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 VOL. XCX October 2023 NO. 2

• FEATURES •
Fighting Fire with Wind —Whoosh! • .........................06
The Benefits of Ice Baths • ..............................................08

21st Annual St. Baldrick Event • ...................................10

• CONTENTS •
President’s Message • ...........................................................................05
Battalion News • .....................................................................................13
Remembering Daniel P. Ramerez • ........................................................41
Trustee Elections • .................................................................................42
The Coasters
A Leisurely Cruise • ...........................................................................45
Retirement Dinner Announcements • ...................................................45
Memorials • ...........................................................................................46
Retired Guy
Dr. Bryan Wayne • ...............................................................................47
2023 LAFD Golf Club Memorial Championship • ..................................48
The Station Fridge • ..............................................................................51
LAFD History
Drill Tower Part 7 • ..........................................................................52
Donations • .............................................................................................54
Minutes of the Board of Trustees • ........................................................55
Classifieds • ...........................................................................................58
Tailboard
Fire Station 18 • ...................................................................................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 © 2023
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association.
No material may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

2 • October 2023
On the cover: Firefighter Hishinuma getting’ dirty in the dark. Photo | Taskforce 21

Photo Inset: Recruit Class 22-5 graduates. Photo | Gary Apodaca

October 2023 • 3
 FIREMEN’S GRAPEVINE
owned and published by the
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
7470 N Figueroa Street, Los angeles CA 90041

EDITORIAL STAFF
John Hicks • Managing Editor............................................editor@lafra.org
Eric Santiago • Creative Editor...............................................eric@lafra.org
Display Advertising.................................................(323) 259-5200 ext. 231

PSO’s
Erik Scott, Nicholas Prange, Margaret Stewart

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Art Sorrentino, Deborah Lew, Mark Khitikian

PHOTOGRAPHERS
Gary Apodaca, David Blaire, Brandon Buckley, Chris Eckenrode, Greg Doyle,
Harry Garvin, Yvonne Griffin, Justin Johnson, Gavin Kaufman, Mike Meadows,
Kyle Rausch, Jacob Salzman, Adam VanGerpen, Rick McClure, Jason Stilwell

LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION

Chris Stine .............................................................President
Jim Duffy ........................................................Vice-President
Jim Dolan, Steve Ruda & Gene Bednarchik.......Community Affairs Liaisons

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Brian Wall JD Fox Mike Sailhamer
Cesar S. Garcia Jeff Halloran Milton Quintana
Craig White John King Paul Duke
Danny Wu John Jacobsen Steve Berkery
Derwin Pitts John Marasco Steve Tufts
Elber Navarro Juan Albarran Steven Jones
Frank Aguirre Kenny Breskin Tyler Tomich

CHAPLAINS
To contact a chaplain, please call Senior Chaplain, Tim Werle at
(213) 797-2404 or the MFC Floor Captain at (213) 576-8920

Kevin Smith..........................Chaplain Tim Werle............................Chaplain

Danny Leon..........................Chaplain Mark R. Wolf......................Chaplain
George A. Negrete..............Chaplain Jesus Pasos.........................Chaplain
Daniel Lee............................Chaplain Rick Godinez........................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
Vivian Dang • 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

HealthComp
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: $60. Single issues $5 postpaid. Back issues $8
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 253. 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. The Fire-
men’s Grapevine uses Chat.openai.com as an editing and sourcing resource. Articles written in this publica-
tion may contain information from such source.

