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Drones, or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) as the Federal Aviation Administration labels them, are becoming more popular these days. These little aircraft are fun to fly and allow hobbyists the ability to see incredible sites. However they also can pose a flight hazard, so hobbyists need to know and follow Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules when operating these little flying machines. UAS are considered “mechanized” equipment and consequently cannot fly over, take off from, or land in, congressionally designated Wilderness Areas. They are not permitted to fly in areas that have “Temporary Flight Restrictions” in place, such as wildfires. Recent reports have documented UAS being operated over wildfires, thereby interfering with

fire suppression as well as commercial aircraft in their approach to their respective airports. Fire departments across California have been forced to stop or postpone critical air drops on

fires, severely hampering fire suppression efforts. Likewise, when a UAS is identified in an LAFD brushfire incident, all helicopters in the area need to be grounded—resulting in a complete loss of valuable water dropping resources and severly hampering fire suppression efforts. Please be aware of your surroundings if you fly a UAS, and educate others about their impact during emergency operations.

The FAA has authority over all airspace. Ensure that you comply with all FAA regulations and guidance for flying UAS by checking online at: www.faa.gov/uas

Issue 4 Operations Valley Bureau Sept/Oct 2015

Proudly serving the communities of: Arleta, Bell Canyon, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, City of San Fernando, Encino, Granada Hills, Lake View Terrace, Mission Hills, Noho Arts District, North Hills, North Hollywood,

Northridge, Pacoima, Porter Ranch, Reseda, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sylmar, Tarzana, Toluca Lake, Tujunga, Universal City, Van Nuys, Warner Center, West Hills, Winnetka, Woodland Hills.

PREPARING FOR EL NIÑO By Deputy Chief Daryl Arbuthnott

When you think of the fire department, you naturally think of fire but we also prepare for other environmental emergencies as well. Every few years, winds shift in the Pacific Ocean along the equator, warming the water more than usual. These “El Niño” events trigger changing weather patterns globally and can increase chances of heavy rain and snow pelting California. Forecasters are predicting this year’s El Niño as the second strongest on record for this time of year, and it has the potential to be the most potent weather changer in 65 years. In 1995, the dry conditions prior to El Niño’s arrival created the perfect conditions for flooding, mudslides and flash floods—very similar to the heat wave we experienced this summer. Some are speculating that our region’s next El Niño may already be here—and when you talk to experts you will hear that the weather phenomenon sports a dual personality. El Niño may bring much-needed drought relief to our state, but it also brings torrential rains which can create disastrous flooding and mudslides.

Please remember that floods are dangerous and should be taken seriously. Flooding can occur quickly in the mountain passes and valleys, and mudslides are common on hillsides with very little vegetation.

(See El Niño continued on page 2)

BUREAU COMMANDER

Deputy Chief

Daryl Arbuthnott

ASSISTANT BUREAU

COMMANDERS

Assistant Chief

Trevor Richmond

Andrew Fox

Emile Mack

Gregory Reynar

TRAINING OFFICER

Captain II

Richard Fields

EMS OFFICER

Captain I

Danny Wu

OFFICE

4960 Balboa Blvd.

Encino, CA 91316

818-728-9921

818-728-9931 Fax

Email: lafd.valleybureau

@lacity.org

DRONES AFFECT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

VALLEYVALLEYVALLEYViewViewView LLL AAA FFF DDD

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BRUSH FIRE PREPAREDNESS If you see smoke or fire in your area, immediately report it by dialing 9-1-1. Remember to take note of the location so that the dispatcher can send emergency responders to the correct location before you hang up.

EVACUATION MAY BE NECESSARY

• Back your car into the garage heading out with windows closed. Be sure to keep your keys with you so that you can evacuate quickly should it become necessary.

• Close the garage door, leave it unlocked, and disconnect the

automatic door opener in the case of power failure.

• Keep a flashlight and portable radio

with you at all times and stay tuned to your local news station.

OUTDOORS

• Move combustible yard furniture away

from the house or store it in the garage.

• Cover windows, attic openings, eaves, and vents with less combustible material, such as 1/2-inch or thicker plywood.

• Close window shutters and blinds if they are fire-resistant.

• Attach garden hoses to faucets and situate them so they can reach all areas of your house.

