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n
n SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019 | B SHIFT
y
s
DOWNTOWN L.A.
JW Marriott @ L.A. Live | 900 West Olympic Blvd.
s
g 5 PM | COCKTAILS (CASH BAR)
et COCKTAIL ATTIRE 6:30 PM | DINNER
1 This is an ADULTS ONLY event. 7 PM - 12 AM | DANCING

INDIVIDUAL $95 COUPLE $180

FIRE STATION TABLES AVAILABLE
FOR 10 $850 FOR 12 $1020

EVENT CONTACT JULIET BRANDOLINO

(323) 259-5215 JBRANDOLINO@LAFRA.ORG

This event is open to all LAFD Firefighters, LA Firemen's Relief Association members & affiliated LAFD personnel.
 On the cover: Single Family Dwelling Fire - Vermont Suqare By North Media

Photo Inset: Commercial Fire - Chinatown - By Branden Silverman

2 • October 2019
 VOL. XCVI OCTOBER 2019 NO. 2

• FEATURES •
Building Cohesive Companies
Forming the Right Team • ..............................................................07

Medicare 101
Scratching the surface on A through D • ..................................... 10

Rosie Tos
A Brush of Fresh Air! • ....................................................................08

• CONTENTS •
President’s Message • ............................................................................05
Chaplain’s Corner
Sounding the Self-Awareness Alarm • ..................................................13
Battalion News • ....................................................................................15
The Retired Guys • …………..……..…..….…..…..….…..…..…..…..…….32
Department in Action • ...........................................................................33
HRET
A Boom to Aircraft Firefighting • ..........................................................36
LAFD Air Ops
Fire Chief’s Distinguished Service Award • ............................................38
2019 Firefighter Games/LAFD Handball • ...............................................39
Station Fridge • ......................................................................................40
Housewives of the LAFD
Importance of Family Station Visits • .....................................................41
4 Ways to Keep the Job from Killing You
Lower your risk of Death • ...................................................................42
Don Welcker
Saying Goodbye to a Friend • ................................................................44
Retirement Dinners • ……………………………………………………….47
Memorials • ...........................................................................................49
Mailbox • ...............................................................................................50
LAFD History
The Evolution of the LAFD Helicopter • ...............................................52
Minutes of the Board of Trustees • .....................................................55
Classifieds • ...........................................................................................58
Tailboard
Fire Station 34 • ....................................................................................61

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 © 2019
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association.
No material may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

October 2019 • 3
 FIREMEN’S GRAPEVINE
In Appreciation of
owned and published by the
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
7470 N Figueroa Street, Los angeles CA 90041
Our Firefighters
EDITORIAL STAFF
Dave Wagner • Managing Editor..........................................editor@lafra.org
D.O.T. Medical Exam John Hicks • Associate Editor..............................................jhicks@lafra.org
Eric Santiago • Creative Editor...............................................eric@lafra.org
$35.00 Display Advertising.................................................(323) 259-5200 ext. 231

PSO’s
Nicholas Prange, Margaret Stewart, Brian Humphrey

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ross Health Care Art Sorrentino, Alicia Iwakiri, Frank Borden, Jim Stiglich, Steve Ruda

2476 S Atlantic Blvd PHOTOGRAPHERS

David Blaire, Brandon Buckley, 564 Fire, Greg Doyle, Harry Garvin, Steve Gentry,
Yvonne Griffin, Justin Johnson, Rick McClure, Mike Meadows, Jacob Salzman,
Commerce, CA 90040 Peter Sanders, Erik Scott, Jeff Zimmerman, Adam VanGerpen

Tel (323) 780-1650 LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION

Robert Steinbacher................................................President
Jeff Cawdrey .................................................Vice-President
Isaac Burks, Jim Dolan & Steve Ruda ................Community Affairs Liaisons

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chris Stine Gene Bednarchik Mike Sailhamer
Craig White Henry Gasbarri Rich Moody
Business hours: Danny Wu Jim Duffy Rick Godinez
8-5:30pm Monday-Friday David Peters Joe Vigil Steve Berkery
Doak Smith John Jacobsen Tim Freeman Jr.
8:30-2pm Saturday Frank Aguirre Juan Albarran Tim Larson
(Note: Arrive 30 minutes before closing) Gayle Sonoda Kenny Breskin 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
Victoria Conwell • Human Resources Director..........(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 • October 2019
A
s my time as president of the Relief Association
nears its conclusion, I can’t help but reflect on my
time spent in office and think of those who helped
both me and the membership along the way. There is no
doubt the staff of the Association played a major role in our
successes over the past few years, making the Relief Asso-
ciation the strongest it has ever been. This month, though,
I want to focus on another group of people. This group has
played a major role within our organization and compli-
mented our entire team — Our volunteers!
Every year, volunteers from both our fire family and
civilians alike have rallied during needed times. Events
such as Hope for Firefighters, the Lane Kemper Classic,
LAFD Invitational Golf Tournament all depend greatly on
the generosity of time and work of our volunteers and would
not be possible without these individuals’ sacrifices.
Volunteering is not just about helping others. It can
bring a great sense of community and belonging to those
participating. I encourage you to find it in yourself to help in
some form. We are always looking for those with the desire
to give back. Take the time, make the time to give back. As
Muhammad Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you
pay for your room here on Earth.”
Another way that both our active and retired mem-
bers can volunteer is to become a Trustee for the Relief As-
sociation. October is election time. This year we have three
vacancies to fill—two for active members, the third being a
retired position, each for a three-year term. Any member in
good standing interested in running for the open positions
must mail, fax, or email a letter in the format printed out
on page 48 of this edition, along with a recent picture of
themselves and a short statement/bio by close of business on
October 15, 2019. Mail or fax the requested information to
Jeff Cawdrey, Vice President. Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief
Association. 7470 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90041.
Fax (323) 259-5290 Email: Jcawdrey@lafra.org.
With summer over, some may find the need to get out-
side and get a little sun. In my opinion, there is no place bet-
ter than the beach. On October 2, 2019, teams from all over
the LAFD will gather to honor the memory of our fallen
brother, Dave Moorman, as they participate in this year’s
“Over the Line Tournament” at Santa Monica Beach. 1150
PCH. Please join us for a little fun and a few cold drinks out
on the sands of Santa Monica.
Want to visit your Relief Association? You’ve never
been to LAFRA HQ? Well, you can’t pick a better time than
our Annual Open House. This year’s event will be held on
Saturday, November 2, 2019, from noon until 4 P.M. Come
one and all to our Open House party and enjoy a compli-
mentary buffet that includes a carving station, slider bar,
yummy desserts and so much more. No RSVP needed. Free
parking available. This year we will be honoring our own,
Rick Godinez. Come and pay your respects and enjoy a day
of camaraderie and fun.
There’s no better way to build cohesive fire compa-
nies than by spending a little time together off duty. A holi-
day party with the spouses could be a great way to achieve
this. How about buying a table or two for your station at the
Relief Association’s Holiday Dinner Dance? On Saturday,
December 7th, everybody who’s anybody will be at the JW
Marriott @ LA Live to spread some holiday cheer. All the
details are on the first page of this issue of the Grapevine.
Please save the dates:
• LAFD Memorial Ceremony - Oct. 12
• LAFRA Open House - Nov. 2
• LAFRA Holiday Party - Dec. 7
Be safe and kind to each other!
Robert D. Steinbacher
president@lafra.org
323.259.5200
October 2019 • 5
 n
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Paid Advertisement

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Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association Medical Plan may cover this examination.
6 • October 2019 Contact your plan provider to verify.
 ire De
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hese next articles about Group Cohesion
EC
K
D
YO E Theory have been adapted by Dave Wag-
U H
R E G O AT T ner from the LAFDLA presentation of
Michael Ellington – LAPD retired.
In 2003, a project team from the Missoula
Technology and Development Center inter-
viewed 24 experienced wildland firefighters.
A single question was the focus of all the in-
terviews: “How can firefighters avoid entrap-
ment?” Based on the data, firefighter cohesion
“Leadership
- how closely firefighters are tied together as a
group – was a leading factor in reducing the
chances of firefighters becoming entrapped.
While firefighter cohesion can help to
is about
avoid entrapments in the Wildland-Urban In-
terface or a Mayday situation in a DTLA high
rise, cohesive units must be built far in advance
solving
of the deployment or long-ring.
Now that you know that cohesion is the
glue that holds a group together, how do you
get there? Bruce Tuckman, a psychology pro-
problems,
fessor at Ohio State University, presented four
vital stages in the development of a high-func-
tioning team: forming, storming, norming, and
not passing
performing. This model helps leaders under-
stand how their team members build relation-
ships. In his LAFDLA presentation, Michael
Ellington used examples from popular movies
them on to to illustrate each development stage.
The first stage of team development is
forming, when everyone is being introduced
someone else”
to each other. Ellington communicates this
concept with the scene from Ladder 49 where
the rookie firefighter (Joaquin Phoenix) arrives
at the firehouse for his first shift. The forming
stage of teamwork is all about first meetings
and first impressions, and here, the crew wants
to know how the rookie will react to their prac-
tical joke – how he will fit in with the rest of the
team.
It is important for team members to de-
velop relationships and understand what part
• WHERE: The Frank Hotchkin Memorial each person plays. As a rookie firefighter starts
to familiarize himself with the group, an un-
Training Center
derstanding of his roles and responsibilities
• COST: At the present time there is no cost will begin to form. The roles of the other team
to attend the LAFD Leadership Academy members as well as the ground rules of con-
• QUESTIONS: Jason Powell, Captain I, In- duct will also be fleshed out.
Service Training Section at (213) 893-9838 The second phase is storming, which can
or lafdla@lacity.org be the most challenging. Here’s where the
pleasantries wear off and the individual work
ethics and natural personalities emerge. Opin-
ions are formed about the character of the
other team members and some may voice these
opinions if they think someone is attempting to
dominate or is shirking their duties.
It’s easy to blame a “problem employee”
for any conflict that develops here and resolve
the problem by transferring the “offender.”
This may be an effective short-term solution,
but the root cause of the problem is being ig-
nored. Leadership is about solving problems,
not passing them on to someone else.
In the norming stage, people are gaining
trust and building bonds. No one feels threat-
ened and everyone is getting comfortable in
their new roles. Good leaders recognize when
the group is starting to gel and make sure that
everyone has a job, understands the goals, and
feels part of the group.
In the Vietnam War flick We Were Sol-
diers, Mel Gibson plays Lt. Col. Hal Moore,
a born leader committed to his troops. Moore
trains with his men as they prepare for one of
the bloodiest battles in U.S. history. He tells
them they must fight as a family: “Take care of
each other . . . ‘cause when this starts . . . each
other is all we’re going to have.” He leads his
well-developed team by example and avoids
being arbitrary in his decision making.
The fourth phase, performing, is what ev-
ery crew should strive for. Maybe you’ve been
there? Your rig pulls up at an incident and ev-
eryone jumps off and gets to work. Nobody
needs to say much because they are already
anticipating each other’s next move. You’ve all
trained for this together and have been through
similar situations before.
There is a high level of mutual trust among
all members - productivity and morale are
high. At this point, leaders can step back and
let the team members be mostly self-directing.
In fact, one of the dangers of this stage is over-
management, which can lead to resentment or
apathy among the team.
Only when you understand the roles of a
leader at the different stages of team develop-
ment can you experience the great satisfaction
that goes along with developing a group into a
truly high performing team.
October 2019 • 7
 F
or some people, passion can be a slow
burning flame that can shape one’s life.
This barely controllable emotion can
fuel desire and even transport an individual’s
creativity across an ocean. Rosie Tos is a per-
son who is full of passion. You can see it in her
eyes and witness it in her art. This passion has
existed ever since she held a piece of charcoal
taken out of the fireplace of her family’s home
and began to draw with it.
Raised on a farm in Azeglio, Italy,
Rosie was the youngest of five sisters and al-
ways felt as if she were lost in the group. To
make herself stand out, she began to draw in-
between her chores on the farm. At age six she
would hang her pictures in her dad’s workshop,
attracting buyers to purchase her artwork even
at a young age. When she was 14, she wanted
to go to art school, but her parents said no; in-
stead, she was sent to college for accounting
and became a secretary at various companies.
8 • October 2019
Though her parents were happy, Rosie was liv-
ing a life of dissatisfaction, always turning to
her art for reinforcement of her self-worth.
At age 20 Rosie moved to Milano, se-
curing another position as a secretary. During
the next five years, she used her salary to travel
across Europe and beyond. Eventually she re-
turned home, but the chaos of family life, com-
bined with the tragic loss of her oldest sister,
drove her away from home once more. With
only $700 in her pocket, she bought a ticket
to America and soon found herself in Santa
Monica, California, where she found work as
a hostess at an Italian restaurant.
Rosie didn’t forget about her art,
though. She continued to paint and draw,
completing commissioned work at business
offices, private homes, and pieces for friends.
After some time she met and started dating
Eric Johnson, a Los Angeles City Firefighter
assigned to Fire Station 63 in Venice. Visiting
the station one day, Rosie saw some members
refinishing a bench. With typical LAFD style
of the day, Rosie watched as the firefighters set
the plain finished bench out in front of the sta-
tion. Wanting to add her artistic touch to the
piece, she offered to paint the station’s mascot,
Yosemite Sam, on the bench. They agreed.
From there, the word spread. Small mu-
rals with Rosie’s name soon started appearing
all over the city. From the east side to the west,
the plain walls of different stations took on
color and started to tell their individual stories.
Racquetball courts were adorned with paint-
ings of mascots, while stations’ kitchen tables
were transformed into pieces of art. Rosie’s vi-
sion has helped bring life to where there was
just obscurity. Her work hasn’t been limited to
the Los Angeles area, though. Rosie has also
had her work commissioned in states like New
York and Orlando and other local municipali-
ties such as Culver City Fire Department, San-
ta Monica Fire Department, and beyond. Even
our own Fire Chief has employed her talents to
decorate his downtown office.
So, if you are tired of looking at a blank
canvas and want to add some fire department
flair to show off your station pride, or maybe
have your caricature drawn for a retirement
flyer, Rosie just might be the artist for you.
Interested in receiving a quote for her work?
Drop her a line at 310-497-8805 or email her
directly at rosie@rosietos.com. Your Spartan
station walls will appreciate the attention.

