pools, Jacuzzis, Tennis Courts).
Near College of the Desert. $175
Dan Cook 310 418 1577.

VACATION
VEHICLES
MOTOR HOMES FOR RENT:
Several 2006 Class A 32 Foot Motor Homes, with Double Slide Outs,
Fully Loaded, Free Housekeeping
Kit, Camping Kit, Discount Prices
Starting at $150.00 to $180.00 per
night. Serving family & friends of
LAPD , LASD, IPD, OXPD, OX
Fire, LA CO., LA City, Ski Clubs
ask for our 25% off weekly rental
rates. Visit us at www.so-calrv.
com or call 661-714-7689 or 661297-2398. ALSO AVAILABLE BIG
BEAR CABINS, 3 bedroom 2 bath
with pool tables & spas. PLEASE
CALL FOR MORE DETAILS.

WANTED
WANTED. License plate frame
from 1986 Centennial Fire Department. Call Blacky Blackwell (661)
268-0040

For advertising information, please contact:

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

Deal direct with authorized Factory Dealers

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

GALPIN FORD

#1 Volume Ford Dealer in the world for 20

consecutive years!

Lincoln / Mercury / Honda / Mazda /

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

HAMER TOYOTA, INC.

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

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

GOUDY HONDA
Auto Leasing & Fleet Sales Since 1989
Fastest Growing Dealer in the Nation
1400 W Main St, Alhambra CA 91801
Eddie WangFleet & Lease Mgr
626-300-4222 l 800-423-1114

January 2015 59

Firefighting is a risky job; we want you to take better care of yourself

A healthy diet and good dose of laughter do a body good.

So do regular check-ups.

1 Routine Physical Exam every year at 100%

3 Eye Exam every year, $10 co-pay

using VSP in-network provider

2 Body Scan every 3 years at 100%

4 Colonoscopy every 5 years at 100%

*details at lafra.org/wellness

*limited to $600

*after age 50

5 Standard Immunization Vaccines at 100%

6 Dermatology and skin cancer check,
$15 co-pay
7 Well-woman Exam every year at 100%
8 Mammogram every 1-2 years at 100%
*women 40 years and older

All above benefits for In-Network providers only

Consult your personal physician before

scheduling any of these exams

*Plan coverage as of 7-1-14, all benefits subject to change

60 January 2015

ly

Firemen from Engine 82 and Truck 35 re-enact the deployment of the life net at the Hollymont Apartments at 1771 North Vermont Ave in 1964. Jack Tuefel (E-82), William Morris (T-35), Marshall Willitts (E-82), John August (T-35), John Altree (E-82), Raymond Gordon (E-82) and Charles Blank (E-35) squeezed into a space between
two buildings and caught a victim who fell from a fourth floor window. The lucky victims foot struck the 3rd floor window ledge on the way down which flipped him
into just the right position to land safely in the life net. Submitted by Jack Tuefel, retired 1968.
January 2015 61

Los Angeles Firemens Relief Association

815 Colorado Blvd FL 4
Los Angeles CA 90041-1745