471 replies to this topic

[MikesPhotos]

Thanks for the information Mike, THIS is really helpfull!
- Adding your changed events.xml file. Did you test the file?

- Removing the white over red van. This van was a requested vehicle on this forum. I added it, because it looked cool. If you don't like it, don't use it. I don't use that vehicle neither.
- Adding drivers. Too difficult to add and completely unnecessary. It will be very annoying if a vehicle must have a driver when you want to move it. And remember, EM4 is a game, not a (rescue) simulator.

But, THANKS again, for the information and the provided photo's.
After I have completed the Forest Service vehicles and the new mission I will start with changing the FD vehicles.

You are quite welcome. In regards to the xml file, I have gone over it again and noticed that there were actually 2 files that were in use when a call is dispatched. The events.xml and the supervevents.xml. By syncing them up using the fp file in specs, I was able to edit them in a way I feel is more concise. Now, the events.xml has the actual dispatch in a short and concise form that remains in the tab window, as well as tooltips with helpful information regarding what units are typically sent. The supervevents file has the extra information that you see when the call is first dispatched but that you really dont need to remain in the tab window.

For example a structure fire call will now show OCD: Structure Fire and the tool tip will show CAD recommends 1 Chief, 3 Engines, 1 Light Force, EMS Supervisor and Paramedic Ambulance for all Residential Structure Fires. Add an additional Engine and Light Force for all Commercial Structures. Request PD as needed for traffic control. And when its dispatched, you'll also see the extraneous info about a tv exploding or whatever the call particular is.

As for the Old 80's van, I was just going through all of the units and commenting on them. Personally, I absolutely love seeing them in game and use them for nostalgia's sake.

In regards to the driver, I think you may have misunderstood my point. By adding a second seat to the vehicle for a Firefighter ( a captain really), it becomes usefull for large events like a gas explosion or the arsonist. By assigning him a group hot key, say 6, you can quickly jump to that side or area of the incident. As units move around and are redeployed, he can remain in place as what we call the division or group supervisor. The vehicle still acts as all of the other vehicles do, but I've found that the game translates really well into real life tactics in this regard. Right now i'm using the vehicle itself as one of my division supe's but it'd be easier with the "driver" to head to the back area so i can keep a better eye on all aspects of the incident. No need to edit the core game mechanics of the vehicles, but I'm always a big fan of more bodies on an incident.

I do have one question that you might be able to answer. I've tried looking in the editor and in the various xml's and haven't quite found the info I'm looking for. Is there a place that defines the power, strength or gallons per minute/ammount of water put out by 1 hose, the water tender, the lax tender, and the truck's aerial? I'm curious if they are equal, or if one puts out more then the other so I can better utilize the resources in game.

Oh and one other thing that is trivial at best, but in the State of California, all Emergency vehicles, be they Police, Fire, or EMS have a single steady burning red light facing forward. On vehicles with a lightbar, it is usually a smaller lower level light steady burns. LAPD and most other Law Enforcement agencies will steady burn a red and a blue lower level, while the CHP usually has 1 or two pods that steady burn just red. Fire and ambulances will just have 1 steady burn red light in the lower part of the bar or satisfy the requirement with a grill light. For slicktops, most PD be they CHP or LAPD will have a steady burn red by the rear view mirror, and rarely, they'll add a flashing blue next to it. Fire slicktops just stick with the single red.

LAPD Crown Vic with Red and Blue steady burn
CHP slicktop with the center mount red steady burn
CHP with dual reds on

Even the motor units have to have a single red steady burn light
Los Alamitos Motor Unit with Center Steady burn red.

It's one of the quirks of California that you don't really see anywhere else in the US or the world. This is all just for info only, since I figured some of you might be interested.

Attached Files

•  events.zip   7.89KB   146 downloads

[Hoppah]

Thanks for the information and the text files. Your information quite interesting.

I do have one question that you might be able to answer. I've tried looking in the editor and in the various xml's and haven't quite found the info I'm looking for. Is there a place that defines the power, strength or gallons per minute/ammount of water put out by 1 hose, the water tender, the lax tender, and the truck's aerial? I'm curious if they are equal, or if one puts out more then the other so I can better utilize the resources in game.

