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Issue 7 Operations Valley Bureau Mar/Apr 2016

Proudly serving: 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,

Panorama City, Porter Ranch, Reseda, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sunland/Tujunga, Sylmar, Tarzana, Toluca Lake, Tujunga, Universal City, Van Nuys, Warner Center, West Hills, Winnetka, Woodland Hills.

PROTECTING YOU

AND YOUR FAMILY

There have been multiple news articles and

stories about the Zika virus. You should be aware

of what we know and do not know about the virus,

as well as knowing what you can do to protect

yourself and your family.

Why are we concerned about the virus?

Infection during pregnancies may be linked to

birth defects in babies. Zika can be spread from a

mother to her fetus during pregnancy.

How is the virus spread?

Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected

Aedes species mosquito. These mosquitoes are

aggressive daytime biters. They can also bite at

night. The mosquitoes that can carry Zika are

found in some areas of the US.

• To help prevent others from getting sick, avoid

mosquito bites during the first week of illness.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

• Stay in places with air conditioning or that use

window and door screens to keep mosquitoes

outside.

• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are

overseas or outside and are not able to protect

yourself from mosquito bites.

• Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered

insect repellents.

• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or

purchase permethrin-treated items.

If you have a baby or child:

• Do not use insect repellent on babies younger

than 2 months of age.

• Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and

legs, or

• Cover crib, stroller, and baby carrier with

mosquito netting.

• Do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s

hands, eyes, mouth, and cut or irritated skin.

• Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands

and then apply to a child’s face.

OPERATIONS VALLEY BUREAU ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY BUILDING ON STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND SUSTAINED PROGRESS By Deputy Chief Daryl Arbuthnott

The Operations Valley Bureau (OVB) has completed its

first successful year! Thanks to support from our great

Valley community, OVB has been able to achieve great

inroads in creating a safer city by improving its newsletter

with community-focused information as well as partnering

with business leaders and residents.

Operations Valley Bureau encompasses nearly 270 square miles of the San Fernando Valley. Serving

a population of 1.8 million residents and business commuters, OVB is directly accountable for the 38

fire stations that responded to 139,444 calls for service in 2015. There are five geographic Battalion

offices each supervising between seven to nine fire stations. Additionally, there are five EMS Battalion

offices splitting 24-hour platoon or 4/10 work schedules. Each station houses multiple apparatus,

equipment, and 6 to 16 personnel each day. OVB is responsible for managing the operational and

administrative needs of all assigned fire stations, including Air Operations located at Van Nuys Airport.

(See OVB Anniversary continued on page 3)

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

lafd.valleybureau @lacity.org

VALLEYView LLL AAA FFF DDD

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Los Angeles Fire Department

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR AN EARTHQUAKE

HOMEOWNER SAFETY TIPS Is your home properly bolted to the foundation?

• Crawl underneath your house with a flashlight. The wood that rests directly on the foundation (called the mud

sill) SHOULD be bolted to the foundation. Homes built before 1940 are often left unbolted to their foundations.

Does your cripple wall need plywood?

• If your cripple walls are covered with only stucco or wood siding, they need additional re-enforcement.

Are there faulty materials in the wood and concrete framing?

• Check for insect damage and dry rot.

• Unreinforced brick or stone masonry may need to be replaced, requiring an engineer or architect.

If my home needs strengthening, what steps can I take?

• There are Standard Plans available that will greatly reduce the time required for plan check and therefore permits can be issued much faster. A list

of Standard Plans can be found here:http://netinfo.ladbs.org/stdplan2.nsf/

• The Anchor Bolting/Bracing Foundation Drawing Standard Plan can be found here

http://ladbs.org/LADBSWeb/LADBS_Forms/Publications/anchor_bolting.pdf

How do I find and an engineer, architect or contractor?

• Engineers: Call the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California at (562) 908-6131.

• Architects: Call the American Institute of Architects at (310) 785-1809.

• Contractors: You should visit the Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board’s website

http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Hire_A_Contractor/

• You can verify a contractor’s information, including complaint disclosure by going to

https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx

Earthquake Insurance

• Earthquake insurance in California is typically not part of your homeowner’s insurance policy.

• You may purchase a California Earthquake Authority (CEA) policy only through CEA's participating insurers. A complete list is on the CEA web site:

http://www.earthquakeauthority.com/insurancepolicies/Pages/participatinginsurers.aspx Additional information

• City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Offices at (213) 580-1133 to locate an office near you. Visit their website at

http://ladbs.org/LADBSWeb/public-home.jsf for more resources.