• Place a ladder against the house on the opposite side of the approaching fire for roof access.

• Shut off butane, propane and/or natural gas valves.

INDOORS

• Close all windows and doors around your home to prevent sparks from blowing inside.

• Close all doors within the house to slow fire spread inside the house.

• Turn on the lights in all your rooms,

on the porch, and in the yard. Your home will be more visible through the smoke.

Brush season is upon us and it is critical that you prepare your family and home to be ready. For more information please visit:

www.lafd.org/brush

Southern California’s dry rivers, creek beds and deep slot canyons can be especially dangerous for those caught by a rapidly moving flash flood. Los Angeles is a semi-desert area of mountains, canyons, ravines and basins. Problems are created when thunderstorms, high winds and other bad weather strike suddenly because:

• Just six inches of rapidly moving flood water is enough to knock a person down.

• It only takes two feet of water to float a large vehicle.

• Mudslides can easily travel faster than 10 miles per hour.

• Flash floods can turn a calm landscape into a raging river in a matter of minutes.

• Flash floods can move boulders, rip out trees, knock down bridges and destroy buildings.

• If you receive a warning or are caught in a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground.

Here’s what you can do to prepare yourself for this year’s El Niño:

• Clear trash and loose items from gutters and alleys that could potentially interfere with storm drainage.

• Don’t place trash and recyclable containers directly on drains and/or in gutters.

• Do not rake leaves, grass clippings or yard debris into the street or alley or gutter.

• If you see a clogged catch basin, call the City’s Storm Drain Hotline at (800) 974-9794 to report it so that LA Sanitation can get it cleaned out before the rains begin.

• Prepare to harvest rain. Big storms mean big returns on rainwater that can be captured in rain barrels and used at a later date for irrigating outside landscaping. The Metropolitan Water District is still offering a rebate on rain barrels for City residents. If you already have rain barrels, make sure they’re in good working order before the rains begin in earnest.

For more information about preparing for El Niño please visit:

www.lastormwater.org

(El Niño continued from page 1)

Halloween is almost here. Make sure to keep your trick-or-treaters safe. Kids are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. To protect your children, make it easier for drivers to see kids. Give your child a flashlight

or glow stick to carry, or attach retro reflective hang-tags, wristbands or tape to their costumes. Also, when choosing a costume, stay away from trailing fabric that could catch on fire.

Los Angeles Fire Department

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You know that family escape plan you keep meaning to draw up and finalize? You know the one, where you make sure you’ve mapped out two ways out of your bedroom and two ways out of you home? And you’ve chosen a safe meeting place where every one in your family will go in case you have to escape in a fire or other disaster? That plan you keep meaning to go over with everyone in your household? The one you keep meaning to practice?

If there’s one thing an emergency will teach us, it’s that everyone rises to the level of their own preparedness. Or perhaps more truthfully, sinks to the level of their own unpreparedness. If you wait until an emergency to come up with a family escape plan, things are bound to go

badly. Emergencies and disasters are scary things. You can’t expect every member of your family, or your-self, to behave calmly and escape your home in an effi-cient and timely manner when the world is crashing in around you. But if you have an escape plan in place, and you’ve practiced that plan once a month, every member of your family will have a much better chance of escaping your home without injury. You’ll have a plan. Everyone will know what to do. You’ll know how to get out -even in the dark, even with the smoke alarm blaring. And every-one will know where to go outside of the home to meet the rest of the family and await first responders. Protect your family...Create a Family Escape Plan today!

DEVELOPING YOUR FAMILY ESCAPE PLAN

THE GREAT CALIFORNIA SHAKEOUT THE WORLD’S LARGEST EARTHQUAKE DRILL Everyone should know how to protect themselves during an earthquake. On October 16 at 10:16 a.m., more than 9 million people in schools, business-es, nonprofits, government agencies, neighborhoods, organizations and households all across California will practice “Drop, Cover and Hold On” and other aspects of their emergency plans. The Great California ShakeOut be-gan in California in 2008 and is the world’s largest earthquake drill. Partici-pation is free and may take only a few minutes, depending on your drill plans. The primary purpose of ShakeOut is to encourage people and organizations to be prepared to survive and to recover quickly when the next big earth-quake happens. Learn more and register to participate at:

www.ShakeOut.org/california

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH! This year we are asking you to take action now—make a plan with your community, your family, and for your pets. Plan how to stay safe and communicate during the disasters that can affect your community. We are asking everyone to participate in America’s PrepareAthon! and the national day of action, National PrepareAthon! Day, which culminates National Preparedness Month on September 30th. Together with planning, preparation, and action we can ensure safety for our families and communities.

