THURSDAY,

THURSDAY,JUNE
JUNE7,
7,2018
2018 (C
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Shift) ::
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11:30 AM TO 2:30 PM
PM

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BRING YOUR
BRING YOUR FAMILY FAMILY
& FRIENDS
& FRIENDS The official charity of the
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Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association

For more
CONTACT: Julietinformation givetoahero.org/hope
visit259-5215
Brandolino (323) jbrandolino@lafra.org
CONTACT: Juliet Brandolino (323) 259-5215 jbrandolino@lafra.org

37 On the cover: Scrap Metal Yard - Sun Valley - By Mike Meadows

Inset LAFD photo by: Harry Garvin

Structure Fire - Koreatown

2 • May 2018
 VOL. XCIV MAY 2018 NO. 9

• FEATURES •
Firefighters Swarm LA Marathon
The LA Fire racing team ran to raise funds for the WODFF
and fire companies stood by along the route just in case • ...........06

2017 Firefighter of the Year

Before a filled- to-capacity crowd, the Los Angeles Firefighters
Assn honored their first-ever Arson Investigator . . . and
first-ever female Firefighter of the Year—Rosa Torres-Tufts • ....12

Building a Better Team

Tom Kitahata, Mark Curry and Steve Ruda share tips on
how to foster collaboration, trust, personal relationships
and improve camaraderie around the firehouse • ....................10

• CONTENTS •
President’s Message • .........................................................................05
5 Reasons You Need an Estate Plan Now
Attorney Richard Block lays out the 411 • .......................................09
Battalion News • .....................................................................................15
The Retired Guys • ...............................................................................33
Department in Action • .........................................................................34
16th Annual St Baldrick’s Fundraiser
LAFD & LAPD unite to fight childhood cancer • .....................................36
LA Galaxy Honors LAFD • ....................................................................39
Know Your Benefits
New PPO Medical Plan EOB • ............................................................40
Station Fridge • .......................................................................................41
Retirement Dinners • ...............................................................................43
Mailbox • ...............................................................................................44
Memorials • ...........................................................................................46
LA Firefighters Golf Club • ....................................................................47
LAFD History
Fireboats 2 and 4 • ..................................................................................51
Minutes of the Board of Trustees • .....................................................54
Classifieds • ...........................................................................................57
Tailboard • ..............................................................................................60

Notice: Production of The Firemen’s Grapevine magazine is very expensive, and while your dues
serve to underwrite a portion of the magazine’s costs, the bulk of funding comes from advertisers.
Many businesses advertise in the Grapevine. This does not mean that LAFRA endorses these
advertisers. Use of a Grapevine advertiser is at the risk of the member. If you are interested in any
of the advertisements, we urge you to use any and all means at your disposal to investigate them.

COPYRIGHT © 2018
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association.
No material may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

May 2018 • 3
 FIREMEN’S GRAPEVINE
owned and published by the
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
7470 N Figueroa Street, Los angeles CA 90041

EDITORIAL STAFF
Dave Wagner • Managing Editor..........................................editor@lafra.org
John Hicks • Associate Editor..............................................jhicks@lafra.org
Eric Santiago • Creative Editor...............................................eric@lafra.org
Display Advertising.................................................(323) 259-5200 ext. 231

PSO’s
Amy Bastman, Margaret Stewart, Brian Humphrey

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Art Sorrentino, Matt Mickey, Frank Borden, Jim Stiglich, Steve Ruda

PHOTOGRAPHERS
David Blaire, Greg Doyle, Harry Garvin,
Steve Gentry, Juan Guerra, Brian Haimer, Ryan Ling, Rick McClure,
Mike Meadows, Lloyd Payne, Jeff Zimmerman, Yvonne Griffin

LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION

Robert Steinbacher................................................President
Jeff Cawdrey ..................................................Vice-President
Andrew Kuljis ........................................................Secretary
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chris Stine Gene Bednarchik Rich Moody
Craig White Henry Gasbarri Rick Godinez
Danny Wu Jim Duffy Steve Berkery
David Peters Joe Vigil Steven Domanski
Doak Smith John Jacobsen Tim Freeman Jr.
Frank Aguirre Kenny Breskin Tim Larson
Gayle Sonoda Mike Sailhamer Tyler Tomich

CHAPLAINS
To contact a chaplain, please call Senior Chaplain Rick Godinez at (213)
797-2404 or the MFC Floor Captain at (213) 576-8920
Greg W. Gibson...................Chaplain Hershy Z. Ten.......................Chaplain
Danny Leon..........................Chaplain Roger Fowble.....................Chaplain
George A. Negrete...............Chaplain Mark R. Woolf.....................Chaplain
Aquil F. Basheer..................Chaplain Jesus Pasos.........................Chaplain
Tim Werle............................Chaplain

TELEPHONES
Fire-Relief ...............................................................(323) 259-5200
Relief Association Toll Free Number .........................(800) 244-3439
Relief Medical Plan ................................................. (866) 995-2372
Fax Number ..............................................................(323) 259-5290

LAFRA MANAGEMENT
Todd Layfer • Executive Director..............................(323) 259-5243
Vacant......................................................................(323) 259-5247
Liberty Unciano • Controller/Treasurer...................(323) 259-5225
Bob Dillon • Operations Manager..............................(323) 259-5233
Marlene Casillas • Development & Marketing Director(323) 259-5217
Ana Salazar • Member Services Coordinator.............(323) 259-5223

HealthSCOPE Benefits
Claims & Benefit Information...................................(866) 99-LAFRA
THE FIREMEN’S GRAPEVINE (USPS 191-060) is published monthly by the Los Angeles Firemen’s
Relief Association, 7470 N Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, Cal­i­for­nia 90041. Annual $48 Subscription
included with Association mem­ber­ship; Non-members: $48. Single issues $4 postpaid. Back issues $7
postpaid. Pe­ri­od­i­cals post­age paid at Los Angeles, CA and at additional mailing office. POST­MAS­TER: Send
ad­dress changes to: THE FIREMEN’S GRAPE­VINE Magazine, P.O. BOX 41903, Los An­ge­les, CA 90041.

Printed by Collective Color, Los Angeles CA. For Clas­si­fied and Display Ad­ver­tis­ing rates please call (323)
259-5200, ext. 231 or 232. All editorial matter must be received by the Editor eight weeks prior to the month of
pub­li­ca­tion. The opin­ions ex­pressed here­in are those of the writ­ers and do not nec­es­sar­i­ly reflect the official
views of the Los An­ge­les City Fire De­part­ment or the Los An­ge­les Firemen’s Relief Association.

4 • May 2018
 Last year, due to the efforts of our members, I report-
ed to you that the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commis-
sioners voted unanimously to NOT make any changes to the
current retiree medical insurance coverage. They decided instead to
create a work group “to study the rising cost of medical care and
create a collaborative approach to achieving cost savings without
jeopardizing our current level of medical benefits, care and cost
to members.”
This work group has evolved into an Ad Hoc Committee
that meets on a regular basis with stakeholders from both fire
and police associations, including LAFRA, PPL, UFLAC and
LARFPA.
The Ad Hoc Committee finally voted to send a motion to
the full Commission to alter the existing formula used to calcu-
late the Medicare subsidy for dependent coverage. The proposal
will be to implement a new flat-rate subsidy with a “Y-factor.”
LAFRA and the other stakeholders were adamant that this
“Y-factor” be included with the change to a flat-rate subsidy.
Without it, more than 2500 members (fire and police) would have
experienced higher out-of-pocket premium costs than before.
There was also discussion about the uncertain wording
in the Administrative Code about the Pension Dept. providing
“suitable” medical plans to its members. We suggested that since
the City Controller and the Pension Board itself had previously
stated that, dollar-for-dollar, the LAFRA PPO Medical Plan pro-
vides the highest benefit levels, the lowest premium costs and the
greatest member satisfaction, that our plan should be used as the
gold standard.
But the biggest issue arising currently is that the Com-
mission wants to replace our current Operating Agreement with
a new contract. This standard vendor contract is completely
unacceptable and would set a dangerous precedent. We are pro-
viding a complex medical plan, and not supplying the normal
goods and services for which this vendor contract was designed.
Our attorneys are scrutinizing this contract in hopes of creating a
suitable alternative.
Together with LAFRA staff and your Board of Trustees, I
will endeavor to keep you informed of these proposals and oth-
ers that could have long-term consequences on your available
medical plan benefits and choices.
Turning to upcoming events . . . Lane Kemper is on May
2nd. Come and watch as 32-teams of the LAFD’s finest battle
it out for the title of champion, while still raising money for the
WODFF. The LAFD BBQ team will also be out in force, headed
by Mark Curry and Greg Pascolla. So, bring your family and your
appetite and root for your favorite team.
Speaking of family, don’t forget about the Pechanga
Family Reunion May 21-25. This 4-day event is a great time to
catch up with old friends while enjoying all that the Pechanga
Resort has to offer. Enjoy a game of golf, and after, a sip or two of
wine (Remember, drink responsibly) while breathing in the warm
desert air during a great time of camaraderie for all. Sign up for
these events are on our website.
Another must do is Hope for Firefighters. This year’s event
will be held on June 7th. Currently, fire station booth space is
nearing capacity, but please come out and enjoy the day just the
same. Even though your fire station may not be participating,
everyone should take the time to come down and support each
other. It is an event that should be witnessed by all.
Lastly, it was an honor to patriciate in our Volunteer
Appreciation luncheon on April 7th. Our WODFF benefits great-
ly by the amount of time and energy our volunteers put in every
year. Without their sacrifice and support, the everyday operation
of LAFRA would be that much harder.
Long term care: It is estimated that in the next two to four
years, this country will spend approximately $3.5 TRILLION
dollars on long-term care for our loved ones. If you are an active
member who is on the LAFRA Medical Plan, you are eligible for
$1,500 of LTC through UNUM. Look at your needs and decide
while you are young to increase your benefit and add your spouse.
In this instance, time is money. Invest in your health--Invest in
your future!
Save the dates!
May 2 - Lane Kemper
May 21-25 - Pechanga Reunion
June 7 - Hope for Firefighters
July 14 - 20th Fallen Heroes Memorial Run
Be safe and be kind to each other!
Robert D. “Steintalker” Steinbacher
president@lafra.org
323.259.5200
May 2018 • 5
 Who says you need a badge to be a hero! For the second year in a row, our own ‘LA Fire’ racing team participated in the
the 2018 team raised more than $25,000 for the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. Fundraising is still open if pe

ma for an ady for

det Luc Azu 20’s were re
Thanks to Ca our Cheer Zone The guys at a y
b in Marathon D
incredible jo anything on
Captain Rick Justin Nanfe
Godinez, LA is one of se
ber Jasmine FD family m v
Berganza, an em-
Show report d K TL A Morn PMK BNC. Th
er Gayle An ing e
derson

8
re Station 9
ru n n er ’s br eakfast at Fi ni, Justin
rs at the t San ti
Team membe race. Rober a-
ks le ad in g up to the ry FOX, Vanessa Bust
in the wee of 21 st Ce n tu
ber
issa Blazek Family Mem
Vanessa B Nanfelt, Mel el da R eyes, LAFD Trustee Fran
kA
Es m er
Captain Chri
ustamante
& husband mante, and Jennifer Coro
na
s Bu
ner’s breakf stamante at the run- for two year has participated on the
s and is an team
ast at Fire St LAFD employ
ation 98 ee.

6 • May 2018
participated in the L.A. Marathon, Stadium vs. Sea Charity Challenge and 5K. Made up of sworn members and civilian alike,
g is still open if people want to congratulate the runners with a donation, just visit: www.crowdrise.com/LAFireMarathon18

marathon-
19 m embe rs protected
FS ntwood
through Bre
ers running
Justin Nanfe Jennifer Co
lt with daugh rnejo
is one of se ter Vera at th plishment. Sh showing her well-earn
ven employ e finish line. e is an LAFD ed
PMK BNC. Th ees of our Justin a training op employee an medals of accom-
e company’s new corporat tion for our d also helpe
efforts brou e donor runners with d provide
ght in $6,00 the Pasaden
0. a Pacers.

Contest winners:

hing Medal. 1. L.A. Marathon Fastest Male Runner on our

ith his Finis
k Aguirre w L.A. Fire Team: LAFD member Nick Riddall
Trustee Fran
(LAFD member. His time was 03:42:22)
Vanessa Bu
stamante ta 2. L.A. Marathon Fastest Female Runner on our
break on th ke
e Westside of s a L.A. Fire Team: Mary Acevedo
town
3. Best Running Gear: Olivia Gomez
(LAFD Spouse)
4. Best Running Face: Jennifer Cornejo
(LAFD civilian employee)
5. Most Inspirational: Melissa Blazek
6. Fastest Charity Challenge Runner on our L.A.
Fire Team: (Stadium) Pablo Gomez (LAFD)
7. Fastest Charity Challenge Runner on our
L.A. Fire Team: (Sea) Mamie Coleman
(LAFD Spouse)

May 2018 • 7
 SAVE YOUR HOTEL SPOT! SAVE YOUR SPACE!
– Pechanga Resort/Hotel reservation, – RV spots available – Reserve yours
Call (888) 732-4264 by calling LAFRA - (323) 259-5200

– For other hotels, call (323) 259-5235 – Email: sdomanski@lafra.org for any questions.

MONDAY – May 21st Lunches*are

Reservation for
prepared by the wine
chef tour
at Oak must Winery’s
Mountain come with
Cave meal choice.

– Check in & Catch up with old friends CAVE CAFE

– Reception Get-Together – Beer & Wine (provided) Sandwiches (Served with a choice of a side salad, a bottle of water & a dessert, **chef ’s choice).