4 • October 2023
 It wouldn’t be October without Halloween. The celebration’s
origins go all the way back to the Gaelic people of modern-day England,
Scotland, and Ireland, who celebrated the festival of Samhain. Among
other activities, the original celebrants of Samhain would dress in cos-
tumes or disguises and go door-to-door receiving gifts of food, much
like how today’s children dress up and receive treats!
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO JOIN THE LAFRA PPO
PLAN! The month of October is your opportunity to join the Relief
Association PPO Medical Plan. The LAFRA PPO Medical plan is one
of the richest in plan benefits available on the market, allowing you to
use the vast comprehensive Anthem network of providers. One of the
most unique benefits of The Relief Medical PPO plan is the fact that we,
your elected Trustees, can oversee and improve your plan based on your
feedback. What other medical plan that you have access to has the
ability to serve you in this way? The effective date for you and your de-
pendents will be January 1, 2024. If you have any questions or just want
to inquire about the LAFRA Medical Plan, contact Member Services
representatives at 323-259-5223 or Member-Services@lafra.org
Elections for LAFRA Trustees will be held this month begin-
ning on October 22nd at 9 A.M. and will run through November 22nd at
10 A.M. There are six active positions and one pension position up for
election, representing one-third of the entire Board of Trustees. If you
have an interest in running, please fill out the form on page 43 and turn
it in by October 13th, 2023, at 5 P.M. On October 22nd, 2023, you will
start receiving an email and/or text message from Invitations@mail.
election-buddy.com to vote. The text message to vote will provide a link
and come from either 1-877-225-8712 or 1-877-225-8482. You will have
the options to vote via the email link or text message link if LAFRA has
your contact information. If you do not have an email address or phone
number on file with LAFRA, you will receive a paper ballot. Included
in the paper ballot will be instructions on how to vote online, or you can
complete the paper ballot. If you have any questions or do not receive an
email, text, or paper ballot, reach out to lafra@electionbuddy.com
We have some incredible news to share that’s sure to ener-
gize your wellness journey! Prepare to wave goodbye to the old and
embrace the new as we transition to the amazing Sharecare Total Fitness
program, offered in partnership with FitOn Health. Get ready to unlock
a realm of fitness possibilities that will empower you like never before.
All the changes you see below are set to take effect on November 1,
2023.
Access to 14,000+ Gyms and Studios: Imagine having access
to over 14,000 gyms and studios at your fingertips! From 24 Hour Fit-
ness and CrossFit to Gold’s Gym, The Bar Method, LA Fitness, and
more, you’re about to embark on a fitness journey with unprecedented
options.
Teen Fitness: We’re all about inclusivity, and that extends to
our young fitness enthusiasts aged 13 and up. Dependents are active
until age 26. They can create their own accounts to sign up for classes,
meaning the whole family can stay active and engaged together.
Unleash Your Potential: With unlimited monthly credits, you’ll
have the freedom to explore fitness like never before. Use credits for
single classes or a membership to a specific gym. With access to more
gyms, there are no boundaries to how often you can embrace your fit-
ness goals.
Seamless Transition, No Disruption: Change is on the hori-
zon, but worry not! The shift to Total Fitness and FitOn Health will be
a breeze with our white glove service, ensuring minimal disruption to
your fitness routine. We’re here to guide you through registration and
app download to make the switch seamless.
Please join us for this year’s 2023 LAFD Invitational Golf
Tournament held Monday, October 16, 2023, at Woodland Hills Coun-
try Club (21150 Dumetz Rd Woodland Hills, CA 91364). If you are look-
ing to golf, or come out and support your Widows, Orphans & Disabled
Firefighters Fund, there is an opportunity for you to join in on the activi-
ties.
The LAFD Invitational features:
• A full round of tournament play
• Closest to the pin, longest drive, putting and hole-in-one contests
• Golf ball drop
• On-course lunch
• 19th Hole Cocktail Reception & Delicious Buffet Dinner
• Prizes awarded to the top four teams and 1st place contest winners
Open House 2023
The time of year has arrived for the LAFRA Open House party.
Enjoy a complimentary buffet that includes a carving station, slider bar,
yummy desserts and so much more. THIS YEAR WE ARE HONOR-
ING THE WORK & DEDICATION OF LAFD CAPTAIN KEITH
BANDY. Bring your family and appetite! Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief
Association: 7470 N. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90041; Saturday,
November 4, 2023; Noon- 4 P.M. Valet parking will be provided.
Dates to Remember:
• SOCAL FF Over the Line - October 4, 2023
• LAFD Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony - October 14, 2023
• California Firefighter Memorial Ceremony - October 14, 2023
• 2023 LAFD Invitational Golf Tournament - October 16, 2023
• LAFRA Open House - November 4, 2023
• LAFRA Holiday Party - December 9, 2023.
Christopher Stine
president@lafra.org
323.259.5202
October 2023 • 5
 Wildfires are one of the most destruc-
tive and deadly natural disasters, causing ex-
tensive damage to land, homes, and other prop-
erty, and posing a significant risk to human
life. Firefighters and other first responders use
a wide range of tools and techniques to combat
wildfires, from bulldozers and helicopters, to
water lines and foam suppressants. However,
there is one tool most don’t even think about
when it comes to firefighting—a leaf blower.
Yes, that common yard tool used on a daily
basis can also be an effective firefighting tool
when used properly. In this article, we’ll dis-
cuss the advantages and limitations of using a
leaf blower to fight wildfires and small grass
fires, as well as some best practices for using
this tool safely and effectively.
Advantages of Using a Leaf Blower
One of the main advantages of using a
leaf blower to fight wildfires is that it can be
an effective tool for creating firebreaks. Fire-
breaks are cleared strips of land that are de-
signed to prevent the spread of fire by remov-
ing fuel sources, such as vegetation, leaves, and
other combustible materials. Creating a fire-
break is a crucial tactic in fighting wildfires, as
it can help contain the fire and prevent it from
spreading to other areas.
Leaf blowers are particularly useful
for creating firebreaks in areas where larger
equipment, such as bulldozers, can’t be used.
For example, leaf blowers can be used to clear
vegetation and debris away from homes, from
narrow canyons, steep slopes, and other hard-
to-reach areas. By clearing away fuel sources
with a leaf blower, Firefighters can create a
barrier that can help slow or stop the progress
of a wildfire.
Another more environmentally safe ad-
vantage of using a leaf blower is that it is less
damaging to the environment than some other
firefighting tools. For example, using bulldoz-
ers or other heavy equipment to clear vegeta-
tion can damage the soil and create erosion.
Leaf blowers, on the other hand, are less likely
to cause soil compaction or other environmen-
tal damage.
Limitations of Using a Leaf Blower
While leaf blowers can be a useful tool
for fighting wildfires, they are not without their
limitations. One of the main limitations is
that they are only effective for small fires. For
6 • October 2023
larger fires, more powerful equipment, such
as bulldozers, helicopters, and water lines, are
needed to contain and extinguish the flames.
Another limitation of using a leaf blow-
er is that it can be dangerous if not used prop-
erly. Leaf blowers can generate a lot of dust and
debris, which can be hazardous to Firefighters
and other people in the area. The blower has a
tendency to blow up a lot of duff and debris,
and under winding conditions, may cause the
material to be blown all around you, starting
additional spot fires behind you. Firefighters
should always be aware of wind conditions and
directions when using a leaf blower.
Using a Leaf Blower to Fight Wildfires
To use a leaf blower safely and effec-
tively in fighting wildfires, there are several
best practices that firefighters should follow.
First and foremost, it is important to wear ap-
propriate personal protective equipment (PPE),
such as goggles (a must), a dust mask, and ear
protection. This will help protect Firefighters
from dust and debris, as well as from the noise
generated by the leaf blower.
Know your tools limitation. This tool
is not meant to be used on a large direct fire
attack, but there are some instances where a
leaf blower may be helpful in controlling small
fires. For example, if you are conducting con-
trolled burns, a leaf blower can be used to help
control the direction and intensity of the fire.
A good example of this is deploying
personnel with a leaf blower on the flanks of
a spreading grass fire. Start by directing the
air flow at the base of the fire and blowing the
flame back into the burn. Begin with a low set-
ting and gradually increase the power as need-
ed. Move quickly and with intent to cover as
much space as possible in the shortest amount
of time without causing gaps in your progress.
Since the air flow may extinguish the flames
quickly, but not remove all heat, cold trailing
techniques such as shoveling or even a hose
line if available must be deployed right after.
You may be thinking if you have a hose line
why not just use that. The response to that is,
you can, but the advantage of using a leaf blow-
er instead of the hose line on the flanks is, in
some cases, you can cover a lot more area a lot
faster and it is easier than dragging a hose line
up a hill side on the initial attack. You can also
use a lot less water, saving it for the cold trail-
ing stages after stopping the spread of flames
when absolutely necessary.
If you do choose to use a leaf blower to
control a small fire, it is important to make sure
you are wearing appropriate clothing, includ-
ing long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and closed-
toe shoes. It is also important to wear gloves
and eye protection.
While this may seem like a quick and
effective solution, it’s important to consider the
pros and cons of using leaf blowers in this con-
text.
Pros:
1. Quick Response: One of the main advan-
tages of using leaf blowers for fighting wild-
fires is that they can provide a quick response.
Leaf blowers can be transported quickly and
easily to the site of a fire, and can be used im-
mediately to help clear away dry leaves, twigs,
and other debris that could potentially fuel the
flames.
2. It is very effective on small spreading
grass fires, enabling the Firefighter to cover a
larger area, quicker for a quick knockdown.
Remember, this must be followed up by some
sort of cold trailing technique.
3. Low Cost: Another benefit of using leaf
blowers is that they are relatively inexpensive
when compared to other firefighting equip-
ment. This makes them a more affordable op-
tion for smaller communities or volunteer fire
departments that may not have access to larger,
more expensive firefighting tools.
4. It is very effective in the mop-up stage
of a fire. Use it to blow smoldering debris back
into the black or increase intensity of flame on
small object to cause it to burn out faster.
Cons:
1. Limited Effectiveness: While leaf blow-
ers can help clear away dry debris and other
flammable materials, they are not particularly
effective in fighting larger fires. They cannot
extinguish large flames or prevent the spread of
fire in the way that other firefighting tools, such
as hoses or fire retardants, can.
2. Safety Risks: Using leaf blowers in the
midst of a wildfire can be dangerous. The pow-
erful gusts of air created by the leaf blower can
fan the flames and make the fire more difficult
to control. Duff and debris can be disturbed
causing additional spreading hazard—watch
behind and below you. Additionally, the use of
gasoline-powered leaf blowers can increase the
risk of fire due to the potential for fuel spills.
Consider a larger battery-operated model.

Conclusion:
Finally, it is important to remember
that leaf blowers are only effective for small
fires. It is also highly recommended that mem-
bers first train with the tool within a controlled
condition to experience the affectedness of
such before deploying such use in the field un-
der real life conditions. Also remember, this is
only a recommendation to consider the use of
such tool. Please be guided by your department
policies and procedures before deploying this
tool in the field. As always, Firefighters should
always prioritize their safety and the safety of
the public they serve.

SOURCE:
Oklahoma State University-John Weir, Chat-
GPT. YouTube bdelder42. www.fs.usda.gov

