221 replies to this topic

[LACityFFengineCo287]

You said you didn't see where it was in the guide, i pointed you to the relevant sections where it was already included in the guide.

Okay. Thanks again.

For water rescue are LAFD/LACoFD Rescue Boats launched at a boat ramp or do the boats respond from a station located at a port? If there launched at a boat ramp, what vehicle is used to transport the boats? Do any apertures have the capacity for a diver to suit up in route to a location?

1. Depends on where it is. Port of L.A has stations with boats, and some other stations may have vehicles to carry the boats to launch at a ramp.
2. I'm not sure.

[Xplorer4x4]

1) I had a feeling.
2) Ok thanks I'll wait for Mike for more answers.

[MikesPhotos]

For water rescue are LAFD/LACoFD Rescue Boats launched at a boat ramp or do the boats respond from a station located at a port? If there launched at a boat ramp, what vehicle is used to transport the boats? Do any apertures have the capacity for a diver to suit up in route to a location?

Normally I'd say wait for that section to be finished, but since someone has taken the time to post misinformation, I might as well clear it up now.

The 39 foot Kvichack fire boats. (Fire boats 1, 3 and 5 for LAFD and nearly identical Boat 110 for LACoFD) are stationed at specially constructed fire stations on the water front in berths. Boat 1 is at Fire station 111 Berth 256 @ Terminal Island, #3 is at FS49 Berth 194 in Wilmington and #5 is at LAFD FS 110 Berth 44-A in San Pedro.

These boats are not small nor are they vehicle transportable like a small personal watercraft, you really have to understand the size of what we are talking about here. The basic displacement when delivered is 32,750lbs, with all of the rescue and firefighting gear on board, it is much, much more! By comparison, a fully stocked, ready to roll, in service 2007 LAFD Pierce Arrow XT Fire Engine is 40,480lbs and 23'4" long. These boats are close in weight and double the length of a standard front line Fire engine. Imagine trying to transport that anywhere in an emergency mode, it's just not going to happen.

This photo
http://www.flickr.co...57615680830315/
gives you a good idea of the size of these boats compared to other vessels in the water and with people on board. All are set up to allow for dive operations and divers will typically suit up at the station or can suit up on board if necessary.

And city, like the County does, carries all of their Firefighting, and other equipment on board, including full turnouts.
http://www.flickr.co...57615680830315/

These vessels are not used for Swift Water Rescue throughout the many cement and natural river systems within the City of Los Angeles due to the sizes and the typical lack of actual water in the majority of the systems. Instead Zodiac Mark III 15.5” inflatable boats which can be outfitted with (I think they're Johnson's) 55 hp outboard engines. Also, depending on the situation, Kawasaki STX-15F Jet Ski's are utilized. These are transported by a modified Ford F450 trucks customized by MasterBodyWorks with the ability to store the zodiac either up above the roof or (the preferred method) tow a trailer capable of carrying 1 zodiac and 2 jet ski's.

So to summarize, they are berthed at stations along the water front, and the LAFD divers are assigned to that boat. They are not vehicle transportable, and there is no "dive apparatus." The Fire Boats and divers and the SWR are two completely SEPARATE entities and not all, in fact, most SWR's are not SCUBA rescue trained nor certified.

[pyrofreak]

Kinda disappointing, I expected more. Now don't get me wrong they look nice, I just expected something similar to the usual coast guard boats (not the huge ones, the smaller ones). That looks like a fishing boat, kind of slow, I know its not though.

[MikesPhotos]

Kinda disappointing, I expected more. Now don't get me wrong they look nice, I just expected something similar to the usual coast guard boats (not the huge ones, the smaller ones). That looks like a fishing boat, kind of slow, I know its not though.

I believe you're talking about the 25ft RB-S Defender Class which has a top speed of somewhere over 40-45 knots utilizing two 225 hp outboard motors. The Kvichaks are almost twice as big, and much heavier, and perform a much different task with the ability to function as a dive platform and firefighting apparatus. Their top speed is around 29knots. The Defenders are more of a high speed patrol craft and don't have the same function or capabilities as either the fire boats or the SWR zodiacs.

[Xplorer4x4]

@LACityFFengineCo287, I mean offense, but I thought you were a LAFD FF?