• Structural Engineers Association for updates and industry news on structural safety http://www.seaosc.org/

• California Architects Board provides consumer information on hiring an architect http://www.cab.ca.gov/pdf/publications/consumers_guide.pdf

RENTERS AND MOBILE HOME SAFETY TIPS Before renting, check for these dangers:

• Structures made of unreinforced brick or block walls which can collapse and cause great loss of “Tuck under” parking spaces (a bottom floor with-

out walls giving the building the appearance of being on stilts over a parking lot) which can be dangerous if not retrofitted properly.

• Foundation and cripple wall failures which can cause expensive damage. Images and explanations of foun-

dational issues and cripple walls can be found at http://www.cert-la.com/BAS-How-You-Can-Strengthen-Your-Home.pdf

• Objects attached to the sides of buildings, such as staircases, balconies, and decorations, which can break

off in earthquakes.

• If the building has any major structural issues, consider renting elsewhere.

Ask your landlord these questions:

• What retrofitting has been done on the building?

• Have the water heaters been strapped with California approved systems to the wall studs?

Mobile Home Residents

• Mobile homes need "engineered tie-down systems" or "earthquake-resistant bracing systems"

• As a metal bracing device, an ERBS may have a vertical pole in the center supported by 4 or 6 diagonal

poles that start away from the base and come together at the top like a pyramid. Look for the ERBS beneath your home. An ERBS should have a label on the bracing that states, "Complies with the California Administrative Code, Title 25, Chapter 2, Article 7.5.”

• A metal or wood "skirt" on the outside with concrete blocks or steel tripods or jacks supporting your home is NOT enough.

Insurance Policies

• Earthquake insurance policies are available to renters, mobile home residents and condominium residents. Renters may want insurance to insure

personal property, or cover emergency repairs. Keep copies of your insurance policies in a lockable, durable box to grab in an emergency.

Contact the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety by calling 3-1-1 or visiting their site http://ladbs.org/LADBSWeb/public-home.jsf for the location nearest you. Here are some additional resources you can contact as well: www.californiarocks.com/renters-policies www.earthquakecountry.org/step4/mobilehomes.html www.sba.com

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Operations Valley Bureau

ALISO CANYON NATURAL GAS LEAK STOPPED!

The leak in a natural gas well more than 8,000 feet underground has been

stopped according to Jason Marshall of the California Department of

Conservation. “We have good news,” Marshall said, “The leak in Aliso Canyon

storage field is permanently sealed.” Five separate tests were completed to

determine the integrity of the cement seal, and air quality regulators also

confirmed that gas emissions were controlled, said Marshall, who is the

department’s chief deputy director. SoCal Gas vowed to shut down the decades-

old well after drilling a relief well to the source of the leak, which was discovered

Oct. 23. That second well reached its destination on Feb. 11, when the Gas Co.

announced a temporary halt to the leak, made by injecting mud from the relief

well into the old well. Regulators in January ordered SoCal Gas to adopt new

methods to detect leaks, and to study the potential health effects on residents.

Mayor Eric Garcetti added, “Stopping the leak is only the first stage of recovery. Thousands of lives were upended by

this disaster — and the City of Los Angeles is here to help people return to their homes, start doing business again,

and get back to normal as quickly as possible.” For current information please visit:

www.alisoupdates.com

If you or someone you love is in need of emergency assistance, you want help to get there right away.

Did you know that there’s one thing everyone can do to help the firefighters provide this emergency assistance as quickly as possible? It’s as simple as “Pull to the Right for Sirens & Lights!”

Many people panic or simply don’t adhere to the rules of the road for approaching emergency vehicles. The law is very specific; drivers must yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle, and failure to do so can cause serious accidents or delays in ambulances, fire engines and fire trucks arriving at the scene of an emergency. Here are some simple rules to follow when you are on the road and encounter a responding emergency vehicle:

DO: • Stay calm.

• Pull to the right and come to a complete stop.

• If you’re traveling on a high-speed road or if there is no room to stop, slow down as much as possible.

• If you are in the left lane, pull over into the right lane as traffic in the lane to your right moves over.

• If you cannot move to the right because of another vehicle or obstacle, just stop.

• If you are stopped at an intersection, stay where you are unless you can pull to the right.

• On a 4-lane highway or street without barriers, both sides of traffic should pull to the right.

• Drivers should stay at least 500 feet behind emergency vehicles.

DON’T: • Don’t panic.

• Don’t play your radio so loudly that you are unable to hear sirens.

• Don’t stop in the middle lane when there is room to pull to the right.

• Don’t pull to the left in the center lane or left turn lane.