October 2023 • 7
8 • October 2023
 By now, we’ve all seen videos on so-
cial media of people taking ice baths. Most
of us who played sports in high school can
remember ice baths as a remedy used by ath-
letic trainers for gridiron warriors after a tough
football game or practice. I’ll be honest, when
I first began seeing videos of social media per-
sonalities such as Wim Hof sitting in cold ice
water, I thought it was just another kooky angle
to gain followers and attention online. I was
wrong. Dr. Susanna Soeberg sums up the ben-
efits quite nicely: “Cure bad stress with good
stress.”
In layman’s terms, deliberate cold expo-
sure is known as an adversity trigger; the idea
that short, intermittent bursts of stressors can
actually trigger a cascade of cellular processes
that enhance overall health, boost metabolism,
slow aging, and make you more resilient to fu-
ture stress, both physical and mental. Through
the “Soeberg Principle,” named after Dr. Soe-
berg, a scientist from Scandinavia, maximum
benefits in increasing core body metabolism
are reached with 11 total minutes per week of
deliberate cold exposure. This could be three
minutes on Monday, four minutes on Wednes-
day, and three minutes on Thursday. After just
eight weeks of this practice, participants were
found to have had a five percent reduction in
abdominal fat/white fat cells.
The benefits for mood were reflected by
the 250-300% increases in dopamine produc-
tion with a regular cold plunge practice. The
increase in dopamine production is greater
than both tobacco and cocaine. Unlike co-
caine, there is no sharp “rise” and “crash.”
Cold plunges provide a sustained rise in do-
pamine over three hours. Increased dopamine
was found to last in the body for up to six hours
after an ice bath/cold shower. This practice can
help battle mental disorders such as depression
and bipolar disorder.
The benefits for improving mental re-
silience are also found with an ice bath prac-
tice. During an ice plunge, studies show there
is a 30-80% decrease in cognitive function.
Brain areas associated with stress and panic
go way up—similar to what could take place
in a high-stress incident. Dr. Andrew Huber-
man, a tenured professor of neurobiology from
Stanford University, states, “Anchoring your
mind in cognitive activities (math problems/
SOGs/recalling the entire cast of Backdraft) as
you get into the cold can be very helpful for
maintaining clarity of mind - not as a form of
distraction, but as a way to maintain clarity of
thinking - to learn how to maintain composure
when the body is flooded with chemicals that
make us stressed.” Teaching your mind how to
stay online/engaged while experiencing high
levels of stress (in this example, a tub of cold
ice) is a great way to improve fire ground com-
posure. For fire ground operations, there is no
substitute for physical manipulation of equip-
ment and practicing on drill days. Ice baths,
however, provide a way to improve your mental
aptitude when in the thick of a stressful sce-
nario.
If you are interested in trying this prac-
tice, the first question that is probably on your
mind is how cold should the water be? People
have different thresholds and tolerances for the
cold. Typically, 60 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit
is a good starting point. If you can say yes to,
“whoa, I would really like to get out of this en-
vironment, but I can stay in safely,” then you’re
at the right temperature. Becoming uncomfort-
ably cold but confident you can stay in for a
minute or two without risking your health is
ideal. As a safety disclaimer, approach an ice
plunge with caution. People have and do die
from cold shock. Don’t jump into a frozen lake
on your next vacation to Idaho if you’ve never
done so before.
The next question you’re probably won-
dering is how do you incorporate cold plunges
into your cardio or weight lifting routines to
maximize gains? Dr. Huberman answers this
and many other questions on his Huberman
Lab Podcast episode, “Using Deliberate Cold
Exposure for Health & Performance.” In sum-
mary, an ice bath prior to weight lifting is ac-
ceptable. If, however, you decide to lift weights
before an ice bath, to maximize hypertrophy
gains, wait four hours after lifting so as not
to reduce/diminish strength gains. For cardio-
vascular training, an ice bath prior to or after
training is acceptable.
For such a low time and low financial
investment to reduce body fat, improve mood,
and improve mental resilience, it’s surprising
how our department has not already incor-
porated ice baths into what should be, at this
point, an expansive Firefighter wellness pro-
gram. Most fire stations already have an in-
dustrial ice machine; every fire station should
be issued an “ice barrel” from the department,
for this three-to-five minute practice. With the
pandemic now thankfully behind us, a major-
ity of members have had to deal with an ever-
increasing workload, recalls, and mental health
strains. In “High-Performance Habits,” author
Brendon Burchard states, “If you’re working
at a company that isn’t promoting exercise and
all forms of well-being—your safety, health,
happiness, and sense of fulfillment—be wary.
Companies that don’t care about their em-
ployees’ well-being don’t perform as well as
their competitors.” Clearly, it’s on each of us
to look out for one another to take control of
our own well-being and health because no one
else is going to do it for us, including upper
management. To support our fellow broth-
ers and sisters, it’s become apparent that we
need to create our own internal initiatives for
wellness and mental health to support one an-
other: Firefighters helping fellow Firefighters.
For those struggling with depression, suicidal
ideation, or burnout, visit https://www.uflache-
althandwellness.org/about-us/.
Separately, another great resource
that discusses mental health in the fire ser-
vice is the “Grablives” podcast by two of our
own Firefighter-Paramedics, Trevor Stepan &
Jonathan Vargas, available on Apple & Spotify
Podcast services.
Author Ryan Holiday describes the
philosophical reasons behind doing unpleasant
things such as ice baths in his book, “Discipline
is Destiny:” “Most of us spend our lives build-
ing up walls between us and anything unpleas-
ant. The whole point of success, we feel, is to
never have to struggle. Hot water, nice clothes,
food delivered to our door, all on demand. Still,
we must understand that the modern world is
conspiring against us, working to degrade our
ability to endure even the slightest difficulty.
Success breeds softness. It also breeds fear. We
become addicted to our creature comforts. By
seeking out discomfort, we toughen ourselves
up. The fact of the matter is that someday, life
will have serious discomfort in store for us.
Are we going to dread it? Or just be ready?”
Take care of yourselves and take care of each
other.
October 2023 • 9
 In a world often characterized by
self-interest and personal gain, there are
moments that serve as powerful reminders
of the inherent goodness and compassion
that unite humanity. The LAFD/LAPD St.
Baldrick’s Fundraiser is one such occasion
where first responders and the public come
together to make a difference in the lives
of children fighting a formidable adver-
sary – cancer.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a
non-profit organization, has dedicated it-
self to eradicating childhood cancer. The
name “St. Baldrick’s” is a portmanteau of
“St. Patrick’s,” the patron saint of Ireland
known for his iconic shaved head, and
“bald,” which alludes to the main attrac-
tion of the event – shaving participants’
heads to show solidarity with children who
often lose their hair due to cancer treat-
ments. This act of hair sacrifice symbol-
izes unity with young cancer patients and
raises awareness about the urgent need for
research and funding to combat pediatric
cancers.
At the heart of the St. Baldrick’s
events are the participants who selflessly
decide to shed their locks in the name of
charity. Volunteers, known as “shavees,”
enlist sponsors who pledge donations in
support of their brave act. These shavees
range from individuals from all walks of
life – firefighters, police officers, doctors,
students, professionals, parents, and even
cancer survivors themselves – all joining
hands to make a significant impact. What
started as a small event has now grown
into a global movement, with thousands of
head-shaving events taking place annually
in numerous countries.
On August 5, 2023, the Los Ange-
les Fire Department (LAFD), Los Angeles in Porter Ranch to help conquer children’s ticipants.
Police Department (LAPD), City Council, cancer. Both members shared in the cause, Protection for the event may have
and even a few Stormtroopers gathered joining in on shaving heads of participants been LAPD’s responsibility, but it was
in Porter Ranch, California, along with who fundraised selflessly for a noble pur- augmented with the combined efforts of
scores of caring community members to pose. City Council District 12 was well the Dark Side Riders and 501st Legion
participate in the 21st Annual Fundraiser. represented at the event, as Councilmem- of Stormtroopers who future-proofed it.
LAFD Fire Chief Kristen Crowley and ber John Lee sponsored the fundraiser Adorned in their ballistic white armor
LAPD Police Chief Michael Moore also with instrumental support, and also of- with accompanying Star Wars characters,
attended the fundraiser at The Vineyards fered kind words and praise for the par- they proudly patrolled the area, proving

10 • October 2023

the future does have hope.
Co-Organizers LAFD Captain
Danny Wu and LAPD Detective Nick
Sinclair ensured all things went off as
planned and showed solidarity with the
cause. They were supported by hardwork-
ing cadets from LAFD Posts 81, 87, and
106s—with additional help from the Civil
Air Patrol Cadets and Young Marines. In
addition, LAFD Captain Roland Bonada
and Firefighters Kevin Lumada and Jaime
Perez helped with the shaving of partici-
pants on stage. During the event the co-
hosts expressed gratitude to the many
sponsors who made the fundraiser a suc-
cess, including:
• Gus’s BBQ for providing the free
pancake and sausage breakfast
• Peets Coffee for brewing fresh cof-
fee throughout the event
• Kelly Khoury of KENK USA for
donating drinks, snacks, and toys for the
kids
• Vitalant/Northridge Hospital/Be
the Match/One Legacy for hosting the
blood drive and bone marrow registration
• LAFD Recruitment for promoting
the LAFD and firefighter career to youth
• LAFD Bandwagon, Light Force 87,
and Drill Tower 81 for providing fire ap-
paratus
• LAPD Command, SWAT, Motors,
and Bomb Squad for representing PD
with vehicles
• Longplay for their band’s live music
• DJ and Firefighter Greg Bal-
andran for mixing entertaining tunes
• Betsy Quezada for awesome face-
painting skills, and Laura Lichter for of-
fering professional photography of the
event
• Magic Castle magicians for their
captivating performances
• Dark Side Riders and the 501st Le-
gion for entertaining the crowd with their
wonderful costumes
• Rotary Club of Granada Hills,
Community Police Advisory Board,
Firefighters First Credit Union, Shep-
herd Church, City Employees Club,
LAFRA, UFLAC, and the Los Angeles
Protective League for their support
We hope you will consider par-
ticipating next year. Events like this cre-
ate a sense of community, where partici-
pants and supporters come together with
a shared goal. The goal here is simple –
to give children a fighting chance against
cancer. In a world that can sometimes feel
divided, the St. Baldrick’s Charity Event
stands as a testament to the profound im-
pact collective action can have. So, the
next time you see a group of people will-
ingly parting with their hair, remember the
cause they champion – the cause of hope,
healing, and a future free from childhood
cancer.
October 2023 • 11
Paid Advertisement

Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association Medical Plan may cover this examination.
12 • October 2023 Contact your plan provider to verify.
 Let the light shine through.
Photo | Eric Roberts
There’s a new Bull in town. Vincent Mena of Fire Station 3 is the new Bull
Engineer of the department after Dan Miller retires. Congratulations to
both members on their accomplishments.

Late night call in Skid Row.