Normally I'd say wait for that section to be finished, but since someone has taken the time to post misinformation, I might as well clear it up now.

I appreciate all the effort you put in to your explanations. There always very interesting reads.

Do you by chance have any pics of the the F-450s you guys use?

If you wondering what I meant by "dive apparatus" 2 of our county departments here utilize apertures such as an old box shape Ford E350 Road Rescue ambulance for divers to suit up in route to the boat ramps and, in the case of this particular apertures, it pulls there Jet Skis. I could elaborate a bit more, but I doubt you care

[MikesPhotos]

I appreciate all the effort you put in to your explanations. There always very interesting reads.

Do you by chance have any pics of the the F-450s you guys use?

If you wondering what I meant by "dive apparatus" 2 of our county departments here utilize apertures such as an old box shape Ford E350 Road Rescue ambulance for divers to suit up in route to the boat ramps and, in the case of this particular apertures, it pulls there Jet Skis. I could elaborate a bit more, but I doubt you care

Full walkarounds of the newer and older SWR trucks, along with the jet skis and trailer, can be found at
http://www.flickr.co...5...ater&m=text

And you asked if there was dive apertures (you do realize aperture means a small hole through which light passes right?), I took that to mean that you were asking if there were any lafd dive vehicles, and the answer is no.

[LACityFFengineCo287]

I don't have all the information in the world like someone *Cough* Mike *Cough* I'm still pretty new XD

Mike probably pulls up a district map and looks at every apparatus @ each station zZz and works County. You and my Step-grandfather would get along well...

And Xplorer, what do you mean by "I mean offense"?

Either clarify, or, face consiquences ^^

[Xplorer4x4]

Full walkarounds of the newer and older SWR trucks, along with the jet skis and trailer, can be found at
http://www.flickr.co...5...ater&m=text

And you asked if there was dive apertures (you do realize aperture means a small hole through which light passes right?), I took that to mean that you were asking if there were any lafd dive vehicles, and the answer is no.

Thanks for the pics.

My bad on the typo

I don't have all the information in the world like someone *Cough* Mike *Cough* I'm still pretty new XD

Mike probably pulls up a district map and looks at every apparatus @ each station zZz and works County. You and my Step-grandfather would get along well...

And Xplorer, what do you mean by "I mean offense"?

Either clarify, or, face consiquences ^^

I meant I wasnt trying to offend you but your knowledge of LAFD seems rather lacking for being an LAFD FF.

And I pull up district maps of my area when I listen to my scanner But we only have about 20 trucks in the city, and most stations only have a pump or a quint so its not hard, and the county stations are split up where its rather easy to look up.

[LACityFFengineCo287]

Thanks for the pics.

My bad on the typo


I meant I wasnt trying to offend you but your knowledge of LAFD seems rather lacking for being an LAFD FF.

And I pull up district maps of my area when I listen to my scanner But we only have about 20 trucks in the city, and most stations only have a pump or a quint so its not hard, and the county stations are split up where its rather easy to look up.

There's 16 battalions in all between City & County (repeat, used to be 18 battalions), there are harbor stations, there are splits between the numbers, some are shut down. Mike, correct me if I'm wrong, but here's the open stations. Station 1-21, 23-29, 33-44, 46-111, and then there's the harbor station, which is 112. There's some stations that have reserve engines, some don't. It's hard to keep track of whats where sometimes. Here's The battallion division. I went through some papers. I didn't see it posted before.

Battalion # 1 Stations: 3,4,9,10,11,17
Battalion # 2 Stations: 12,42,44,50,55,56
Battalion # 3 Stations: 14,15,21,26,34,46
Battalion # 4 Stations: 5,51,62,63,67,80,95
Battalion # 5 Stations: 27,35,41,52,76,82
Battalion # 6 Stations: 36,38,40,48,49,85, 101,110,111,112
Battalion # 7 Stations: 1,2,16,25,47
Battalion # 9 Stations: 19,23,37,59,69,71
Battalion # 10 Stations: 39,83,88,90,99,109
Battalion # 11 Stations: 6,11,13,20,29
Battalion # 12 Stations: 7,24,31,74,75,77,81,91,98
Battalion # 13 Stations: 33,57,64,65,66,79
Battalion # 14 Stations: 60,78,86,89,97,102,108
Battalion # 15 Stations: 8,18,28,70,87,96,103,104,107
Battalion # 17 Stations: 72,73,84,93,100,105,106
Battalion # 18 Stations: 43,58,61,68,92,94

Station 31's design is probably one of my favorites. Too bad it was closed (a long time ago, had great archetectural design).

