9-11 Remembering

(photos: FDNY)

Please view a wonderful tribute by the FDNY to honor the 343 Firefighters that died trying to save many. Let us never forget those that gave all on this day in 2001. 

Colorado Wildfire T-Shirts Help Victims

Over the last month, Colorado has been devastated by a series of wildfires destroying forest and homes alike.  A group of graphic designers have gotten together to help by selling t-shirts were all proceeds go to assist wildfire relief agencies.  Another great example of design helping out in a time of need. Show your support and help out by visiting Wild Fire Tees.

Hacienda Fire - La Habra Heights, CA

On the afternoon of November 23, I assisted on a brush fire of several acres on Hacienda Blvd. in La Habra Heights, CA. The fire broke out on a hillside and endangered several homes at the crest including a senior housing unit. I worked as the incident commander for the La Habra Heights Fire Department and set up a unified command with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. LHHFD responded with 3 engines, a rescue squad and two command vehicles. LACoFD responded mutual aid with a full brush assignment which included numerous engines, hand crews, air attack helicopters, and command personnel. The fire was knocked down in approximately one hour followed by several hours of checking for hotspots. Many thanks to all the firefighter from La Habra Heights Fire Department and the LACoFD in helping to control this fire quickly and saving all endangered homes.

Change Your Clock, Change Your Batteries

Don't forget that when your change your clocks back this evening to also change the batteries in your smoke detectors. I have seen first hand how a working smoke detector saves lives. The $3 investment may save you and your family's life should a fire break out. Change It Up, Test It Out - Make sure your Smoke Detector Works.

Final Salute For Two Fallen LACoFD Firefighters

Yesterday I had the honor to attend a moving ceremony hosted by the Los Angeles County Fire Department at Dodger's Stadium for Captain Ted Hall and Firefighter Specialist Arnie Quinones. Capt. Hall and Firefighter Specialist Quinones where killed during the fire fight at the Station Fire, a wildfire in the nearby Angeles National Forest on August 30th. Both Hall and Quinones where from Camp 16 and where trying to find a safe route off the mountain for their crews when their truck tragically fell off a cliff killing them both. They both where remembered as true firefighters who loved the job and died protecting their crews. The memorial was attended by Vice President Biden and Gov. Schwarzenegger along with many other officials, families, and firefighters from around the country. The memorial included traditional firefighter honors of taps, bagpipers, and a ringing of the last alarm of 5-5-5. The service concluded with a flyover from helicopters in a missing man formation. The memorial was a wonderful tribute to these brave men who are a loss to the fire service and who will not be forgotten.

Remembering 9-11

Let us not forget those that perished this day in 2001 in NYC, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. View a tribute to fellow firefighters that where lost on September 11, 2001 from the FDNY. You are not forgotten my brothers.

One Of Those Days

Ever feel like you are having one of those days? Engine 60 from Los Angeles City Fire (LAFD) had one of those days investigating a water leak this morning. Read more at the LA Times.

(Photo- Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Station Fire

(view of Station Fire from space)

I got back yesterday from several days working on the Station Fire at the Angeles National Forest just outside of Los Angeles. I was serving as a captain on one of the hundreds of engines that are trying to put a stop to the fire that has grown to over 219 square miles (140,000 acres) in size.

Fire Captain Tedmund "Ted" Hall

Firefighter Specialist Arnaldo "Arnie" Quinones

Tragically, two firefighter have been killed in the line of duty trying to control this huge blaze. On Sunday, August 30th, Fire Captain Tedmund "Ted" Hall and Firefighter Specialist Arnaldo "Arnie" Quinones, both from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, where killed when their emergency response vehicle went over the side and fell 800 feet into a steep canyon during fire suppression activities protecting Camp 16 in the City of Palmdale.

The fire is at 22% containment so a lot of work is still to be done. So far 92 structures have been destroyed of which 62 where residential homes. Let us all hope for a quick end to the Station Fire and no further injuries or deaths.

To my fellow firefighters, be safe out there.

Photos of Fire

As some of you know, I serve as a volunteer fire captain in my local city, when I am not designing or teaching. Last Friday morning, we where called to a home on fire. Upon arrival, heavy fire conditions where present. I managed to take a few images from the night. Several of my photos where published on the Firehouse.com site, one of the leading firefighter websites.

Designed for Fire

I attended a firefighter conference last month and found this beautiful antique engine that has been lovingly restored. The engine, a United / Kenworth, was used at the Beverly Hill Fire Department in 1941. This design anew is reflective of autos from the time and of the great progress in design that came about after WWII.

Freeway Fire

I have been busy the last three days working as a Fire Captain on the "Freeway Fire" in Yorba Linda and Brea areas of California. I was assigned to the fire at 4 pm on Saturday. Our task was to assist in the extinguishment of homes burning and prevent the fire from spreading to additional homes. The photos are some that I was able to take over the last 72 hours.

Out On The Line

I have not been able to blog for the last two weeks since I was called up to help fight the numerous wildland fires in California. I was first sent to a fire outside of Yosemite for several days. Then our Strike Team was send up north to the Shasta area for another series of fires. Finally we where dispatched to the Lake Isabella area for yet another fire. The fires are still burning in many parts of the state and will take several more weeks to fully contain them all.

The Start of Fire Season

In Southern California this past Saturday, the first major fire of the year started in the Sierra Madre area of Los Angeles County. I went up on Sunday as a captain on a Strike Team to help with its containment. I got back on Tuesday after a long 48 hours just in time to teach. Usually we don't have to worry about fire for a few months but if this is a sign of things to come, we are in for a long season.

FireStorm 2007

Today I would like to take a detour from the main focus of this blog. In additon to working as a designer, I have been an active volunteer / paid-call fire fighter for the past 16 years. Currently I am working as a Fire Captain with the La Habra Heights Fire Department located in Los Angeles County. I was called out to help on the recent brush fires that devastated Southern California. At this point the fires are under control but the rebuilding is just starting. My thoughts are with those that lost so much and I hope their lives can return to normal soon. To view additional images that I took during my assignments in Malibu and San Diego County please click on this link.