Please select a Sandwich and a side salad:

TUESDAY – May 22nd • TURKEY SANDWICH - Roma Tomatoes, Red Onions, Romaine Lettuce, Pepper Jack
– Wine Trolley Tour - 10AM * Cheese & Basil Aioli on Sourdough Bread - Gluten Free bread available
• HAM SANDWICH - Roma Tomatoes, Romaine Lettuce, Swiss Cheese & Whole Grain
• Limited space available - Sign up early! Mustard on Sourdough Bread - Gluten Free bread available
– Pizza Night - 6PM • ROAST BEEF - Roasted Red Peppers, Arugula, Sharp Cheddar Cheese & Sun Dried Toma-
to Pesto on Sourdough Bread - Gluten Free bread available
• ROASTED VEGGIE SANDWICH - Zucchini, Red Peppers, Tomatoes, Onions, Fresh Moz-
WEDNESDAY – May 23rd zarella & Basil Aioli on Gluten Free Multi-Grain Roll.

– Dinner/Wine & Beer (provided) – 6PM Side Salad Choices for sandwich selections: Please select one.

@ Pechanga RV Clubhouse • PASTA SALAD: Kalamata Olives, Grape Tomatoes, Red Onions, Italian Parsley, Feta
Cheese & Vinaigrette. (Nothing in the Pasta Salad can be omitted)
– Organization Reps at Clubhouse – 10AM - 4PM • SIDE SALAD: Spring Mix, Cherry Tomatoes, Red Onions, Shaved Parmesan Cheese &
Balsamic Vinaigrette on the side.

THURSDAY – May 24th Salads: These are meals, NOT sides. No side salad offered with the Chicken Caesar Salad or the Chick-

– Golf “Journey” at Pechanga – Price/Time TBA en Spring Mix Salad. (Served with a bottle of water & dessert **Chef ’s choice)

– Organization Reps at Clubhouse – 10AM - 4PM • CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD - Grilled Chicken on Romaine Lettuce, Shaved Parmesan
Cheese, Croutons with Caesar Dressing on the side.
• CHICKEN SPRING MIX SALAD - Grilled Chicken on Spring Mix Lettuce, Cherry To-

FRIDAY - May 25th matoes, Cucumbers, Shredded Carrots, Red Onions, Glazed Walnuts and Shaved Parmesan
Cheese with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing on the side.
8 • May 2018
– Check out...until next year!

ns.
As I sat down at the table in the fire-
house kitchen, the young firefighter set a
steaming cup of coffee in front of me. “What
about estate taxes?” he asked, sitting down
er Jack across from me.
“If you remain a firefighter and the mis-
e Grain sus a teacher, you’ll probably never have an
estate in excess of $20 million. Knowing you
Toma-
won’t have to worry about federal estate taxes
h Moz- will just make you honest about estate plan-
ning,” I replied.
“Then I guess I don’t really even need
a trust,” he said, kind of half question, half
Feta statement.
“No, that couldn’t be further from the
se &
truth! Let’s assume, God forbid, that you’re in-
jured on the job and can no longer handle your
financial affairs. You’ll need to have designated
a power of attorney. Whether it’s your wife or
someone else, you’ll need to have it in place
before the event. The same thing is true for an
advanced health care directive.”
The young firefighter squirmed in his
seat as I continued, “Yours is a hazardous pro-
fession and stuff happens. Best to plan for it
now, not from a hospital bed.”
He slowly nodded in agreement.
“You work hard so your family will be
taken care of,” I said between sips of coffee.
“But, your wisdom and love can last a lot lon-
ger than you do. Who will raise your children if
you die? If both you and your wife should both
die?”
From the look on his face, it seemed as
if he hadn’t really given these questions much
thought.
“Without a plan, a judge who knows
nothing about you or your family will make
that decision,” I told him. “With a plan you
can nominate a guardian. And if you have a
disabled child, you’ll need to set up a special
needs trust to provide for their needs that are
not taken care of by federal or state agencies.”
He slowly nodded again.
“A trust will also protect your children
against the loss of their inheritance if your
spouse remarries,” I added. “And an insurance
trust is a good place to put your life insurance
so you can make sure that the proceeds are used
to benefit your family the most.”
Continuing his slow nod he asked, “So
what is this all going to cost me?”
Looking him straight in the eye I re-
plied, “A trust will save you money. Believe me
when I tell you that the cost of estate planning
will be a lot less than probate fees to a lawyer
and your executor.”
I downed the last of the coffee in my
cup and stood up. “So I’ll see you in my office
next week as planned?” I asked.
“Definitely,” he said with that now fa-
miliar slow nod.
Richard A. Block, Esq. - (818) 716-1585

Chick- Your Relief Association offers a one-time reimbursement of up to $600 for members or surviving spouses to help you get your estate plan
completed. To qualify, send a copy of the receipt or statement showing you paid for these services along with your name, address and phone number
rmesan to Member Services Specialist Maria Rodriguez: by email - mrodriguez@lafra.org; by fax (323) 259-5297; or mail to LAFRA, Estate Planning Benefit
rry To-
Request, Attn: Member Services, P.O. Box 41903, Los Angeles CA 90041.
rmesan

May 2018 • 9
 The days of hanging out in the
kitchen and enjoying a meal together have
been replaced with members counting out
of the mess and opting to prepare their
own meals. Face-to-face communication
has been replaced with text messaging and
emailing, even though members are only
a room or two away. Survey after survey
have shown that employee engagement
at work is at an all-time low. One way to
help improve this is to foster friendships
- the good old-fashioned friendships cre-
ated when we hang-out, joke, and have fun
with co-workers. It’s what we used to call
camaraderie.
Captain II Tom Kitahata at FS 69
has his own team building methods. He
explains that, “Many of you that know
me are aware that I love to drill with the
crew. This is some of the best camaraderie
that we do, if done right. We have to get
away from trying to make someone look
stupid or trying to single one member out.
We need to learn together and teach each
other new things. This time together builds
10 • May 2018
our self confidence and trust amongst each
other.”
Research has also shown that work-
ers are happier in their jobs when they
develop friendships with co-workers.
How many times have you heard the say-
ing, “It’s not where you work, but rather
who you work with?” Many firefighters
have spent years in stations where the call
load was at the highest in the City. Why?
The most common answer was, “I like the
people I work with.” Employees report
that when they have friends at work, their
job is more enjoyable, worthwhile, and
satisfying.
Camaraderie is more than just hav-
ing fun, though. It is also about creating a
common sense of purpose and the mental-
ity that we are in it together. This ideol-
ogy can be, and should be, adopted at the
station level too. According to Chief Ste-
phen Ruda, “The key to ‘team building’
is for the leader to be a good listener. It
is important that those under your com-
mand truly know that you listen to them
and take their recommendations seriously.
Encourage them to provide input - a ‘heard
crew’ is a crew that feels that they have
contributed to the better good. If they feel
that they haven’t been heard then they be-
come a ‘herd’ and will wander away with
a lost feeling. “After all, as a leader, it isn’t
about you but those whom you lead that
truly matters,” said Ruda.
These concepts can be applied dur-
ing daily line-ups, training that encourages
friendly competition instead of berating,
eating lunch or dinner out in the commu-
nity, and an occasional family get-together
off duty. By meeting the family of co-
workers, one can get a better sense of who
they really are, and where they came from.
Friends at work also form a strong
social support network for each oth-
er, both personally and professionally.
Whether consoling each other during a
time of grief, giving friendly advice when
appropriate, or providing assistance for
personal situations, comradeship at work
can boost an employee’s spirit and provide
needed support.
A fine example of camaraderie
building comes from Chief Mark Curry.
He writes, “As a 4th generation firefighter,
I can literally say that I grew up in LA City
firehouses. Some of my earliest memories
are of visiting my father, Roger Curry, at
Fire Station 93 where he spent the bulk of
his career. My dad was the “PC” at 93’s.
I remember the amount of work he put
into ensuring that his meals not only tasted
great but that there was always plenty for
everyone. He was legendary for his crème
puffs - one per person, plus one additional
for throwing. It wasn’t until I joined the
LAFD in 1989 that I realized what he was
actually doing--creating camaraderie. My
dad recognized that the kitchen is the heart
of the fire station and it’s the place where
we truly become family.
The Hope for Firefighters event is
an extension of our firehouse kitchens and
an opportunity to share with the public not
only our delicious food but our spirit of ca-
maraderie. This great event demonstrates
our Department’s creativity, sense of hu-
mor, and, of course, our cooking ability.
The years that I’ve been able to partici-
pate in ‘Hope’ have proven to be terrific
bonding experiences for our crew. Serving
upwards of 500 people is no easy task,
and it takes a tremendous amount of co-
ordination and teamwork (just like on the
fire ground!) Teams that participate come
away with a sense of accomplishment,
and at the end of the day they are closer
as a crew.”
Kitahata also likes to get the crew
from 69’s together for off-duty activi-
ties. The entire shift and their spouses
celebrated the holidays together at the
LAFRA party at the DTLA Marriott last
year. “I’ve always felt that a strong bond-
ing among the crew around the firehouse,
as well as off-duty, leads to strong bonds
and cohesiveness on the fire ground,” says
Kitahata.
People in organizations need to
work together. It is also important to say
that the days of ‘them’ or ‘us’ need to go.
Nothing can be accomplished divided -
hasn’t our current government environ-
ment shown us that? Firefighters, captains,
and chiefs all need to work together to fos-
ter collaboration, trust, personal relation-
ships, fun, and support. In an increasingly
technological and virtual environment, the
challenges for all of us will be to cultivate
these personal relationships.
Fostering camaraderie requires a
proactive effort. The practice is simple:
expand communication, create or renew
friendships, and build team work. In turn,
the goal of camaraderie is achieved, and a
sense of teamwork restored.
May 2018 • 11
 Story by John Hicks
Photos by John Hicks, Deborah Lew and Adam Van Gerpen
Pro-gres-sion: The process of developing or moving
gradually towards a more advanced state.
On April 4, 2018, the LAFD moved towards a more advanced
state as the Los Angeles Firefighters Association honored their first-ever
female Firefighter of the Year—Rosa Torres-Tufts. Not only was Rosa
the first female firefighter honored with this award, she was also the first
Arson Investigator bestowed with the title. With the ballroom of the
downtown Double Tree Hotel filled to capacity, the 34-year veteran ac-
cepted the distinguished award as family and friends, past award honor-
ees, and department members, looked on in pride at her accomplishment.
The two-hour event began with a brief meet and greet as par-
ticipants gathered to personally congratulate Rosa and catch up with co-
workers and friends. The LAFD Honor Guard was present as the Pledge
of the Allegiance was recited and a wonderful rendition of America the
Beautiful was sung by Rosa’s sister. Department Chaplin Danny Leon
gave the benediction, and LAFD’s own David Frelinger presided over
the event. He introduced Fire Chief, Ralph Terrazas who honored Rosa
with a praise-filled speech, which was followed by other speeches from
civic leaders. B/C Mike Castillo of the Arson Section presented Rosa
with an engraved plaque, thanking her for her service and praising her
12 • May 2018
for her dedication. A touching speech and a presentation of a bouquet of
flowers was also given to Rosa by family members that nearly brought
tears to all in attendance. The event concluded with the presentation of
the Firefighter of the Year Award by the Firefighters Association’s Presi-
dent, George James. Rosa gave a humble acceptance speech acknowl-
edging all in attendance and thanking them for their presence and their
influence in making her who she was today.
The Firefighter of the Year nominee is selected by the vote of
the members. Rosa’s nomination was put forth by her superiors and co-
workers who praised her by stating that the foundation of Rosa’s success
lies within her hard work, character, integrity, and devotion. Her standard
of service, duty, leadership, and effectiveness are fundamental elements
that characterize Rosa’s dedication. Rosa has demonstrated this through
her commitment, teamwork, teaching, mentoring, and engaging in
numerous department and community projects.
Rosa began her firefighting career in August of 1983. Just eight
years later she attained the rank of engineer, serving 14 years in some of
the busiest assignments in the City. Her current position as Arson Inves-
tigator was attained in July of 2005, where she still serves today. Rosa
works with the LAPD Major Crimes Division as a Joint Terrorism Task
Force Investigator.
Taking on the role of instructor, Rosa has taught courses and de-
veloped programs to enhance organizations such as NFPA, IAFF, DHS,
and FEMA. This equates to reaching thousands of firefighters, law en-
forcement, public health, and private first responders throughout the na-
tion. Rosa has been driven by a sense of possibilities, a vision of success,
and the ability to positively impact those around her.
Rosa has been a positive influence impacting not only LA firefighters,
but public safety professionals throughout the region. She has mentored
and instructed hundreds of first responders, students, and career firefight-
ers for more than three decades. Her impact has been far reaching, ex-
tending well beyond her LAFD roots.
It is not only an honor to highlight some of her accomplishments,
but a privilege to acknowledge a respected member of the Fire Service.
Congratulations Rosa Torres-Tufts—Los Angeles Firefighters Associa-
tion’s 2017 Firefighter of the Year.
A Few of Rosa Tuft’s Numerous
Accomplishments & Achievements:
• Over 34 years of service with the
LAFD
• Bachelor Degree – California
State University Long Beach
• Emmy Award – Received for co-
hosting “L.A. Fire!” a 30-minute,
cable channel video magazine
• Top Secret/Sensitive Compart-
mented Information (TS/SCI)
Clearance
• DaVinci Fire – Arson/MCD Inves-
tigative Team
• Glenn Allen and Brent Lovrien –
Arson Investigative Team Support
• Homeland Security Community
Preparedness Committee
• Nationwide Suspicious Activity
Reporting (SAR) for Hometown
Security
• Engineer – In Service Training
Section – Manual revision
• Engineer Liaison to Supply and
Maintenance Division – New
engine implementation.
• School Outreach Program
Instructor
• Hollywood Serial Arsonist
Task Force (Burkhart)
• Arson JTTF Liaison – ATF, LAPD,
District Attorney’s Office
• Brush Task Force – Arson
Expertise
• Test writer – Engineer promo-
tional written examination.

May 2018 • 13
 Paid Advertisement:

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the
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Emergency Instant Shelters • Custom Canopies
Custom Flags • Banners • Dome Tents • And More!