October 2019 • 9
M
edicare started in 1965 with Harry
Truman being the first person to sign
up. Today, 10,000 people join Medi-
care each day and are compelled to decipher
its thousands of pages of rules and regulations.
The Relief Association receives quite a
few calls from members with questions about
Medicare such as, “When should I sign up?”
“How much does it cost?” and “What do the
different parts cover?” I recently attended
the National Training Program for Medicare
in Chicago, where these questions, and more,
were addressed. This article will focus on ad-
dressing some of the questions surrounding
Original Medicare.
NEW MEDICARE CARDS
Medicare has been in the process of is-
suing new Medicare cards to all Medicare en-
rollees. The new format replaces your Social
Security Number with a Medicare Beneficiary
Identifier Number. Make sure you destroy your
old Medicare card and start using your new
card right away.
If you did not receive the new Medicare
card, contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to
verify that they have your information, includ-
ing your correct address on file.
IMPORTANT: starting January 1st, if you
don’t have the new Medicare card, your claims
could be denied.
10 • October 2019
WHAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE TO
THE RELIEF ASSOCIATION WHEN
YOU ENROLL IN MEDICARE
• Please provide a copy of your scanned
Medicare Card to us by email at: member
services@lafra.org
• You can also send a copy of your card by
mail to:
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
Attn: Member Services
7470 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
ELIGIBILITY
Medicare eligibility typically begins
at age 65. You may also be eligible if you are
disabled and under age 65, have end-stage re-
nal disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
If disabled and under age 65, you will auto-
matically get Part A and Part B after you get
disability benefits from Social Security for 24
months.
MEDICARE PARTS
There are different parts of Medicare
that cover different services. Below is a general
list of the different parts of Medicare and the
services covered under each part.
Part A - In general, Part A covers in-
patient hospital care along with skilled nursing
facilities, home health care and hospice care.
Part B - Part B typically covers medi-
cal services from providers along with out-
patient care, home health services, durable
medical equipment, mental health services and
many preventive services.
Part D is Medicare’s Prescription Drug
Coverage. All Part D coverage is provided
thru private insurance companies. For Relief
Medical Plan members, your drug coverage
is provided by LAFRA through an Employer
Group Waiver Plan (EGWP- pronounced “egg
whip”). EGWP is a Medicare Part D prescrip-
tion drug plan option that is offered to retirees
through a group benefit plan.
MEDICARE COSTS
Part A - You usually don’t pay a month-
ly premium for Part A coverage if you or your
spouse paid Medicare taxes while working for
at least 40 Quarter Hours. This is sometimes
called premium-free Part A because it is paid
for by the FICA taxes you paid. If you aren’t
eligible for premium-free Part A, you may be
able to buy Part A.
In most cases, if you choose to buy Part
A, you must also have Part B and pay monthly
premiums for both. If you choose NOT to buy
Part A, you can still buy Part B.
Part B - The standard Part B premium
amount in 2019 will be $135.50. Most people
will pay the standard Part B premium amount.
Part B is funded by the premiums you pay.

If your modified adjusted gross income
as reported on your IRS tax return from two
years ago is above $85,000 for individuals or
$170,000 for joint filers, you’ll pay the stan-
dard premium amount and an Income Related
Monthly Adjustment Amount, also known as
IRMAA. IRMAA is an extra charge added to
your premium and impacts just 5% of all Medi-
care Beneficiaries nationwide.
The Part B premium is deducted from
your monthly Social Security check. If it is not
deducted because you may not be receiving
Social Security payments, you are a cash pay
and you will be billed by Medicare. If you fail
to pay your premiums, your coverage can be
discontinued. At that point, you’ll need to sign
up for Part B once again during the general
Medicare enrollment
period that runs from
January 1 to March 31
Part D - If the
government classifies
you as a High-Income
earner, you may be
charged a surcharge
called Part D-IRMAA.
An individual with in-
come of $85,000 or
more and those filing
jointly with income
higher than $170,000 are subject to IRMAA.
ENROLLMENT PERIODS
The Initial Enrollment Period for those
turning 65 is seven months. This 7-month pe-
riod begins three months before the month
you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and three
months after the month you turn 65.
After your Initial Enrollment Period
is over, you may have a chance to sign up for
Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period.
If you didn’t sign up for Part B (or Part A if
you have to buy it) when you were first eligible
because you are covered under a group health
plan due to current employment (your own, a
spouse’s, or a family member’s (if you have
a disability), you can sign up for Part A and/
or Part B anytime you’re still covered by the
group health plan or during the 8-month peri-
od that begins the month after the employment
ends or the coverage ends, whichever happens
first.
A General Enrollment Period applies
to those people who did not enroll during their
Initial Enrollment Period or qualify for a Spe-
What Is The...
Extinguisher
cial Enrollment Period. This enrollment period
Fund?
runs from January 1 thru March 31, with cov-
erage starting July 1st. Your coverage won’t
start until July 1 of that year, and you may have
The brain child of Ted Bailie, retired from
to pay a higher Part A and/or Part B premium the LAFD and LAFRA, your station’s Extinguish-
for late enrollment.
er Fund is a simple way to collect donations for
LATE ENROLLMENT PENALTIES the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firefight-
It is important to sign up for Medicare
when you are first eligible to prevent any late ers’ Fund. Ted saw the accumulation of change
enrollment penalties.
Part A - if you aren’t eligible for pre- that the cook dumped into the mess fund box
mium-free Part A, and you don’t buy it when each shift and had a better idea. If this change
you’re first eligible, your monthly premium
may go up 10%. You’ll have to pay the higher was instead collected for the WODFF he fig-
premium for twice the number of years that
you could have had Part A but didn’t sign up.
ured it could really add up. With an average
Part B - in most of 50 cents per day per station, in a year there
cases, if you don’t sign
up for Part B when you would be...well, you can do the math!
are first eligible, you
will be subject to a late
So take your turn in the cooking rotation
enrollment penalty for and remember to drop all your change into
as long as you have
Part B. your station’s extinguisher. There should be
Part D - the Part
one in every firehouse. And any loose change
D late enrollment pen-
alty is an amount that’s in your pockets, any that you find in the TV
permanently added to
your Part D premium. chairs, or hoarded in the “ashtray” of your
You may owe a late enrollment penalty if at vehicle can be thrown in for good measure.
any time after your Initial Enrollment Period
is over, there’s a period of 63 or more days in a The Widows, Orphans & Disabled Fire-
row when you don’t have Part D or other cred-
itable prescription drug coverage. You’ll gener- fighters’ Fund is the heart of the Relief As-
ally have to pay the penalty for as long as you sociation. This fund provides assistance to
have Part D coverage.
our firefighters and families who are faced
There are thousands and thousands of
rules and regulations for Medicare. We are just
with personal difficulties and tragedies.
scratching the surface and providing a basic Donations are the sole means of support for
summary of Original Medicare. Please contact
Medicare or Social Security if you have addi- this Fund.
tional questions.
Firefighters risk their lives to pro-
Visit Medicare.gov/publications to
view, print, or download copies of publications tect the community on a daily basis.
on different Medicare topics. You can also call
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Thus, they and their families can be
To Find out if you’re eligible for Part A comforted in knowing that the “Fire
and/or Part B and how to enroll, make changes
to your Part A and/or Part B coverage, report Department Family,” supported by the Wid-
a change to your address or name, ask ques-
tions about Part A and Part B premiums, and ows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighters’ Fund, is
report a death call: 1-800-772-1213 or go to there for them in times of need.
socialsecurity.gov.
October 2019 • 11
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Brad M. Barrett Tobie A. Rodriguez

Managing Director Executive Director
bbarrett@onecapital.com trodriguez@onecapital.com

12 • October 2019
B
rothers and sisters, boys and girls, take
a seat, let’s chat. Summer is upon us
and who knows what kind of brush fire
season we’re facing, so I’m hoping to get your
attention before you get deployed or head out
of town on vacation.
In case you hadn’t noticed, our call
load has increased. No joke! With most of that
being EMS, which can often be a bit messy,
and with the record brush seasons we’ve been
having lately, I was thinking . . . you must be
tired. Is that true?
First responder is a high demand, high
stress profession . . . right? On top of that, it
seems that everyone’s personal life gets more
complicated by the minute. So, how are YOU
doing?
“your overwhelming de-
sire to help others just
might be your greatest
weakness”
I’m sure there’s a lot on your plate. On
a scale of zero to 10, zero being the worst day
ever and 10 being the closest thing to heaven,
where do you fall? Think about it, in your last
segment or last 72 or 96, how many calls did
you respond to? How many after midnight?
Any fatalities, full arrests, traffics, or drown-
ings? Any situations with a bad outcome? Did
any of this interrupt you while prepping for a
drill, getting ready for inspection, mentoring
the new rookie, cooking a meal, or changing
over at 3:00 am? That all goes in the column
marked “professional” stress.
Can we talk personal? What about
those life challenges you’ve been carrying
with you to the firehouse. How’s the home life?
Having trouble paying the bills? How about
the kids? How’s that son or daughter doing
these days? You know, the ones between the
ages of 12 and 21 . . . going on 30! Or, maybe
you have a child with special needs? Are you
caring for an elderly parent or grandparent?
How about an in-law? Are you living with
chronic physical pain yourself? Are you wait-
ing for that promotion, sitting on the pot, get-
ting ready for that interview, thinking that
this is your last chance to make it? As the main
or sole breadwinner is this that opportunity
you’ve been praying for, hoping to get ahead
financially? Oh, by the way, how’s things with
your spouse or significant other? This is all in
the column identified as “personal” stress.
If you combine “professional” with
“personal” stress, they can easily wear you
down and drain your capacity to cope. But
you’re a “helper” with the tendency to “give”
to others until you drop. Well think about it.
Is your metric for personal “health” just being
able to get up and drive to work? If you’re able
to make it in to work and do your job, is that
sufficient reason for you to tell others, “I’m
fine?” If that’s your current lifestyle, your de-
sire to help others just might be . . your great-
est weakness! Living life with your emotional,
physical, psychological meters pegged is self-
destructive. It’s not good for anyone. It’s not
good for you, your family, your coworkers and
eventually even the public will suffer . . . so let’s
not go there. The good news is that help is on
the way . . . or at least ready and available!
I’m hoping to sound the “self-aware-
ness alarm.” Self-awareness says we all have a
need to establish safe boundaries. Change is
in the air. I’m not saying quit, or cut corners
at all. You were made for this profession. You
earned and wear the badge and uniform with
pride. You’re trained and available, good for
you. But by asking for and allowing others to
help you, you should be able to do what you
love better and enjoy life more. We want you
to be healthy while doing what you love. I’m
preaching awareness and hoping you might
consider establishing some safe boundaries,
and if necessary, reach out for support. I’m
hoping to remind you that we have in-house
resources available. In round numbers, there’s
well over one hundred people at the ready to
come along side you and your need. We are
asking you to allow us to share in your need
and or pain. Bottom line is - you don’t have to
go it alone.
Supervisors, please make time to know
your crew. Coworkers, ask questions of your
teammates. Everyone active or retired, make
the decision now to call for help if you need it -
it’s okay. And if you see something in someone
else, say something.
I’d like to challenge all of us to perform
a personal inventory. Sit down with someone
who knows you well, a member of the peer
support cadre, or one of the department psy-
chologists, and review your lifestyle. Consider
not just your lifestyle but the speed at which
you’re living. Why not decide to work less and
play (sensibly) more? Spend time with loved
ones and friends now, don’t bank on tomor-
row. Walk, hike, bike, fish, camp, surf, nap
(one of my favorites), climb, skate, exercise,
cook, read a good book, and . . . don’t forget
the good book: “Come to me, all of you who
are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will
give you rest.”
You are loved. We are ready to help
find solutions to your specific need. Believe
me, there’s hope.
Peer Support Roster
(all contacts are confidential)
• Chaplains - Rick Godinez (213) 797-2404 or MFC floor
Captain (213) 576-8920
• Dr. Krystle Madrid, Psychologist LAFD Behavioral
Health (213) 718-0768
• Audrey Martinez, Ph.D, Psychologist LAFD Behavioral
Health (213) 435-3996
• Dr. Steven. Froehlich, Ph.D, Psychologist UFLAC Local
112 (818) 645-9027
• Nancy Mraz, CEAP, UFLAC Local 112 (213) 598-8794
• Valerie Lawrence, LAFRA Family Support Group (323)
259-0996
October 2019 • 13
 f A s s o c .
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14 • October 2019
 FF Falynn Franklin from Station 25 tends to an injured 10 ‘s is participating in the new helmet trial. Here’s a
dog that wandered into the station. Photo by FS 25 snapshot of our future head protection. Kinda trashy.