Someone had the same question in this topic
You can change the water strength in the extinguish commandscript (".../Mods/Los Angeles Mod v1.4/Scripts/Game/Commands/extinguish.script").
The strength (energy) of each water equipment/tool/cannon can be found in the script. I made a list:

TLF (Water Tender): 25
FLB (Fire Boat): 30
LPF (Crashtender): 25
LF (Fire Airplane): 70 (not sure if this is correct)
Firehose: 20
Extinguisher: 12,5
Watercannon on Aerial Ladder basket: 25

[novius]

Oh and one other thing that is trivial at best, but in the State of California, all Emergency vehicles, be they Police, Fire, or EMS have a single steady burning red light facing forward. On vehicles with a lightbar, it is usually a smaller lower level light steady burns. LAPD and most other Law Enforcement agencies will steady burn a red and a blue lower level, while the CHP usually has 1 or two pods that steady burn just red. Fire and ambulances will just have 1 steady burn red light in the lower part of the bar or satisfy the requirement with a grill light. For slicktops, most PD be they CHP or LAPD will have a steady burn red by the rear view mirror, and rarely, they'll add a flashing blue next to it. Fire slicktops just stick with the single red.

It's one of the quirks of California that you don't really see anywhere else in the US or the world. This is all just for info only, since I figured some of you might be interested.

Hey Mike:
Am I correct that unmarked/slicktops use blue/yellow flashing facing the rear? I've seen it that way in quite a few places, and I see that Hoppah noticed them on the SEB Rescue Trucks. I'm not sure if it's required, like the CA Steady Burn Law, but I've seen it that way on movies like "SWAT" and "Dirty".
Thanks for the great info!
Novius
EDIT: I've found some pics of slicktop CHP Units that have red & Blue over a treaffic advisor, but I'm sure I've seen blue & Yellows, too (Check the back of the bomb squad van on policecarsite.)
This pic is not mine VV
Pic of CHP Slicktop Rear

[MikesPhotos]

Hey Mike:
Am I correct that unmarked/slicktops use blue/yellow flashing facing the rear? I've seen it that way in quite a few places, and I see that Hoppah noticed them on the SEB Rescue Trucks. I'm not sure if it's required, like the CA Steady Burn Law, but I've seen it that way on movies like "SWAT" and "Dirty".
Thanks for the great info!
Novius
EDIT: I've found some pics of slicktop CHP Units that have red & Blue over a treaffic advisor, but I'm sure I've seen blue & Yellows, too (Check the back of the bomb squad van on policecarsite.)
This pic is not mine VV
Pic of CHP Slicktop Rear

I am not certain if it is a law or just a recommendation/guideline, but along with the red to the front, they must have at least one flashing amber (yellow) to the rear. For Fire/EMS Vehicles you will usually see an alternating red and amber pattern to the rear, for law enforcement, it will be blue, red and amber. For LAPD, they usually just have a single dual flasher on the drivers side of the vehicle (left) that flashes Blue and Amber for their unmarked cars like this pic of a Santa Monica PD unit . Other setups include blue/amber, and red/amber with a traffic advisor. Here is a closer view of a typical chp setup like that.

One law that is in the California Regulations book that very few people know about or even bother to follow is that there are only 3 tones allowed on a siren in California. Yelp, Wail and Airhorn. Two tone, phaser, and all of those other sounds you find on a typical siren are illegal in this state. Though I've rarely seen it enforced, i can recall an accident that occured in Riverside County where the unit was running through an intersection with phaser. Even though the civilian turned left in front of him to try and beat him to the intersection, the operator of the vehicle was found to be at fault for using an unnapproved tone.

Oh and as for the SEB rescue truck, here is a walk around of that vehicle used with Air 5.

[Hoppah]

I'm downloading 1.4 right now so I'll have to wait to see what you did with the dispatches. I'm guessing you only changed the fire dispatches? I suppose I'll find out. I'll be sure to add my comments in here if I have any.

The file isn't included in 1.4 yet.

[MikesPhotos]

Hey Mike, how's it going?