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14 • May 2018
 Structure fire at 736 S Fresno St
on 4/1/18. Photo by Kelly Seidel

LF 10 found a pick-up truck ablaze at Pico

and Stanford. Photo by Jeff Zimmerman

Dakota Jean (8lb 12oz) is baby #3

for Brett & Ashley Porter (Eng 10-C)

May 2018 • 15
Paid Advertisement

Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association Medical Plan may cover this examination.
16 • May 2018 Contact your plan provider to verify.
 Anthony “Big Cat” Castillo celebrated his
last shift with an event at FS 44 last month

LF 1 and Firefighter Alex Woodcox

saved a poor kitty cat from a near
death experience. Yes, firefighters
actually get cats out of trees.

Artist Rosie Tos just finished her latest

and greatest mural at Fire Station 63. The
newly remodeled captain’s office was in need
of some style, so Rosie was called in to do
her magic. She kept this mural vintage and
original, with the centerpiece, a recreation of
a photo taken of the firehouse in 1942. Two
additional illustrations depict the boys from
Venice hard at work in scenes from today – the
perfect balance of “then and now”

New Rosie Tos mural at FS 63

May 2018 • 17
18 • May 2018
35’s stands by as the marathon winds through Hollywood Way Station 82 along the marathon route in Hollywood

TF 85 and Air Ops on a rescue at Point Fermin

in February. Photo by Bayne Grindle

May 2018 • 19
 Paid Advertisement

20 • May 2018
Crew 3 spent a day at FS 23 clearing TF 37 turned out as the marathon
brush from around the firehouse reached Westwood

Air Ops training off Point Fermin.

Photo by Anthony Pecchi

May 2018 • 21
22 • May 2018
T/A in Van Nuys on 3/26/18. E 93, LF 88 shut down hydrant after being struck
Photo by Rick McClure by solo vehicle on 3/30/28. Photo by Leo Kaufman

A/O Danny Leon celebrated his retirement with a breakfast

and handball at FS 26 on 2/20/18. Photo by Yvonne Griffin

TF 11 ventilated a vacant hotel in Koreatown Capt Robert Daniels and FF/EIT Carlos Mejia were
on 3/11/18. LAFD Photo by Harry Garvin honored by the American Legion on 3/28/18

May 2018 • 23
 REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS
SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018
This event is open to ALL, whether you ride or not!
PRICE MEET AT
LAFD Fire Museum
$40 single / $70 couple 1355 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
INCLUDES: Registration, Luncheon,
Hollywood CA 90028
Raffle Ticket, Ride Shirt
If preregistered by 7/1/18

TIME
Tickets $40 at the door.
Registration: 8 AM
PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE Event Starts: 9 AM
Luncheon Approx: 1 PM
(MORE DETAILS BELOW)

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE THE SCENIC RIDE,

JOIN US AT 1PM FOR THE LUNCHEON, RAFFLE & LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AT

23527 Calabasas Rd.

Calabasas CA 91302
$25 per-person (pre-sale) | $30 at the door

TICKETS ON SALE AT FIREHOGS.ORG

24 • May 2018
 Firefighters extricated one patient on Terra
Bella St on 3/15/18. Photo by Rick McClure

T AT
eum
Blvd.
0028

ME
8 AM
9 AM LF 98 with a fully involved SUV in Pacoima
1 PM on 3/14/18. Photo by Rick McClure
LOW)

On 3/24/18, TF 98 painted, On 3/4/18, Engine 98 had an auto at 9200

weeded and planted in Pacoima Laurel Canyon Bl. Photo by Rick McClure

May 2018 • 25
Paid Advertisements:

26 • May 2018
 Engs 91 and 18 handle a semi-truck at 16200
Filbert St on 3/18/18. Photo by Rick McClure

LF 75 rescued a dog from the river The crew at 98’s hosted a pre-marathon
on 3/14/18. Photo by Rick McClure breakfast for WODFF runners

FS 7 hosted a celebration of life for

community activist Dianne Hand

May 2018 • 27
 Joint exercise in the Alameda Rail Corridor
on 3/11/18. Photo by Chris Conkle

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28 • May 2018
 On 03/23/18, TF 60 extricated a victim from a vehicle that
hit a building. Photos by Rick McClure and Mike Meadows

89’s with an outside fire at Saticoy and Woodman.

Photo by Jeff Zimmerman

May 2018 • 29
 87’s found a crashed vehicle in flames on On 3/9/18, companies found a small structure fully in-
3/18/18 in Northridge. Photo by Rick McClure volved off Saddle Ridge Rd. in Sylmar. Photo by Greg Doyle

E72 with an auto fire at 20050 Vanowen

Street on 3/26/18. Photo by Rick McClure

Paid Advertisement:

30 • May 2018
City Council recognized Female Trailblazers in the CUPA program members were recognized
LAFD on 3/28/18. LAFD Photo by Alex Gillman on 3/20/18. LAFD Photo by David Ortiz

May 2018 • 31
Paid Advertisements:

FIREFIGHTERS WANTED
Seeking applicants for the positions of:
Fire Marshal & Part-Time Brush Clearance Inspectors
$35 - $39 per hr. (Projected) - WORK SCHEDULE – To Be Determined

BRUSH INSPECTORS/FIREFIGHTERS RETIRED? RETIRING?

The City of La Habra Heights is a rural wildland/urban interface community of 5300 residents, 2300
parcels with heavy brush, large homes and minimum 1 acre parcels. The City is classified in the
Very High Fire Severity Hazard Zone and requires 100% brush clearance for all parcels and is
located on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County between Hacienda Heights and Whittier.
The City is developing a new Brush Clearance program utilizing a Full or Part-Time Fire Marshal to
manage the program and several Part-Time Brush Clearance Inspectors starting in January 2018
The ideal candidate will have at least two (2) years of brush clearance experience inspection or
wildland firefighting experience.
Positions open until filled http://lhhcity.org Phone: (562) 694-8283 x326

Fire Chief Doug Graft, LAFD Ret. & Assistant Fire Chief Ron Myers, LAFD Ret.

Marcia Zigler
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Judith M. Weigle
Mediator & Legal Document Assistant

WALK through DIVORCE with INTEGRITY and COURAGE

(310) 441-7555 • (310) 876-1355

2999 Overland Avenue, Ste 207B, Los Angeles, CA 90064

mail: 12521 El Dorado Place,

Victorville, CA 92392
P.O. Box 41903 Phn: 1-800-971-4808

Los Angeles CA 90041

Fax: 1-800-971-4809
info@TriStateSigns.com

phone:
(800) 244-3439

visit:
www.LAFRA.org

32 • May 2018

Chiefs Graft and Myers
McClure and crew at Thomas Fire. Photo by Keith Cullom
ments. So, if you miss the station house cama-
raderie and don’t mind goin’ on one or two runs
a day, this might be just the thing for you.
Doug and Ron, thanks for sittin’ down
with us and givin’ us your time and informa-
tion. The City of La Habra and those that live
there are very fortunate havin’ two dedicated
and qualified individuals in charge of their fire
department.
I’ve been givin’ the LHHFD serious
thought. This could be the band aid to cover
my open sore I have from my failed attempt at
becomin’ a Captain II. I think becomin’ a Cap-
tain for them would be a big step in beginnin’
my healin’ process.
I wonder if my festerin’ wound would
heal faster if I became a chief for the LHHFD?
Oh Lord, please don’t tease me.

COWBOY HUMOR

I’ve always noticed this small adver-
tisement stuck in the corner of our Grapevine
magazine about the La Habra Heights Fire De-
partment. I pretty much overlooked this impor-
tant bit of information until a few weeks ago,
when our Editor, Dave Wagner asked me if I’d
be interested in gettin’ some more information
about this small department east of Los Ange-
les.
I never knew La Habra Heights existed
and I had no idea they even had a fire depart-
ment. It just so happens that Doug Graft has
been the Fire Chief there for the past six years.
Doug is a retired B/C from Batt 11 and spent 38
years with the LAFD. Ron Myers retired as a
Captain I from FS 90 with 35 LAFD years and
is now the Asst Chief of the LHHFD. Together,
Doug and Ron have brought much needed or-
ganization to this department and have also ad-
opted most LAFD staffin’ and field procedures.
“We’ve become ‘LA City South,’” says Graft.
“All of our basic ops are the same.”
But the interestin’ thing about the LH-
HFD is the fact that’s it’s mainly a volunteer
department. That is, except for the 16 to 20
paid captains that work a couple of shifts a
Capt DeBono and crew
month. Six of these captains also happen to be
retired LA City guys: Rick McClure, Chuck
Bucher, Ed Martin, Greg Terrill, Ron Klamecki
and Carl DeBono.
For 60 to 80 young volunteer firefight-
ers, LHHFD has become a trainin’ ground.
After graduatin’ from a Fire Academy, these
individuals submit applications to the LHHFD,
hopin’ for an interview and a chance to become
a volunteer. According to Myers, “In less than
a year, these kids are completely different peo-
ple. We try to give them a head start with their
demeanor, knowledge base, attitude and under-
standing.”
This valuable experience very often
helps them land a career with a bigger depart-
ment relates Graft. “Someone told me that we
have the biggest fire department in the world.
When I asked what he meant, he replied that
departments everywhere have guys that have
worked for La Habra Heights.”
Right now the LHHFD is lookin’ to
hire a Fire Marshal and part-time brush clear-
ance inspectors. And they are always looking to
hire retired firefighter/paramedics and captains
from the LAFD, as well as from other depart-
Wife’s Diary:
Tonight I thought my hus-
band was actin’ weird. We had
made plans to meet at a nice
restaurant for dinner. I was
shoppin’ with my friends all
day, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I
was a bit late, but he made no comment to me.
The conversation wasn’t flowin’ so I
suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we
could talk. He agreed, but didn’t say much. I
asked him what was wrong. He said, “Noth-
ing.” I asked him if it was my fault that he was
upset. He said he wasn’t upset, that it had noth-
in’ to do with me and not to worry about it.
On the way home I told him that I loved
him. He smiled slightly and kept drivin’. I
don’t know why he didn’t say, “I love you too.”
When we got home I felt as if I had
lost him completely, as if he wanted nothin’
to do with me anymore. Finally, with silence
all around us I decided to go to bed. About 15
minutes later he came to bed, but I still felt that
he was distracted and his thoughts elsewhere.
He fell asleep; I cried. I don’t know what to
do. I’m almost sure that his thoughts are with
someone else. My life is a disaster.
Husband’s Diary:
A two foot putt! Who the hell misses a
two foot putt?
AC
KEEP SMILIN’!
choppedup@att.net

May 2018 • 33
SCRAP METAL YARD
Sun Valley
Photos by Mike Meadows

At 4:42PM on March 31, 2018, companies responded to a reported structure fire in the 8200 block of N Tujunga
Av in Sun Valley. Firefighters were on scene of a multi-auto fire in a scrap yard for approximately 90 minutes.

34 • May 2018
 CONFINED SPACE RESCUE
Griffith Park
Photos by Rick McClure, Austin Gebhardt,
Jeff Zimmerman, and Trey Glennon

The Los Angeles Fire Department was among several agencies that worked together to successfully rescue a thirteen year-old boy trapped for nearly 13 hours
after he fell into a sewer and was swept approximately 5900 feet downstream in a four-foot diameter pipe by the effluent. The incident occurred on April 1, 2018.

May 2018 • 35
 If you take a look
around, you may notice
that many LAFD and
LAPD members are sport-
ing a new shorn look. Are
they getting prepared for
summer? Did they lose a
bet? Are they saving mon-
ey on shampoo? For the
participants of the 2018
16th Annual LAFD/LAPD
St. Baldrick’s fundraiser
to fight childhood cancer,
the answer is a resounding
“No!”
On Saturday, March 24th at Fire
Station 89 in North Hollywood, these first
responders joined with brave souls from
the public by shaving their heads in soli-
darity to support children who have lost
their hair as a consequence of cancer treat- dation is the largest source of funding for Air Support Division, Fire Axe Inc.,
ment. Worldwide, over 160,000 children childhood cancer research. Proceeds from and others)—contributing an additional
are diagnosed with cancer every year, this year’s event bring the aggregate total $4000+ to the projected $60,000+ raised
and sadly it takes the lives of more chil- raised through 16 years to more than $1.1 at this year’s event! Magicians from the
dren in the United States than any other million dollars! Magic Castle mesmerized the little ones
illness. By raising money for shaving his Like events in the past, this year’s with their tricks. Betsy Quezada painted
head, shavees like LAFD co-organizer event was “all about the kids.” Tireless eagerly waiting faces while children
and young firefighter Rudy Rocha assists workers Kevin Le and Laura Hixson from and their families enjoyed exploring the
the St. Baldrick’s Foundation with offer- the Los Angeles Police Federal Credit LAPD Historical Society’s vintage patrol
ing research grants for finding a cure. This Union organized an amazing silent auc- cars and having their photo professionally
is extremely important because behind the tion (with donations by the LA City Em- taken in Laura Lichter’s LAPD motorbike
U.S. government, the St. Baldrick’s Foun- ployees Club, Home Depot, Sears, LAPD picture booth. Phil Weireter arrived in the