Y
t

Engineer Brett Porter (FS 10-C) had the family in Deputy Chief Phillip Fligiel congratulates Justino Rodrigues
for his 10-year dinner – only late by one year! on his promotion to A/O at FS 3-B. Photo by Kyle Rausch

October 2019 • 15
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16 • October 2019
Dr Froehlich visits FS 25 to talk about peer support Members of E 25 shut down a sheared
and behavioral health. Photo by Adam Van Gerpen hydrant. Photo compliments of FS 25

TF 12 drills on roof ops at LAFRA HQ

October 2019 • 17
18 • October 2019
FF/PM Kyle Halstead gets a Engineer Lou Rodriguez (62’s)
visit from the family at FS 62. checks in on mom in his first-in.

E 62 during a recent brush fire in the Palisades.

Three generations of Hersheys - Capt Phil, FF Braden and baby Jackson

– gathered with their significant others at FS 63 on Labor Day.

October 2019 • 19
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20 • October 2019
 Diver Joe Carcamo celebrated his retirement (30 yrs)
with friends and family at FS 49. But Joe’s legend
lives on – he is not the only Carcamo with a shadow
box on a firehouse wall. We will miss you Joe!

Fire Chief Terrazas poses with the members

of the newly restored LF 38. LAFD Photo.

Air Operations shows off their latest A few of RS1 instructors pose with their handy work
bird—Fire 1. Photo by Joe Field during a break in training. Photo by Amanda Avery

8/23/19. Members from T39 prepare to attack a one-

story commercial fire. Photo by Rick McClure

October 2019 • 21
 FF’s from 39-B taking a break after first
SF in new station. Photo by David Blaire

Daniel Roman promoted to Captain Jesus De La Cruz promoted to Captain I

I at FS 6-A. Photo by Kyle Rausch at FS 6-C. Photo by Kyle Rausch

22 • October 2019
8/13/19. FF’s knocked down flames during
a garage fire. Photo by Adam Van Gerpen

08/17/19. Fully involved structure Fire

in Battalion 12. Photo by Rick McClure

October 2019 • 23
 08/20/19. Dump truck through one unit
in Pacoima. Photo by Mike Meadows

A helitac member directs air operations during

a horse rescue. Photo by Mike Meadows

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24 • October 2019
 Station 75 extinguishes an auto-fire in
Mission Hills. Photo by Rick McClure

8/31/19. FF’s make forceable entry to extinguish

a fire in a SFD. Photo by Kyle Andrusenki

08/20/19. Metrolink commuter train vs SUV

in the Newhall Pass. Photo by Rick McClure

October 2019 • 25
26 • October 2019
 TF 21 and TF 95 offload 6800 gallons of diesel from
an overturned tanker on the NB 5 Fwy on 8/7/19

8/14/19. LAFD resources treat & trans- E 89 providing structure protection in the
port 5 patients. Photos by Rick McClure Eagle Rock area. Photo by Rick McClure

October 2019 • 27
 8-18-19. Auto vs pole with a person trapped
in Granada Hills. Photo by Jacob Salzman

Battalion 15 companies fight to contain a garage

fire in Granada Hills. Photo by Rick McClure

A member from FS 87 forces entry using a rotary

saw during a SF. Photo by Jacob Salzman

28 • October 2019
8/1/19. It took firefighters 28 mins to extinguish
an attic fire. Photo by Shawn Kelley

Truck 61 works an attic fire.

October 2019 • 29
 LAFD joined residents from Little Tokyo to cel-
ebrate Nisei Week. Photo by Cody Weireter

Members of the LAFD celebrate their first win over LAPD at the San Pedro
Boys & Girls Club Basketball Event. Photo compliments of lacitystentorians

LAFD members at the 2019 So. Cal.

Firemen’s Lake Tahoe Championship.

30 • October 2019
 Fire 5 provides some mutual-aid in the Jorge G. Perez enjoys his last day on the
City of Glendale. Photo by Mike Meadows job at MFC. Photo by Steve Schrobsdorf

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October 2019 • 31

Chief Bahme with Fireman Hassan. Hassan later
died in a roof collapse at a fire in West Hollywood.
A
t a recent COA retirement dinner, I
had the opportunity to speak about
the LAFD Historical Society’s need
for volunteers. For many years Bob Defeo and
Roger Gillis have requested, pleaded and ca-
joled COA members for help, however it fell
on deaf ears. My approach to my colleagues
was to present them with a one question quiz
about historical LAFD facts in an attempt to
cultivate their interest. To my amazement none
of audience passed the quiz. It should be men-
tioned the audience consisted of highly revered
COA officers. By no means do I intend to cast
any dispersions on my colleagues, I am merely
pointing out that most history has been passed
on by word of mouth, and unless it is written
down, it will be lost in the dust bin of history.
After that dinner, I started a research
project about the members of this organiza-
tion. I found, almost without exception, highly
motivated individuals that have set forth plans,
innovations, programs, legislation, as well as
taking the advantage of modern technologies
to better allocate and conserve valuable LAFD
resources. The burning question: What drives
these officers to such a high level of efficiency
and performance?
It is my firm belief that these high
achievers have inherited certain skills and tal-
ents, but also additional attributes are devel-
oped upon joining the department. From the
earliest days as a rookie firefighter to establish-
ing their reputation as a valuable team asset,
these members understood that only maximum
effort produces maximum reward.
All of the above mentioned brings me
to the challenge and the hook I hope to set. But
32 • October 2019
the NFPA’s Fire Extinguishing Specialist and
as chairman of its committee on Hazardous
Chemicals Fire Fighting.
The achievements mentioned are just
a small portion of his overwhelming contribu-
tions to the fire service and our country. It is
little wonder to me that men and women like
Chief Bahme have forged the Department into
one of the best in the world. However, if you
would like to know the rest of the story, stop by
Old 27’s, LAFDHS Museum and Memorial.
The unfortunate truth is that without
the efforts of Bahme’s two loving daughters
Carolyn and Kathy to save, research, and orga-
nize the mountains of documents their father
first, the question is, who is Charles Bahme?
had accumulated during his life, they would
He lived from 1914 to1994, and served on the
have been forgotten memories. Thanks ladies
LAFD from 1936 to1966.
for presenting his life’s story to the LAFDHS.
Charles (Chuck) Bahme was the author
A shared axiom of truth is that for the
of many fire service articles as well as books,
revered, high achievers and legends of the
including the Handbook of Disaster Control
LAFD, their dedication, hard work, achieve-
(predecessor to the Fire Officer’s Guide to Di-
ments, and bravery become of little or no con-
saster Control), Fire Service and the Law, Fire
sequence if not told. Another truth is that rank
Officer’s Guide to Dangerous Chemicals, Fire
or illustrious assignments mean nothing if not
Protection for Chemicals, Fire Officer’s Guide
shared and passed on. America’s Firefighter
to Emergency Action, Fire Law Book, and The
Benjamin Franklin warned us to “either write
Fire Officers Guide to Extinguishing Systems.
worth reading or do things worth writing.”
After responding to a devastating chemi-
The LAFDHS operates two museums
cal explosion, he wrote the City’s Dangerous
with thousands of artifacts, but without the
Chemical Code, the first comprehensive set of
who, what, where, why and how, they’re just
regulations ever adopted by any municipality
nice displays. All of these stories need to be
pertaining to hazardous materials. Following
told to add soul to our visitors’ experience.
his service in World War II, he was called upon
Contact us and tell your story.
to write the U.S. Navy’s Structural Fire Fight-
ing for the Chief of Naval Operations manual.
In his thirty years of service with the
LAFD he advanced through the ranks to dep-
uty chief. He augmented his bachelor’s degree
from UCLA with a Juris Doctor from South-
western University. Through the same years he
served with the U.S. Navy: six years of active
duty during WW II and the Korean conflict,
and twenty-eight years with the Naval Reserve,
retiring as a Captain.
Chief Bahme was an attorney with
admission to practice before federal district
courts, the US Supreme Court, and the highest
court of military appeals. He taught courses in
fire protection engineering at UCLA, and fire
administration at USC. He served in Europe
and the Far East for the Department of Defense
and the State Department. He also served as
 PHYSICAL RESCUE
Hansen Dam
Photos by David Demulle’

Two dozen firefighters, including a USAR team, worked for nearly two hours on August 17, 2019, to safely rescue Chino, a 1,000 lbs. male
Peruvian Paso horse trapped to his chest in thick mud in a remote section of the Hansen Dam Recreation Area. The equestrienne was uninjured.

October 2019 • 33
COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE FIRE
Downtown LA
Photos by Kyle Rausch and Zak Holman

At 4:29AM on August 14, 2019 the companies responded to 2501 S Main Street for a
reported structure fire. Firefighters arrived to find a 50‘x 100’ commercial building,
with fire showing on all sides.

34 • October 2019
October 2019 • 35
36 • October 2019
T
oday’s aviation safety standards are a
far cry from what the Wright Brothers
deployed on their first flight over the
sand dunes of North Carolina in 1903. En-
closed, pressurized cockpits, advanced avia-
tion controls, jet engines, onboard extinguish-
ing systems; all have contributed to the safety
and comfort of today’s air fight. However, even
with all the advancements over the last 100
years, accidents still occur, and people still are
injured or worse—killed. One of the most terri-
fying dangers of all air travel is that of the pos-
sibility of fire. Whether it be from an electrical
source hidden somewhere deep inside the plane
or the result of a crash of the aircraft, fire is of
great concern to all involved—both inside and
outside the aircraft.
The Rosenbauer RM65 turret design
allows for a turret output of up to 1000 gal-
lons/min possible in the pump and roll position
with a throw range of approximately 295 ft. In
every raised position - up to 54 ft high – 1003
gallons/min can be output and achieve throw
ranges up to 278 ft. The turret nozzles of the
RM65 have, both vertically as well as horizon-
tally, a total rotation range of 180° and permit
continuous adjustment of the stream patterns
from solid jet to spray jet. The Rosenbauer tur-
ret also has a ChemCore option that enables the
centralized output of up to 22 lbs. of dry pow-
der. The powder which is included in the water
stream then reaches a larger throw range.
The Rosenbauer Piercing Tool brings
water/foam/Halotron to where it is needed. It
co-driver position, side view or top view. Ac-
tual foam conditions during discharging op-
eration are also realistically shown during the
training session.
Aircraft Firefighting is a very unique
skill set learned by a very small percentage
of Los Angeles City Firefighters. Those who
have chosen the position on an ARFF company
understand the seriousness of their assignment
and know that when it comes to an aircraft
incident, every second literally counts. With
equipment such as the HRET, not only has
the chance of survival of an aircraft incursion
increased, but also the safety of the personnel
exercising such rescue.
Source material: Rosenbauer HRET Manual

