LAFD CERT Battalion 17

Hello Battalion 17, I was just reading about the potential for rain over the next 2 weeks. We just got out of Santa Ana winds and now we are looking at a lot of rain. Please make sure you have cleared your gutters and any drains on your property. If you come to a flooded intersection and the water is over the curbs, don't proceed through. https://www.cnn.com//southwest-rain-forecast-pattern-chang

Hello Battalion 17, With the LAFD pausing on going CERT training, there are additional resources for building our neighborhood teams. Patrick Botz-Forbes, The LAFD Central Bureau coordinator has started a program to assist in building these teams. If you are interested in joining a local team or lead a local team for when the next disaster occurs, this is the best way. There is no CERT training requirement so pass it on to your neighbors. We are only as strong as our neighbo...rhood teams. Follow the link below to begin your sign up. You should know which fire station is closest to you also known as "First in" https://www.ntp-la.org/

Thanks Paul Shively. Power line safety refresher! Monday evening wind gusts of up to 50 mph are forecast and as high as 70 mph on Tuesday. How to engage downed power lines? DON'T! Stay far away. Do not try to get close to determine if they are energized. The Grid will make several attempts to energize the interrupted circuit and it may re-energize when you least expect it. ... If the ground is moist in anyway, it may be energized as well. Fencing or vehicles adjacent to the downed power line may also become energized. There are no hero’s in this situation. Stay back, keep others away and call 911. See more

Hello Battalion 17, We have extreme fire weather coming this week starting tomorrow, with winds expected at high as 70 mph on Tuesday. Please make sure you secure any loose patio furniture unless you were planning on giving it to your neighbor. There will likely be widespread power outages due to downed wires. If you come to an intersection and the lights are out, please treat it as a 4-way stop. After our last power outage, I saw many people just blow through intersections when the power was out. Be cautious. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php

Happy New Years Battalion 17, We have a mild Santa Ana winds coming this week with unseasonably warm temperatures, Mid 80s on Friday. We have not had enough rain to have an impact on our dry brush. Please be aware of your surroundings. Expect possible downed wires. If you have added Pulsepoint to your phones you should consider doing so. You should follow LAFD Valley bureau as well as LA County division 3 North end of the Valley and Division 7 Calabasas and Santa Monica Mountains. You should set up for Vegetation fires on your notifications.