• Don’t race ahead to make the green light or turn before the emergency vehicle gets there.

• Don’t turn quickly to the left onto a street or driveway.

• Don’t drive through a red light or stop sign when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind.

• If the emergency vehicle is traveling on the opposite direction of a divided highway or street, you do not need to pull over.

• Don’t disregard the presence of the emergency vehicle by continuing to drive.

OVB Anniversary continued from Page 1

In its short year of existence, Operations Valley Bureau (OVB) has quickly become part of the San Fernando Valley landscape

woven into its unique communities from North Hollywood to Encino to Sylmar to Granada Hills and several others. OVB has

become the communities’ “go to” or “one-stop shop” point of contact. In turn, OVB is proud to be serving you and business entity

within the San Fernando Valley. Operations Valley Bureau is one of two offices having a 24-hour command and control response

capability for managing complex, large scale emergency incidents or events.

Thank you for helping us become one of the best bureaus. We continue to look forward to your feedback and assistance in making

this year better than the last. Please contact the Operations Valley Bureau by email at: lafd.valleybureau@lacity.org

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OPERATIONS VALLEY BUREAU 2015 STATISTICAL SUMMARY

1.8 MILLION RESIDENTS 139,444 RESPONSES 270 SQUARE MILES 38 FIRE STATIONS 5 BATTALIONS

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.

For more information or to download a newsletter:

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An Open Letter from a Canoga Park Resident

Dear Captain Kesterson and Chief Drake:

I am grateful beyond words for the day yesterday. I am so happy for those Canoga Park Residents who got new and installed smoke detectors and CO detectors as well. Those visits symbolized the great care that our Fire Department has for us and demonstrated a tangible way to save our own lives. It could not have happened on a better day than Sunday!

Thank you also for arranging that I had a ride along with the stellar C Team of Captain Kesterson and the great hospitality. It was a great and high learning day. I could learn and see how our fire-fighters not only put their lives to save ours but also how they save the lives of others. It was very touching and absolutely heartwarming. Thank you to all of you who are serving this way. Yester-day was unforgettable for me and I feel so honored to be part of your efforts. Again, on behalf is the Canoga Park residents and community, Thank you!

Thank you for the delicious dinner and I hope that all the people we saw doing the runs are all going to be fine. Grateful Heart Corinne

Engine 91, MySafe:LA and LAPD after another successful

Smoke Detector canvassing event in Sylmar.

EVENTS Mar 6 Ciclavia—The Valley 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Pacoima

12 LAFD/LAPD St. Baldrick’s Fundraiser 7:30 AM Fire Station 89, North Hollywood

Firefighter Recruitment Expo 10:00 AM Frank Hotchkins Memorial Training Center

Apr 14 Valley Public Safety Advisory Committee 6:00 PM Air Operations, Fire Station 114, Van Nuys

28 Recruit Firefighter Graduation 10:00 AM Drill Tower 81, Panorama City

30 Encino/Sherman Oaks Hospital 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Fire Station 83, Encino

Stroke Awareness Chili Cookoff

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

TOP 10 EMS CALLS (TOTAL INCIDENTS)

1 Sick (No Specific Complaint) 14,188

2 Fall 12,779

3 Difficult Breathing 11,546

4 Unconsciousness/Fainting (near) 10,767

5 Traffic/Transport Accident 10,311

6 Chest Pain 9942

7 Unknown Problems (Person Down) 8786

8 Overdose/Poisoning 4285

9 Convulsions/Seizures 4192

10 Assault/Taser/Pepper Spray 3743

TOP 10 FIRE RESOURCES (INCIDENTS/DAY)

1 Engine 7 Panorama City 13.1

2 Engine 39 Van Nuys 12.8

3 Engine 91 Sylmar 12.5

4 Engine 93 Tarzana 10.5

5 Engine 72 Reseda 10.2

6 Engine 102 Valley Glen 9.9

7 Engine 81 Panorama City 9.4

8 Engine 88 Sherman Oaks 9.3

9 Engine 89 North Hollywood 9.2

10 Engine 105 Woodland Hills 8.5

TOP 10 RESCUE AMBULANCES (INCIDENTS/DAY)

1 RA889 North Hollywood 12.9

2 RA881 Panorama City 12.8

3 RA39 Van Nuys 12.6

4 RA89 North Hollywood 11.6

5 RA98 Pacoima 11.3

6 RA873 Reseda 11.3

7 RA81 Panorama City 10.9

8 RA7 Panorama City 10.6

9 RA860 North Hollywood 10.6

10 RA898 Pacoima 10.6