One recent champion to aid in the ex-
tinguishment of such hazard has slowly risen to
combat such challenge. It is call HRET, which
is an abbreviation for High-Reach Extendable
Turret. Over the past decade, approximately
400 HRET systems have been retrofitted into
existing (ARFF) Aircraft Rescue and Fire-
fighting vehicles or purchased with new ARFF
vehicles worldwide.
Some advantages and benefits of this
technology include increased throw range per-
formance, increased range of turret motion,
more efficient agent application by applying
agent at the seat of the fire, faster extinguish-
ment of fuel fires, and the ability to penetrate
inside an aircraft and extinguish the fire. This
added capability can increase passenger sur-
vivability, protect property, and extinguish fire
faster during an aircraft post-crash incident.
The STINGER, developed by a com-
pany called Rosenbauer and deployed on our
very own ARRF apparatus at LAX is a HRET
(High Reach Extendable Turret). It allows fast,
precise positioning and impresses with its ex-
cellent extinguishing performance. The com-
bined areas of movement of the water tower,
the turret, and the completely new type of
“Piercing Tools” cover all necessary attack po-
sitions.
• The HRET can rotate through a total of
60° (30° left and right)
• At the push of a button, three preset
positions can be initiated automatically
and quickly
• Intermediate positions can be easily
reached by releasing the button
• With the STOW button the STINGER
automatically returns to the bedded
position
has its own drive and firing mechanism and is
hydraulically positioned and moved forward.
This allows for exact positioning at any angle.
The vertical rotation area covers 180° in total
and allows for precise placement of the pierc-
ing tip with the aid of a docking sensor. The
piercing spray impresses with its lightness
thanks to composite material, the same mate-
rial used in the newest types of airplanes. The
standard piercing tip has an extinguishing out-
put of approximately 250 gallons/min. The
piercing tip developed by the LAFD and used
on the current ARFF vehicles has an output of
75 gallons/min.
Lastly, the joystick for the STINGER
can also control the movements of the boom,
RM65 turret, and piercing tool. Buttons for the
control of pre-programmed positions and acti-
vation of the piercing tools are arranged sepa-
rately for safety reasons. The current operating
conditions (discharge of water or water-foam
mixture and the extinguishing agent tank con-
tents) are shown on the central display.
Certification to use this highly ad-
vanced piece of equipment takes time and
training and is one of the last steps in obtain-
ing one’s ARFF certification. It all starts with
work on a simulator allowing for real time
training to tune the skill operator while pro-
viding a very cost-effective training solution.
The simulation is installed on a laptop with a
high-resolution screen and operated with origi-
nal operating controls of the STINGER. The
simulator allows settings in real environmental
conditions such as driver’s position left/right,
speed display in mph, weather conditions, and
lighting conditions such as day or night. The
simulation also allows different perspectives
ranging from the point of view of the driver,

October 2019 • 37
S
taffed around the clock at Fire Station 114, which is located
on the grounds of Van Nuys Airport, LAFD Air Operations
comprises seven helicopters and a team of pilots ready to
respond at a moment’s notice. Its primary missions include: brush
fire suppression, search and rescue, hoist operations, and air am-
bulance.
In the fall of 2017, however, the pilots and crew of Air
Ops stepped up during one of the busiest wildfire seasons in de-
cades. Beginning with the La Tuna fire over Labor Day Weekend
and ending with the Creek and Skirball fires in December, Air
Ops flew dozens of water-dropping missions, protecting lives and
property throughout the city.
Thousands of hours of training and years of experience
38 • October 2019
flying real-world firefighting missions enable the highly special-
ized Air Ops pilots to tackle challenging and continuously shift-
ing weather and firefighting conditions, and that doesn’t end when
the sun goes down. Equipped with night-vision goggles, they con-
tinue to deliver precision water drops over neighborhoods at all
hours, assisting their ground-based colleagues with structure pro-
tection when fire encroached on a neighborhood.
Handled expertly by these specialized LAFD pilots, aerial
firefighting is often the key ingredient to containing wildfires be-
fore they cause widespread damage and destruction. The mem-
bers of the LAFD Air Operations Section stand ready to answer
the call. For their steadfast professionalism in the face of extreme
danger, we salute them.
T
he 2019 Firefighter Games were held
once again in beautiful San Diego. The
events started on June 23rd and wrapped
up the following Friday.
Over-the-Line was played at Mariner’s
Point. We had an all-time high number of
teams participating this year – 29! That’s ten
more teams than any other year.
The LAFD was well represented and
all finished respectfully. Undefeated until the
championship game, Gangreen (Russ Barnes:
15-C, Keith Bandy: 64-A, Joe Cunningham:
1-C) took the Silver Medal in the A flight. The
B flight Silver Medal was won by Grey and
Still Hang’n (Ray Hamel: retired, Chris Vil-
lavicencio: retired, Bob Ward: new A/O at 38- Next year the Anaheim Fire Depart- will be played on a nearby sunny beach. Hope
C, and Sean Millett: 11-C). ment will be hosting the Games. Over-the-Line to see you there next July!

O
n July 2, 2019, Fire Station 26 hosted (FS-9) and super stud Trevor Insley (FS-66) rienced tournament players, all over 40 years
the 2019 Doubles Handball Champion- played a dominating power game to take the of age, proving that old age and trickery are
ships. The event is normally completed title. Garcia and Insley were very focused, and important in handball!
in late May or early June, but the schedule could not be thrown off of their game by the By the time this article is published,
was interrupted by the USHA 4-Wall National outrageous fashions of recent SCHA Handball we may have a new LAFD TOP HANDBALL
Championships this year. The “E” Division fi- Hall of Fame inductee John Libby. HOUSE, FS-2 has challenged FS-66. Two
nal could not be played due to an injury, there- The final match of the day was Mas- out of the five games in the series have been
fore Moon and Philips (FS-26) won by forfeit ter’s Division which featured Chris Yokoyama played, with FS-66 holding strong - Cooper
over Fischer and Garcia (FS-50). (QAU) and Roy Harvey (FPB) who defeated defeating Diaz, and Insley defeating Ramirez.
Fire Station 26 players Nyberg and Ryan Chance (QAU) and Joe Steiner (FPB) in Details next month.
Bond took advantage of their home court ad- two straight games. This match featured expe-
vantage defeating Hills and Cardona from FS-
61 in the “D” final.
Fire Station 27 is developing a reputa-
tion as an up and coming handball house, with
Getchus and DuPertuis winning the “C” Divi-
sion final over James (FS-3) and Balestra (FS-
11) in two straight.
“D” Division - Nyberg/Bond “C” Division - Retches/DuPeruis
The “B” Division final was an exciting
(26) with Hills/Cardona (61) (27) with Balestra (3)/James (11)
match between experienced and skilled players
who are all ready to step up into the big league.
Champs Davila and Moore (FS-29) defeated
Castillo and Avila (FS-15) in a third game tie-
breaker.
The “A” finals was the feature match of
the day with 2017 and 2018 Champions John
Libby and Frank Lima attempting to threep- “A” Division - Insley (66)/Garcia “Masters” Division - Yokoyama
eat. LAFD Handball’s top player Alex Garcia (9) with Libby (80)/Lima (UFLAC) (QAU) with Roy Harvey (FPB)

