Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society

30 years ago tonight. Universal Studios Hollywood fire. A mutual aid assignment from the LA City Fire Department to assist the LA County Fire Department at the facility. Pictured is LAFD Engine 85 who made the trek all the way from Harbor City. Credit to the photographer.

https://vimeo.com/465915048?ref=fb-share

‘A CRASH COURSE FOR FIREMEN’ Los Angeles Times January 30, 1972

‘DIAL 0 FOR RESCUE’ The Firemen’s Grapevine January 1965

THE TRANSITION TO LAFD EMS The LAFD civilian ambulance personnel would work 8 hour shifts until March 1973, when their schedule was changed to Platoon Duty, in alignment with fire suppression members. The following was originally posted on this LAFDHS group on November 13, 2013 (note that the new LAFD personnel initially wore their Receiving Hospital badges):... Los Angeles Firemen's Grapevine article, October 1970 - "YOUNG ATTENDANTS FIND NEW HOME WORKING WITH DEPARTMENT. Attendants left to right, Dan Cypert, Alan Cowen, *Richard Houle and John Stuckey have finished their first month with the Los Angeles City Fire Department at Station 22. They responded to 606 emergency responses during the month of July. All of the men voiced that they enjoyed working with the fire department personnel and hoped that they found a new home." *corrected from Robert This was the transitional period when the LAFD absorbed the city's ambulance service (Brown Bombers) and transferred them from Central Receiving Hospital and police stations into various firehouses.

1970 RESCUE AMBULANCE ASSIGNMENTS When the LAFD assumed control of the City’s Emergency Ambulance Service on July 1, 1970, the following Rescue Ambulance (RA) resources were staffed out of fire stations throughout the City of Los Angeles: RA1 - existing... RA4 - new RA10 - new RA13 - new RA15 - new RA22 - new RA27 - new RA30 - new RA32 - new RA34 - new RA35 - new RA38 - existing RA39 - existing RA53 - existing (Rescue Heart Unit) RA55 - existing RA60 - existing RA62 - new RA64 - existing (RA265 moved to 64’s) RA65 - existing RA66 - new RA68 - new RA72 - existing RA74 - existing RA87 - existing RA89 - existing RA98 - existing RA100 - existing Back-up Rescue Ambulances (cross-staffed): RA239 - existing RA266 - new RA289 - existing RA298 - existing RA304 - existing

NEW RESCUE 1 & RESCUE 55 In February 1970, the final pre-consolidation expansion of the LAFD Rescue Ambulance program occurred in the communities of Lincoln Heights, Eagle Rock, and Highland Park. Rescue 1 and Rescue 55, along with a new back-up rescue ambulance at Fire Station 12, would complete the 14 RA units the LAFD had going into the July 1, 1970 takeover of the Receiving Hospital Department Emergency Ambulance Service.

Some pages from the 1957/58 Fire Officer's Guide with the Preface written by Deputy Chief Charles W. Bahme,the newly appointed director of the Bureau of Personal and Training for the Los Angeles Fire Department. There are 148 amazing pages of both technical information and a large section labeled hazardous materials and chemical index. Very comprehensive. Everything you need to know as an officer and small enough to keep with you. Our museum has a few of them and from different years. For your enjoyment I am posting the table of contents as the list is also amazing.

NEW RESCUE AMBULANCE 265 On January 18, 1969 a second ambulance Rescue 265 was added for workload relief to Fire Station 65 in Watts. It would remain here for a relatively short period of time until ambulance service was established at Fire Station 64 in Watts. Also in early 1969, Rescue 38 was established at Fire Station 38 in the community of Wilmington to bolster LAFD ambulance coverage in the Harbor area.... Of interesting note, Rescue 265 would return to Fire Station 65 for workload relief in July 1990, but this time as a paramedic ambulance (upgraded from Rescue 865, est’d. Dec. 1987). The second iteration of Rescue 265 would last considerably longer than the first. However, on July 5, 2011, following an assessment of call volume and resource distribution in conjunction Citywide resource cuts, Rescue 265 would relocate to Fire Station 64 to become Rescue 264. On the same day, a new Rescue 865 was established in place of Rescue 265. The photos below were taken in October 1970 as part of a made-for-television fire safety commercial. Fire Station 65, Battalion 13, and citizens from the community of Watts participated in the filming. The news article is courtesy of the Los Angeles Times.

NEW RESCUE AMBULANCE FOR WATTS AND SOUTH LOS ANGELES On October 16, 1968 the LAFD expanded its emergency ambulance service to the Watts and South Los Angeles communities through the addition of Rescue 65. With this 10th rescue ambulance, the LAFD would now provide exclusive service to the entire southern portion of the City of Los Angeles from Manchester Avenue in South LA to Point Fermin Park in San Pedro.... While the ultimate fate of the City’s Receiving Hospital Department was far from decided in 1968, this was the first time the LAFD assumed responsibility for an existing City ambulance service area. The residents of Watts and South LA would see an immediate improvement in service and response times with the addition of Rescue 65.

LAFD RESCUE AMBULANCE SERVICE EXPANDED TO THE HARBOR AREA San Pedro and Wilmington had long been served under contract by a private ambulance provider not the City Receiving Hospital Emergency Ambulance Service. In early July 1968, the City Council voted 8-2 to provide LAFD Rescue Ambulance service to the communities of San Pedro and Wilmington. ... On July 29, 1968, Rescue 53 entered service as the City’s ninth rescue ambulance, and it would soon be used to pilot a new paramedicine program. News clipping: Los Angeles Times

8TH VALLEY RESCUE AMBULANCE The LAFD Rescue Ambulance program had proven to be an enormous success. A seventh unit was added in Fiscal Year 1962/63, followed by an eighth Rescue 89 on January 28, 1968. The idea of the LAFD expanding Rescue Ambulance service outside of the San Fernando Valley was the subject of passionate debate during much of the 1960’s. ... Rescue 89 would end up being the first of three such units added within the City of Los Angeles in 1968... News clipping: Los Angeles Times

THE RESCUE AMBULANCE IS BORN Caption: Firemen from Engine Co. 60 of North Hollywood, Don Hoffman, 31, at two-way radio, and Joe Vitale, 32, driving, depart for emergency call. Photo and caption: Los Angeles Public Library.... Rising contract costs, increased service demands, poor quality of service, and dissatisfaction with response times in the San Fernando Valley and the Sunland-Tujunga area prompted the City Council to take action. The City Council passed an ordinance to consolidate the existing (non-ambulance) LAFD Rescue Service in the San Fernando Valley with a new fire department ambulance service staffed by 72 medically trained firefighters. The new service was initiated on July 1, 1957 and term Rescue-Ambulance was born. Rescue Ambulances were initially assigned to Fire Stations 60, 72, 74, 81, 87 and 88.

50 years ago today. Sunday July 5, 1970. Citizens watch LAFD fire crews preparing to bring Snorkel 3 upright after it tipped over during a fire investigation in Downtown Los Angeles. During the investigation, an LODD incident occurred killing Fireman Thomas Collier of Engine 3. https://www.flickr.com/phot/lafdhs/albums/72157676685031445