This has absolutely no use to the game unless: A.) You add in a whole new map that's massive; B.) You want 106 stations on your map.

[MikesPhotos]

There's some stations that have reserve engines, some don't.

Reserve apparatus are kept and assigned at the shops and many are kept at FS88 due to its size, stations can switch over to reserve apparatus as needed on a temporary basis, or be assigned them in a surge capacity as mentioned in the guide.

. I went through some papers. I didn't see it posted before.

Battalion # 15 Stations: 8,18,28,70,87,96,103,104,107
Battalion # 17 Stations: 72,73,84,93,100,105,106

You need to get new papers, I didn't look through all of them, but a real key that your papers are outdated is always station 100 and 104. 100's has been in B10 for quite some time, and 104s is in 17s. Also, what about FS114?

This has absolutely no use to the game

Exactly, which is why you hadn't seen it posted before, and I'm not quite sure why you did now. But thank you for your contribution anyways. If people are interested, when I get to that part of the guide, I'd be glad to add a current list of stations and breakdowns to the section though, like you said, knowing what number is where really gives no insight into anything and can easily be found by googling. What will be included in that section, and I'll probably work on it tonight, will be a complete breakdown of the various types of stations (regional / standard / satellite), and a quick blurb regarding Prop F and Prop Q.

[LACityFFengineCo287]

You need to get new papers, I didn't look through all of them, but a real key that your papers are outdated is always station 100 and 104. 100's has been in B10 for quite some time, and 104s is in 17s. Also, what about FS114?



Exactly, which is why you hadn't seen it posted before, and I'm not quite sure why you did now. But thank you for your contribution anyways. If people are interested, when I get to that part of the guide, I'd be glad to add a current list of stations and breakdowns to the section though, like you said, knowing what number is where really gives no insight into anything and can easily be found by googling. What will be included in that section, and I'll probably work on it tonight, will be a complete breakdown of the various types of stations (regional / standard / satellite), and a quick blurb regarding Prop F and Prop Q.

Oh yea, I forgot to mention. I found those in my filing cabinet. I was just going through some old stuff that I had from college and high school. It's pretty amazing with the stuff I've found. That may have been my step-dads or something. Idk. I have a new one somewhere, probably under a ton of papers in my den. I posted it because 1. I was bored. 2. I'm surprised that I actually have that. 3. It gives me something to type. I've got nothing to do after I do my morning workout, except workout more or clean up my house, and it's already straightened up. I've written tons of useless things.

Sorry, I forgot 114, lol. Air ops and Airport fire, it's battalion 10. I'll update the list later if you want. It'll just take some digging.. Oh yeah, you can't google this btw. I have a full list as well as a bunch of other cr@p if you want it, you probably have it all though...

[MCERT1]

Just a point mike:

Listening LAFD and other SoCal dispatches (both recorded and some live), and I've never heard them use "RA" only rescue.
Verdugo dispatch and the other local departments only use "RA".

Perhaps you've heard differently I'm sure they probably use it at times...Just an observation.

Also I posted most of the dispatch terms I've come across here here

I may have gotten some horribly wrong. I'm curious if they match up to what you are used to.

[LACityFFengineCo287]

Just a point mike:

Listening LAFD dispatches (both recorded and some live), and I've never heard them use "RA" only rescue.
Verdugo dispatch and the other local departments only use "RA".

Perhaps you've heard differently I'm sure they probably use it at times...Just an observation.

Also I posted most of the dispatch terms I've come across here here

I may have gotten some horribly wrong. I'm curious if they match up to what you are used to.

It depends on the dispatcher. Some give RA, others give rescue. It depends on the Dispatcher and the day. With the "800", Some days someone will say 800 ambulance , once in a while, you'll get someone who says BLS ambulance, which is on the less common side, and 800 RA. There's a noon dispatcher whose pretty enthusiastic about dispatching. He's used RA before, though not as common as rescue.