Photo | LAFD night crawler

October 2023 • 13
 L o s A n g e l e s F i r e m e n ’s R e l i e f A s s o c i a t i o n

S ATURDAY , DECEMBER 9, 2023 / B SH IFT

THE ATHLETIC CLUB

431 W. 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
6:00 PM Cocktails (Cash Bar)
7:00 PM Dinner & Dancing

TICKETS
Individual $95
Couple $180
Table for 10 guests $850
Table for 12 guests $1020
*Limited number of Fire Station
Tables Available

EVENT CONTACT
Juliet Brandolino
323.259.5215
jbrandolino@lafra.org

LAFRA.ORG/Holiday-Dinner-Dance
This event is open to LAFD Firefighters, LA Firemen’s Relief Association
14 • October 2023 Members & Affiliated LAFD Personnel. Adults only.
 Firefighters attempt a knockdown on Coral
Street in 47’s first in. Photos | Jacob Terzoli

e
Station 21’s crew helps out at a structure
on in 1’s first in. Photos | Task Force 21

October 2023 • 15
16 • October 2023
 From the city’s streets, to the top of the hill,
Engine 1 is there! Photo | Eric Roberts

Ground and air companies hit a fast-moving grass

fire near the LA Zoo. Photo | Austin Gebhardt

A little body work being done in Hollywood!

Photo | lafdstation76hollywood

October 2023 • 17
 S !
N U
O I
J

NO RSVP TIME
REQUIRED
12 PM -4 PM
LOCATION
7470 N. FIGUEROA ST.
LOS ANGELES CA 90041
VALET PARKING AVAILABLE!

Bring your family and appetite!

18 • October 2023
 We say goodbye to one of the good ones. Farewell to Chief Bobadillas as
he runs one of his last calls on Boat 2. Photo | Submitted by Arnold Liu

Fire Station 112, along with friends and family, honor FF/PM Paige Matsumoto and FF Tim Tinsley for their years of service with the LAFD.
The men and woman of Battalion 6 wish you both a long, happy and healthy retirement. Don’t be a stranger. Photos | Andres Saenz

October 2023 • 19
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20 • October 2023
City once again assists at a brush fire
in the County. Photo | Austin Gebhardt

Another Grass Fire in Woodley Park.

Photo | Mike Meadows

October 2023 • 21
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22 • October 2023
Fire 3 taking in a view of the city during operations in Elysian Park.
Photos | Jacob Terzoli

October 2023 • 23
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24 • October 2023
 Engine 77 on a vegetation fire on the
118 Freeway. Photo | Mike Meadows

A smokey grass fire at the 118 freeway at Firefighters from Station 75 handle an
the 5 interchange. Photo | Mike Meadows outside fire. Photo | Ismael Miranda

All the king’s horses……Photo | Mike Meadows

October 2023 • 25
 Lewis, Marenstein, Wicke, Sherwin Lee, LLP
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26 • October 2023
 Line them up, BOYS! Photo | Task Force 21

FF Purkey and her A/O positioning at a major

emergency in 17’s first in. Photo | James Anderson

Engine 33 knocking down an auto on the

City/County border. Photo | James Anderson

October 2023 • 27
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28 • October 2023
 Task Force 21 during a roof operation. Photo | Taskforce21

Members of Task Force 15 at the Normandie Fire.

Photos | Jacob Terzoli

October 2023 • 29
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30 • October 2023
 Light Force 21 handling a van fire. Photo | Jason Stilwell

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Who you going to call? Task Force 21. Photo | Station_65_Wattsfire

October 2023 • 31
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32 • October 2023
 Firefighters battle a structure in NoHo.
Photos | Mike Meadows

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October 2023 • 33
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34 • October 2023
50 firefighters took only 26 mins to extinguish a structure fire
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Photos | Suey Tiengerd

October 2023 • 35
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36 • October 2023
Firefighters ventilate a roof at a structure
fire in Chatworth. Photo | Jacob Salzman

LA City Fire Assist during a Brush Fire in

the County. Photos | Austin Gebhardt

Engine 106 responded to a call to a water main leak resulting

in a full street closure. Photo | Ivan Ignatczyk

October 2023 • 37
 LAFD INVITATIONAL
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38 • October 2023
 Firefighters open an attic at a structure fire off of Califa St.
in West Hills. Photos | Adam VanGerpen and Mark Lassman

ls

FF Paulson prepares to extinguish a fire in an EIT Ta’ana Mitchell makes a new

abandoned structure. Photo | Jay Johnson friend at a recent public event.

October 2023 • 39
40 • October 2023

Firefighter Dan Ramirez was born on
March 2, 1967, to Alfredo and Sara Ramirez
of Pico Rivera. At an early age, he aspired to
become a firefighter. Dan went to El Rancho
High School where he excelled in football and
track. It is here where he met the love of his
life, Gigi, in the summer of 1984. When Dan
graduated from high school in 1985, he went
on to attend Rio Hondo College to pursue his
dream of becoming a firefighter. After he grad-
uated from the Fire Academy, he became a vol-
unteer for the La Habra Heights Fire Depart-
ment and also worked for Rischer Ambulance.
Subsequently, he got hired with the LA County
Fire Department Camp 8’s brush firefighting
crew. Then, on May 17, 1990, his dream came
true when he got hired with our department
and started in the Drill Tower. Two years later,
on September 19, 1992, he married his high
school sweetheart, Gigi, and they began their
marriage of 30 years.
Dan set out to become an exceptional
firefighter and wanted to experience all aspects
of the job. He was assigned to some of the
busiest firefighting stations in the city, and his
firefighting career was filled with challenging
incidents. His assignments included 64s, 66s,
26s, and 89s, to name a few. He loved the Fire
Department and had a goal to attain as many
certifications as he could. He attained the fol-
lowing certifications: Paramedic, Hazardous
Materials, USAR, Swift Water, and HELITAC.
As a result, he was assigned to the respective
Fire Stations: 57, 95, 89, and 114.
Dan had a zest for life and wanted to
experience all that life had to offer. His pas-
sions included snowboarding, hiking, disc golf,
golf, tactical games, and Spartan races. More
recently, he had taken up archery and set a goal
to win a gold medal in the Olympic Games. But
his true joy was his family—his wife Gigi and
his sons, Nick, Nate, Charlie, and another son,
Nick, who may not have been related by blood
but meant the world to Dan just the same. He
shared the above listed activities with all his
sons passionately.
I was lucky enough to have worked with
Dan at three different assignments through-
out his career. Dan excelled in all aspects of
firefighting and set a standard for us all to fol-
low. On the fire ground, he fought fires with
intensity and ferocity. His bedside manner on
EMS responses was second to none. Around
the Fire Station, he was a joy to be around with
his “happy-go-lucky” demeanor and uncanny
sense of humor. Fire Station 69 still resonates
with his heavy footsteps and the sound of his
jovial voice making jokes and wisecracks to
his fellow firefighters. He was a selfless team
player and a guy who would do anything for
anyone, anytime.
Dan was supposed to retire on Septem-
ber 23 of this year, but instead, we honored his
wonderful life on this day. The world suffered
a great loss when he passed on August 1st. Dan
had a huge and kind heart. He touched many
lives and will be missed but not forgotten!
October 2023 • 41
 2023 Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association Election:

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

WHEN TO VOTE:
Voting will open October 22nd, 2023 at 9 AM PT, and will run through November 21nd, 2023 10 AM PT . On October 22nd,
2023 you will be receiving an email and/or a text message to vote.
• The email to vote will come from invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com. Adding this email to your address book prior to
voting could keep the email from ending up in your spam folder.
• The text message to vote will provide a link and come from either 1-877-225-8712 or 1-877-225-8482.
• You will have the option to vote via the email link or text message link if LAFRA has this information for you. You will NOT be
able to vote twice.

TROUBLESHOOTING:
If you are running into issues while voting online please email lafra@electionbuddy.com for assistance. For example, if you do
not receive a notice to vote by October 22nd, 2023 and LAFRA has an email address or cell phone for you on file. Or, if you are
hitting an error page, you should reach out to this email address.

ONLINE VS. PAPER

You will receive a paper ballot if LAFRA does not have an email address or cell number for you. This paper ballot will be sent out on
October 25th, 2023 and provide you with information to vote online; or, you can fill out the paper ballot and return it. If you do
not receive this paper ballot by November 6th, 2023 you should reach out to lafra@electionbuddy.com and they can assist you
with voting as your notice may have been lost in the mail.

CONFIRMATION THAT WE RECEIVED YOUR VOTE:

If LAFRA has an email address on file for you, an email notice confirming that your ballot has been received will be sent to you.

HOW-TO-VOTE ONLINE:
• When you receive your email notice/text message/paper ballot there will be a ballot link included. Selecting this ballot link or
typing it out will take you to your ballot in a web browser.
• Following the link will bring you to the ballot which will contain the voting instructions
and the ballot information. You will then cast your vote on the ballot, following the
instructions.
• After you have selected your choices, you will then be asked to verify your vote
by selecting the “Continue” button.
• Once you have verified your vote, you will be asked to submit the ballot by selecting
the “Submit” button.
• After the ballot is submitted you will be directed to a confirmation page which will give
you a unique confirmation code. If LAFRA has an email address for you, this will also be sent
to you via your ballot receipt email.