Thanks for re-writing the fire dispatches to be more concise and accurate. While you work closely with FD, I'm a PD guy so I wrote those dispatches out of what I know and tried to keep it realistic. Minus the part about God being an arsonist. I guess he decided he just wanted to give the fire department something to do besides sit at the FD and eat chili all day . Ironically, most of the fire-fighters seem to use my voice in the mod.....

Sorry for taking so long to respond. You are quite welcome and I hope you enjoy playing with the new files. I will add one thing though, while having spent the majority of my career in the Fire Service, due to also being an Incident Dispatcher with a command team, I am a California POST certified dispatcher as well and very familiar with the LAPD's communications. All of the Law Enforcement dispatches follow their structure with the exception of no codes used. Because they change from city to city, county to county, state to state, I felt it would be a greater hassle to people all over the world who enjoy this game to try and figure out what a 187 (murder), or a 415 (disturbance), or a Code 37 (stolen vehicle) was.

They were thinking about changing us over to a plain-english policy in Florida as well for all departments; but I don't necessarily see the wisdom in that. During inter-agency co-operation between counties, I could absolutely see that as a good thing. However, some people need a lesson in proper radio etiquette. Do you guys use codes within the city on your radio during normal ops or are you mandated to do away with the radio codes completely?

Completely. From numerous studies throughout the US and abroad, they've found that codes not only complicate and lengthen communications between members of different departments, but has the same effect on those in the same department. Because of that, it has been mandated in the US that
all agencies, be they Fire, EMS, or police abandon brevity codes for clear text as part of the National Incident Management System. You can read some great articles on the switchover and the reasons why at this website.

I'm downloading 1.4 right now so I'll have to wait to see what you did with the dispatches. I'm guessing you only changed the fire dispatches? I suppose I'll find out. I'll be sure to add my comments in here if I have any.

I think I speak for all of us Emergency 4 junkies when I thank you for your help and cooperation and interest in working with Hoppah....and yada yada you know the rest. Welcome aboard the family wagon!

--RunAwayScientist

The file was attached to the bottom of my previous post and I changed both fire and pd to reflect the way LAFD and LAPD communications handles those types of incidents as well as tips on what units are typically deployed.

Mike

[MikesPhotos]

I have absolutely little to NO idea about any kind of proper fire procedures. I have no idea what the difference between an A class call-up and a B class call-up. All the contact I get with FD is either medical related or during community service events.

When I play EM4 I just establish a CP and blast one building with as much water as I can and then move on to the next one. Not very realistic, but hey...it gets the job done.

Guess I'll be twiddling my thumbs until 1.5 then to see....unless Mike'd be willing to pass his event.xml over my way.


--RunAwayScientist

As mentioned previously, the events is attached to my prior posts for you and everyone to enjoy. After reading this I decided to put together this little guide to supplement the tips that you find in the files.


· Fire Stations
○ Main Station - FS 1

§ I keep the main HQ staffed with 1 Task Force which is a fully staffed Engine, Truck and Water Tender, as well as 2 RA's. Sometimes I'll keep a 2nd engine in house as a move up company.
§ I use the Truck and the WT together as a Light Force which I will explain below.
§ Avoid having a 3rd RA at the station. The medics have trouble getting into it when you have that bay filled and you never want to dispatch an empty ambulance.

○ Harbor Station

§ Find a nice parking area near the SE corner of the map and place a Single Engine and an EMS Supervisor there. Due to it being so distant from the rest of the area, it'd be a hassle to use an ambulance for transport, and then move one into the area to cover behind it. Just use the EMS Capt to treat the patient and call for an air ambulance. In real life, it would just be a Paramedic Engine company.
§ Consider an LAX WT as well due to the commercial and hazmat in the area. By using the WT you don’t expose your firefighters to the hazmat and you can pump a lot of water onto the fire. Use fireboats as needed as well.

○ NE Station

§ There is a nice parking lot along the east area of the map just south of the house in the midst of all of the trees. It's large enough to hold a full Task Force. 1 Engine, 1 Truck and 1 WT. Use the Truck and the WT as a light force and don’t forget that Firefighters can be used to stabilize pts before the ambulances get there.