[MCERT1]

Cool, thanks for the info

[LACityFFengineCo287]

Cool, thanks for the info

Your welcome, sorry if that was confusing. Just different dispatchers do things differently, and the requests go the same way. Just depends on the person ^^

[MCERT1]

Your welcome, sorry if that was confusing. Just different dispatchers do things differently, and the requests go the same way. Just depends on the person ^^

No problem, I figured that my be the case since I only listen at specific times I don't know what is going on at others. I really only ever hear about 4 dispatchers.

[LACityFFengineCo287]

No problem, I figured that my be the case since I only listen at specific times I don\'t know what is going on at others. I really only ever hear about 4 dispatchers.

Oh, yeah, that could be a reason, lol. Thanks for listening and taking note of our dispatchers and unit callsigns.

I took a copy of my friends station listings and battalions, hahaha, so I have an update now...

mike, I was looking through your Flikr, you've got some amazing pictures

[MikesPhotos]

I posted it because 1. I was bored. 2. I'm surprised that I actually have that. 3. It gives me something to type. I've got nothing to do after I do my morning workout, except workout more or clean up my house, and it's already straightened up. I've written tons of useless things.

Ummmm... welll... ok?

I have a full list as well as a bunch of other cr@p if you want it, you probably have it all though...

Have no doubt in my mind that whatever it is, it's probably in one of the binders behind me.

Listening LAFD and other SoCal dispatches (both recorded and some live), and I've never heard them use "RA" only rescue.
Verdugo dispatch and the other local departments only use "RA".

Perhaps you've heard differently I'm sure they probably use it at times...Just an observation.

It depends on the dispatcher. Some give RA, others give rescue. It depends on the Dispatcher and the day. With the "800", Some days someone will say 800 ambulance , once in a while, you'll get someone who says BLS ambulance, which is on the less common side, and 800 RA. There's a noon dispatcher whose pretty enthusiastic about dispatching. He's used RA before, though not as common as rescue.

The proper term is Rescue, but to give a bit more info as to what 287 said, Dispatchers in the LAFD are sworn firefighters either on a temporary assignment to OCD or perm assignment, usually due to injury/medical. Because of this, there is quite a bit of turnover and differences between dispatchers. If you monitor OCD8 as opposed to 4 and 7, you'll hear RA used more frequently for brevity's sake as well since both fire and ems dispatch are occurring on that one channel. But it's really flip a coin and whatever the dispatcher wants. Same thing with Phonetic alphabet in the field. Some use NATO, some use APCO, as far as radio discipline is concerned, there really isn't a whole lot of it in the LAFD as long as the message gets across.

mike, I was looking through your Flikr, you've got some amazing pictures

Thanks, 15 years on the job and what you have there is just the last few years since being part of Public Affairs. More will be added soon, including some real old pics from fires in 2002 and 2003 back in my CDF days.

[LACityFFengineCo287]

The proper term is Rescue, but to give a bit more info as to what 287 said, Dispatchers in the LAFD are sworn firefighters either on a temporary assignment to OCD or perm assignment, usually due to injury/medical. Because of this, there is quite a bit of turnover and differences between dispatchers. If you monitor OCD8 as opposed to 4 and 7, you'll hear RA used more frequently for brevity's sake as well since both fire and ems dispatch are occurring on that one channel. But it's really flip a coin and whatever the dispatcher wants. Same thing with Phonetic alphabet in the field. Some use NATO, some use APCO, as far as radio discipline is concerned, there really isn't a whole lot of it in the LAFD as long as the message gets across.



Thanks, 15 years on the job and what you have there is just the last few years since being part of Public Affairs. More will be added soon, including some real old pics from fires in 2002 and 2003 back in my CDF days.

You were in CDF? I did my explorers through station 84 Temecula through them (CDF/Riverside County Fire [RVC]). Haha, PT was great. Wearing full structural bunker gear, a hose pack, and had us run a mile, then an uphill/downhill run up and down a steep hill a few times. and in the middle of summer that was the boring days at which no calls came through the station. But, anyways, your with Public Affairs? Never knew that x_x more power to you, and 15 years on the job. No wonder I feel so fail all the time. You definitely have everything I have then. Plus more. I would ask you if you could get in touch with a county batt. chief and let me know how he's doin, and to contact me, but idk if you could do that. Last I heard, he still works, but, I haven't heard anything in quite a few years. The station still has a painting in it that my grandfather made (last I heard again)