This year, the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s (LACoFD) Construction and Maintenance Division’s Crafts Section created a new public education display for visitors to enjoy at the Antelope Valley Fair which runs from August 16-25, 2019.
By Kaelyn Floyd
During the week of August 6, Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) Division II and IV firefighters participated in National Night Out events throughout their respected cities. These annual community-building events feature safety tips, fun activities and entertainment to promote positive relationships between residents and public safety officers.
LACoFD set up booths to educate the communities about the resources provided in their areas and fire safety. Residents were eager to meet local firefighters and learn life saving skills, such as hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Local law enforcement agencies also participated in the fun, building long lasting positive relationships with community members.
Since August 1984, communities across the United States have been participating in National Night Out to prevent crime and drug activity through community awareness. This campaign is officially recognized on the first Tuesday of August but is celebrated during the entire month.
By Kaelyn Floyd. Photos by David Franco, BOS Photographer.
Recently, Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) Ocean Lifeguard Specialists (OLS) Ruben Cormona, Shuan Gudmundsson, and Jon Van Duinwyk each received the distinguished Medal of Valor at the Lifeguard Medal of Valor award ceremony in July, for going above and beyond while providing life saving services. On Tuesday, August 13, 2019, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recognized their courageous efforts at the weekly Board meeting.
The Supervisors presented a recognition scroll to each award recipient and thanked them for their commitment to saving lives in Los Angeles County. Fire Chief Daryl Osby and members of the executive team were grateful the Department was honored for its devoted team members.
“I am proud to have the honor to say that the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Lifeguards are amazing. It is the individuals that work for the Department that makes it the premier organization,” said Chief Osby. “Thank you Board members for this acknowledgment.”
The scroll presentation featured two videos of the following incidents that earned the dedicated OLS the Medal of Valor. In 2018, OLS Carmona and Gudmundsson worked together to rescue two trapped victims from a remote and rocky ledge during high tide in Rancho Palos Verdes. That same year, OLS Van Duinwyk rescued a victim trapped inside a sailboat off Dockweiler Beach, moments before the boat crashed and was completely destroyed on shore.
To view the videos, visit https://www.instagram.com/lacolifeguards/.
If you enjoy making videos, the Underwriters Laboratories’ Firefighter Safety Research Institute (ULFSRI) is encouraging filmmakers to showcase their talent and participate in their “Close Before You Doze” video contest. The contest is open until Saturday, August 31, 2019, and a donation of up to $25,000 will be made to the top three winner’s favorite fire department.
ULFSRI is looking for fresh new content for Close Before you Doze, a campaign that has educated millions in the importance of closing bedroom doors before going to bed to prevent the spread of home fires and save lives.
Contestants are to submit a short video of their creative interpretation of this life-saving message to help promote fire safety in their community. Videos with the most public views will be announced as the winners.
For more information, visit https://closeyourdoor.org/contest.
Thirteen Los Angeles County firefighters were honored with a formal graduation ceremony for successfully completing the Paramedic Training Institute program. The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s executive team hosted the ceremony at El Camino College in Torrance on Thursday, August 8, 2019.
Family and friends attended the celebration to honor Class 250’s remarkable achievement.
Congratulations and best wishes to the following graduates:
Prior to graduating, the new paramedics completed six months of classroom, hospital, and field training.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, representatives from the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) attended the South Gate City Council meeting to personally honor South Gate police officers Aaron Krisman and Arturo Macias.
Recently, the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) presented 22 County departments with 2019 Achievement Awards in a variety of categories. At the weekly Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn recognized award winners, including the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), during scroll presentations.
The Los Angeles County Channel/Channel 36 recently produced vignettes featuring various Los Angeles County Fire Department employees and their chosen career paths. The 60-second stories show viewers what types of lucrative careers are available at various County departments.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) joined the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and other Southern California regional agencies in air operations trainings that focused on night wildland fire and night vision goggle drills. During the week of July 8, 2019, the Angeles National Forest (ANF) and the Los Padres National Forest (LPNF) each hosted the trainings to prepare first responders for future emergency incidents.
On Friday, July 12, 2019, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby, along with members of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 1014 and various County officials, met with representatives from the Department’s new third party workers’ compensation administrator, Sedgwick.
If you suspect fraud or wrongdoing by a County employee, please report it to the County Fraud Hotline at 1-800-544-6861 or fraud.lacounty.gov. You may remain anonymous.
© 2019 Los Angeles County Fire Department.