36 • May 2018

famous LAFD Bandwagon fire engine
and families waited patiently to get their
kid’s pictures taken with it. The crowd
enjoyed a delicious free pancake and
sausage breakfast from Pancake Factory
North Hollywood, and quenched their
thirst with fresh cups of joe from the Cof-
fee Bean and drinks/snacks from KENK
USA’s Kelly Khoury. Huntington Hospi-
tal’s Jackie Baca-Geary recruited donors
for their blood drive–thereby helping out
even further in the local community and
beyond. Fire Station 89’s own Apparatus
Operator Lee Hazelquist arrived early to
assist with setting up and cooking break-
fast for the hundreds of hungry mouths on
UFLAC’s “Mother Of All Barbecues”–
with “head pancake flipper” Gene from
the Pancake Factory supervising with
quality control.
Actress Angeline Rose-Troy and
LAFD Dispatcher Deby Herdich both
smiled as seasoned event barbers who
returned again to shave heads along with
Ashley Porter–daughter of recently retired
LAFD Captain Greg Porter. When more
barbers were needed, Civil Air Patrol Ca-
det Post Advisor Shawnie Livera stepped
up to assist with not only the hair cut-
ting, but also had her head shorn as well!
St. Baldrick’s Director Kathleen Ruddy
smiled as LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Ter-
razas shaved LAFD co-organizer Danny
Wu’s dome, and LAPD Police Chief Char-
lie Beck looked delighted as he began lop-
ping off LAPD co-organizer Lieutenant
Greg Doyle’s hair in front of an approving
crowd–with Greg’s wife Kris finishing the
job! In a pleasant surprise, CA State Sena-
tor Robert Hertzberg made an appearance
in support of the event to show his passion
for fighting kids’ cancer.
Thank you also to all that volun-
teered, pledged, participated, and brought
your families out for a worthy cause. A
special token of gratitude goes out to Fire
Station 89 for hosting the event, Council-
member Paul Krikorian’s District 2 Office
for supplying table and chairs, and ACE
Party Rentals in North Hollywood for do-
nating an impressive 40x60 foot canopy in
preparation for inclement weather. Luck-
ily, the furious downpour during the week
subsided before the day of the event, and
this year’s special day was meant to be en-
joyed in our beautiful Southern California
weather. Last but not least, a very special
“THANK YOU” goes out to LAFD Fire-
fighter Rudy Rocha and LAPD Detective
Nick Sinclair for assisting with this year’s
LAFD/LAPD St. Baldrick’s event, as they
may be taking the reigns as Co-Organizers
in the coming years.
We look forward to seeing you all
next year and remember it’s not too late
to donate online at: www.stbaldricks.org/
events/lafdlapd
May 2018 • 37
 Los Angeles Retired Fire & Police Association
Annual Barbecue
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
12:00 Noon – 3:00 PM
GRACE E. SIMONS LODGE
1025 Elysian Park Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90012

The General Membership Meeting begins at 10:00AM

Barbecue to immediately follow.

Please call the Association office at (888) 288-5073 if you have any questions.
Sorry, no telephone reservations will be accepted.

The deadline for reservations is May 25, 2018

Please return the bottom portion with your

reservation payment to:

Los Angeles Retired Fire & Police Association

9521 Las Tunas Drive Suite 4, Temple City, CA 91780

All Members and their families are welcome to attend!

***Tickets are $5.00 Per Person***

Name_____________________________________________ Phone ( ) ________________________________

Number of Adults:________ Children:_________ Amount Enclosed:________ Check Number:________

Please choose one of the following: Fire_______ Police_______

Payments are not refundable, No exceptions.

Please RSVP by May 25, 2018

38 • May 2018
 Local firefighters were invited to attend and then were honored at
the LA Galaxy soccer game on March 31, 2018, at the Stub Hub Center.
Captains Darin Laier and Ryan Penrod took to the field, and they, along
with all firefighters, were recognized for their service to the community.
Each of the captains were presented with a Galaxy jersey bearing their
name and also a “62’s” jersey autographed by the team.
Prior to the game, firefighters were stationed at each of the four
stadium entrances for a “fill the boot” drive for our Widows, Orphans
& Disabled Firemen’s Fund. Fans were then invited to have their pho-
tos snapped with a firefighter at a booth inside the stadium. LAFRA’s
Widows & Orphans Fund was also the beneficiary of a portion of the
firefighter ticket sales.
May 2018 • 39
  LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
 

NEWANGELES
 LOS PPO MEDICAL PLAN
FIREMEN’S EXPLANATION
RELIEF ASSOCIATIONOF BENEFITS (EOB)
Effective April 1, 2018, our Third Party Administrator,
  HealthScope Benefits is implementing a new Explanation of
Benefits (EOB) format. An EOB outlines how HealthScope Benefits applied the Plan benefits to your claim. See below
NEWsample PPOEOB MEDICAL PLAN
for more details. We hope EXPLANATION
you find the new format OFeasier
BENEFITS
to read and(EOB)
understand. If you have questions
Effective April
about your new EOB, contact HealthScope Benefits at: 886-995-2372. new Explanation of
1, 2018, our Third Party Administrator, HealthScope Benefits is implementing a
Benefits (EOB) format. An EOB outlines how HealthScope Benefits applied the Plan benefits to your claim.1. See
Your below
Member Information: the patient’s name, the date
sample EOB for more
  details. We hope you find the new format easier to read and understand. If you have questions
the EOB was issued, the patient’s ID number, the LAFRA
about your new EOB, contact HealthScope Benefits at: 886-995-2372. group ID number and group name.
 
  2. Contact Us: HealthScope Benefits is LAFRA’s Third Party
1 Administrator (TPA). Contact HealthScope Benefits if you
   
have claims, eligibility or benefits questions, including
questions about your EOB.
      1

3. Dates of Service: corresponds to the date(s) of treatment.

   
2
4. Total Charge: charges submitted by your provider for ser-
2 vices rendered (please verify that this amount corresponds
with the amount billed to you by the provider of service).

5. Reduction Amount: the savings, from network discounts

and pricing programs, that is applied to the “Total Charge”.

6. Amount Excluded: charges that are “not covered” such

as those over usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) and
other services listed under the “What is Not Covered under
the Medical Plan” section of your Summary Plan Document
(SPD).

7. Co-pay: any applicable co-payment(s).

8. Deduct: the amount that applied towards your

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 deductible.
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13
12 13
9. Co-insurance: if the Plan pays a percentage of the
charges and you are also responsible for a percentage, this
14
is the percentage amount you owe.
14

10. Other Payment: any additional amount that applied to

the claim such as payments from another insurance plan.

11. Plan Pay at %: shows the benefit percentage applied

to the claim.

12. Remark Code: HealthScope’s number code for charges

that are not covered or require further explanation.

13. Plan Pay Amount: the amount the Plan paid toward
15 the service.

14. Patient Responsibility: the amount to be paid to the

16 15 provider, by the covered person.

15. Reason Code Description: a description for the Remark

Code in section 11.
16
16. Year to Date Totals: the year-to-date amount accrued
towards the patient’s out-of-pocket expense.
40 • May 2018
May 2018 • 41
 We hope you are enjoying the new yearbook. If you
would like an additional copy, we have a few extras avail-
able for purchase. They are $50 each, plus $5 for shipping.
All the proceeds go to the Widows, Orphans and Disabled
Firemen’s Fund. Send a check to LAFRA WODFF for $55,
along with your name and mailing address to:

2017 Yearbook
7470 No. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90041
42 • May 2018
 MICHAEL HENRY, A/O, FS 87 MARK AKAHOSHI, Battalion Chief, FS 14-C

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2018 THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

Fire Station 87 Brookside Country Club

10124 Balboa Blvd, Granada Hills CA 1133 Rosemont Avenue, Pasadena CA

7:00 AM until food runs out Social Hour - 5:00 PM Dinner - 6:00 PM

Breakfast Cost $55 - Menu TBD

Call FS 87 - (818) 756-8687 Fire Station 60 - (818) 756-8660

Name Assignment Date Retired Date Rank

Michael Schaefer 04/13/1986 03/31/2018 A/O
Craig P. Hancock 12/09/1984 04/25/2018 Fire Inpector I
Glenn M. Miyagishima 01/28/1985 05/31/2018 Battalion Chief
Jeffrey E. Elder 07/20/1986 04/20/2018 Battalion Chief
Armando G. Aguirre 04/13/1986 05/01/2018 Captain I
Bruce L. Mc Leod 07/20/1986 05/31/2018 Firefighter III
Cecil J. Manresa 11/20/1986 04/26/2018 Firefighter III
Thomas S. Sammartano 06/14/1982 04/30/2018 Captain I
Anthony E. Senior 12/24/1979 02/13/2018 Captain I
Gregg M. Olson 04/20/1980 04/30/2018 Captain I
Andre C. Johnson 04/13/1986 04/30/2018 Captain II
Keith E. Douglass 12/11/1983 04/29/2018 Captain I
Michael W. Gerken 04/26/1986 05/12/2018 Engineer
Brian S. Baltad 02/02/1987 03/31/2018 Engineer
May 2018 • 43

Hi Dave
First, thanks again for going through
the effort to put the Medicare seminar to-
gether, you get “two thumbs up.” I’m one
of those who understands how many mov-
ing parts must be handled to make these
things work. I think we all learned some-
thing, and many learned a lot. Even the
Pension Dept Rep said that she learned
some things that she didn’t know.
Until meeting her today, I had only
known Denise Schlegel (HealthScope) as
the very helpful person on the other end of
an ongoing email exchange and resulting
phone calls. I faced a medical challenge
the year following joining Medicare. In
the past, the required treatment would
have been handled easily by Relief Medi-
cal PPO, which I’ve belonged to since be-
ing appointed to the LAFD. However, I
received a notification that Medicare had
rejected payment, stating that my treat-
ment may have been related to a former
IOD injury. I made several calls to Medi-
care, all with increasing frustration due
to a never-ending run around. I finally
called Relief Medical and was routed to
Denise, who was the first breath of fresh
air. Denise started out by being friendly,
followed closely by being attentive, very
knowledgeable, and personally engaged.
She eventually helped me to untangle the
mess that Medicare wouldn’t.
Anyone who knows me is very
aware that I believe that credit should go
where it is due, and only when it’s due.
Denise deserves five stars on a scale of
five - in LAFD terms she’s “Outstanding.”
We should all be thankful that she’s there
for us!
I’m sure that I’m speaking for many
others who may not have taken the time
44 • May 2018
to let you know, so please ensure that her
supervisors and everyone else know how
much she’s appreciated.
Sincerely
Dave Badgett
LAFD Retired
Dear Dave,
It’s hard to believe that 20 years
have passed since that morning in Griffith
Park and the “hard landing” of Fire 3 and
the lost lives of three firefighters and the
little injured girl they were transporting to
Children’s Hospital.
When I heard of the Memorial Ser-
vice was being held at the LAFD Holly-
wood Museum, I knew I had to be there.
I finally did make it to the ceremony, and
the sun was out and the rain was gone.
Whoever coordinated the event did a great
job, everything was set up in front of the
museum and it was a beautiful morning.
Listening to the speakers and re-
membering that morning 20 years ago still
bring tears to my eyes. I never thought it
would affect me for the rest of my life. I
vividly remember standing next to my
Park Ranger vehicle, and looking up and
seeing Fire 3 trying to land in the inter-
section of Red Oak and Ferndell Drive. If
only Steve had been a few feet higher or
the tree had been a little shorter. All I can
say is he did a hell of a job trying to land
the airship in the intersection.
Listening to some of the chiefs
speak, remembering when they were fire-
fighters or captain, brought back some
good memories. The one person I would
have liked to have seen but was not there
for health reasons, was Dean Cathey. He
helped me so much that day that I will
never forget.
Thanks to all of firefighters, cap-
tains, and chiefs that have taught me how
to stay safe and fight some fires in Griffith
Park, and for being my friend and accept-
ing me as one of them.
Lloyd Payne
Temecula, CA
LAFRA-
My Dad, Thomas Crockatt, was
the hardest working man I’ve known. His
nicknames of Sanitary Tom and Mister
Clean followed him throughout his career
and life. His word was his bond and he
didn’t put up with the demeaning actions
of others. He was an excellent mechanic
- often completing major repairs at the
station rather than changing over so HIS
engine wouldn’t get dirty sitting out at the
shops. He was selfless in training others to
drive and pump. Don Anthony was one of
many when he was a rookie. Dad served on
the Board at the LAFRA for many years,
always extolling the wonderful work they
do. He was the Shop Engineer late in his
career and wrote, approved and accepted
new apparatus. He brought the first diesel
engine onto the LAFD much to the dismay
of Chief Hill. Dad always stood up for
what was best for the men of this Dept. He
LOVED his time on the LAFD I will miss
him dearly.
Lynn Crockatt
Bakersfield, CA
LAFRA-
John Harrington was the guy who
opened my eyes to becoming a fireman. I
was 16 and I wanted to be a policeman.
John would talk to me about what it was
like being on the LAFD and how much
he loved the Department. Thank God I
was shown another direction. John, rest in
peace and thank you.
Danny Flores
Ventura, CA
LAFRA-
Ken Gerhardt was a good friend of
my family and an inspiration for me to get
on the job. Always impressed by his physi-
cal size and good nature. He and Mary
often went out with my parents and were
great friends for them.

Trent Hughes
St George, UT

LAFRA-

Billie Strickland (center)

with Arlington, TX firefighters

I met Billie Strickland at firefight-

ing 48’s when I was a brand-new Auto
Fireman in 1977. He was my Battalion Frank and Laura thought they had plenty of time to get an
Chief and we became friends right away. I
don’t know why that was but it happened. Estate Plan. But when Frank passed away unexpectedly, Laura
The senior members at 48’s weren’t really
happy about his arrival but I liked his way realized they were not prepared.
of pushing all of the crew to be their best.
Billie made me his racquetball partner and
we played every shift, which made our Five Key Steps:
friendship grow even more.
After Billie retired and went to
Texas to be the Fire Chief of the Arlington
1. Pick a planner. Word-of-mouth references are a good place to start, but you
FD, I kind lost track of him. Shortly after I should always take time to research credentials, experience, on-going education
made Captain, I received a letter from Bil- levels and select the Estate Planning professional that best suits your needs. When
lie congratulating me on my promotion. It
was very special to me that he still remem- comparing costs make sure you know all the documents included and services
bered me after so many years. Billie was a provided so you compare “apples to apples.” Each planner may break it down
good man and it was a pleasure to call him differently.
my friend. RIP Billie and my condolences
to his family. 2. Assemble a team. Your estate planning professional can advise you about
Glenn Maurer contacting a tax expert, an accountant and someone who can give you advice about
Newbury Park, CA charitable giving.
3. Compile documents. Ask your attorney or other Estate Planning professional
LA Firemen’s Relief- what you'll need to bring to the first meeting. It’s usually just a few simple
We wanted to drop a quick note to documents and could include the deed(s) to your property, insurance policies,
thank you for your continued business. retirement accounts and a proper I.D.
We truly cannot thank you enough. I also
wanted to thank you for your work with 4. Ask for guidance. When you meet with members of your team, describe your
our heroes and their families. I went to
school with Kevin Woyjeck, one of the goals and ask about the best way to reach them.
Granite Mtn Hot Shots who was killed
in the line of duty. It devastated our en- 5. Cover all the bases. Understand the options when considering a will or trust,
tire community. It also showed me how durable power of attorney, a living will, a health care power of attorney, trusts for
important these organizations are. I made your children, your charity and even yourself.
a donation to WODFF today in honor of
Kevin and the rest of our heroes.