October 2019 • 39
40 • October 2019
F
irefighters have a unique work schedule,
one that can sometimes cause distinct
separation issues for firefighters and
their families. Although, the time away from
each other may give some the required per-
sonal space we all need from time to time, too
much time away from one’s family may also
lead to family issues and disturbances.
With our spouse being away for 24
hours, or even possibly a week at a time, both
parties may find life a little daunting. It can be
especially challenging for the one left at home
to handle the kids, household issues, and other
family obligations on their own. At times, the
responsibility of such can weigh heavily on a
person, overwhelming us and causing stress.
The schedule of a firefighter is well-known.
None of us enter into a relationship blind to the
fact that our loved ones will be away from us
more than the average eight-hour day. Still, it
can be hard to get used to. Time away from
our beloved fire heroes can take its toll, caus-
ing some to greatly miss their spouse.
This separation may even cause family
friction, due to feeling neglected, especially
when there is a family event missed. Blame
can fall on the firefighter, even though he or she
may have no control over such. Be reminded
that some of us stood by their side as they took
the job of wanting to serve the public, while
others married into the fire service. During
these periods of separation, let us continue to
support and stand by our spouse as they are
working hard to provide for our families and
stay committed to the LAFD core values they
Paid Advertisements:
strive for: Service, Professionalism, Integrity, It is a memory your children will talk about for
Respect, and Trust. the rest of their lives, and it is a chance for you
One way to avoid these common family and your spouse to reconnect and remember
issues is by visiting your spouse at work. With why they are there in the first place. We are
our department being so big, and so many of thankful and grateful to the LAFD for allow-
us living all throughout Southern California, ing us spouses and kids to visit.
it may be difficult to find the available time I look forward to seeing your updated
to visit your spouse’s firehouse. Nevertheless, pics on Instagram @housewivesoflafd.
I strongly suggest you make it a priority from Keep the flame alive!
time to time. This visitation allows the time Bonnie Lopez
to reconnect as a family and reminds the fire-
fighter that you are literally willing to go the
distance! Busy station or not, with everything
they witness, and stressors of the job, I am sure
seeing you gives them a sense of calm.
There is something so magical about
visiting the station. Maybe for us spouses,
it’s the spark of love from missing them that
makes it so special. Children always miss their
parents and are usually uninhibited in their ex-
pression of such. The added bonus of climbing
all over the apparatus or maybe even a taking
a ride on one will long live in their memories.
This is also a great opportunity for the you and
the kids to meet other fire families and see his/
her home away from home. Telling our kids
that we are going to the fire station is almost
like telling them we are going to an amusement
park, so save the money and spend it on a fu-
ture road trip! Our kids grow up so fast and we
want them to have memories of the firehouse.
Besides, we all need updated pics in front of
the fire truck!
A visit to the station may seem inconse-
quential at the time, but I promise you, it’s not.
October 2019 • 41
W
hy are firefighters still dying – at an
alarming rate – from heart disease?
While intervention strategies within
a comprehensive health and wellness program
have helped to reduce these numbers of cardiac
deaths over the years, heart disease is still the
number one killer.
Why are firefighters at an increased
risk versus the average population for having a
heart attack? Most firefighters seem to be more
fit and health conscious than the average Joe on
the street, but the statistics don’t lie.
The simple answer to both these ques-
tions is- THE JOB! It’s the job! So, let’s take a
closer look at some of the things that lead to an
increase in heart attacks.
Sleep plays an important role helping
our bodies recover from stress, illness, and fa-
tigue. If we do not get quality sleep our resting
metabolic rate will decrease causing weight
gain. A firefighter’s “internal biological clock”
is often disrupted throughout a shift, affecting
the body’s ability to regulate the sleep-wake
system. Researchers at the Bringham and
Women’s hospital showed that prolonged sleep
restriction with simultaneous circadian disrup-
tion decreased an individual’s metabolic rate.
Thereby increasing, over time, the risk for dia-
betes.2
The Univeristy of Chicago went even
further and showed that there is a direct link
between sleeping and an increased risk of
stroke, heart attack and congestive heart fail-
ure.3 Their findings showed how an individual
who sleeps more than eight hours or less than
six had a significantly higher chance of chest
pain or angina and coronary heart disease.
Therefore, it is important to control the dura-
tion of restful sleep in a completely dark room
to help reduce the chances of heart disease and
other related illnesses.
Abdominal fat, also known as
visceral fat, is generally associated with
diabetes. However,
there have been links to
an increase of strokes
through the hardening
of the arteries. Increased
visceral fat
could lead
42 • October 2019
to diabetes, which creates a change in blood
vessels which can reduce blood flow to the
brain. Based on the findings in the Iowa State
research, 41% of the firefighters studied were
classified as obese, and 35% classified as over-
weight. Therefore, it is recommended that a
firefighter participate in physical activity and
proper nutrition programs to reverse the side
effects associated with belly fat.
Firefighters are often exposed to trau-
matic stress. Over a 30-year career things tend
to affect you both mentally and physically. Ac-
cording to researchers at the University of Cal-
ifornia - San Francisco, these exposures over a
“30 minutes of
aerobic activity is
associated with a
70% reduction in
heart attack risk”
lifetime or career will boost inflammation in
the body, even if they do not lead to post trau-
matic stress disorder.4 It was discovered that
the greater the traumatic stress, the higher lev-
els of inflammation within the body. Individu-
als with higher levels of inflammation within
their body tend to have an increased
risk of having a heart attack. Even
if the firefighter adjusted to these
traumatic events, the inflammation
remained constant over
a period of time. So the
stress of the job can impact your health even
if you don’t have certain mental or physi-
cal symptoms. Intervention strategies to help
combat stress such as exercise, yoga, and other
health related activities should be integrated at
the start of a firefighter’s career.
Firefighting itself is physical demand-
ing and will eventually break the body down.
According to a study performed at the Illinois
Fire Service Institute5, three hours of pro-
longed firefighting stiffens arteries and impairs
heart function in young healthy male firefight-
ers. The same is seen within heavy powerlift-
ers and ultra-marathon runners.
This could affect those firefighters who do not
value the importance of fitness and therefore
exhibit several of the risk factors for cardiovas-
cular disease, including being overweight and
having elevated blood pressure and/or choles-
terol.
Finally your lungs. Breathing in toxic
fumes and particles during overhaul, exhaust
pollution from the app bay, and exposures dur-
ing most regular calls can adversely affect lung
function. Lung function and ob-
structive airway diseases are
strongly and independently
associated with in-
creased risk of heart
failure. These results were not primarily con-
founded by just smokers, but also non-smokers.
AND HERE’S WHAT CAN YOU DO:
1. Get an annual physical with a complete
blood panel. In addition to the normal blood
work ask your physician to include the follow-
ing:
• C-Reactive Protein: is elevated in the
blood when there is widespread inflamma-
tion somewhere in the body. The evidence
now available indicates that inflammation and
molecules such as C-reactive protein associ-
ated with inflammation may be as important as
cholesterol in determining the development of
atherosclerosis and heart disease.
2. FORGET ABOUT DIETS AND LOW
FAT! EAT HEALTHIER - There is no MAGIC
PILL! Although there are some benefits to tak-
ing omega-3 and fish oils, some studies have
suggested otherwise. In an analysis of past
studies there was no difference in the number
of heart attacks, strokes or deaths among more
than 20,000 people with heart disease who
were randomly assigned to take either fish oil
supplements or fish oil-free placebo pills. So
EAT BETTER!
• Eat more fruits and vegetables high
in antioxidants. Good heart health depends on
open, flexible arteries that can deliver blood ef-
ficiently throughout the body. Dark chocolate
and cocoa, as well as plant-based compounds
found in red wine and green tea, are high in an-
tioxidants, which help fight cell damage from
free radicals in the bloodstream that can cause
fatty plaque to build up on artery walls
• EAT MORE FIBER: Aim for 35 to 40
grams of dietary fiber per day. Fiber helps to
lower cholesterol by binding with it and pulling
it out of the system.
• SPICE IT UP: Numerous studies have
shown that spices can help improve cardio-
vascular health. Cayenne pepper is known to
strengthen the heart, arteries and capillaries
and lower cholesterol level. Garlic is known
to help lower blood cholesterol and ginger is
a natural blood thinner and anti-inflammatory
agent.
3. EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE.
30 minutes of aerobic activity is associated
with a 70% reduction in heart attack risk over
a year. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic then
analyzed their data and noticed that a brisk 10
minute walk a day would result in nearly 50%
reduction of heart attacks versus those who did
nothing.7
4. STAY HAPPY, BE OPTIMISTIC: It
could save your life. A Duke University study
of 255 doctors from several years ago found
that 14% of those rated above average for hos-
tility based on a personality test had died 25
years later--most from heart disease--com-
pared with 2% of those who tested below the
average.8
References
(1) Yoo, HL, Franke, WD. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk
factors in volunteer firefighters. Department of Kinesiology, Iowa
State University.J Occup Environ Med. Aug 2009;51(8):958-62.
(2) O. M. Buxton, S. W. Cain, S. P. O’Connor, J. H. Porter, J. F. Duffy,
W. Wang, C. A. Czeisler, S. A. Shea. Adverse Metabolic Conse-
quences in Humans of Prolonged Sleep Restriction Combined with
Circadian Disruption. Science Translational Medicine, 2012; 4 (129):
(3) American College of Cardiology (2012, March 26). Sleeping too
much or too little can be bad for your heart. ScienceDaily. Retrieved
April 21, 2012
(4) O’Donovan A, Neylan TC, Metzler T, Cohen BE.Lifetime ex-
posure to traumatic psychological stress is associated with elevated
inflammation in the Heart and Soul Study.Brain Behav Immun. 2012
May;26(4):642-9. Epub 2012 Feb 15.
(5) Fahs, Christopher A ,Huimin Yan, Ranadive, Sushant , Rossow,
et al. Acute effects of firefighting on arterial stiffness and blood flow.
Vasc Med April 2011 16: 113-118
(6) Grace Rattue. “Lower Lung Function And Airflow Obstruction
Raise Heart Failure Risk.” Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl.,
26 Feb. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2012.
(7) MayoClinic.com: Walking for Fitness: How to Trim Your Waist-
line, Improve Your Health
(8) Barefoot JC, Brummett BH, Williams RB, et al. Recovery ex-
pectations and long-term prognosis of patients with coronary heart
disease. Arch Intern Med 2011; DOI:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.41
October 2019 • 43
D
on Welcker loved life and he lived big.
He rode motorcycles, dirt bikes, wa-
terskied, wake boarded, hiked, biked,
rode horses, fished, zip-lined, snow skied and
snow boarded. He flew helicopters, drove race
cars, skydived, and was a certified scuba diver -
but his passion was surfing. Don liked to paint,
he loved oysters, and going to car shows. And
he loved Elvis songs.
On July 27, 2019, a large group of fam-
ily, friends, and co-workers – all clad in Hawai-
ian attire as requested, gathered to celebrate
the short but superb life of this outstanding
man.
Don was born in 1958, and was soon
adopted by Jerry and Betty Welcker, who were
more than 50 years old at the time. Don’s father
did special effects for the movies, his mother
was a surgical nurse. His dad’s friend, come-
dian Joe E. Brown, was selected as Don’s God-
father, and Don was named after Joe’s son, who
44 • October 2019
had died in a military aircraft crash in Palm
Springs.
Don’s father had been in the military
and it was his dream for his son to follow in his
footsteps. Don was sent to a full-time military
school when he was nine and would only come
home on the weekends. His father also insisted
Don keep his hair short, but much to his fa-
ther’s chagrin, when he turned 18, he let it grow
as long as he could, and he had no desire to join
the military.
Don was extremely athletic, had in-
credible balance, and he was fast. When he was
a young boy, he would walk the top of the block
wall around the house and jump from garage
roof to garage roof (there were three garages
with a six-foot gap between each). He loved
hockey and played for Valley College and the
LAFD teams. He was so fast and agile the big-
ger guys on the ice had a hard time catching
him. His nickname was “Flash.”
Don was raised Catholic but did not
give his life to Christ until the 1990’s. Attend-
ing church was very important to Don and as
a young man it was rare that he would miss a
Sunday Mass. In his early twenties, Don took
off a month from work to go to Europe with his
parents. His dad had late stage colon cancer,
his mother was legally blind and had heart is-
sues. His dad’s goal was to bring “his bride”
to Lourdes, anoint her with the Holy waters,
and pray for a miracle to cure her. His father
died shortly after they returned from that trip
and his mother joined her loving husband nine
months later.
Prior to being hired by the LAFD, Don
worked in the data processing department at
Prudential Insurance Company. It was while
he was employed at Prudential that he met his
wife. It was soon after his mom passed that he
and Sandy married, beginning their 37-year
adventure together. They adopted three chil-
dren – two daughters who are grown today,
and a three-year old son. Don and his eldest
daughter excelled in equestrian combined
driving events. He enjoyed volleyball, fishing,
ice skating, snowboarding, and dirt biking with
his younger daughter. Sandy has taken a lot of
video of their son playing with his dad, and the
family all together, so that he will have a way
to cherish the memory of his papa.
Don only owned one cat while grow-
ing up. He loved his dogs and always looked
forward to going to the county fair every year
with his girls. There was a running joke in the
house – if he worked more than a 96, there
would be a new animal in the backyard. Need-
less to say, he did not work many 96’s.
Travel was another of Don’s passions,
taking him to Europe, Costa Rica, and Cana-
da, to name a few. During his fire department
career, he took one month off work for three
consecutive years so he could take his family
on a cross country trip to explore the USA. His
favorite place, though, was on his boat at the
River.
Appointed to the LAFD on November
24, 1988, Don achieved certs in Swift Water
and HazMat along the road to the rank of En-
gineer. His prowess at the pump panel was
second to none, but like everything else in life,
he took it all in stride. Age and the stresses of
being a first responder never turned the hair on
the top of his head gray – but you couldn’t say
that about his mustache. And like Don’s father
before them, much to the chagrin of many an
LAFD chief officer, Don let his mustache grow
as long as it would!
Celebrate the life of Don Welcker. Em-
ulate the dedication he had to his first family at
home and his second family at the firehouse.
Don will most certainly be missed and defi-
nitely not forgotten.
October 2019 • 45
 2019 FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR

On December 4, 2019, the Los Angeles City Firefighter’s Association will vote on this year’s “2019 Firefighter of the Year”. This honor
of distinction and recognition is given to a member of any rank, who, not by any single act, has distinguished him/herself as one of
outstanding character, dedication, and loyalty to the Department, the Fire Service, and to the citizens of the community.

To be eligible for consideration, nominees must have been an active LAFD member for at least one day during the nominating year, and
a member of the California State Firefighter’s Association/Los Angeles City Firefighters Association.

Candidates will be judged on an overall career and life that exemplifies the best qualities of those who are honored to be part of the fire
service.

If you know of such a person, and would like to nominate him/her for this prestigious award, submit your application NO LATER than
December 2, 2019, to any one of the nominating committee members listed below. The nomination must include the nominees name,
rank, assignment and a statement of why the member should receive the award. Photos and other documentation may also be submitted.

Please attend the Los Angeles City Firefighter’s Association meeting on December 4, 2019 at 0830 Hours, Fire Station 59 Training
classroom, 11505 Olympic Blvd. and present your nomination IN PERSON. All Los Angeles City Firefighter’s Association members
are welcome, and encouraged to attend the meeting and presentations, and to show support for the individuals being nominated.

Presentations may be subject to time limits depending on the number of nominations received in order to provide fairness to all nomi-
nees. These time limits will be announced prior to the start of the December 4, 2019 membership meeting and will be strictly enforced.
The nominee cannot be present during the meeting.

The election will be held in closed executive session following the nominations, and only members of the Los Angeles City Firefighter’s
Association Board will vote.

Reminder, applications must be submitted no later than December 2, 2019.

Following personal notification of the winner by the Vice President, public announcement will be made by Department teletype.

2019 FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR NOMINATING COMMITTEE

David Frelinger, (310) 951-1240
George James, (661) 433-4679
Brian Geiger, (562) 833-2796

2019 FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR

NOMINATION FORM

DATE:____________________

NOMINEE’S NAME: ____________________________________________________________________________

ASSIGNMENT:______________________ PHONE:__________________________________ RANK:___________________

NARRATIVE OF WHY THE NOMINEE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THE 2019 FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR.
(Include Department, Community, Church, etc. work) (Attachments are encouraged)

NOMINATOR’S NAME:_______________________________________ PHONE:____________________________________

46 • October 2019

JOHN B. HICKS, FF, FS 114-C
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2019
Fire Station 114 (Air-Ops)
16617 Arminta Street, Van Nuys CA
Luncheon - 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Taco Truck - No cost
RSVP to jh1429@yahoo.com
Call FS 114 (818) 756-8635 for more info
RSVP by October 16, 2019
RAY HOFFMAN, FF, FS 114-A
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2019
Castaway Restaurant
1250 E Harvard Road, Burbank CA
Social Hour - 5:30 PM Dinner: 6:00 PM
No cost
Ray has kindly requested a $50 per person donation
be made to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled
Firefighter’s Fund
RSVP to ts986@yahoo.com - Call (714) 982-9951
for more info. RSVP by Oct 19
October 2019 • 47
 E
lection time again is bearing down upon us. Elec-
tions are a very important aspect for the life and
health of your Relief Association. It is now time to
nominate members of the Association for the offices of the
Group 2 Trustee positions.
As stated in the Bylaws, Chapter I, Section 7136, “The Trust-
ees shall attend all meetings of the Board, unless excused,
visit the sick and injured members in their respective dis-
tricts, report upon all matters coming within their scope of
assignments and responsibilities, and perform such other du-
ties as may be assigned to them by the Board.”
of the Association’s Bylaws and their responsibilities to the
members of the Association. The Association is governed
and its business conducted by the Board of Trustees. Dis-
semination of information relative to the Association and to
its membership is conducted primarily by the Trustees. Con-
versely, opinions, requests and suggestions are channeled to
the Board through the Trustees. A close liaison with the
membership is paramount to the performance of the duties
of a Trustee.
Nominations are open during the month of September and
will close at the end of business day on October 15, 2019.

The Trustees are the elected representatives of the member- Please Mail, Fax or Email a letter in the following format
ship of the Association, who are responsible to their constit- with a recent picture of yourself and a short statement/bio by
uency and to the Association as a whole. A conscientious close of business on October 15, 2019.
effort must be made by each Trustee to be knowledgeable

I, _______________________________________, do hereby submit my name as a

candidate for the position of Group 2 Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Los

Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association. This letter is valid only for the General election

of 2019.