42 • October 2023
 LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCATION
Election of Trustees
2023
Kenny Breskin, Chairman, Election Committee, LAFRA

Election time again is bearing down upon us. Elections 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 Trustees shall attend all meetings
of the Board, unless excused, visit the sick and injured members in their respective districts,
report upon all matters coming within their scope of assignments and responsibilities, and
perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by the Board.”

The Trustees are the elected representatives of the membership of the Association, who
are responsible to their constituency and to the Association as a whole. A conscientious effort
must be made by each Trustee to be knowledgeable 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. Dissemination of information relative to the Association and
to its membership is conducted primarily by the Trustees. Conversely, opinions, requests and
suggestions are channeled to the Board through the Trustees. A close liaison with the
membership is paramount to the performance of a Trustee’s duties.

Nominations are open during the month of September and will close at the end of the
business day on October 12, 2023.

Please Mail, Fax or Email a letter in the following format with a recent picture of yourself
and a short statement/bio by close of business on October 12, 2023.

I, , do hereby submit my name as a candidate for the position

of Group 3 Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association. This
letter is valid only for the General election of 2023.

Mail or Fax to:

Kenny Breskin, Trustee

Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
7470 N. Figueroa St. | Los Angeles, CA 90041
Fax (323) 259-5290 Email kbreskin@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 twenty-
five 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.
October 2023 • 43
 Once every three or four years we have the...

Whether you worked at FS 14 or only worked
a SOD day at 14s, you’re welcome to join us. If you
worked in Battalion 3, or even Battalion 8 (for you
older farts) please join us.
Even if you wished you had worked at 14s, you’re
welcome to come and enjoy the fun and camaraderie.
This means…………..ALL ARE WELCOME.
THE NEXT REUNION WILL BE SATUR-
DAY, February 24, 2024 at Bob Munoa’s compound in
Temecula, CA. There will also be a food truck serving
food.
On Friday, February 23, there will be a Fry Bread
dinner in the evening and the opportunity to meet up
with old buddies and enjoy a boat-load of CAMARA-
DERIE.
Those wanting even more camaraderie are
welcome to come back on Sunday the 25th to continue
visiting with friends.
As before, there will be RV parking available at
the Pechanga Hotel, which is five minutes from Bob’s
house. Also, those wishing to park their RV’s on Bob’s
property are welcome to do so.

Bob’ address is 12705 Pechanga Road, Temecula, CA 92592

This is the address to the front gate. Then follow the signs to Bob’s house
You can call Bob for more information at (951) 296-8818
Entrance Fee: $40.00
Donations to the WODFF’s would also be appreciated.
MAKE HOTEL OR RV RESERVATIONS ASAP AND BYOB

44 • October 2023
 So, the wife and I went on a leisurely
cruise of some of the more popular freeways
here in Southern California. We went through
the downtown area, admirin’ all the majestic
high rise buildin’s and then headed out toward
the San Fernando Valley. This was really a
special treat because the temperature was just
a tick below 112 degrees. But it really didn’t
matter because I had the air conditionin’ in the
car, lowered to 65 degrees. It was amazingly
comfortable and I felt extremely fortunate, es-
pecially as I passed a few people hitch-hikin’
along Ventura Blvd. Not a good day for that
kind of activity.
However, my good fortune suddenly
changed the next day. Gettin’ ready for another
adventure-filled day, I started my car and im-
mediately switched on the air conditionin’. But
instead of a nice blast of cold air I got nothin’
but hot air. What? I checked to make sure I had
pushed all the right air conditionin’ buttons but
still no cold air. I even checked for a possible
burnt out fuse. Everythin’ seemed good.
Then, because my car is still under
warranty, I drove it down to the dealer. After
two days of checkin’, the dealer called and said
they found the problem. With a big smile on
my face, and knowin’ I was covered under the
warranty, I said, “Great, go ahead and fix it.”
Their answer was, “Well, there’s a small hole
in your air-conditionin’ condenser, caused by
rock damage, which is not covered under the
warranty.”
My argument was that the chances of
a small rock passin’ through my front grill,
without causin’ any damage to the front grill
or surroundin’ paint, seemed unlikely. How-
ever, their reply was, “We’ve seen this before.”
It was then I realized my argument had crashed
and burned and no amount of arguin’ was goin’
to do me any good.
Thankfully, my auto insurance covered
the repair. And because it wasn’t a typical ac-
cident, I was told my claim wouldn’t affect my
insurance rate. But based on the few hairs that
I have left on top of my head, that immediately
stood straight up, I’m thinkin’ my insurance
company ain’t goin’ to let this mishap go un-
punished.
You know, the people I saw hitch-hikin’
on that 100+ day on Ventura Blvd. did give me
a strange wave of their hands as I passed by,
which I now believe was an evil curse that they
placed on my car’s air conditionin’ system.
COWBOY HUMOR
Two hunters are out in the woods when
one of them collapses and stops breathin’.
The other hunter whips out his cell
phone and calls 911. He tells the dispatcher, “I
think my friend is dead, what can I do?”
The dispatcher says, “Calm down.
First, let’s make sure he’s dead.” There’s a si-
lence, then a gun shot. Back on the phone the
guy says, “Okay, now what?”
AC
KEEP SMILIN’!
choppedup@att.net

MARIO PINEL, Inspector II, VPAU KEVIN SCHILLING, Captain II, Fire Station 112-B

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2023 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023

USS Iowa Battleship Castaway Restaurant - Mountain View Room

250 S Harbor Blvd, San Pedro, CA 1250 E Harvard Rd, Burbank, CA

2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Social Hour - 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Dinner - 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

$40 per person $100 per person (food, tax, 4-hour open bar, and gift included)

Zelle @Josephine Pinel at (562) 386-7438 Call A/O Julian Nguyen at (714) 270-7292
or contact Katey Miranda - (213) 978-3649 or go to C2KevinSchillingRSVP.com
or email katey.miranda@lacity.org Venmo: @Tee-Chillin48. Please include # of people
RSVP by October 20 dinner selection. RSVP by October 20

KENNY BRESKIN & MANNY GALVEZ, Engineers, Fire

Station 87

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Fire Station 87
10124 Balboa Blvd, Granada Hills, CA

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

33 1/2 years & 35 years of service

October 2023 • 45
 MEMBERS
DALE A. HENDERSCHEID, CAPTAIN.
Appointed January 29, 1959. Retired on a disability pension June 1, 1980 from FS 106.
Passed away August 18, 2023.

KIYOJI K. TERADA, ENGINEER.

Appointed July 5, 1976. Retired on a service pension July 8, 2012 from FS 109.
Passed away August 20, 2023.

LEWIS E. STORRER, APPARATUS OPERATOR.

Appointed April 30, 1960. Retired on a service pension April 2, 1989 from FS 94.
Passed away August 20, 2023.

FRANK C. ACCARDO, FIREFIGHTER II.

Appointed June 10, 1961. Retired on a service pension July 3, 1981 from FS 49.
Passed away August 23, 2023.

WILLIAM E. BRIGHT, FIREFIGHTER II.

Appointed February 20, 1960. Retired on a disability pension July 19, 1984 from FS 80.
Passed away August 28, 2023.

RICHARD P. KAY, BATTALION CHIEF.

Appointed April 4, 1974. Retired on a service pension March 31, 2006 from Battalion 14.
Passed away August 31, 2023.

DAVID A. RUFF, CAPTAIN I.

Appointed July 24, 1965. Retired on a service pension August 3, 1999 from FS 39.
Passed away September 3, 2023.

PHILLIP F. FOERSTEL, FIREFIGHTER III.

Appointed November 24, 1962. Retired on a disability pension July 3, 2000 from FS 33.
Passed away September 5, 2023.

ARCHER R. MORGAN, BATTALION CHIEF.

Appointed February 9, 1948. Retired on a service pension June 1, 1978 from Battalion 14.
Passed away September 7, 2023.

CLYDE R. JOHNSON, CAPTAIN.

Appointed August 23, 1969. Retired on a disability pension April 3, 1992 from FS 90.
Passed away September 12, 2023.

DOUGLAS J. KIRBY, FIREFIGHTER III.

Appointed January 2, 1962. Retired on a disability pension September 17, 1987 from FS 58.
Passed away September 13, 2023.

JAMES R. ROLFE, FIREFIGHTER III.

Appointed November 24, 1962. Retired on a service pension January 7, 1988 from FS 72.
Passed away September 14, 2023.

FAMILY
Theresa M. Grant, surviving spouse of John Montoya, Passed away August 12, 2023.
Lauren Moore, spouse of Ronald A. Moore, Passed away August 31, 2023.
P hyllis Disparte, surviving spouse of Frank L. Disparte, Passed away September 3, 2023.
Sandra L. Yager, surviving spouse of Frederick K. Yager, Passed away September 3, 2023.
Patricia Fries, surviving spouse of Gordon R. Fries, Passed away September 13, 2023.