Sincerely, For your “Getting Started Kit” contact

Kelsey, Bertels and Ken Marlene Casillas, Development & Marketing Director, at
Talent Air, Cypress
(323) 259-5217 or email MCasillas@LAFRA.org
May 2018 • 45
 MEMBERS
Delbert D. Jones, Fireman.
Appointed October 15, 1941.
Retired on a service pension October 1, 1970 from FS 2-A.
Passed away February 15, 2018.

Kenneth J. Gerhardt, Captain.

Appointed March 18, 1947.
Retired on a service pension April 3, 1977 from FS 43-B.
Passed away February 16, 2018.

Thomas G. Crockatt, Engineer.

Appointed August 27, 1946.
Retired on a service pension January 4, 1972 from FS 88-A.
Passed away February 21, 2018.

Basil D. Daughenbaugh, Firefighter II.

Appointed March 10, 1962.
Retired on a disability pension June 29, 1982 from Division 105-B.
Passed away February 23, 2018.

Billie M. Strickland, Assistant Chief.

Appointed July 2, 1956.
Retired on a service pension February 5, 1982 from Division 2-B.
Passed away February 23, 2018.

Donald L. Hobart, Firefighter II.

Appointed July 2, 1956.
Retired on a service pension August 18, 1983 from FS 76-C.
Passed away February 23, 2018.

Philip V. Toppenberg, Engineer.

Appointed June 16, 1952.
Retired on a service pension June 29, 1980 from FS 71.
Passed away February 27, 2018.

John W. Harrington, Engineer.

Appointed November 2, 1963.
Retired on a service pension September 22, 1991 from FS 89-B.
Passed away March 3, 2018.

Harry J. De Silva, Fireman.

Appointed July 15, 1947.
Retired on a service pension August 1, 1972 from FS 2-B.
Passed away March 12, 2018.

FAMILY
Sharon A. Price, surviving spouse of Donald H. Price, passed away March 2, 2018.
Myra J. Mackie, spouse of Charles L. Mackie, passed away March 16, 2018.
Marth J. Leal, spouse of Arthur Leal, passed away March 23, 2018.
Doris M. Baker, spouse of Franklin L. Baker, passed away March 25, 2018.
Patricia F. St. Marie, surviving spouse of Daniel A. St. Marie, passed away March 25, 2018.

46 • May 2018
 There has never been a better time to join the Los Angeles City
Firefighters’ Golf Club. Next to handball, our golf club is one of LAFD’s
oldest traditions. All that is required is a love for camaraderie and a de-
sire to get that silly dimpled ball in the cup. All this while enjoying some
of the best public and private golf courses in Southern California. Golf
is played and celebrated by all walks of life. It is truly one of the few
sports that, by nature, levels the playing field so all abilities can compete
and win.
Our club is a social club that enjoys playing golf. Camaraderie
can be hard to come by these days. Never before have our department
members, retired and active, lived farther apart and been so busy with
professional and personal commitments. Club members can attest to the
satisfaction that is achieved by taking a break, getting outside, and play-
ing a round of golf with old buddies, fellow firefighters, new friends, and
relatives--yes, they can play as guests anytime. And, if you happen to hit
a few good golf shots, well, congratulations because you may just win
some money!
Attention all LAFD Golf Club members and guests:
Our annual “Memorial Club Championship” is going to be played this May 7-10 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort. We’ll play the two courses at the resort, the Gary Player and the
Pete Dye courses. Contact Gary Mannan at grm_construction@yahoo.com for information.
Brookside Golf Club #1 – Low Gross / Net - Tuesday, February 13th
Griffith Park – Wilson – Low Gross / Net - Monday, February 26th
It doesn’t matter if you are active duty or retired, we welcome
all. There is no rank out here. The golf ball does not care if you are a
year-and-a-day firefighter or a gold-badge earner, and neither do we. We
play bi-monthly tournaments and host two multi-day events each year:
our Club Championship in May and our famous Partners’ Championship
in September.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
A. Almaguer, P. Benesh, R. Boswell, J. Brown, J. Cawdrey, B. Evans, R.
Franz, L. Hunt, D. Little, G. Lopez, K. Miller, C. Taillon, and P. Yoon
Contact: Gordon Wilson, FS 26-A
Phone: (310)-529-3941/
E-mail: gordopw1@yahoo.com
Club Website: www.lafdgc.lagolfclubs.com
May 2018 • 47
 For most people our home is one of our biggest assets and
a retirement haven. It is so important to buy the right home, and
secure the right mortgage, in order to have some peace of mind
on your purchase.
But buying or refinancing a home is complicated. I want to
provide a few tips to help ensure the process goes smoothly.
Understanding which type of loan you want is one of the
most important decisions. Options include:
• Fixed Rate: Provides the same rate over the life of the
loan to ensure a consistent monthly payment. This is a good op-
tion for those who plan to stay in their home for a long time and
don’t plan to re-finance (many borrowers refinance every 7-8
years).
• Adjustable Rate loans (ARMs): Provides rates that vary
over the life of the loan. As interest rates rise and fall, in general,
rates on adjustable rate mortgages follow. For example, at the
credit union we offer a 5/1 and a 5/5 ARM. After the first five
years, the 5/1 adjusts each year, while the 5/5 adjusts every five
years. If you select an ARM, be sure to understand the adjust-
ment frequency; the maximum annual adjustment; the highest
rate (Cap), which is the maximum amount the loan can adjust
over the life of the loan; and the Index and Margin (both of which
can impact your rate).
• Interest only loans: Interest-only loan payments do not
include principal and generally have lower payments since the
principal is not included. This type of loan may be good for first
time home buyers. Many new home owners struggle during the
first year of ownership since they are unaccustomed to making
mortgage payments, which are generally higher than rent.
It’s important to understand all of the costs associated with your
loan, such as:
• Appraisal fee, which covers the cost of having a professional
appraiser evaluate a home and estimate the market value
• A credit report fee
• Title Insurance costs
• Pest inspection, Escrow, and recording fees
• Property Taxes
Since interest rates can fluctuate and change daily, you
should lock in your rate which holds the rate as you are going
48 • May 2018
through the process. Some lenders charge zero to one point, so
understand your lender’s policy on this. Also understand how
long the rate will lock in for, since you want it locked in until you
are able to close on your mortgage.
Understanding the loan processing timeline is also impor-
tant. In some instances, it can take up to 60 days, and you will
need to include a closing date into your purchase contract. If you
end up not being able to close on time, there could be additional
costs incurred:
• Increase of interest rate if the lock expires
• Additional expenses to reschedule movers
Lenders evaluate loans based on credit history, debt to in-
come ratio and collateral. They are hoping for a smooth payment
history. When you are preparing to buy a home you should evalu-
ate your:
• Overall credit card debt – try to keep below $15,000
• Credit activity – minimize opening new credit lines
• Previous credit experience – do you have a bankruptcy, short
sale, late payments, tax liens or collection accounts?
• Credit card balances – such as carrying a balance of $9,000
on a card with a $10,000 limit
Communication – email or verbal – is a key component to
ensure your closing process goes smoothly. This will reduce mis-
understandings and ambiguity. Any delays in providing required
documentation, such as tax returns and bank statements, can also
delay the loan processing and extend your timeline. It is not un-
common that you may be asked for more information once your
credit has been pulled, or when your tax forms, home appraisal
report or title report are received. The key is to stay in touch with
your lender on a weekly basis and maintain open communication.
Please contact the Credit Union first and have one of our
real estate consultants help go over all of your options. They will
provide you with the information needed to help you make an in-
formed decision, whether you are purchasing or refinancing your
home.
Dixie Abramian
President/CEO
 The biggest problem with the old Medicare card is
that it includes the participant’s Social Security number.
Therefore, when someone’s card is lost or stolen, it not only
threatens to create problems with Medicare-related fraud,
but also risks broader financial identity theft. The move
allows CMS to protect private healthcare and financial
information and to ensure that benefit and service payments
are handled correctly.
Congressional legislation passed in 2015 required
CMS to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare
cards by April 2019. Instead, the current Health Insurance
Claim Number -- which is identical to one’s Social Security
number -- will get replaced by the new Medicare Benefi-
ciary Identifier.
THE NEW CARD ON THE LEFT REPLACES THE
OLD CARD ON THE RIGHT.
What will the new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier look
like?
The Medicare Beneficiary Identifier is 11 characters
long and can include both numbers and capital letters. The
identifiers will be randomly chosen and therefore be clearly
different from Social Security numbers, so you shouldn’t
expect to see all or part of your Social Security number
appear in the identifier on your new Medicare card.
Specifically, the first, fourth, seventh, 10th, and 11th
characters will always be numbers, while the second, fifth,
eighth, and ninth will always be letters. The third and sixth
characters can be either letters or numbers. In order to
prevent any confusion between letters and numbers, the
system will never use the letters S, L, O, I, B, and Z --
which some can mistake for the numbers 5, 1, 0, 1, 8, and
2, respectively.
When will I get my new Medicare card?
CMS will start sending new Medicare cards to
participants in April. The agency will send out the new cards
in seven waves based on where you live. The cards for the
first two groups of states are set to be mailed between April
and June. The first group includes the mid-Atlantic areas
closest to Washington, D.C., including Delaware, Mary-
land, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District
of Columbia. The second wave covers U.S. territories in the
Pacific, as well as Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Oregon.
The five other groups will be sent after June, with specific
dates not yet determined. You can get the specific groups
from this document on the CMS website (opens PDF).
May 2018 • 49
 Annual Pancake Breakfast
and Fundraiser
Saturday, May 12th 2018, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
$5.00 Adults, $3.00 Children
Donations go to updating our Children’s Area
and helping us expand our collections
Come join us for good food, great fun, and some LAFD history
plus “Wilshire” the fire dog and
LAFD Fire & Rescue Demonstrations

At the LAFD Museum & Memorial “Old Fire Station 27”

1355 North Cahuenga Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
323-464-2727
www.lafdmuseum.org
In Memory of
Captain
Barney Nipp