The first step in making a family escape plan is drawing a map of your home.

For more info please visit: www.mysafela.org

Operations Valley Bureau

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Operations Valley Bureau (OVB) encompasses the entire San Fernando Valley portion of Los Angeles. Battalions 10, 12, 14, 15 and 17 report to the Valley Bureau Commander, Deputy Chief Daryl Arbuthnott. The primary responsibility of Emergency Operations, which includes the OVB, is to direct, coordinate and control the line functions of the LAFD.

To request LAFD resources at public events (community fairs, school visits, etc.) , please send an email to LAFDrequest@lacity.org with the details of your event (date, time and duration, location, etc.).

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities.

LAFD RETIREMENTS

For more information or to download a newsletter:

LAFD FIRE COMMISSION The Los Angeles Fire Department is overseen by a five-person civilian board appointed by the Mayor and affirmed by the City Council. The Board of Commissioners establishes goals and provides direction to the Department. Fire Commission public meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 AM in Room 1820 of City Hall East.

If you need assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, auxiliary aids and/or translation services, please contact LAFD, (213) 978-3838, 72 hours in advance.

For Board Reports please visit: http://ens.lacity.org/lafd/lafd_board_report.htm

Audio recordings are at: https://www.youtube.com/user/lafirecommission

Name Rank Station/Community

Richard Brunson Captain 8 / Porter Ranch

Paul Gamez Captain 84 / Woodland Hills

Philip Gonzales Firefighter 100 / Lake Balboa

Mike Jacalone Captain 39 / Van Nuys

James Kwasigroch Captain 114 / Van Nuys Airport

Richard Pearson Captain 106 / West Hills

John Virant Captain 28 / Porter Ranch

OPERATIONAL RESPONSE TIMES From Station Notification to Time On-scene

2015 July/August All Incidents

5 Minutes 28 Seconds

VALLEY BUREAU INSIGHTS

VALLEYVALLEYVALLEYViewViewView LLL AAA FFF DDD

2014 TOTAL TYPES OF CALLS Advanced Life Support 69,045 Basic Life Support 39,757

Fires/Alarms 12,995

Other 7,633

2014 TOP 5 MEDICAL SERVICE CALL TYPES Calls per 1,000 Call Type Number Residents

Sick 15,157 10.4 Fall 11,031 7.5

Difficult Respiration 10,960 7.5

Unconscious 9,394 6.4

Chest Pain 9,057 4.2

BATTALION 12 SPOTLIGHT Fire Station Number and Community Served

7 Panorama City 75 Mission Hills

24 Shadow Hills/Sunland 77 Sun Valley

74 Tujunga/Sunland 91 Sylmar

98 Pacoima 59 On-Duty Personnel Daily

EVENTS Sept 11 Patriot Day Ceremony 7:00PM - 9:00PM LAFD Fire Station 88, Sherman Oaks

20 Congressman Brad Sherman Town Hall Meeting 3:00 PM Birmingham High School, Lake Balboa

30 NFPA Horse and Pet Preparedness Press Conference 9:30AM - 11:00AM Orcas Park, Lake View Terrace

30 Valley Public Safety Advisory Committee 6:00PM - 8:00PM Fire Station 87 Training Center, Granada Hills Oct 3 Annual Valley Disaster Preparedness Fair 10:00AM - 2:00PM Fire Station 87, Granada Hills

10 Reseda Tree Giveaway 10:00AM One Generation Center, Van Nuys

11 45th Assemblymember Matt Dababneh Northridge Community Coffee 2:00PM - 4:00PM Wilkinson’s Senior Center, Northridge

15 Great California Shakeout 10:16AM Locations throughout the Valley

17 Fire Station 7 Grand Opening 10:00AM-2:00PM Fire Station 7, Panorama City

27 LAFD Leadership Empowerment Advisory Panel 8:30AM - 12:00PM To be determined

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OPERATIONS VALLEY BUREAU AT (818) 728-9921