46 • October 2023
DR. BRYAN WAYNE, VETERINARIAN
In the March issue the punch line was
inadvertently left off the end of this story and
without it the story doesn’t make sense. Here is
the story again, with the punch line.
VETERINARIAN/TAXIDERMIST
Bryan Wayne is a good friend that I
have known since 1984. I was an instructor
in his recruit class and several years later my
wife and I became godparents to his youngest
daughter.
We were, and still are, close friends.
In 1990 Bryan injured himself to the
point that he had to go off on a disability pen-
sion.
He is a very intelligent person, most of
the time. He had his degree so he applied to
become a veterinarian.
In 1999 he graduated from Iowa State
with his Doctorate. It was a very proud mo-
ment for him and my wife and I flew there to
share this moment with him and his family.
As a new doctor he would need busi-
ness cards so, being his friend, I had some
printed up for him.
I have to confess that I didn’t come up
with this line myself, I heard it from a come-
dian on tv. I presented the box of cards to him
just before the graduation ceremony.
He liked them so much that he passed
them out to his professors who were on the
stage with him.
A BLAST FROM THE PAST
Occasionally I will go back a few years
and tell you things that were happening in Bat-
talion 17 as they appeared in the May, 1998
Grapevine. This is one of those times.
LAWNMOWERS CAN BE DANGEROUS,
PART I
We all know someone who has been
told, “Get away from that wheelbarrow, you
don’t know nothin’ about machinery.” Suppose
we just sort of change those words to read,
“Hey, Cap, get away from that lawn mower,
you don’t know nothin’ about machinery.” If
it was only one Captain you could write it off
to chance. Two Captains and it is a trend. Not a
good trend, but a trend nonetheless.
The first Captain is Capt. Tom Drake,
F.S. 93 “B.” Tom was at home preparing to
go on vacation when he noticed that his lawn
should probably be mowed before he left. Now
he had a pretty lavish spread at the time so
he needed a riding lawn mower to get the job
done. Having done this many times in the past
he assumed, correctly, that this should be a
quick piece of work. These riding mowers have
the ability to go forward and backward. They
probably have a lever labeled “forward” and
“reverse.” Or maybe just an “F” for fast and an
“R” for race. He was almost done. Maybe one
more pass and the vacation was his. Finish the
lawn, empty the grass clippings and he’s off.
Did I mention the swimming pool?
No? This is as good a time as any I suppose.
Being in a hurry to get on vacation our hero
moved the shift lever to “R” for race and put
the pedal to the metal. Those mowers acceler-
ate like a rocket and float like a rock. At least
the grass clippings float. I am told it is incred-
ibly difficult to haul a several hundred pound
lawn mower out of a pool, vacuum up all of
the grass and then scrub the pool because the
gas and oil stained the plaster. To make matters
worse we had to get this story from an uniden-
tified County firefighter, who happened to be
a neighbor of an unidentified engineer at 93s,
because there was an attempted cover up. Tom,
we are so ashamed of you.
The second Captain vs. lawn mower in-
volves Capt. Art Morin, EMS 3 “B.” Art was
in his office at F.S. 100 one recent afternoon
when the engine gets a run. Manny Aguilar
was just starting to mow the lawn when the
alarm sounded. Manny begins to bring the
mower in the station when out steps Art and he
volunteers to finish the lawn. The deal is set,
the engine goes out and the lawn mower gets
fired up. The lawn at 100s is not too big and
in a few minutes it’s done. Art puts the lawn
mower away and is feeling pretty good about
himself. About this time the engine gets back.
The first thing Manny does is check out the
grass. Something doesn’t look right. It takes a
minute or so but the light goes on. The grass
has not been cut but there are wheel marks
in the lawn. About the only thing Art accom-
plished was to get a little exercise for himself.
You have to engage the blade on these newfan-
gled pieces of machinery before they will cut.
Because our intrepid heroes meant well
their names were submitted to the U.S. Lawn-
mower Racing Association (yes, there really
is such a thing) for honorary membership but
they were rejected for obvious reasons. That
is kind of like being asked to move out of the
trailer park because you don’t have enough
teeth.
Here is copy of the February 2023 rules
if you want to become a member: https:// lets
mow.com/rules-tech/official-rules/
A CLOSE CALL
One night in March of 1985 Rescue
87 and an unknown engine company, possibly
E87 or E90, responded to a traffic accident on
Roscoe Blvd. in the evening. I’m not sure of the
exact time but it was dark not twilight.
Both units arrive at about the same
time and the engine handles a ruptured gas
tank and the rescue takes the patient and they
put the person on the gurney. They back down
the street to get away from the engine and the
gas leak.
While the paramedics are treating the
patient in the ambulance, they notice that sud-
denly it has gotten very bright outside.
That’s when they notice the front of the
RA is on fire. They immediately moved to a
safe location and requested a second RA for
transport.
What had happened was the engineer
put out flares to detour traffic around the
wreckage and then he went back to assist the
rest of his crew.
Unnoticed by everyone was that the
flare had rolled down to the curb and into the
gas and water that was being flushed down the
gutter.
It caught the RA on fire with the crew
and patient inside. They quickly bailed out and
the engine put out the fire. Nobody was injured
but the RA was cooked.
Art Sorrentino
Daoldwestsidekid@Yahoo.com
October 2023 • 47
 We are back at the Desert Willow Resort in Palm Desert the people at the Indian Wells Resort and Desert Willow Resort
and played both the Mountain View and Fire Cliffs Courses. On for three great golf courses and the hospitality they showed us.
day one we played the Celebrity Course at Indian Wells Resort. We look forward to returning next year, hopefully with a lot more
All three courses were beautiful and in fantastic shape. Unfortu- players.
nately, the weather demons were back and we had three days of If any Los Angeles City Firefighter, active or retired, is
100+ heat. interested in joining our club please visit our website at lafdgc.
We had a total of 52 of our LAFD Golf Club members com
competing in four flights, along with three guests. In the “A”
Flight, Erik Williams, a previous winner in 2014, and now back-
to-back winner, held off Dustin Powell and Tim Crass to win Low
Gross. The “A” Flight Net Championship went to Kelly Faulkner.
In the “B” Flight Mickey Diaz won Low Gross. The “B” Flight
Net Championship was taken by the tournament director, Gary
Mannan. The “C” Flight Low Gross was won by Jim Horimoto.
The “C” Low Flight Net was won by Greg Shirley. In the “D”
Flight Gross it was Steve Sutliff and in the “D” Flight Net Bill
Stires.
Congratulations to our Low Gross Champion Erik Wil-
liams and Low Net Champion Mickey Diaz. Both will represent
our club in the “Tournament of Club Champions” sponsored by
the Southern California Golf Association this December.
The LAFD Golf Club would like to thank all our players
and guests for attending and look forward to seeing you come
back to our Memorial Club Championship. We’d also like to thank

48 • October 2023
 Holding Out for a Hero ,

Holding Out for a Hero , Los Angeles ? n

Your wait will be over when this

admission-free community event returns
n
to the Hansen Dam Sports Complex

Holding Out for a Hero , Los Angeles ?t h

in the heart of the San Fernando Valley.

Your wait will be over when this 2023 NOV 4

admission-free community event returns
Los Angeles
to the Hansen Dam Sports Complex
in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. Born in Los Angeles, the

4th
n AMERICAN HEROES Air Show
2023 NOV mission goals since 1993 strive to:
Educate || Communicate || Demonstrate
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HELICOPTERS
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scene to profile careers in public safety, gov.service, 
the unique capabilities of rotary-wing aviation. Fees for presentation
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to our newest U.S. citizens when members of the U.S. military
with emergency vehicles, equipment displays, demos and organizations + community service organizations
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and others recite their Oath of Allegiance and become U.S. Join our EVENT FLIGHT TEAM and get a bird’s eye-view f
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 citizens in front of friends and family ...
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homeland security & national defense.
of the event action when you climb on board their r #CAHEROES
HEROES Air Show are waived for non-profit
 SAR SITE1 - local Search & Rescue teams roll out
helicopter flight-seeing rides.
Hansen Dam Recreation Complex Americ
with emergency vehicles, equipment displays, demos and organizations
11480 + community
Foothill Blvd / Sanservice organizations
Fernando Valley
 + concessions, entertainment and aviation related
family outdoor safety tactics. Lake View Terrace, CA. 91342
vendors …
 Non-profit organizations are on-site to promote their Exit the 210 Freeway at Osborne
# service,
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and emergency / disaster preparedness.
 Join our EVENT FLIGHT TEAM and get a bird’s eye-view f
of the event action when you climb on board their r October 2023 • 49
helicopter flight-seeing rides.
Hansen Dam Recreation Complex
 + concessions, entertainment and aviation related 11480 Foothill Blvd / San Fernando Valley
vendors … Lake View Terrace, CA. 91342
Exit the 210 Freeway at Osborne
#CAHEROES
 Bid Now at GiveToAHero.org/2023Auction
Auction closes October 16, 2023