Mail or FAX to:

Jeff Cawdrey, Vice President

Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
7470 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90041
Fax (323) 259-5290 Email: jcawdrey@lafra.org

The Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association is an organization that is run by Firefighters for the benefit of Firefighters. All that is required is the desire
to give our members the best benefits possible. You will be asked to attend up to three meetings per month and assist the membership. You will receive ten
dollars for each meeting you attend and you will also be reimbursed for your mileage. In addition, you will receive the satisfaction of serving and solving
problems for your fellow firefighters.

48 • October 2019
 MEMBERS
Jack D. Chell, Captain.
Appointed July 11, 1949.
Retired on a service pension January 1, 1977 from FS 2-B.
Passed away September 8, 2019.

Robert G. Gabel, Firefighter III.

Appointed May 12, 1962.
Retired on a service pension September 15, 1990 from FS 80.
Passed away September 16, 2019.

FAMILY
Margaret E. Ross, surviving spouse of Jack V. Ross, passed away August 3, 2019.

Laurita C. Pasqualone, spouse of Anthony J. Pasqualone, passed away August 14, 2019.

Curtis J. Humphrey, surviving spouse of Bob Humphrey, passed away August 16, 2019.

Mary E. Kebler, spouse of Lee H. Kebler, passed away August 22, 2019.

Patricia A. Whitson, surviving spouse of Orlen R. Whitson, passed away August 27, 2019.

Helen T. Plain, spouse of Gregory L. Plain, passed away August 28, 2019.

Karen Murphy, surviving spouse of Douglas C. Murphy, passed away August 29, 2019.

Margaret E. Lesage, surviving spouse of Armand C. Lesage, passed away August 29, 2019.

Dee Loris M. Schumacher, surviving spouse of Dudley P. Schumacher, passed away September 03, 2019.

Marlene A. Martin, spouse of David J. Martin, passed away September 5, 2019.

Joanne I. Evans, surviving spouse of Russell D. Evans, passed away September 15, 2019.

October 2019 • 49

DEAR DIANE,
Thank you for the birthday greeting on
my 90th birthday—Yeah 90! The L.A Fire De-
partment has been a big part of my life and I’m
still in contact with some of the many wonder-
ful friends John and I made there. Again, thank
you for your thoughtfulness.
Sincerely,
Jeri Schindler
IN MEMORY OF DONALD C. WELCK-
ER—ENGINEER
I was surprised to see Don’s name on
the Death Notices. I worked in Payroll and
handled his time keeping when he was at FS
23. I always emailed his paycheck stub when
he was out on IOD. I also talked with him oc-
casionally for approximately 2 years before he
retired regarding his timekeeping. I will always
remember his pleasant voice. Rest in Peace.
Hank Murakami
IN MEMORY OF HAROLD A.
GILBERT—ENGINEER
Worked with my pal “Spanky” at 26’s
as engineers in the early 80’s. Always had a
good time. Hal was one I could always depend
on. Great fishing trips in the Sierra’s with Tom
Rainey, Jess Pasos, Jay Graf. And then there
was the crew: Moody, Wallace, Kirby, McDon-
ald, Mills, Elefant, and many more.
RIP “Spank”
Eric Mattson
DEAR LAFRA
What a comfort to have LAFRA contact
me today by phone and e-mail after yesterdays
6.4 earthquake in Ridgecrest where I live. Truly
50 • October 2019
a “Fire Family.” That really means a lot to me
knowing there is help if needed. Happy to say
I am fine, as is my house. The enclosed dona-
tion is in memory of Don, who was a wonderful
husband and is always on my mind. Dang, it
doesn’t get any easier!
Sincere Regards,
Janice Wagner
DEAR DIANE, VALERIE AND FAMILY
OF THE RELIEF ASSOCIATION,
Thank you so much for the beautiful
flowers. Your love and support are greatly ap-
preciated during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Sarah Chastain
IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM A.
SOMMERS—CAPTAIN I
Bill was number 1 on our hiring list!
We were classmates at DT 89, Class of 2/10/68.
While our paths didn’t cross much over the
next 20 years, we did see each other at reunions
and retirement dinners. In his retirement, he
flew his Piper here to Smith Valley and we
spent a wonderful time over lunch and shar-
ing stories from way back. He did share that
his hangar in Grass Valley was next to Chuck
Yeager’s hangar. Bill had the pleasure of flying
General Yeager several times. It was on one of
these trips to Barron Hilton’s Flying ‘M’ Ranch
(not far from my home) that Bill stopped in. He
would send me photos and great videos of his
flying trips. One was a trip around the perim-
eter of the lower 48 states. I shared his love of
flying but never his ability or hours as Pilot-in-
Command.
RIP, my Friend
Jim Kinninger
IN MEMORY OF GENE R. MILLER—
CAPTAIN II
I drove Gene several times while I was
an Auto-fireman assigned to 48s working over-
time. Years later, we were working together at
Disney Fire. We worked together on graveyard
servicing extinguishers for about two years. I
enjoyed his stories of trapping and hunting in
Nebraska during the depression. We were both
outdoorsmen, and I loved his friendship. I think
about him often.
Bruce Dodd
IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM A.
SOMMERS—CAPTAIN I
I first met “Fly Boy Bill” when I was an
A/O at “old” 29’s and he was a Captain I. He
had been a F/F in Chicago before coming out
to LA. and shared some of that experience with
myself and others. He helped me prepare for
my Captain’s oral, as he was a wealth of info.
Later, my family went on water ski trips to lake
Buena Vista with him. If I remember correctly,
Bill was “First-In” on a massive accident in the
S/B truck lanes on Hwy 14 in the Newhall Pass
tunnel. We continued contact by e-mail, and he
sent me (and I’m sure others) a picture collec-
tion of the “Oroville Dam” spillway collapse
(taken from his plane). I can’t remember if he
took up flying down here or after he moved to
Grass Valley.
May he “Rest in peace.”
Rick Watters
IN MEMORY OF DONALD C.
WELCKER—ENGINEER
I worked with Don for a few years at
23. He always wore a smile on his face and
was quick to lend a hand when needed. It sad-
dens me to know that he is gone but encourages
me that I know he was a man of faith. Surf the
clouds for us, Don. You will be missed.
John Hicks
IN MEMORY OF DAKE M.
PIPER—FIREFIGHTER II
I first met Dale when my Dad worked
at FS 103 back in the 60’s. I was about 15 or
16. Even then I remember that he made the best
pies in the world. I joined the LAFD eight years
later myself and made skipper in 1978. My first
assignment was FS 96-B, while Dale was on
the A shift. I was by far the youngest member
there, and Dale paved my way with the old tim-
ers on all shifts. It helped that he was the PC
and one heck of a fireman—and still baked the
best pies. He used to bowl with my dad, and
Dale and his wife, Kay, were two of the nicest
people I ever met. He was salty and definitely
‘old school’, but a fireman’s fireman, for sure. I
hope he’s found his lane.

Bruce C Frashure

IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM A.
SOMMERS—CAPTAIN I

91-B and Bill were great memories.

91’s was my 1st open house when I was a little
pup and was impressed with the rolled down
turnout pants and boots next the beds in the
dorm. Following the ’71 Sylmar earthquake, I
realized that pants and boots next to my bed
were a good thing and one good reason to be
a fireman. I got stuck in Battalion 12 for a few
years and had the pleasure of working around
him. He was one of the guys I used in my ca-

FiremensRelief.org
reer for my own “Leadership Academy.” Thank
you, Captain Sommers for the inspiration.

David Rowley

DIANE AND VALERIE,

Thank you for all you have done. You

have really made a difference. Your warmth
at your fingertips
and compassion bring hope to those in need.
Find Relief PPO Medical Plan details
Blessings,
Karen Access Relief member benefits and services
IN MEMORY OF DONALD C. View the Firemen’s Grapevine Magazine
WELCKER--ENGINEER
Check out upcoming events
Don was a good firefighter and friend.
He was also quite the practical joker. I remem-
ber leaving my cell phone on the kitchen table
at FS 27 and Don changed the language setting
to Spanish. It took me awhile to figure out how
to fix it and I never left my phone laying around
again. We had great times together at FS 27 and
FS 33. Don always encouraged me in my walk
with the Lord. I know that he is resting with the
angels now.

Charles Butler

JIM,

Don’t know if you remember us but

when I called and told you of my father pass-
ing, you—the face of the Firemen’s Relief
Association did more than what we expected.
Comin and presenting the flag that was flown
over a station was more than we ever expected.
Thank you for caring for all of us associated
with the Firemen’s Relief Association.

Blessing,
Darlene Moore—Daughter of Gene R. Miller

October 2019 • 51
 Submitted by Frank Borden • Director of Operations, LAFDHS

LAFD HISTORY – The Evolution of the LAFD Helicopters

Frank’s Note: vious wear, rust, dust and bird droppings had systems were in the same condition. They all
The LAFD has a great history of heli- left it a mess. Knowing it was necessary to take needed replacement. Aircraft fluid lines repre-
copters and the pilots and crews who worked it down to bare bones to paint and clean things sent a tidy expense and I questioned the LAFD
on them. One of our now retired pilots has been up, I had to cowboy up to the fact I made a Historical Society Board as to their objectives.
restoring our old (1963) Bell 47G-3B helicop- promise, and finally got going on the project. Do they want a simple static display or running
ter. Retired Pilot IV Jeff Moir, who is also an The next 2 years saw full disassembly, aircraft? I advised them how much it would
aircraft mechanic, came up with the idea. The painting of the aft tail boom, engine, tail ro- cost to clear this hurdle. They green-lighted
project is funded through donations of money tor and fuel tanks. Paint facilities and advice the fluid line purchase, and Fire 3 ran for the
and materials with support from the LAFDHS. provided by GSD Helicopter maintenance, and first time in 20 years in the summer of 2018.
Jeff developed a restoration plan and he has manpower by my comrades at Air Ops kept the The final stage of restoration called
been working on the aircraft for some time. project humming along. We got it back togeth- for paint on the forward cabin to replicate the
He completely disassembled it and worked er with the exception of paint on the forward 1960’s LAFD paint schemes. The helicopter
from the frame up sanding, painting and do- cabin and rotor blades. Then came retirement was trailered to the Downtown Shops, who
ing detailed work as only he could. He re- day. graciously provided materials and personnel
placed the “bubble” canopy and reupholstered It was no longer just a few steps out the that resulted in a beautiful and authentic final
the seats and interior. He even got the engine office door to tinker on the 47 project anymore. restoration. Jim Finn lined up an upholsterer
running again, but promised he would not fly Ultimately the project languished for over a for the seats and I did final paint and assembly
it. We thank the LAFD Shops for doing some year until I petitioned the Historical Society to of the rotor head.
of the finished paint work on it. Jeff’s detailed allow me to bring it home to finish it up. They Again, Fire 3 was trailered to Air Ops,
work is awesome, making the copter look like graciously allowed that, and the project was where it currently sits with the front-line air-
brand new again. What a great volunteer proj- back on track. craft and the members reverently keep it dust-
ect to take on making history of this 56 year Assembly progressed to the point ed off, in hopes of finding a permanent home
old “bird.” The copter is stored at the LAFD where starting and running the ship was a in one of the Historical Society’s facilities one
Air Operations facility at the Van Nuys Air- possibility. This helicopter has three systems day.
port. We are planning a special event with the that contain fluids: fuel, oil and hydraulics. As
LAFD for the “unveiling” of Old Copter 3 in soon as the first gallon of fuel went into the Jeff Moir
the near future. tanks, it came right back out of every seal and LAFD Air Ops (ret)
hose. It could be assumed oil and hydraulic
Jeff Moir’s Story:
My involvement with the project was a
result of a request by good friend and fellow
Helicopter Pilot Pat Quinn. Somehow, he con-
vinced me that I was the only hope for restor-
ing this classic piece of LAFD history to its
former glory. (He is quite skilled in putting
words together that make you feel more impor-
tant and instrumental than you really are).
I accepted the project probably 5-6
years prior to retiring. The helicopter had
been brought down from 109’s via flatbed and
was currently being stored at Air ops. I figured
“Heck, 5+ years to clean this thing up and get
it ready, working in my spare time at the sta-
tion? NO PROBLEM.” Well, little things like
making a promotion to Pilot IV along with an
ever-increasing workload left the little forlorn
helicopter out in the shed untouched for three
of those five remaining years. Mechanically it
was as good as the day they parked it, but pre- The Jeff Moir restored Bell 47 in the LAFD Air Operations hanger .

