LAFD CERT team at work…safely
At times the LAFD CERT Team has been activated for very specific tasks….always masked, distanced in their interaction with the public and LAFD. Here are some examples from Chin Thammasaengsri, South Bureau Coordinator:
UPDATE STRUCTURE FIRE KNOCKDOWN 01/15/2021 INC#1012
Along with the warmer temperatures, came requests for CERT Hydration operations at the scene of fires in Los Angeles. This one took place in the Harvard Heights section of Los Angeles (Pico & Normandie). Your CERT team was honored to be a part of the effort.
PS – After being released from the incident, we happened upon a “Still Alarm” which was a woman suffering from “difficult breathing.” We radioed it into Metro, got some of the firefighters working the structure fire, and assisted as needed until the dispatched RA arrived.
Update KNOCKDOWN Structure Fire; INC#1012; 02:55PM; 1239 S Normandie Av; https://bit.ly/3oP27XI; Harvard Heights; After being elevated […]
CERT Safety “Officer”
An LAFD Incident Safety Officer is a senior member of the Command Team on incidents. Their job is to ensure scene safety by foretelling unsafe scenarios, conditions, and behaviors before they take place. Their job commences the moment they’re assigned as Safety Officer to the stop of the incident clock, including overhaul. They are constantly weighing the risk of the action versus what will be gained by that action.
Walk the concrete halls of the LAFD Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center, a stout monster of a building, and you’ll encounter walls lined with fire incidents captured on camera: networks of hose lines strewn about in the middle of columns of apparatus surrounding buildings as black and white billowy smoke erupt from windows and vents. Daring offensive operations depicting black scarred turnouts, feet from glowing infernos as yellow and orange helmeted figures mount aggressive fire attacks from street level doorways and neighboring rooftops. Scenes […]
LAFD CERT assists Department on Disabilities Meal Distribution
LAFD CERT assists Department on Disabilities Meal Distribution during the Covid-19 pandemic in Los Angeles, CA.
LAFD Chief Terrazas thanks LA CERT volunteers
LAFD Chief Terrazas
Feb. 2020 – LAFD CERT Spotlight – Sally Thompson
The Los Angeles Fire Department CERT Program is proud to introduce Sally Thompson as February’s LAFD CERT Spotlight.
Sally grew up in the San Fernando Valley with her family roots now extending to her beautiful granddaughter. Sally’s incredible work ethic was instilled years ago as she began working as a restaurant server with little surprise, a career in restaurant hospitality is where she remained. Early on in her restaurant career, Sally was given the opportunity to shine as a manager. Leading teams as the general manager of some of the most popular restaurants in the San Fernando Valley and Glendale, California, Sally finally landed at the Daily Grill where she left an 18 Year legacy.
When asked the question of what first brought Sally to CERT, “Little did I know that working in this industry would be akin to CERT. In restaurants, an every week occurrence is slips and falls, […]
LAFD Welcomes Two New CERT Instructors
The Los Angeles Fire Department CERT Program is excited to introduce Firefighter CERT Instructors Joe Santa Maria and Ted Debs to our team! A very Special Thank You to Council Member Bob Blumenfield CD3 and the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office for their supportive actions and collaboration that has increased CERT Training opportunities for the community, with these (2) additional LAFD CERT Instructor positions.
Firefighter Joe Santa Maria is a 19 Year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department with fire suppression experience spanning across Los Angeles. Firefighter Santa Maria was assigned to Fire Station 39 (VanNuys, CA), Fire Station 68 (Mid-City, Los Angeles), (LAFD Fire Station 61 – Miracle Mile (Los Angeles Fire Department)), and finally his last assignment Fire Station 85 (Harbor City, California). Firefighter Santa Maria is Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Certified and is a fluent Spanish speaker. Joe spends […]