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BENEFITTING THE

50 • October 2023
#GiveToAHero
RABILIA

HIRTS
LIA

October 2023 • 51
 Written | Frank Baker, LAFD retired

Drill Tower, Rookie life in the 50s,

and the two-platoon system, Part 7

Now to my last house on probation,

Fireboat 2. The old location was on Ter- A photo taken in the 80s shows the
minal Island at Berth 227 facing the main
modernized Fireboat 2
channel. The Vincent Thomas Bridge
hadn’t been built yet, but it is now just
north of the site of the old house. In addi-
tion to Boat 2, there were also Fireboat 3,
Boat Tender 2 and Foam 2. The foam rig
was an old hard rubber-tired rig that car-
ried fifty cans of foam powder. The cans
had to be inverted once a month to keep
the powder from caking. To make foam,
the fifty pounds of powder was dumped
into a foam generator, a hopper that had
2.5-inch inlets and outlets on one side
each with water flowing through the hop-
per mixing with the powder to create the
foam. (Figures 1 and 2) Boat 3 had a crew
of 3, the tender had an Auto-Fireman as-
signed. And the Foam was unmanned.
So many memories of that place. The fun A photo of Warner Lawrence
guys, the fun things that we did with a photo of the foam educ-
My captain was Warner Lawrence, tor operation in the background
aka “The Cigar.” It seems that a cigar
was always there, sometimes only a stub
between his teeth, other times a new one
between his fingers, but always in the pic-
ture. Cap was a respected expert in har-
bor firefighting, having been at Boat 2 as
a Fireman and as a Captain for much of
his 20 years at the time on the job. It was
a tenure that would extend to a forty-year
career by the time he retired in 1975. In the
mid 30s, he worked as a deckhand, and a Engines 67 and 36 mixing the
hard hat diver on Fireboat 2, performing powdered foam at a fire in the
some of the same operations that in later harbor in 1972. Both stations also
years would be done by SCUBA firefight- closed that year.
ers.
52 • October 2023
 Warner was more than a highly re- years. When it was replaced in 2003 with
garded harbor firefighting expert. He was a new fireboat, it was appropriately named
very knowledgeable man in a variety of the Warner Lawrence.
areas. When the Watts riots broke out, the
rigs didn’t have enclosed cabs, which of We recognize the Line of Duty sacrifice of
course left the firefighters highly vulner- the following members during the month
of October.
able. Cap suggested to the administration
that he could design and build at Boat 2s Frm Walthall O. Fitch 10-02-1911
The foam hopper mixing system
quarters, fiberglass tops for the rigs. The Frm Erik Rasmussen 10-23-1923
green light was given, and he and the sta- A/F Joaquin L. Constanstine 10-15-1933
Eng Chris A Hansen 10-16-1933
tion crew got the job done. But I would bet
Frm Walter Simpson 10-05-1935
the most satisfaction he ever got from one Frm Charles E. Kramer 10-20-1941
of his many accomplishments was when Frm Andrew A. Lechert 10-26-1949
he saved old Fireboat 2, the Ralph J. Scott, Capt Leonard R. Askham 10-03-1950
Frm Dennis P. Hartigan 10-15-1950
from being scrapped by Chief Ray Hill. Frm Howard T. Allen 10-14-1956
The Chief wanted to replace Boat 2 with a B/C Richard S. Stephens 10-25-1961
smaller vessel that would have less pump- Frm Orville G. McLean 10-11-1963
A/F James L. Stewart 10-14-1973
ing capacity and less overall capability in
Capt Donald G. Wardell 10-05-1975
order to cut costs. Lawrence convinced Capt William C. Walker 10-14-1980
Hill that by using his plan to modernize FF James A. Hancock 10-13-1981
the old boat, he would reduce the size of FF Robert W. Jahelka 10-26-1985
Capt David E. Yost 10-23-1997
the crew, improve its performance, and
FF Mark S. Samet 10-06-2005
save money. As a result, the reconfigured Eng Harry R. Correll 10-10-2007
Boat 2 remained in service another 35

Fireboat 2 before being reconfigured by

Captain Lawrence’s modernization plan

Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

Los Angeles Fire Museum & Fallen Firefighters Memorial
1355 N.Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

Please join the Los Angeles Fire Department, the LAFD Histori-
cal Society and fellow members of the LAFD, family and friends at our
annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial service honoring the 277 members
of the Department who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving the citizens
of Los Angeles.

October 2023 • 53
 Donations to Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund

DAVID AND MARINA DOMINGUEZ MARTELLO in memory of RAE BOWERS in memory of

in memory of Al Waloch Robert Kilpatrick Geoffrey Schroeder

DAVID AND MARINA DOMINGUEZ TED NONINI JUAN CANTEO

in memory of Gene Tanner
MARIA RODRIGUEZ for the RYAN CHANCE
DAVID AND MARINA DOMINGUEZ Dalmatian Clock
in memory of Bob “Killer” Kilpatrick BRUCE DODD in memory of
WILLIE SPENCER Timothy Larson
JEANINE BENNETT in memory of
Tony Ionata STILSON CELLARS in honor of CHRISTOPHER HARE in memory of
Sean Stilson Tim Denison
PATRICIA COOK in memory of
Gil Ramelli ANDREW WORDIN CRAIG KUYKENDALL for money for
Galaxy Tickets
DARRELL DE MONTES in honor of STEVE AVEDISSIAN
Earl Watz RON LEYDECKER in memory of
SONIA BAZSO in memory of Rene Ortiz
BRUCE DODD in memory of Dan Ramirez
Bruce Froud BILL & BARBARA NEVILLE
CURTIS BLACK in memory of in memory of Mike Mitchell
BRUCE DODD in memory of Bud Zink Tim Denison
THOMAS PANDOLA in memory of
DAVID DOMIGUEZ in memory of DANIEL/HANDYMANISH Father Chris van Liefde
Eugene G. Tanner HANDYMAN SERVICES
THOMAS PANDOLA in memory of
DAVID DOMINGUEZ in memory of MATTSON FAMILY in memory of Paul Shakstad
Robert L. Kilpatrick, Sr. Daniel Ramirez
PATRICIA SWEENEY
MARGARET GARNER TED NONINI in honor of
Santa Clarita Lunch Group JERRY TROWBRDGE in memory of
GAIL GLASSER Tim Denison
JIREH ZUNIGA
HENZGEN in memory of JUAN ZABALZA in memory of
Robert L. Kilpatrick KATHLEEN BAILEY in memory of Tim Denison
Father Bob Folbrecht
APRIL HOOD MARK ZIZI
DAVID BOLDING