50 • May 2018

LAFD HISTORY – Fireboats 2 and 4
The status of Old Fireboat 2’s perma-
nent building is still in question. The “Ralph
J. Scott” is a National Historic Landmark and
needs a special building to house it that will not
only be a museum but a structure with special
features like climate control, ramps and walk-
ways for access to the boat for the visitors. The
building that the Port of LA had designed for
it was dropped from the Port’s ten-year plan in
2012. The Historical Society volunteers have
been working on the restoration of the boat
since it came out of the water in 2004 and will
probably complete the project in a year and
one half from now. This has been a huge re-
sponsibility and undertaking, working with the
guidelines that the National Park Service set
for historic vessels. It will soon be ready for a
museum to house it with no plan for a building.
Our Society will be working very hard to get
the museum structure back on the Port’s water-
front plan with possible options for relocation
from its present location adjacent to the Battle-
ship Iowa.
LAFD OLD FIREBOAT 2 - “THE RALPH
J. SCOTT” FIREBOAT PILOTS
1925 TO 2003
Retired LAFD Fireboat Pilots Frank
Baker and Bill Dahlquist worked together
to compile a list of pilots who served on the
“Ralph J. Scott.” The list dates back to 1925
when the boat went into service and goes up
to the time the boat was retired in 2003. That
amounts to 78 years! I was amazed that in all
that time there were only 17 pilots assigned to
the boat. Job satisfaction I’m sure. Here they
are in order from the first pilot:
Smith, Hermosa
Williams, Lewis
Wagner, Lowell
Gray, Brainard
Woodman, Arthur G.
Donaher, Arthur L.
Metzger, Eugene W.
Hines, Marvin
Baker, Franklin L.
Moore, Monte E.
Dahlquist, William E.
Martinis, John M.
Submitted by Frank Borden • Director of Operations, LAFDHS
Zuliani, Paul D.
Corcoran, Mike (William M. II)
Mueller, Stephen C.
Young, Marcus L. IV
Horimoto, James T.
Thanks Frank and Bill for this interest-
ing history of Old Boat 2. Frank Baker was a
pilot for more than 20 years and Bill Dahlquist
more than 15 years, all on Old Boat 2.
DONATION TO THE “RALPH J. SCOTT”
FIREBOAT RESTORATION PROJECT
My step-mother, Evelyn Borden passed
away in May of 2017 at the age of 91. She
met my father Stan while he was an engineer
on Old Boat 2 in 1951. She always had a fond
memory of the boat since that time. Every year
since the boat was retired, she would make a
donation towards the restoration of the boat. In
2017/18 she made a very generous $50,000 do-
nation from her estate to the Historical Society.
This is the largest single donation made in over
15 years and will go a long way in helping us
reach our goal. We have been saving thousands
of dollars by using skilled volunteers for the
Retired Pilot Bill Dahlquist at the helm or at the con-
trols of Old Boat 2 taking it to Larson’s Boat Yard for
a final haul out after it was retired in 2003.
Assistant Chief Bethel F. Gifford
labor on the boat, estimated at nearly 20,000
hours of volunteer hours. The donations we re-
ceive are used for equipment, supplies, parts,
etc.
ASSISTANT CHIEF BETHEL F. GIF-
FORD – THE MAN CREDITED WITH
THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF
LAFD FIREBOAT 4
Bethel Gifford was appointed to the
LAFD on April 6, 1929. As a fireman, he
worked in areas extending from the hills of
Hollywood, to the waterfront of San Pedro;
and it didn’t take long for Fireman Gifford to
earn an outstanding reputation. Soon he was
promoted to auto fireman, and in a short eight
years, he was promoted to captain.
After placing number three on the list,
Captain Gifford was promoted to battalion
chief in 1944. Shortly thereafter, he was as-
signed to head the Fire Department Shops and
Storeroom. He remained at that command, un-
til the Fire Department reorganized in 1956,
at which time he attained the rank of assistant
chief and was assigned as Division 1 com-
mander in charge of the Harbor area.
Engineer Stan Borden on the
deck of Old Boat 2 - 1951.
May 2018 • 51
 Chief Bethel Gifford achieved his
greatest personal satisfaction, and no doubt his
greatest single contribution to the operations of
this Department, with the development and fi-
nal delivery of Boat 4.
Boat 4 might be called “Chief Gifford’s
Project,” as he was personally responsible,
throughout the entire project, for researching,
planning, engineering, building, outfitting, test-
ing and for the boat’s ultimate delivery in the
Port of Los Angeles. It was accepted by Mayor
Yorty and the Fire Department on February
22, 1962. “Chief Gifford’s Project,” from for-
mative stage to culmination, took about three
years. During this time the chief made at least
15 trips to San Francisco and Portland for ar-
chitectural and construction conferences at
Norgaard Architects and the Albina Engine and
Machine Works.
Assistant Chief Bethel F. Gifford, a vet-
eran fire fighter with almost 35 years of service,
passed away January 18, 1964, while on active
duty. He was survived by his wife, Frances,
who was in attendance at Fire Boat 4’s name-
christening ceremony.
Fire Boat No. 4 - “Bethel F. Gifford”
(1962-present)
Los Angeles purchased Fire Boat No. 4
as a part of a master plan for long-range port
protection. Commissioned in 1962, the 76’
long boat was purchased for $639,000 and
was built at the Albina Engine and Machinery
Works in Portland, Oregon. In active service
Fire Boat No. 4 is rated at 9000 gallons per
minute at 150 psi and carries 550 gallons of
52 • May 2018
foam solution for petrochemical fires. Its super
maneuverability features include the capabil-
ity of moving side-to side and back-and-forth
by means of jet stream nozzles. The boat was
named the “Bethel F. Gifford” in honor of the
late LAFD Assistant Chief whose research and
efforts were primarily responsible for this fire-
boat’s innovations.
Chief Gifford’s Helmet Donation
What a great story about Assistant
Chief Bethel F. Gifford’s helmet. It has made
its way to the museum for display after 45
years. Michael Taylor, retired LAFD captain,
was an apparatus operator at FS 39 at the time
when his captain came to him with a white
assistant chief’s old Bakelite helmet that he
wanted Michael to make into a captain’s hel-
met by painting it black. Michael looked at it
and saw the historical value of the helmet and
asked the captain if he could just buy a black
helmet and make it into the helmet the captain
wanted. The captain agreed and Michael took
the chief’s helmet home only to find out later
that the name inside was Gifford. Michael hung
the helmet on his wall for 45 years, until he
read one of my articles in the Firemen’s Grape-
vine and understood who Chief Gifford was.
He contacted me immediately and brought the
helmet into the museum to donate to the LAFD
Historical Society. It will be displayed in the
Harbor Fire Museum in Old Station 36 with the
story of Chief Gifford. We thank Michael for
bringing this historic artifact to us for people to
see and enjoy for years to come.
Marine engineer drawing of the
configuration of new Fireboat 4.
New Fireboat 4 cruising under the
Vincent Thomas Bridge.
Jim Finn accepts Chief Gifford’s
helmet from Michael Taylor.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING!
Our entire Historical Society organiza-
tion, from the Board level, to the worker level,
and everybody in-between, is run by volun-
teers. Think about running an organization that
operates two museums, a memorial and the
restoration of a National Historic Monument
fireboat. Our Society has been doing this for 20
years without the addition of many new mem-
ber volunteers.
The average age of our active volun-
teer staff is over 75 years old!!
This is a job for those of us who love
the LAFD and want to preserve its history for
generations to come. Many of our volunteers
will have to retire from this great pastime to
move into the twilight of their lives - “the
golden years.” Several of our volunteers who
retired from the LAFD have worked with us
right up until the time of their passing. The
most recent was retired Captain Barney Nipp.
We wonder who of you, active or retired will
want to carry on our quest. What will happen
Dan Butcher (R) and Frank Borden with the Old Fire Sta-
tion 17 print currently on display at the Los Angeles Fire
Department Museum and Memorial, by “Big Bertha”
Wagon 17. Wagon 17 can be seen in the front of the
station in the print. Purchase of the print, by renowned
California Central Coast artist John Ramos, supports the
Los Angeles Fire Relief Association’s Widows, Orphans &
Disabled Firemen’s Fund, with all proceeds raised being
donated to the Fund. The signed print is $150 with an
additional $15 for shipping/insurance. Contact Dan
Butcher at (909) 851-6621 or at ladedi_2000@yahoo.
com to obtain a print.

Our newest volunteer Albert Covarrubias
comes to work on the Fireboat and at the
Harbor Museum. He has a part time job,
is going to college, is a Fire Explorer and
wants to be a firefighter.
to what we have accomplished if we do not get
new volunteers to keep the organization run-
ning?
WANTED: MORE VOLUNTEERS!! Our
ability to stay open each week and maintain
our special event schedule at both museums is
dependent on the number of volunteer staff we
have to be tour guides, help with the mainte-
nance, and coordinate activities. We want to at
least maintain our current schedule and would
like to expand the days we are open at both mu-
seums and be able to accommodate the many
special events we have going on now, which
means that we need more volunteers. Please
give us a call or send an email and sign up
for a rewarding day at one of our Museums.
“JUST GIVE US A DAY!” is our request. The
Museum is definitely “A work in progress” and
a challenge to all who are involved to make it
a world-class location. We are sure it will give
you a sense of pride and accomplishment as a
volunteer. These are YOUR Museums, Memo-
rial and Fireboat. A place to learn about our
heritage and remember those who made the
supreme sacrifice. Be a part of it, and watch it
grow as a Hollywood and San Pedro, Los An-
geles, United States, and worldwide attraction.
The LAFD Historical Society is a non-profit
organization, with a Board of Directors elected
by the LAFDHS membership to set the course
and guide the organization toward completing
its goals. We look forward to hearing from you
and seeing you at the Museum. 323 464 2727,
email at info@lafdmuseum.org
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES AT THE
HOLLYWOOD FIRE MUSEUM &
MEMORIAL
Docent/Tour guide, Auto/Heavy Equip-
ment Mechanic, Archivist – Photo/Video and
Documents, Restoration Specialist, Historic
LAFD Research, Photographer, Auto Detailer,
General Maintenance, Graphic Artist, Carpen-
ter/Electrician/Plumber, Sales Person, Public
Relations.
The Hollywood Museum is lo-
cated in “Old Fire Station 27”
at 1355 No. Cahuenga, Hol-
lywood, CA 90028. The Har-
bor Museum is located in San
Pedro City Hall at 638 S. Beacon
St., San Pedro CA 90731.
Anyone interested in join-
ing our great cause by becoming a
member, or volunteering to work,
or make a donation of money or
an LAFD item may contact us by
mail:
LAFDHS Museum & Memorial
1355 No. Cahuenga Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: 323 464 2727. But re-
member we are currently staffed
part time, so leave a message and
we will return your call. The fax
number is 323-464-7401. Our
E-mail is: LAFDHS27@aol.com.
Web site at www.lafdmuseum.
org. If you want to look at some
great LAFD history check www.
lafire.com. and check the LAFD
web site for information and
events at www.LAFD.org. We
look forward to hearing from you
and seeing you at the Museum.
The Los Angeles Fire Department
Historical Society is a non-profit
501 (C) (3) organization.
“PRESERVE, EDUCATE,
MEMORIALIZE”
May 2018 • 53
 LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
March 7, 2018

CALL TO ORDER PRESIDENT REPORT discussed proposed language changes under

President Bob Steinbacher called the
meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Los
Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association to
order at 10:45 a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: for reinstatement of LAFRA membership.
Bob Steinbacher, President
Jeff Cawdrey, Vice President
Andrew Kuljis, Secretary
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Chris Stine
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Kenneth Breskin
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Jim Duffy
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
Trustee Steve Domanski - Pension
Trustee Doak Smith – Pension
Todd Layfer - Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller-Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT: reserve a hotel room.
Trustee Gayle Sonoda
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
Trustee Richard Moody
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Rick Godinez
GUESTS: John Jacobsen reported on the annual
Lee Kebler, LARFPA
Bob Olsen, LARFPA
Tom Stires, Retired
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Frank Aguirre led the invocation. Jim Duffy
led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion
to ratify and approve the Board meeting
minutes of February 7, 2018. David Peters
so moved. Craig White seconded. There was
no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve minutes Board
meeting minutes of February 7, 2018.
54 • May 2018
1) Bob Steinbacher and Dawna Gray
addressed the Board regarding the Pension
subsidy issue and the Medical Plan premium
rates.
2) Bob Steinbacher informed the Board of a
request from a member who retired in 2000
He indicated that the individual wrote a
letter explaining his reason for the lapse in
membership and asked the Board to consider
his reinstatement.
David Peters motioned to approve
reinstatement as requested. Gene Bednarchik
seconded. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to approve reinstatement as
requested.
3) Bob Steinbacher referred to the Hook &
Ladder Enduro and asked who is planning
to attend.
4) Bob Steinbacher referred to the Pechanga
Reunion and asked those interested in
attending to let Irma know so that she can
5) Bob Steinbacher informed that the L.A.
Fire & Police Pension offsite meeting will
be held on April 5th.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
investment meeting held at Beacon Pointe.
He indicated that they discussed the
overview of LAFRA’s investments and
manager performance. He indicated that
they met with Engaged Capital.
Garth Flint presented the 2017 investment
performance on the LAFRA portfolio. He
reported that Growth and International
Growth has outperformed Value for some
time now. He indicated that the Bond
market is down on the year to date, due
to increasing rates, although he felt that
they wouldn’t increase substantially. He
reviewed the overall market and money
manager performance.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the Bylaw
review meeting and indicated that they
the Associate Membership section and
applying for membership after the first five
years on the department. He also indicated
that they will obtain additional information
regarding the Sick & Injury benefit as it
pertains to pregnancies.
2) Jeff Cawdrey informed that he attended
the Drill Tower 81 recruit class. He stated
that there were 67 new recruits and 66
signed up as Associate Members.
3) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the upcoming
conferences and indicated that he, John
Jacobsen and Tyler Tomich will be attending
the Funding & Finance of Health Benefits in
Las Vegas. He stated that the next conference
will be the Washington Legislative Update
and indicated that so far, John Jacobsen and
Joe Vigil have requested to attend.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
1) Todd Layfer informed that the first Hope
for Firefighters kick-off meeting will be on
March 14th. He reported that Ralphs has
once again stepped up to sponsor the event
with $25K.
2) Todd Layfer referred to the HIPAA
training and indicated that the LAFRA staff
and retired Trustees will attend on March
8th.
3) Todd Layfer informed that on February
28th, we had a 401K educational meeting
for staff with our financial advisor and
Mass Mutual. He reported that LAFRA’s
plan fees compared very favorably to the
comparative benchmark in terms of what we
pay for services when comparing to other
companies with similar asset values.
4) Todd Layfer referred to the new phone
system and indicated that it will be installed
the weekend of April 6th.
5) Todd Layfer informed that LAFRA will
have two Medicare informational seminars;
March 20th and March 22nd. He indicated
that they will discuss how Medicare works
alongside the LAFRA Medical Plan and the
Kaiser Senior Advantage Plan.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
REPORT
Frank Aguirre presented the following
motions.
The committee recommends and I so move
to pay the usual and customary bills in
the amount of $872,827.16. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and
customary bills in the amount of
$872,827.16.
The committee recommends and I so move
to pay up to $750 for a foursome of golf and
tee sign for the LAFD Sertoma Charity Golf
Tournament. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to pay up to $750 for a
foursome of golf and tee sign for the LAFD
Sertoma Charity Golf Tournament.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Frank Aguirre presented the following
motion.
The committee recommends and I so move
to accept the applications to the Medical
Plan. There was no discussion and no
objections.
Motion carried to accept all applications to
the Medical Plan.
The committee recommends and I so move
to reduce the medical premium rates by
5% for active members and 2% for retired
members effective July 1, 2018. There was
no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to reduce the medical
premium rates by 5% for active members
and 2% for retired members effective July
1, 2018.
Todd Layfer informed that there will be no
plan design changes, however we are adding
a new wellness benefit with the Healthy
Lifestyles program. He indicated that this
will include gym membership as well as
coaching for smoking cessation and healthy
nutrition options. He stated that this will
be offered only to LAFRA Medical Plan
members.
The committee recommends and I so move
to enter into contract with Healthy Lifestyles.
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to enter into contract with
Healthy Lifestyles.
RELIEF COMMITTEE REPORT
Mike Sailhamer presented the following
motion.
The committee recommends and I so move
to pay:
The Sick & Injury benefits in the amount of
$16,285.19
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount
of $5,400
The Life & Accident Death Benefit in the
amount of $12,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of
$65,000
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the above Relief
benefits.
Mike Sailhamer read the names of members
who recently passed and asked for a moment
of silence from the Board.
MEMORIALS
Ernest T. Spearman
Douglas F. Cully
Jack R. Brodie
Henry I. Bent
Carl C. Wilson
Edwin R. Crooker
Bernard E. Nipp
Lawrence C. Shuler
Robert J. Laret
Gene F. Taylor
Tomas L. Rix, Jr.
Leroy M. Lilly
Seferino Godinez
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Mike Sailhamer presented the following
motions.
The committee recommends and I so move
to accept the donations in the amount of
$2,725.95 to the Widows, Orphans &
Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in
the amount of $2,725.95 to the Widows,
Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
The committee recommends and I so
move to approve the financial assistance
applications for surviving spouses, active
and retired members. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the financial
assistance applications for surviving
spouses, active and retired members.
ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE
REPORT
The committee recommends and I so move
to advance funds for both active and retired
members. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to advance funds for both
active and retired members.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
REPORT
Doak Smith indicated that there are six
applicants for Scholarship. He indicated that
the deadline for applications is March 31st.
He stated that the exam date will be on April
14th.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session at
11:59 a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive
Session at 12:30 p.m.
Action was taken on a vendor matter during
executive session.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Hook & Ladder Enduro – March 17th
2) L.A. Marathon – March 18th
3) Lane Kemper Softball Tournament –
May 2nd
4) Pechanga Reunion – May 21st – 25th
5) Hope for Firefighters – June 7th
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) Chuck Butler – March 8th B @
Brookside Golf Club (White)
2) Dean Ulrich – March 21st A @
Fire Station 80 (Vigil)
3) Tony Senior – March 24th B @
Holiday Inn Torrance Getaway (Freeman)
4) Brian Baltad – March 25th C @
Fire Station 69 (Doak)
5) Mike Schaefer – April 5th C @
Caesar Banquet Hall (Berkery)
6) Glenn Ames – April 20th B @
Sagebrush Cantina
ADJOURNMENT
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion to
adjourn. Frank Aguirre so moved. Craig
White seconded. There was no discussion
and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board of
Trustees meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.
Bob Steinbacher, President
May 2018 • 55
 Donations to Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund - March 2018