52 • October 2019
HOW DID WE GET FIRE 3,
THE BELL 47 G3B-L
By Pat Quinn, Retired LAFD Pilot
In the aftermath of the 1961 Bel Air
Fire, the fire that burned over 500 homes in
one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in
the city, the LAFD was looking to increase
its capabilities to fight wildfires. One of the
things the fire administration wanted to do was
increase the amount of airborne assets in the
form of more helicopters to supplement Fire 1,
a Bell 47 G3B, the general type made famous
by the movie and TV series MASH. To get the
city administration to go along with this plan,
an executive transport helicopter, Fire 2, a Bell
47 J-2A Ranger was purchased with the good
idea that it could be used as an aerial command
post during large emergencies. It was used ex-
tensively to transport Mayor Sam Yorty and his
wife but it was not a direct attack firefighter.
That led to the approval to purchase the
next helicopter, Fire 3, a Bell 47 G3B-l in 1963.
Fire 3 had more cabin width and a huge bub-
ble. It had more power with a 270 horsepower
turbo-supercharged Lycoming piston engine
for improved performance in hot weather and
high density altitudes. It had much taller land-
ing skids for improved ground clearance. It
carried more fuel, 57 gallons as opposed to
Fire 1’s 41 gallons. Cargo was carried in bas-
kets mounted to the skids and medical patients
were also carried in a Stokes basket mounted
on the skids. It was slow, with only about 80
miles per hour cruise speed. However, with its
quick removable 100 gallon water tank, Fire 3
was the state of the art airborne fighter for the
next three years.
During its days, Fire 3 fought a bunch
of large fires admirably and was an active par-
ticipant in some of the largest disasters ever to
befall Los Angeles. It was my privilege to fly
it during the initial stages of the Sylmar earth-
quake. It was Fire 3 that reported the veteran’s
hospital collapse, the threat of the Van Norman
Dam nearly failing and major damage to the
Olive View hospital.
The Jeff Moir restored Bell 47 in
the LAFD Air Operations hanger.
When I began to realize that I was fal- icals. This first helicopter was flown to Los
lible and my time as a LAFD pilot might be Angeles by two of the department’s first three
coming to an end, I saw that the old workhorse helicopter pilots, Firefighters Theodore “Bud”
Bell G3B-l that I had so many adventures in Nelson and Clarence Ritchey. The third of the
was sitting forlorn in the bone yard, ready to LAFD’s initial roster of helicopter pilots was
be auctioned off. I organized a large hangar Auto-Fireman Beverly Beckley. All had ex-
party at Air Operations and invited Chief En- tensive flight experience in military and civil-
gineer Don Manning and his staff along with ian rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. The LAFD
Sylvia Cunliff, the director of the Department helicopter’s first brush fire call came May 18,
of Fleet Services to thank her wonderful heli- 1962, to La Tuna Canyon.
copter maintenance staff for their outstanding A second helicopter, a Bell 47 J-2A,
work maintaining the LAFD fleet. At this par- was purchased and used as an aerial command
ty, I was able to arrange an agreement between post. As the Administration saw the value of
the two department heads that the Bell G3B-l the direct attack helicopter, another firefighting
be transferred to the Fire Department for the helicopter, a Bell 47 G3B-1. On a sad note one
LAFD museum. of the Bell 47 helicopters was destroyed dur-
It was stored for years, first at FS-99, ing a training flight, June 23, 1974. Firefighters
then at FS-I09. At the time of my retirement in Pilot Edward L. Hill, 39, and trainee Harold
1995, I obtained a promise from Jeff Moir, a Radcliffe, 37, were killed when the helicopter
highly skilled fire pilot and a talented aviation struck power lines in Big Tujunga Canyon and
mechanic, to finish the restoration of the Bell crashed.
47 G3B-l for the museum.
Thanks to Jeff, that dream now seems
within reach.
Retired LAFD Helicopter Pilot Pat Quinn
provided much of the following historic in-
formation for this story as he remembered it:
After a rash of large brush fires fought
by the LAFD in the late 1950’s, the Admin-
istration approached the United States Forest
Service and asked if one of their pilots could
come and brief them on airborne firefighting.
This was before any fire service was using he-
licopters in a direct attack mode. The Forest
Service answered with a question: Why are you
contacting us when one of our best pilots works
for you? That person was Theodore “Bud” Nel-
son. Bud was a WWII and Korean War combat Grapevine Cover, March 1962. Pilot Bud Nelson pre-
pilot who worked as a firefighter for the LAFD pares to take Chief Engineer William Miller for a ride
and moonlighted as an air attack airplane pilot in the new Bell helicopter.
flying war surplus borate bombers. Moonlight-
ing was frowned upon in those days, so the
Administration had no clue of Bud’s activities.
Bud was detailed to make a presentation to the
LAFD staff but much to their amazement, he
recommended they purchase a helicopter. Dur-
ing his flying with the Forest Service, Bud had
watched the construction of the Palm Springs
Aerial Tramway with the use of the then newly
developed turbo-supercharged Bell 47 G3 he-
licopters. Believing that they could be adapted
to a metropolitan fire service much better than
a fixed-wing aircraft, Bud was able to convince
the staff that it would be a wise purchase.
The LAFD put its first helicopter in
service, April 22, 1962. The Bell model 47- LAFD Helitak firefighter in full gear
G3B was a three- seater with a 260-horse- jumping from a Bell 47 copter.
power Lycoming six-cylinder engine equipped
with a turbocharger. The helicopter was 43-
feet long and could remain airborne for nearly It wasn’t long before the new helicop-
three hours. Built in Fort Worth Texas, the ship ters were involved in a major rescue operation.
was equipped by the LAFD with a 105 gallon On the afternoon of December 14th,
tank for dropping water or fire retardant chem- 1963, with swift suddenness, improbable trag-
October 2019 • 53
edy struck the Baldwin Hills section of Los
Angeles. Lost homes, ruined property and
even death flooded downward on a broad river
of rushing water from the broken dam at the
head of Cloverdale Road. Automobiles, frag-
ments of houses, and chunks of concrete were
rolled and jammed like logs down the flume
of the flood’s path to the bottom and depos-
ited in incongruous heaps on the ruins of Vil-
lage Green, which minutes before had been a
quiet Saturday-relaxed apartment community.
In the rushing disaster unwary residents were
trapped. On roofs, in second floor rooms, on
small insecure islands of debris, they signaled
desperately for help. And help was swift to
come. Unique in the rescue effort was the work
of the three helicopter pilots dispatched to the
The LAFD fleet of 3 Jet Rangers with water
tanks and 2 Bell 47 helicopters at the airport
LAFD Fire 3 Bell 412
OCTOBER 2019
54 • October 2019
scene, Fireman Theodore M. “Bud” Nelson,
Crash 90-C, Fireman Ross H. Reynolds, Crash
90-B and Fireman Howard L. Payne, Crash
90-C.
LAFD Helicopter Pilots Bud Nelson,
Ross Reynolds and Howard Payne earned
Medals of Valor for their heroic rescue of 18
flood victims.
Frank’s note about Pat: He received the
LAFD’s Medal of Valor for a helicopter res-
cue he made with Firefighter Frank Vidovich
on the cliffs of Point Fermin in San Pedro on
December 31, 1979. For the Fire Department,
he authored a manual for firefighting and res-
cues utilizing helicopters. It was adopted by
the industry and was used worldwide for more
Awesome photo of LAFD Augusta heli-
copter in the middle of an inferno
than twenty years. When he retired in 1995,
Bell Helicopter Company sent he and his wife
around the world lecturing on firefighting and
rescue with helicopters. Pat said “That was a
very special thank you!”
Today the LAFD has a fleet of six
copters, five of which are Agusta Westland
AW139’s. A brand new Agusta was just added
in August of this year. They are state of the
art copters very versatile and able to perform
many types of missions. They can carry 460
gallons of water with great maneuverability.
The price $17.5 million.
The LAFD Historical Society thanks
Jeff and Pat for their enormous contribu-
tion to the LAFD helicopter program and
its history!
The Erickson Air-crane Heli-
tanker, leased by the LAFD
LAFD Augusta helicopter
LAFD ANNUAL FALLEN FIREFIGHT-
ER’S MEMORIAL
On Saturday, October 12th the LAFD
will be having its Annual LAFD Fallen Fire-
fighters Memorial at the LAFDHS Museum
and Memorial in Hollywood. It is a time to re-
member those 269 members who made the ul-
timate sacrifice while on active duty and those
members who have passed on during the last
year, The beautiful memorial plaza that was
built in front on the museum which was old
Fire Station 27 was made for such occasions
and funded through donations and purchases
of memorial brick pavers.
LAFD Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial ceremony.
Scheduled for Saturday, October 12th.
 LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
August 7, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
President Bob Steinbacher called the
Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
to order at 9:40 a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: consultation and respond accordingly.
Bob Steinbacher, President
Jeff Cawdrey, Vice President
Trustee Kenneth Breskin
Trustee Henry Gasbarri
Trustee Rick Godinez
Trustee Steve Berkery
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Jim Duffy
Trustee Richard Moody
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Juan Albarran - Pension
Todd Layfer - Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller-Treasurer
MEMBERS ABSENT: for Vice President. Juan Albarran
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Gene Bednarchik
Trustee Joe Vigil
Trustee Gayle Sonoda
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Chris Stine
Trustee Tim Freeman
Trustee David Peters
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
Trustee Doak Smith – Pension
Trustee Tim Larson – Pension
GUESTS: we can make arrangements. He indicated
Steve Ruda, Community Liaison
Dave Wagner, Grapevine Editor
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Rick Godinez led the invocation. Kenny
Breskin led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Bob Steinbacher indicated that they would
need to ratify the July 10, 2019 Board
Meeting Minutes and all actions taken at
the next Board Meeting in August for lack
of a quorum.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Bob Steinbacher provided an update
on the Pension meeting and discussed
the requested additional information.
He indicated that LAFRA will seek
2) Bob Steinbacher informed the Board
that there will be open nominations for
President and Vice President for 2020.
Craig White nominated Jeff Cawdrey for
President. Jim Duffy seconded. There
were no other nominations for President.
Steve Berkery nominated Chris Stine for
Vice President. Craig White seconded.
There was no discussion or objections.
Bob Steinbacher nominated Tyler Tomich
seconded. There was no discussion or
objections.
3) Bob Steinbacher informed that the
Group 2 Trustees would be up for re-
election 1st of next year. Those in Group
2 included Rick Godinez, Craig White,
Danny Wu, Dave Peters, Joe Vigil, Gayle
Sonoda and Doak Smith (Pension).
4) Bob Steinbacher referred to the Board
Offsite on September 22nd and asked those
wanting a room to let him know so that
that they have a few items to discuss at the
offsite and suggested that Trustees submit
any other topics for discussion.
5) Bob Steinbacher referred to the LAFRA
Dinner Dance on December 7th and
indicated that they will have confirmation
of the venue by September Board meeting.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered into Executive Session
at 10:10 a.m.
The Board adjourned from Executive
Session at 10:44 a.m.
Member updates were discussed during
Executive Session. No actions were taken.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Jeff Cawdrey referred to the IFEBP
Conference in San Diego and indicated
that all the hotel rooms have been booked
and paid for.
2) Jeff Cawdrey informed that on Saturday,
August 10th, they have a meeting
scheduled with the Family Support Group
and families of the fallen to discuss the
upcoming Colorado Springs Memorial.
3) Jeff Cawdrey indicated that the
Sacramento Memorial is scheduled
September 28th and indicated that Joe and
Diane Vigil will be attending.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
1) Todd Layfer referred to the upcoming
Golf Tournament and indicated that
the Marketing Dept. will be doing a
demonstration of the online silent auction
software at the September Board meeting.
2) Todd Layfer referred to the new TPA
implementation and indicated that they
have been having weekly discussions with
HealthComp on the list of items needing
to be completed by January 1, 2020.
3) Todd Layfer informed that the new SPD
for the medical plan is available and can
be picked up with Member Services.
4) Todd Layfer and Liberty Unciano
presented the 2nd Quarter Expenditure
Review for 2019.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
REPORT
Jeff Cawdrey reported that we received a
capital call from Southwest Value Partners
for Fund 19. He informed that Jacobsen,
October 2019 • 55
Tomich and himself will be traveling to
Florida and Texas for investment manager
site visits.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
REPORT
Jeff Cawdrey presented the following
motions.
The committee recommends and I so
move to pay the usual and customary bills
in the amount of $781,012.83. There was
no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and
customary bills in the amount of
$781,012.83.
The committee recommends and I so move
to approve $300 for the 911 Memorial
Ceremony.
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve $300 for the
911 Memorial Ceremony.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Jeff Cawdrey presented the following
motion.
The committee recommends and I so move
to approve the prescription benefit totaling
$854,348.62. There was no discussion or
objections.
Motion carried to approve the pres-
cription benefit totaling $854,348.62.
RELIEF COMMITTEE REPORT
Steve Berkery presented the following
motion.
The committee recommends and I so
move to pay:
The Sick & Injury benefits in the amount
of $24,655.57
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount
of $6,600
The Life & Accident Withdrawals in the
amount of $9,683
56 • October 2019
The Life & Accident Death Benefits in the
amount of $24,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount
of $40,000
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the above Relief
benefits.
Steve Berkery read the names of members
who recently passed and asked for a
moment of silence from the Board.
MEMORIALS
Lyle D. Bartsch
Harold A. Gilbert
Gilbert E. Lindley
Jerome Martin
Alvin E. Miller
Donald C. Welcker
Gene R. Miller
John J. Adams
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
Steve Berkery presented the following
motions.
The committee recommends and I so move
to accept the donations in the amount of
$118,907.47 to the Widows, Orphans &
Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations
in the amount of $118,907.47 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.
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT
REPORT
Rick Godinez provided an update on
the upcoming Golf Tournament and
reported on the expected sponsorships.
He referred to the CPK fundraiser and
indicated that Bob Steinbacher attended a
check presentation for over $8,100 to the
WODFF.
SETTING OF DATES
1) IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial –
Sept 19 - 22
2) Trustee Board Offsite – September 22nd
3) LAFD Invitational Golf Tourn. –
September 23rd
4) CA Fire Foundation Memorial –
Sept 27 – 28
5) LAFD Memorial – October 12th
6) IFEBP Annual Conference –
Oct. 20th – 23rd
7) LAFRA Open House – November 2nd
8) LAFRA Dinner Dance – December 7th
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) David Bowdre – Saturday, August 17th
B @ Marina Del Rey Marriott (Burks)
2) Bob Decuir – Saturday, August 24th C
@ Greg’s Garage (Godinez)
3) John B. Hicks – Saturday, October 26th
C @ FS 114
ADJOURNMENT
Bob Steinbacher entertained a motion
to adjourn. Craig White so moved.
Juan Albarran seconded. There was no
discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn. The Board
of Trustees meeting adjourned at 11:21
a.m.
Bob Steinbacher, President
 Donations to Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund - September 2019