○ South Staging area.

§ Even though it is close to FS 1, the area along the beach and park is difficult for units to get around in. I keep a Brush Patrol staffed with 2 FF's and a trailer in a parking lot across from the big parking garage.

○ Off Map Station.

§ For extra resources and calls in the North west part of the map, I will usually call in resoures from off the map. That keeps the stations available for other calls and keeps them in their First In areas.

· Dive Patrol Boat.

○ I keep it staffed and at the south end entrance to the main river. This allows me to quickly reach the 3 spots that I get the calls in.

· Task Force / Light force

○ A Task Force / Light Force is a concept that is rarely seen outside of Los Angeles. By staffing a truck with 5 men, and an engine with just 1 man you create a Light Force that is versatile and doesn't come with the limitations you find on a Quint. By adding a fully staffed 4 man engine company as well, you now have a Task Force that on it's own can handle many situations without the need for any other resources. How this works in 911/Emergency is that the Light Force is great for Physical Rescue assignements (traffic accidents) since you have the extra man power for stabilizing victims and extrication with the jaws/shears. For structure fires, depending on it's location you can use the WT to pump water while still using the truck for its aerial stream. Or you can use one of the aerial streams and use the men as what is known as a RIC. The RIC is a concept that is used throughout the United States under various names. Rapid Intervention Crew, Rapid Intervention Team, Safety Team, and many others. The concept is simple though. Firefighting is a dangerous endeavor and safety is the #1 priority. By keeping a couple of guys suited up in SCBA's but not part of the actual firefighting effort, they are available to go in and rescue any injured firefighters in the event of an emergency. By having a 6 man Light Force, you have more then enough to man the aerial, grab a hose line, and still have a RIC off to the side. Another plus is that by keeping the light force together at all times, even if you are on a Jumper call, if a fire breaks out near by, you can still respond with enough man power and water to hit it without waiting for the WT to meet you there. No matter where you are or where you go, you have the capabilities of a truck and a Pumper and that cannot be underestimated.
○ The reason I use the water tender instead of another Engine is because of the games physics, the Aerial seems to be very picky at what it wants to reach, this way instead of messing around with it, you can just use the WT's as a quick solution.

· Battalion Chief

○ In addition to responding him to the incident, I keep 1 BC standing by the small console at Fire Station 1 for use as a dispatcher. By keeping him on Hot Key #1 I can always call for resources fast, even on incidents that don't have a chief on it.

· USAR Rig

○ For Physical rescue assignments on the top left, I usually just respond the USAR rig. There's no reason to tie up a truck or engine company that might be needed elsewhere just to pop a door. Physical Rescue assignments are really the bread and butter of the USAR companies in the LAFD due to their extra cribbing and gear.

· Parking
○ On an incident, just like in real life, parking is a primary concern. Los Angeles is a very old town in many ways, and some of the streets are narrow and unforgiving and just not accessible to large apparatus. The same is true in the game! Here are some tips from real life that will help in the game.

§ Send the first onscene engine past the involved structure so that other units can pull in behind him. Otherwise he will end up blocking the area and preventing other units from getting in.
§ Have the second engine park near the front of the involved unit and assign them as backup fire attack. What that means is to have them pull hose and assist the 1st engine crew in putting out the fire.
§ Have the 3rd engine park either to the rear of the involved structure or to the side it is burning towards and protect the other structures. Having the chief park with them allows you to assign him a hot key and quickly see if the fire is spreading to other exposures or not.
§ Use the light force as needed, either aerial streams or for use as RIC.
§ PD as traffic control can be essential especially in areas with railroad tracks. The last thing you need is to backup traffic onto the tracks and cause a bigger problem.