PROCEEDS FROM THE HOOK DAVID L. LILLY DARIO O. REYES BARBARA NORRIS
& LADDER ENDURO
RICHARD L. WATTERS ANTHONY G. HANDY WILLIAM B. LEVENGOOD
DONALD GIANCURSIO
KIRK P. BINGHAM JOHN J. GALLAGHER ANTHONY G. HANDY
VFI BARDSDALE LLC
JOHN D. TOHILL JACLYNN DEFAZIO DALE J. SMITH
JEWISH COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES CARL S. MOSKOVITZ II PETER J. HENDRICKSON WALTER H. HARTSUYKER

GUSS INVESTMENT SCOTT D. MITCHELL DAVID FINGER STEPHEN C. PRZIBOROWSKI

GROUP INC.
KEVIN S. ELLEDGE WILLIAM B. DAMEN, JR. LYLE R. TAYLOR
CRAIG L. WHITE
STANLEY P. MINER FUMIKO HUMBERD JR. BNY MELLON CORPORATIONS
MAMIE COLEMAN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
STEVE W. ROMAS ROBERT L. KILPATRICK SR in
LOS ANGELES FIRE memory of Frank Brown HARRY M. MORCK
DEPARTMENT HISTORICAL ROCK AKE JR.
SOCIETY RACHEL GRANADOS in memory JANET L. KREBS
MARK B. STAFFORD of Lawrence J. Roberts
DAVID L. LILLY CANDACE L. WEISS
GREGORY J. PASCOLLA RACHEL GRANADOS in memory
DANIEL LEON in memory of of Brielle M. Ventura KONGRIT TIENGERD
Patty Smith KEITH BARRETT
SAN PASQUAL BAND OF BENJAMIN C. KELLER
FIREFIGHTERS FIRST CREDIT JAMES M. KREBS MISSION INDIANS
UNION in memory of BRIAN WILLIAMSON
Rudy & Dorothy Landgraf JENNINGS REV. TRUST DVD GARY T. SHELFORD
HOWARD C. KORMANN
B & K ELECTRIC CO. INC. DAVID A. ROWLEY III MICHAEL K. REITMAYER
JEFFREY J. EASTMAN
SCOTT D. MITCHELL N.A. GILMORE GREGORY E. NEWLAND
BRIAN V. SANDWICK
BETTY J. HALL DONALD B. GRANT REBECCA K. MANSFIELD
JUSTIN A. HORWEDEL
JAMES M. KREBS BRUCE R. DODD TAMBRA S. CLARK
PROCEEDS FROM 2017
MICHAEL V. RADEN FRANK W. BORDEN GREGORY M. PETERS YEARBOOK SALES

BESSIE E. WALKER RICHARD E. OLSEN DALE M. ROBINSON SCOTT L. AMES

VICTOR S. TORRES TIMOTHY S. DENISON CHRISTINE M. BRUMBAUGH in BRADLEY N. GROSSMAN

memory of Mike Brumbaugh
RICHARD G. TUCKER DOMINIC L. MARQUIS JAN C. BERNARD
DENNIS C. WILCOX TRUST in
CHRISTOPHER S. DASNER CHERIE A. BRISSON memory of Glen Dinger UNITED WAY