THESE FRIENDS OF THE WELCKER FAMILY • JOE AND KAY MATTA

DONATED $2571 TO THE WODFF AT DON’S • WAYNE AND HELENA VIVOLO
CELEBRATION OF LIFE • STEVE AND NANCY HILLIS
• SCOTT AND AMBER
• CHUCK BUTLER
• TIM KILBURN MARYCLAIRE SWEETERS
• KEVIN AND TONI
• DERRICK AND JERRILYN FIRE STATION 99 - COMMUNITY FUND
• RANDY OPPERMAN
• ADAM AND MADELEN DAVIS NETWORK FOR GOOD
• JENNIFER SCHWABAUER
• HERBIE AND SUSIE JOHNSTON JOHN L. PECEL in memory of Lane Kemper
• JUSTIN MENDENCE
• DAVE MELLOR RICHARD L. WATTERS
• MELISSA MESSER
• MARK AND JILL UPSON KIRK P. BINGHAM from the Retired FF Breakfast at
• MARK AKAHOSHI Mimi’s Restaurant in Thousand Oaks
• JOE KOVACIC
• CLEVE AND KELLY SKIDMORE JAMES P. LANGSFELD
• DOUG AND PAT ROM
• PHIL SHACKEL FIDELITY CHARITABLE in memory of
• DAN AND CHRIS MCCARTY John Nuttman
• RICHARD AND JUDY WILLIAMS
• CARLOS LIMON SHELLEY BROOKS in memory of Bob Brooks
• HILARY LACHOFF
• JIM AND CASEY PITILLO DANIEL J. KEMP in memory of John Nuttman
• ROBERT AND CATHY ROSARIO
• SCOTT HAMILTON HARRY M. MORCK in memory of Homer Miller
• PEARL
• PAT AND ALEX FRESCAS RAYMOND CIRANNA
• DWIGHT AND VICKI CROSLEY
• MARK GOZAWA DONALD O. MANNING
• MELISSA MOORE
• RICK AND JACQUE PRICE JANET E. FISCHER
• JERRY AND PAT BONGERS
• TODD SANDS GARY T. SHELFORD from the Simi Breakfast Klatch
• JIMMY RODRIGUEZ

October 2019 • 57
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place, washer/dryer. Includes
linens, sleeps 8. Summer: 2
nite min. $150/ N weekends;
$125/Mon-Thurs. plus $75
cleaning fee. Contact Ron
(626) 833-3437 or email:
espinoza.ron@gmail.com
BIG BEAR - Beautiful decked
2 story cabin. 2 bedroom, 1
bath. Sleeps six. Pets OK.
Near lake, slopes, shopping.
Fireplace/wood, cable/WiFi.
Fully furnished except linens.
Winter $120/$700. Summer
$110/$600. 2 night minimum.
Call Donna/Beep (760)723-
1475.
www.schaffercabin.com
HAVASU/BOATERS.
3bdrm(2king,1full) 2bath, turn-
key, w/d, WiFi, Dish, gas bbq,
1/2 mile to Windsor launch,
covered gated boat parking,
3 nites $450, $100 for each
additional nite- cleaning in-
cluded, pics available. Email:
rickpuglisi1103@msn.com
(626) 665-9890
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA
HOME. Across the street from
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
3Bed/2Bath in town of Speed-
way. Walk or bike to Main St.
Short drive, 7 miles, to Lucas
Oil Stadium,Downtown Indy,
Riverfront, Museums, Etc.
Available most dates except
May 20 to 27. Call Tina or
Craig at 805/377-0686 or
805/377-3640
JUNE LAKE CABIN -
2BR/2BA cabin with Carson
Peak view. Close to fishing &
skiing. Furnished, wood deck,
equipped kitchen, wood burn-
ing stove, tree swing, cable /
DVD/phone. Garage/ample
parking. $100/night plus clean-
Easton LAFD retired (805)
217-5602.
junebound@gmail.com
LAKE HAVASU AMAZING
LAKEVIEW HOME. 1800 sq.ft.
new construction, 3 bed, 2
bath, sleeps 8. (King, Queen,
Full 2xTwin). Fully furnished w/
linens, cable TV, laundry, large
kitchen, BBQ, 2 car garage.
3 miles from launch ramp. No
pets / no smoking. Call Karen
(661) 965-0542.
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 & restau-
rants. View of the lake. Quiet
street in good neighborhood.
No pets. No smoking. Snow-
bird rates. Call Mike (661)
510-6246
LAKE HAVASU LANDING.
TH1-29, Waterfront, 3 BD 3
BA, Furnished, Direct-TV,
DVD, WiFi, BBQ, Moor-
ing, Casino, Market, Launch
Ramp, Marina, Off Road
Trails, Gated, No Smoking/
Pets, $275 Weekday, $795
Weekend Fr-Sat, $1895 Week
7 Days, Maid $100, Resort
TOT fee 25% of total bill, bring
pillows and sheets, (310) 418-
1577, daggertooth@aol.com
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
included. 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, gro-
cery 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 amenities & pool
that easily sleeps 14+ people.
Centrally located, 1 mile from
the lake, close to downtown
shops and restaurants. Check
out home at
https://www.vrbo.
com/4648549ha
Call Julie 818-268-7906 for
special firefighter family rates.
LAKE HAVASU LANDING
RESORT BEACHFRONT
HOME with boat mooring.
Swim, ski or fish from front
yard. 4 bed/2 bath, fully fur-
nished. DirectTV/DVD/WiFi,
pool table, laundry, BBQ.
Gated community with casino,
groceries, marina, launch ramp
and off-road trails. No pets, no
smoking. $350 Bowen/Garner
email:
havasulanding27@gmail.
com
LOG CABIN NEAR JACK-
SON HOLE WY: Close to
Snake River, Grand Tetons,
Yellowstone, World Class Ski-
ing. Call (818) 207-0811 LAFD
Retired. Visit: www.aspenhill
cabin.com for all information.
MAMMOTH - 1 bedroom Sum-
mit condo, sleeps 6. Conve-
nient underground garage
parking. Jacuzzis, gym (pool/
tennis in summertime), shuttle
right outside! Across from
Eagle Lodge, Winter $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, La
Vista Blanc, Cozy 2 BD 2
BA, Furnished, WiFi, Cable,
Pool, Spa, BBQ, Sleeps 4,
Winter $120, Summer $90,
Maid $175, 14% TOT(6092),
No Smoking, (310) 540-4648,
pvignery@aol.com, (310) 418-
1577, daggertooth@aol.com
MAMMOTH CONDO AT
MAMMOTH 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 $355/night, Summer
$240/night, plus cleaning.
Includes city bed tax. No pets,
no smoking. Dory Jones (310)
918-0631 or Kelly Corcoran
(310) 619-5355
MAMMOTH CONDO. Up-
dated 2 bedroom 1 bath old
mammoth/ eagle lodge area.
Sleeps 6. Fully equipped
kitchen, wifi, pool, spa, laun-
dry. Walk to restaurants, bars,
stores, park and trolly. Winter
$150 summer $130 plus clean-
ing fee, holiday rates vary,
multiple night discounts. No
pets.Contact Will Nevins 26”B”
(714) 697-2587
MAMMOTH LAKES - One
bedroom, extremely charming
wildflower condo. Full ameni-
ties, close to shuttle. Antiques,
art, satellite TV, fireplace.
Sleeps 4. Winter $110, Sum-
mer $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. Summer $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 park-
ing, TV, VCR, DVD. Winter
Sun-Thurs $100.nite; Fri & Sat
$115/nite plus cleaning fee
$100. Non smoking complex.
Joel Parker, LAFD retired. SKI CLUB. Visit us at www.
email: cat25sailor@gmail. so-calrv.com or call (661)
com or (213) 399-6534. 297-2398 ask for Jeff. Make
money with your motorhomes
MAUI’S MOST BEAUTIFUL to offset your payment. We
BEACH - Napili Bay. Beautiful sub-lease RV’s!
furnished condo that sleeps
4. Lanai/balcony, full kitchen,
king bed, flat screen TV’s/
DVD, AC’s free WiFi (internet),
complimentary maid service,
complimentary 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
NASHVILLE CONDO. Two
bedroom condo, sleeps 6, in
Downtown Nashville. Walk- For
ing distance to Broadway St,
hockey and NFL stadium.
Contact Wayne, LAFD @
advertising
(805) 796-7863 for availability
and price. information,
PALM DESERT CONDO.
Montery Sands, 3 BD 2 BA,
please
Furnished, WiFi, Cable, Pool,
Jacuzzi, Tennia, Sleeps 6 max, contact:
$150 Night, $800 Week, $2950
Month, Maid $150, 11%
TOT(STR2019-0002), Up
Charge for Concerts, No
Smoking/Pets, (310) 418- Eric Santiago
1577, daggertooth@aol.com
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (323) 259-5231
Romantic Chalet Family
getaway. 3 bed/2 bath plus or
loft. Sleeps 8–10. Cable TV,
washer/dryer, microwave,
woodburning stove. 7 minutes email:
to casinos and Heavenly.
Located in Tahoe Paradise.
$115 per night plus cleaning.
eric@lafra.org
Call Shawn or Rose Agnew
at (661) 250-9907 or (661)
476-6288.
MOTORHOMES
FOR RENT
MOTORHOMES FOR RENT.
Several Class C’s & Class
A’s for rent. Serving family
and friends for over 15 years.
LAFD, LASD, IPD, OXPD, OX-
FIRE, LACO, LACITY, LACITY
October 2019 • 59
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60 • October 2019
 Fire Station 34
Fire Station 34 under construction at
3834 South Western Avenue. Circa 1914

Engine Company No. 3 “A” Platoon July 3, 1938- Engineer T. Dis-

ney, Captain J. Hoffman, Fireman J. Terrill, Fireman G. E. Wilcox

Fire Station No. 34 - 3661 Seventh Avenue - Date Opened: Febru-

ary 23, 1951 - Land Cost: $13,750.00 - Construction Cost: Archi-
tectural: $8,247.61, Contract Cost: $109,695.00, Change Orders:
$324.10, Public Bldg. Costs: $4,043.13, Total: $122,309.84

Present Day Crew. Photo by David Blaire

34’s Foam Carrier responded to a gasoline tanker fire on the NB

101 Freeway in the early 1990’s. Photo by David Blaire

October 2019 • 61
 Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
7470 N Figueroa Street
Los Angeles CA 90041-1725

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