· Police Incidents

○ One thing I've noticed in the game, there is no penalty for shooting an unarmed suspect. From the pickpocketer to shoplifter, if you shoot the subject you can easily haul him away in an ambulance and not have to worry about getting your officers injured. Not quite realistic, but saves time.
○ In the illegal demonstration call, remember that you don’t need to arrest everone, just the person with the Sign. By using the armored vehicle with a water canon, you can easily shoot the instigator and keep others away while your medics pick the suspect up and transport them. I usually respond the armored vehicle, an EMS supervisor, an ambulance, and a few patrol units just in case.
○ For traffic control and other response, I prefer to use the LAPD motor units simply because they have a much easier time of getting in and out of traffic. The fire apparatus also seem to have a much easier time navigating around them as well.

· Mechanics

○ I keep 2 mech's at the fire and police station. They tend to be usefull for fixing aparatus

I am very grateful to Hoppah for his hard work and efforts in showcasing the brave Men and Women of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Having had the chance to fight fires all over the US as well as in Canada, Australia, Europe and the Phillipines, I've learned that LA is very unique in its methods and operational procedures. Hopefully this guide along with the tool tips in the edited file will give users of this game a chance to see how we do things the LA way.

The other tips are just from my own experience in the game.

[AUX3AE]

Mike, can you elaborate a bit more on the Light Force concept? On a structure fire, who secures the hydrant for the engine (do the crews split up on dispatch)? I'm also assuming since it's the city, each piece of apparatus traditionally connects to its own hydrant?

Furthermore, is it traditional to see a light force (with the truck) dispatched to a vehicle accident, does it go to a rescue company, or do they just take the engine (pending it actually has rescue equipment)?

It's not really vital to how I play the game, but it really is a different concept I haven't heard a lot about on this side of the country.

[MikesPhotos]

Mike, can you elaborate a bit more on the Light Force concept? On a structure fire, who secures the hydrant for the engine (do the crews split up on dispatch)? I'm also assuming since it's the city, each piece of apparatus traditionally connects to its own hydrant?

Furthermore, is it traditional to see a light force (with the truck) dispatched to a vehicle accident, does it go to a rescue company, or do they just take the engine (pending it actually has rescue equipment)?

It's not really vital to how I play the game, but it really is a different concept I haven't heard a lot about on this side of the country.

I'll do my best! The Task Force/Light Force concept is all about flexibility of resources. The basic element, the Task Force consists of a single fully staffed 4 man Engine (ex. Engine 88), a 5 man Truck (Truck 88) and a single man Engine (Engine 288) that is refered to as the pumper or "Two Car". The goal is to get 10 men on scene quickly and efficiently with every tool in the shed so to speak. The Task Force (TF) can then be split up into the Single Engine Co. (E88) and the Light Force (LF) of T88 and E288. Wherever the Truck goes, so goes the 2 Car, even if its just to grab groceries at the store, or a medical aid, or traffic accident. This allows the LF to act as either a fully manned truck or an extra staffed engine with all of the tools of both. This also allows for the pumper to supply the truck a water source for its aerial master streams without having to tie up an engine company.

Most Fire Stations have an Engine company there and some are full Task Force houses. There are a few Light Force only houses, such as Fire Station 102 that has just T102, E302 and the Paramedic Rescue Ambulance 102. Because of the area and size of the station, the Light Force there is truly a jack of all trades and is one of the busiest in the nation responding on every call in it's first in.

Now when you mention a structure fire, you have to once again go back to the word Flexibility. Depending on the type of structure, the exposures (other buildings around the involved unit) and who gets there in what order the Light Force can be utilized in various ways. A Typical Single Story Single Family dwelling will have the first Engine go into Fire Attack with the 2nd in unit grabbing the Hydrant and supplying the 1st one. If the Light Force is 2nd in, it's not uncommon and many time preferable to use the Two Car Engine as a pumper and do the supply, thereby freeing up the next engine in. The Truck company will either go into Roof Ops or search and rescue, secure the utilities, or any of the other numerous tasks the great men and women truckies do. But depending on the area and the situation, it's not uncommon to get a Light Force and a Task Force dispatched to the same incident and have either light force be pressed into service as an engine company for fire attack.