ROBERT C. WILLCOX GARY S. MAGA LORI FONES JOSEPHINE M. FLEMING

HENRY A. MUNOZ RODD A. SOUTER TIM B. VANDUSEN PAMELA J. ABBOTT

VALERIE LANDERS BRIAN BUEHLER JODI M. SEITZ RICHARD KHAIL

BRADLEY N. GROSSMAN DANIEL J. GARCIA JOHN W. ELGIN PATRICIA FREED

GREGORY J. HOLLY JOSHUA COFFEY HEATHER FERRELL GREGORY L. DECAMP

BPI CONSTRUCTION INC. DANE M. JACKSON DONALD J. PAONE JOEL E. BRUEMMER

MICHAEL D. TOGNERI DWAYNE R. KASTOR WADE A WHITE NETWORK FOR GOOD

KRISTIN B. HARMON KATHLEEN RUNYEN ROBERT D. SHRODE CHARLENE CROCKER

STEVEN S. HOPKINS DAVID W. STANLEY ALAN P. BARRIOS MARY A. MENDENHALL in

memory of Dennis L. Mendenhall

56 • May 2018
 CLASSIFIEDS
For advertising information, please contact:
Eric Santiago - (323) 259-5231 - eric@lafra.org
MERCHANDISE
FOR SALE
2007 CLASS B. SELLING ONLY
BECAUSE Rodney Hillerts
passed away. Only owned for 6
months. Many upgrades com-
pleted to get ready for big trip.
NEW tires, shocks,cooler hoses,
all fluids and filters. Rearbrake
pads,bearings,springs, engine
mounts. All mechanical records
available. Propane generator
approx 3 yrs old. Transferable
Good Sam extended warranty .
Loan is transferable with good
credit thru Firefighters First
Credit Union. Call me for Fire
fighters discount . Anna Nilssen
949-285-9905.
Link for photos: https://m.
ebay.com/itm/2007-Pleasure-
Way-Sprinter-83-000-Miles-
Full-size-Cargo-Van-Diesel-
5-Cylinder-E/192461861150?_
mwBanner=1&ul_
ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.
ebay.com%2Frover%2F0%
2F0%2F0%3Fmpre%3Dhttp
s%253A%252F%252Fwww.
ebay.com%252Fulk%252Fit
m%252F192461861150%26r
vr_id%3D0&ul_noapp=true
SEE-DOO BOAT 2007
Speedster with twin Rotax 1503
4-tec-4-stroke engines. Great
condition used in fresh water
only, Blue and White paint with
wake tower and Karavan trailer.
Great family Boat. $16,500 OBO
Call (310) 480-7939.
SERVICES
ARE YOU LOOKING TO
BUY, SELL, INVEST IN A
HOME?  Call me, Diana Fuen-
tes, Realtor® and wife to Fire
Captain 56A at 661.373.6569,
dianafuentesrealtor.com,
diana@nchal.com. I also
specialize in Probate Sales.  A
generous donation, at close of
escrow to Adopt-A-Station.
Cal-BRE License 01794244.
BUSY BEAVER TREE AND
LANDSCAPE. Tree trimming
and removal, stumpgrinding, and
firewood sales. Mixed firewood,
eucalyptus and oak. Delivery
available or pick up. Licensed
and insured. Dwayne Kastor, FS
63-B - (818) 535-6368.
CRAIG SANFORD HEATING &
AIR - Free estimates, residen-
tial, commercial. Great rates for
LAFD and LAPD. Toll free (877)
891-1414, (661) 298-3070, FAX
(661) 298-3069. State License
No. 527114
DEFERRED COMPENSATION
MANAGEMENT: Introducing
My Deferred Compensation
Manager® AL HEWITT, INC., a
FEE-ONLY Financial Planning
and Investment Management
Firm, offers Comprehensive
Deferred Compensation Man-
agement using Elite Institutional
Money Managers. Personalized
portfolio selection and ongoing
management of your deferred
compensation assets. Invest-
ment Management of other
retirement and non-retirement
assets is also available. We
charge a fixed flat advisory
fee to manage your deferred
compensation plan. We do NOT
charge a percentage of assets
under management. (800) 573-
4829. www.ALHEWITT.com
EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT
SOLUTIONS, (ERS INC.)
We are a professional planning
organization that specializes in
“tax-free” and secure retirement
plan strategies which allow the
public to benefit from competent
and ethical financial planning.
We have offices in Palos Verdes
and Simi Valley, California. Call
Todd Ford (424) 772-6050 or fax
(424) 242-0002 or email:
todd@toddcford.com
FIRE FAMILY ESTATE SALES
– Call us when a loved one
passes, moves to a nursing facil-
ity or downsizes. Our profession-
al staff can handle every aspect
of estate liquidation. We have
worked with many fire families
and are here to help. Rebecca
Martin, (818) 216-3637
www.firefamilyestatesales.com
FRANCHISORS WANT TO
PARTNER WITH FIREFIGHT-
ERS. Have you considered own-
ing a franchise? Most brands
offer 1st Responder and Veteran
discounts. Let me help you sort
through the options for free! The
franchisor pays me. I’m the son
and grandson of LAFD, Army
veteran and multi-unit franchi-
see. andy@thefranchisecon
sultingcompany.com
GARAGE DOOR INSTALLA-
TION & SERVICE. Garage
doors and openers. Need to
replace your broken springs?
or does your door need repair,
even replaced? We do it all from
new product to repairing old.
Call (661) 860-4563 Grassroots
Garage Doors, Inc. Lic# 950020.
Son of 35 year veteran fireman.
IT’S TAX TIME AGAIN! Special-
izing in Firefighter and Para-
medic Returns, Electronic Filing
available, year round bookkeep-
ing and accounting, business
and partnership returns, payroll.
All computerized processing with
over 30 years experience. Call
early for an appointment around
your schedule. Robert Sanchez
LAFD-OCD retired (818) 367-
7017, cell (818) 216-1040.
CALI+HI PHOTOGRAPHY
Weddings, Family, Maternity,
Newborns Lifestyle + Portrait
Photography
CALIHIPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Contact:
calihi@calihiphotography.com
Follow on Instagram:
@ calihi_photography
LAFD FIRE FAMILY
RED IRRITATED SKIN? Aging
lines, sun spots, acne or loss of
firmness? Rodan and Fields skin
products are clinically proven to
change your skin. Start using
products that make a difference.
Go to: https:/annatsanchez.
myrandf.com - Love the prod-
ucts? Start selling them online
and become an independent
consultant. Call Annet (626) 818-
1846 for more information.
SOUTHBAY EXPOSURE
PHOTOGRAPHY. Professional
photography services for all
wedding, family, student, life-
style, sports or events Serving
Southern Calif and destinations
beyond. Member of Pro Photog-
raphers of Calif. Aerial photo and
video also available. FAA certi-
fied. SouthbayExposure.com
(800) 448-0788. Tony Senior
LAFD retired
WINDOWS & PATIO DOORS
- vinyl replacement windows
& Patio doors. I also carry
aluminum, wood and entry door
systems. Rick Brandelli, Capt.
LACoFD, FS 8-C (800) 667-
6676. www.GeeWindows.com
REAL ESTATE
FOR SALE
GORGEOUS LAKE HOME 3
BD/3BA 1880 sq ft 2 car plus
54 foot rv garage, lights to more
parking. Model perfect call me at
310-890-1562 or email at:
Husgeorgeann@gmail.com
I can set you up on our MLS to
look at all Havasu properties.
Georgeann Hoover AZ Broker
UNIQUE 20 ACRE PROPERTY
suited for private estate between
Los Angeles and San Diego on
the Reagan Ranch properties.
Twenty minutes from Temecula
Wine Country, you will find pri-
vacy and beauty. Located in
Tenaja Valley, enjoy miles of hik-
ing and equestrian trails, groves
of oak trees and seasonal
running streams. On a water
table, so well-ready. Excellent
retirement property with multiple
options.Contact LAFD Engineer
Chad Logan (562)537-9644
VACATION
RENTALS
BASS LAKE - Lake view 2 story
cabin. 3 bedroom, sleeps 7 , 21/2
bath,forced air, big screen cable
T.V. / WIFI, red wood deck , gas
BBQ, fully furnished except linens,
walk to marina/pines village.
No smoking or pets. $200/night
+$100 cleaning. 4 night minimum
Larry Harris LAFD retired (805)
509-5739
BIG BEAR - Beautiful decked
two story cabin. 2 bedroom, 1
bath. Sleeps six. Pets OK. Near
lake, slopes, shopping. Fire-
May 2018 • 57
place/wood, cable/WiFi. Fully
furnished except linens. Winter
$110/$650. Summer $100/$550.
2 night minimum.
www.schaffercabin.com
Call Donna/Beep (760)723-
1475.
BIG BEAR CABIN. 2 bedroom,
2 bath, 2 story. Sleeps 6-8. About
6 miles from ski slopes & lake.
Fireplace/wood, cable, full kitch-
en - furnished. $100 per night M -
Th. $110 per night F-Sun. Weekly
available. Sheri (909) 851-1094
or (760) 948-2844.
BIG BEAR LAKE’S FINEST-
Deluxe lakeside townhouse, 2
bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 cable TVs,
HBO, DVD, WiFi, 2 wood burning
fireplaces, laundry room, tennis
court, indoor pool, sauna, spa,
boat dock. Fully equipped, includ-
ing all linens. Sleeps 6. 310-541-
8311 or nmbigbear@gmail.com
CATALINA BEACH COTTAGE
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, one block
to beach, view, fully equipped
housekeeping unit. Marci (818)
347-6783 or Clarence (310) 510-
2721.
CATALINA CONDO - HAM-
ILTON COVE. Ocean front, 1
bed, 1 1/2 bath, sleeps 4. Steps
to beach, pool, gym, putting
course, tennis and more. Newly
refurbished, fully equipped.
Includes golf cart, WiFi. Contact
Bart @ (310) 510-0190. Ham-
iltoncove.com. Ask for “LAFD
8-89” discount. Owner active
LAFD.
COEUR D’ALENE IDAHO
Lakeside Resort Town. 1909
Vintage Vacation Home walking
distance to lake and downtown
entertainment. Sleeps 12 with
5 Bed-2 Ba, 3000 sq ft Fully
Furnished including Hot Tub.
Winter, Summer, Spring or Fall
easily accessible from Spokane
Airport. www.vacasa.com/unit.
php?UnitID=11928
http://www.vacasa.com/unit.
php?UnitID=11928
LAFD Family Owned
JUNE LAKE CABIN - 2BR/2BA
cabin with Carson Peak
view. Close to fishing & ski-
ing. Furnished, wood deck,
equipped kitchen, wood burning
stove, tree swing, cable /DVD/
phone. Garage/ample parking.
58 • May 2018
$100/night plus cleaning fee.
Email for pictures. Jeff Easton
LAFD retired (805) 217-5602.
junebound@gmail.com
LAKE HAVASU BEAUTY FOR
RENT - 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 1600
sq.ft. Fully furnished with all
amenities- Laundry & BBQ.
13,000 sq.ft. lot. 3 car boat-deep
garage. 3 miles from launch
ramp. Close to downtown shops
& restaurants. View of the lake.
Quiet street in good neighbor-
hood. No pets. No smoking.
Snowbird rates. Call Mike (661)
510-6246
LAKE HAVASU LANDING-
WATERFRONT, steps to the
water. Boat mooring out front,
off-road desert behind house.
3 bed/3 bath, fully furnished w/
linens. Direct TV/DVR, BBQ,
Casino, Grocery/Meat Market,
Launch Ramp, Marina with Boat
House, Gated Community. No
pets/smoking. $350 Dan Cook
(310) 418-1577.
LAKE HAVASU HOME FOR
RENT- 3 BED/2 BATH, Fur-
nished Modern Home, Sleeps 9.
2 Car Garage, Covered Boat
Parking . Laundry, BBQ, TVs,
Cable. Quiet Cul-De-Sac Street.
3 miles to London Bridge,
located near Golf Course. Lake
View. No pets, No Smoking.
Summer/Winter/Snowbird/
Holiday Rates. Cleaning Fee in-
cluded. Call John (323)449-4473
LAKE HAVASU LANDING
RESORT. 3 bedroom, 2 bath,
waterfront house, boat, moor-
ing out front, fully furnished,
laundry, gas BBQ, launch ramp,
gated community, grocery
store, hardware store. No pets,
no smoking. Email Kathy at
scarkj@yahoo.com or call
(760) 858-4470
LARGE LAKE HAVASU HOME
FOR RENT – 5 bedroom, 3
bath, 2900 sqft home with ame-
nities & pool that easily sleeps
14+ people. Centrally located,
1 mile from the lake, close to
downtown shops and restau-
rants. Check out home at
https://www.vrbo.com/4648549ha
Call Julie 818-268-7906 for spe-
cial firefighter family rates.
LAKE HAVASU LANDING RE-
SORT BEACHFRONT HOME
with boat mooring. Swim, ski
or fish from front yard. 4 bed/2
bath, fully furnished. DirectTV/
DVD/WiFi, pool table, laundry,
BBQ. Gated community with ca-
sino, groceries, marina, launch
ramp and off-road trails. No
pets, no smoking. $350 Bowen/
Garner email:
havasulanding27@gmail.com
LAKE MOHAVE / BULLHEAD
CITY. 4 bedroom, 3 full bath-
room, 2200 sq/ft Located in
private community w/ private
marina and launch ramp. Direct-
ly across from the river, backs
to large park with grass. Fully
equipped kitchen, BBQ, Washer/
Dryer, TV/DVD. No cable. No
pets, No Smoking. Call Kevin
(805) 279-2430
LAKE NACIMIENTO. Oak
Shores gated community. 3 bed-
room, 2 1/2 bath, large loft. 3min-
ute drive to main marina in Oak
Shores. Large flat driveway. Fully
equipped kitchen, BBQ, washer/
dryer, TV/DVD. No cable. No
pets/smoking. $225/night. $150
cleaning fee. 3 night minimum.
Call Ben (805) 444-2264.
MAMMOTH - 1 bedroom Sum-
mit condo, sleeps 6. Convenient
underground garage parking. Ja-
cuzzis, gym (pool/tennis in sum-
mertime), shuttle right outside!
Across from Eagle Lodge, Win-
ter $110 per night, Summer $80
per night plus $65 cleaning fee
and 13% tax. All linens included.
Drew or Nancy Oliphant (661)
513-2000 or mammoth241@
aol.com
MAMMOTH CONDO - 2 bdrm,
2 bath, 2 TV’s, phone, garage,
pool, jacuzzi, fully furnished - ex-
ept linens. Near shuttle/chair 15.
Winter $125/night. Weekends
and Holidays $110 midweek.
Summer $95/night. $495/week.
No smoking. No pets. Jim John-
son (818) 992-7564, FS 80C.
MAMMOTH CONDO- SEA-
SONS FOUR RESORT.
Charming and cozy furnished
1 Bedroom sleeps 5. Updated
unit with amenities including
wifi, sauna, jacuzzi, phone,
rec room, 2 flat screens , DVD
players. W/D on site. Shuttle
stop. Walking distance to village.
$120/night + $80 Cleaning fee
Bobby@310-350-5552.
MAMMOTH CONDO Cozy 2
bedrooms, 2 bath. Fully fur-
nished, WIFI, 3 TV’s, pool, spa,
walk to shuttle, Old Mammoth
area. Winter $115, Summer
$90, plus cleaning fee $139 and
14% city tax. Includes linens.
No pets, no smoking. Call (310)
540-4648.
MAMMOTH CONDO NEXT TO
THE GONDOLA VILLAGE –
Fully furnished, three bedroom,
two bath with towels and linens,
internet cable TV, pool and
Jacuzzi. Walk to the gondola,
shops, restaurants and ski in on
the new comeback trail. Park-
ing at the front door. 2018/19
RATES: Winter: $275/night.
Summer $175/night. Holidays
$325/night. Cleaning is included.
Mike Whitehouse, Retired,
email: btkwhitey@yahoo.com or
Bruce Galien, Retired, 661-645-
7448, email: luvbaja2@aol.com
MAMMOTH CONDO AT MAM-
MOTH ESTATES, 4BR/3BA,
sleeps 10, fully furnished, 2
TVs, DVDs, WiFi, towels/linens,
fireplace. Full kitchen. Walk to
Gondola Village and shuttle.
Complex has pool, spa, sauna,
laundry. Winter $335/night, Sum-
mer $215/night, plus cleaning.
Includes city bed tax. No pets,
no smoking. Dory Jones (310)
918-0631 or Kelly Corcoran
(310) 619-5355
MAMMOTH CONDO. 2 bed-
room & large loft, 3 full baths,
sleeps 8. 5 minute walk to Can-
yon Lodge. Fully furnished, TVs,
VCR/DVD, pool, spa, rec room,
sauna, linens included. Winter
$175 weekdays, $195-week-
ends/holidays; summer $125,
plus cleaning. No smoking; no
pets. Craig Yoder (909) 948-
3659.
MAMMOTH LAKES - One
bedroom, extremely charming
wildflower condo. Full amenities,
close to shuttle. Antiques, art,
satellite TV, fireplace. Sleeps 4.
Winter $110, Summer $85 plus
cleaning fees. Call Bill Clark
(818) 371-6722
Email: shakesong@aol.com
MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET:
Studio/loft, 2 bath, king bed,
sleeps 4. Full kitchen, TV, VCR,
DVD. Garage parking. Walk to
Canyon Lodge. Ski back trail. 2
night minimum. Winter $100/nite,
$125 Fri, Sat & Holidays. Sum-
mer $60/nite. Plus $120 cleaning
& linens. Jeff & Lisa Moir (661)
254-5788.
MAMMOTH SKI & RACQUET:
Walk to Canyon Lodge. Studio
loft sleeps 4. Queen beds, full
kitchen, 2 baths, garage parking,
TV, VCR, DVD. Winter Sun-
Thurs $100.nite; Fri & Sat $115/
nite plus cleaning fee $100. Non
smoking complex. Joel Parker,
LAFD retired.
email: cat25sailor@gmail.com
or (213) 399-6534.
MAUI BEACH FRONT CONDO
ON NAPILI BAY - 50’ from
water. Studios and 1 bedroom.
Luxury furnishings + full kitchen.
All the amenities! Maui’s best
snorkeling/beach. All island
activities & Kapalua within 4 min-
utes. 5-day minimum, from $150
per night (regularly $310/night).
Call Sherrie or Bill for info/reser-
vations (805) 530-0007 or email:
free WiFi (internet), complimen-
tary maid service, complimen-
tary coffee every morning and
breakfast on Fridays. Special
firefighters’ discount - Best value
in West Maui! Nice pool & BBQ
area - Close to beach!
(800) 336-2185
www.napilivillage.com
Don Sprenger - retired LAFD
(949) 929-0989
PALM DESERT - Gated mini
estate on half acre. Multi-family
friendly. Spacious 4 bedrooms
with game room. Come relax
and enjoy the large pool with
jacuzzi and built-in BBQ. Game
room has a pool table, ping pong
table, pinball machine and bar.
Patio areas with seating for all.
Walk to “El Paseo” dining and
stores. Pet friendly. No smoking.
Email: lilinoecastro@yahoo.
com or text (562) 895-8263.
PALM SPRINGS- 3Bdr/3Ba
Pool home with great back yard
to BBQ. Fully furnished w/WiFi,
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Ro-
mantic Chalet Family getaway.
3 bed/2 bath plus loft. Sleeps
8–10. Cable TV, washer/dryer,
microwave, woodburning stove.
7 minutes to casinos and Heav-
enly. Located in Tahoe Paradise.
$115 per night plus cleaning.
Call Shawn or Rose Agnew at
(661) 250-9907 or (661) 476-
6288.
SUNSET RANCH ­PALM DES-
ERT. 163 acre ranch private ski
lake. Perfect for Family vaca-
tions. Ranch house accommo-
dates large groups. Amenities:
pool, AC, billards, TV, fishing, pet
friendly. Nearby golf, casinos,
ATV riding. Also, Premier lodging
for Coachella music festivals.
*Seasonal duck hunting club.
See website for rates and info:
sunsetranchoasis.com
or call Nick Davidson
(424) 237-4121
VACATION
Visit us at www.so-calrv.com
or call 661-297-2398 as for Jeff.
Make money with your mo-
torhomes to offset your payment.
We sub-lease RV’s.
WANTED
ATTENTION FIREFIGHERS-
The Peninsula Group is a manu-
facturer’s rep agency operating
as the sales and service arm for
National Gypsum Co. at Lowe’s
and Home Depot stores. We
employ close to 30 firefighters in
nearly every major market and
are currently looking for person-
nel in California. The position
requires approximately 4-5
days of work per month, and is
ideal for a firefighter. The option
exists to work any weekday as
there is no fixed schedule. No
physical work is required. The
right candidate should be an
articulate, self motivated worker
with a high standard of integrity.
We offer a competitive hourly

pmimaui@aol.com or visit: Big screen Cable TV and Pool

www.napilibaymaui.com
MAUI’S MOST BEAUTIFUL
BEACH - Napili Bay. Beautiful
furnished condo that sleeps 4.
Lanai/balcony, full kitchen, king
bed, flat screen TV’s/DVD, AC’s
VEHICLES wage and mileage reimburse-
ment. If you are interested, or
Table. Pets Ok on gated proper- know someone who might be
MOTORHOMES FOR RENT.
ty. Close to Palm Springs Aerial interested in this position, please
Several Class C’s & Class A’s for
Tramway,Casino and Down contact Joe Heath at:
rent. Serving family and friends
Town. Call property manager for jheath@pengrp.com
for over 15 years. LAFD, LASD,
DESERT SUNSHINE house and
IPD, OXPD, OXFIRE, LACO,
ask for seasonal pricing.
LACITY, LACITY SKI CLUB.
(800) 215-9880

Deal direct with authorized Factory Dealers

Offering members of the Los Angeles Fire Department
Courteous, Ethical, and Special Consideration in the purchase of your new car.

GALPIN FORD HAMER TOYOTA, INC. HONDA OF HOLLYWOOD

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Lincoln / Mercury / Honda / Mazda /
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May 2018 • 59
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60 • May 2018
We have devoted ourselves Workers’ Compensation
and our staff to providing Employment Litigation
the highest level of personal Personal Injury
services to our clients Disability Retirements

Please contact our firm for Located in the Van Nuys

a free consultation Historic Library Building
Phone (818) 788 1700 14555 Sylvan Street
Fax (818) 788 1705 Van Nuys, California 91411

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$50,000 or double the value of the fraud, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and fine
May 2018 • 61
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
7470 N Figueroa Street
Los Angeles CA 90041-1725