As i've mentioned elsewhere on this board, many of the Engines in the LAFD are either Paramedic or Paramedic Assessment Engines. This allows the nearest paramedic unit to be dispatched to calls warranting Advanced Life Support care. With a population as large as Los Angeles City, the Rescue Ambulances are taxed with transport, delays in off loading patients and routine medical aids. By supplementing the ambulances with Paramedic Engines, the load is distributed better and care is rendered quicker. Because of that, LA City and County have found that by using the Light Force you still have an Engine in the house most of the time even if the Light Force or Engine Co are running a call. Once again, it's all about Flexibility.

You also ask about traffic accidents. The dispatch matrix for a traffic accident with possible injuries but no entrapment would call for either the nearest Engine OR Light Force to respond. Which ever one is closer responds to get men on scene quicker. If there is a need for extrication beyond what an Engine Co can do, they will either request an additional Light Force for a door pop for example, or upgrade to a Physical Rescue Assignment which involves a complex algorithm and matrix to determine what units are sent from an EMS supervisor, Battalion Chief, whether or not to send a USAR squad, or the Heavy Rescue Tow Vehicle. By Rescue Company, I believe you are referring to something similar to our USAR Squads. Bassically a large apparatus with Rescue, Shoring and Extrication equipment but no Aerial ladders, pump, water tank or hose. There are only a couple of these through out the city and they are staffed by 2 firefighters. Their use is never as a first choice, but say for example LF 88 is on a call and Engine 88 needs a door pop, well USAR88 can respond much quicker then the next nearest LF. I have seen Freeway assignements with just the USAR and the RA but that was due to the entire Task Force being on a different run and move up companies hadn't quite reached the area yet.

I hope that gives you a little bit more insight into the Task Force/Light Force concept. I know that in addition to LA City and County, Bellvue Wash. also runs Light Forces and I'm sure a few others do throughout the US. The hard part is the additional staffing, maintenance, and space requirements needed. For many departments, a 5 man Quint fits better into their budget. The benefit of the Light Force over the quint is that it doesn't have the same compromises you hear from those who utilize them.

Mike.

[AUX3AE]

I'll do my best! The Task Force/Light Force concept is all about flexibility of resources. The basic element, the Task Force consists of a single fully staffed 4 man Engine (ex. Engine 88), a 5 man Truck (Truck 88) and a single man Engine (Engine 288) that is refered to as the pumper or "Two Car". The goal is to get 10 men on scene quickly and efficiently with every tool in the shed so to speak. The Task Force (TF) can then be split up into the Single Engine Co. (E88) and the Light Force (LF) of T88 and E288. Wherever the Truck goes, so goes the 2 Car, even if its just to grab groceries at the store, or a medical aid, or traffic accident. This allows the LF to act as either a fully manned truck or an extra staffed engine with all of the tools of both. This also allows for the pumper to supply the truck a water source for its aerial master streams without having to tie up an engine company.

Most Fire Stations have an Engine company there and some are full Task Force houses. There are a few Light Force only houses, such as Fire Station 102 that has just T102, E302 and the Paramedic Rescue Ambulance 102. Because of the area and size of the station, the Light Force there is truly a jack of all trades and is one of the busiest in the nation responding on every call in it's first in.

Now when you mention a structure fire, you have to once again go back to the word Flexibility. Depending on the type of structure, the exposures (other buildings around the involved unit) and who gets there in what order the Light Force can be utilized in various ways. A Typical Single Story Single Family dwelling will have the first Engine go into Fire Attack with the 2nd in unit grabbing the Hydrant and supplying the 1st one. If the Light Force is 2nd in, it's not uncommon and many time preferable to use the Two Car Engine as a pumper and do the supply, thereby freeing up the next engine in. The Truck company will either go into Roof Ops or search and rescue, secure the utilities, or any of the other numerous tasks the great men and women truckies do. But depending on the area and the situation, it's not uncommon to get a Light Force and a Task Force dispatched to the same incident and have either light force be pressed into service as an engine company for fire attack.

As i've mentioned elsewhere on this board, many of the Engines in the LAFD are either Paramedic or Paramedic Assessment Engines. This allows the nearest paramedic unit to be dispatched to calls warranting Advanced Life Support care. With a population as large as Los Angeles City, the Rescue Ambulances are taxed with transport, delays in off loading patients and routine medical aids. By supplementing the ambulances with Paramedic Engines, the load is distributed better and care is rendered quicker. Because of that, LA City and County have found that by using the Light Force you still have an Engine in the house most of the time even if the Light Force or Engine Co are running a call. Once again, it's all about Flexibility.

You also ask about traffic accidents. The dispatch matrix for a traffic accident with possible injuries but no entrapment would call for either the nearest Engine OR Light Force to respond. Which ever one is closer responds to get men on scene quicker. If there is a need for extrication beyond what an Engine Co can do, they will either request an additional Light Force for a door pop for example, or upgrade to a Physical Rescue Assignment which involves a complex algorithm and matrix to determine what units are sent from an EMS supervisor, Battalion Chief, whether or not to send a USAR squad, or the Heavy Rescue Tow Vehicle. By Rescue Company, I believe you are referring to something similar to our USAR Squads. Bassically a large apparatus with Rescue, Shoring and Extrication equipment but no Aerial ladders, pump, water tank or hose. There are only a couple of these through out the city and they are staffed by 2 firefighters. Their use is never as a first choice, but say for example LF 88 is on a call and Engine 88 needs a door pop, well USAR88 can respond much quicker then the next nearest LF. I have seen Freeway assignements with just the USAR and the RA but that was due to the entire Task Force being on a different run and move up companies hadn't quite reached the area yet.

I hope that gives you a little bit more insight into the Task Force/Light Force concept. I know that in addition to LA City and County, Bellvue Wash. also runs Light Forces and I'm sure a few others do throughout the US. The hard part is the additional staffing, maintenance, and space requirements needed. For many departments, a 5 man Quint fits better into their budget. The benefit of the Light Force over the quint is that it doesn't have the same compromises you hear from those who utilize them.

Mike.

Mike, that's a lot of help. And it really is a neat concept, I'm more used to the FDNY or Baltimore City way of staffing each piece of apparatus with a designated crew, and having those units respond to designated calls (clearly with some flexibility). Also I was wondering, what is the (rough) percentage of ALS engines to non-ALS engines in LA (county or city)? I hate to bug you with question, but you've made me curious.

[smti]

Hello Mike,

I've downloaded your events zip file and extracted the contents into the LAMOD folder. When I play the game, the information you have added appears to work great, but the in game voices (dispatch etc.) go back to dutch, while the text remains in English. Is there a way to correct this? Great job! I enjoyed reading your posts!

[MikesPhotos]

Mike, that's a lot of help. And it really is a neat concept, I'm more used to the FDNY or Baltimore City way of staffing each piece of apparatus with a designated crew, and having those units respond to designated calls (clearly with some flexibility). Also I was wondering, what is the (rough) percentage of ALS engines to non-ALS engines in LA (county or city)? I hate to bug you with question, but you've made me curious.

One of the marvelous things about the Fire Service is seeing how different areas use different means and methods to accomplish the same goal. The first department I ever joined had a motto that has stuck with me throughout my entire career because it seemed to sum everything up for me so perfectly. "Protecting Life, Environment, and Property." No matter where in the world you are, that rings true.

As for the makeup of the LAFD, as of October of this year it is:

• 129 Ambulances - 89 Paramedic and 40 BLS Ambulances
• 101 Engine Companies – 35 Paramedic and 66 BLS
• 49 Light Forces – 11 Paramedic and 38 BLS
• 5 Fireboats – 1 Paramedic and 4 BLS

As for the makeup of the LACoFD, they are actually a bit harder to come by since there has been a recent influx of new stations and changes. I beleive the current staffing levels are :
— 88 Paramedic Squads (including two Lifeguard units on Catalina Island)
— Six Paramedic Engines
— 21 Assessment Engines
— Two Assessment Truck/Light Forces

Mike

[Spaloo]

What I'm not going to do:
- Removing the single paramedic. Most people think they're handy, some people think they should be removed. I want to keep some of the original EM4 gameplay, so I am not going to remove them. They're not irritating nor useless either.

Hoppah, just an idea, but since there are 3 different ambulances in your mod, can you make 1 of them with just the 2 medics for those of us who don't mind gettin the stretcher?