54 • October 2023
 LOS ANGELES FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CALL TO ORDER
President Chris Stine called the
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief
Association to order at 9:45 a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chris Stine, President
Trustee Frank Aguirre
Trustee Kenneth Breskin
Trustee Cesar S. Garcia
Trustee Henry Gasbarri
Trustee Jeff Halloran
Trustee John Jacobsen
Trustee John Marasco
Trustee Elber Navarro
Trustee Milton Quintana
Trustee Mike Sailhamer
Trustee Tyler Tomich
Trustee Danny Wu
Trustee Steve Berkery – Pension
Todd Layfer - Executive Director
Liberty Unciano – Controller/Trea-
surer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Jim Duffy, Vice President
Trustee Paul Duke
Trustee Leon Dunn
Trustee J.D. Fox
Trustee Steve Jones
Trustee Brian Wall
Trustee Craig White
Trustee Juan Albarran – Pension
Trustee Steve Tufts – Pension
GUESTS:
Garth Flint and Mike Breller, Bea-
con Pointe
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Mike Sailhamer led the invocation.
Frank Aguirre led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF ACTION
AND MINUTES
Chris Stine entertained a motion
to approve the July 12, 2023 Board
Meeting Minutes. Jeff Halloran so
moved. John Marasco seconded.
There was no discussion or objec-
tions.
August 2, 2023
Motion carried to approve the July
12, 2023 Board Meeting Minutes.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
1) Pension Update: At the last meet-
ing, Sumi Parekh, is now in Presi-
dent’s position and Garrett W. Zim-
mon, is now the Vice President.
At the next meeting, UFLAC is
making their presentation on all
their plans.
In addition, the Pension Board are
requesting a presentation from the
Relief. The presentation will focus
how work comp is impacting the
plan. Heather and Chris are putting
together a presentation likely to be
done in October. They would like to
see what the Relief is doing to navi-
gate the process and what we do to
minimize the impact of the work
comp claims on our plan. There
will be more to come on this at fu-
ture meetings.
2) Graduation: There’s a graduation
coming up on August 24th. In ad-
dition to the graduation, there is a
class that just started.
3) Sharecare/Fit-On: This will be
discussed under the Medical Com-
mittee Report. Frank will report on
the decision made later in the meet-
ing.
4) Social Media Contracts: Danny
Wu, Chris and the attorneys worked
on revisions to the social media
contracts. The revised contracts are
complete and have been sent to both
vendors for their review, questions,
and signatures.
5) LAFD Wellness Fair: An ad-
ditional fair date has been added
for Tuesday, September 12th from
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Shepherd
Church in Northridge. All trustees
are welcome and encouraged to at-
tend.
6) LAFD Foundation Meeting:
They reached out last month and
wanted to meet for lunch. It was a
very good meeting with some great
outcomes. They really wanted to
know what the Relief does, who we
help; and also make sure that what
they’re doing and all the money that
they are putting out isn’t interfer-
ing with what the Relief does. They
expressed no desire to get into what
the Relief does for helping people.
The Relief and Fire Foundation will
continue to talk some more going
forward.
7) Supervisor/Manager 360 Evalua-
tions: The process of putting togeth-
er questions for all of our managers
was started. The purpose of the
questions is to get staff feedback.
Those questions went to Vivian
Deng. The goal is for the responses
to be constructive and to remain
anonymous ensuring people get
back the feedback they need.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Chris Stine entertained a motion to
move into an Executive Session for
voting members of the board. John
Jacobsen so moved. Henry Gasbarri
seconded.
The Board entered into Executive
Session at 9:57 a.m. The Board ad-
journed from Executive Session at
10:24 a.m.
Member updates were discussed
during Executive Session.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
There was no report given.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
REPORT
1) LAFD Payroll Call: Chris and
Todd met with the folks in LAFD
payroll last week. This matter was
discussed at the board offsite this
year. LAFRA depends on LAFD
payroll department for critical in-
formation to get correct amounts
in paying sick and injury benefits
to members. The big take away is
they are willing to continue to help
the Relief by giving us information
that is necessary to take care of our
members. They are going to put to-
gether people in payroll and a train-
ing plan so that Esther Rojas can be-
gin passing along her crucial duties
related to this process prior to her
retirement. There will be a follow-
up meeting in September.
2) FRITS 3.0 Update: Todd, Chris,
Jim and Bob Dillon continue to
have their monthly sponsor meet-
ings on the project with the Eleva-
tion Solutions executive team. The
meetings focus on an overview of
the project and next steps. For the
August meeting, a functional demo
of the modules created and being
tested has been requested by the
Chris and Todd.
3) Election Buddy Agreement: On-
line elections have been handled by
Election Buddy. It has been very
successful, both in terms of execu-
tion and cost savings. Todd will be
working with Kenny Breskin and
his team on the details of the elec-
tion.
Motion to approve and pay the
Election Buddy contract agree-
ment for this year at $5,077.10.
Kenny Breskin so moved and Frank
Aguirre No second required. There
was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the
contract agreement with Election
Buddy at $5,077.10.
4) PCORI Tax: This tax is part of
Obamacare that self-insured medi-
cal plans are required to pay. Pay-
ment is made every July.
5) Staff Training: CPR/AED and
basic first aid training was com-
pleted by the staff on Thursday,
July 20th and Thursday, July 27th.
The company used for the training
worked very well, was engaging,
and a lot of positive feedback was
received from the staff. done accu-
October 2023 • 55
rate depth. All the staff is now certi-
fied for another two years.
Milton Quintana and Liberty Un-
ciano entered at 10:27 a.m.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
REPORT
Mike and Garth from Beacon
Pointe entered the meeting at 10:29
a.m.
1) Beacon Pointe Review of Q2 In-
vestment Performance: Garth Flint
and Mike Breller presented the
LAFRA 2nd Quarter Investment
Performance Review. Value versus
Growth was mentioned; and it was
noted that growth outperformed
value for the first quarter and for the
year. The impact of inflation, taxes,
and higher interest rates were also
discussed.
Equity and international manag-
ers are participating and perform-
ing well. Fixed income is holding
steady with purchases made and
rebalancing done after last quarter.
Garth and Mike exited the meeting
at 11:03 a.m.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
REPORT
There was nothing to report.
BUILDING COMMITTEE
REPORT
Todd, in Juan’s absence, reported
the HVAC system fix has been
completed. Multiple coolant tanks
were replaced and the leaks were
patched. There were some leaks in
the in the coolant lines. They also
adjusted some of the air flow and
rerouted it to be more efficient in
dispersing the cool air.
Two more sinks were replaced in
the women’s restroom on B1 base-
ment level. This is part of the slow
roll out replace all of the units in
the building. Our current models
are outdated and parts are no longer
manufactured for them.
ADMINISTRATIVE
COMMITTEE REPORT
56 • October 2023
Tyler Tomich presented the follow-
ing motions.
The committee recommends and I
so move to pay the usual and cus-
tomary bills in the amount of
$1,288,360.05. There was no dis-
cussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual
and customary bills in the amount
of $1,288,360.05.
The committee recommends and
I so move to pay $2,500 for the
Scott Souter Golf Tournament on
October 9th at Tijeras Creek Golf
Course, which includes 2 foursomes
and a hole/tee sign. There was no
discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay $2,500 for
the Scott Souter Golf Tournament
on October 9th at Tijeras Creek
Golf Course, which includes 2
foursomes and a hole/tee sign.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE
REPORT
Frank Aguirre presented the fol-
lowing motion(s).
The committee recommends and
I so move to approve the medical
plan bills totaling $1,292,734.65.
There was no discussion or objec-
tions.
Motion carried to approve the
Medical Plan bills totaling
$1,292,734.65.
The committee recommends and
I so move to update our Sharecare
program to include FitOn starting
on November 1st. There were no
objections. Discussion ensued.
Based on requests from the mem-
bership with regards to gym mem-
berships, the committee and Heath-
er Leavitt reached out to Sharecare
for potential updates to the program.
Sharecare and FitOn did a presenta-
tion last week. Moving to FitOn, as
the gym network available to relief
members, would now include gym
memberships for kids from ages 13
to 18; provided that the individual
gym allows it. If so, minors would
be covered.
Additionally, FitOn would provide
access to approximately 1,700 more
gyms and other fitness centers. The
program would still have access to a
lot of the larger/major fitness facili-
ties, like 24 Hour Fitness, LA Fit-
ness, Crunch, Lifetime, etc. Com-
munication to the members will be
crucial in this transition process.
Chris will cover this in at least two
President’s Messages in the Grape-
vine.
From a cost perspective, it’s not go-
ing to cost Association any more
money. It’s neutral deal. Mov-
ing forward, it looks like positive
changed. It was approved today to
get everything ready for a Novem-
ber 1st launch. It was noted this is
also around Open Enrollment time
and the importance of proper and
timely communication on this tran-
sition to FitOn for the gym network
was stressed.
There was no further discussion or
any objections.
Motion carried to approve to up-
date our Sharecare program to in-
clude FitOn starting on November
1st.
RELIEF COMMITTEE
REPORT
Steve Berkery presented the follow-
ing motion.
The committee recommends and I
so move to pay:
The Sick & Injury benefits for Ac-
tive & Retired in the amount of
$10,665.60, The Estate Planning
benefit in the amount of $14,825,
The Life & Accident Withdrawals
of $0, The Assistance Committee
in the amount of $27,189.48, The
Emergency Advancements in the
amount of $2,000, The Widows &
Orphans Disabled Firefighter’s to
accept donations in the amount of
$8,300.53, The Life and Accident
Death Benefit in the amount of $0,
The Relief Death Benefits in the
amount of $25,000
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
Kenneth W. Blizzard
Patrick Mc Guinness
Anthony J. Couch
James D. Pogue
Michael T. Mitchell
GRAPEVINE/WEB
COMMITTEE REPORT
Danny Wu shared that there is
strong demand for advertisements.
The request for more battalion news
content was reiterated. Battalion
news is always needed and wel-
comed.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
There was nothing to report.
BY-LAW COMMITTEE
REPORT
There was nothing to report.
SCHOLARSHIP
COMMITTEE REPORT
The committee will get together at
the beginning of the year for their
first meeting and to set the scholar-
ship program calendar for the year.
MARKETING &
DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE REPORT
Danny Wu reported the Develop-
ment & Marketing department staff
is working several different items.
Golf: All past sponsors and fire-
fighter participants have been con-
tacted with registration links and
details. Marlene is focusing on get-
ting sponsorships and coordinating
all logistics for each one.
New Videos: Videos about the re-
cent Drill Tower graduation, the
LAFD CERT program are up. Six
scholarship videos are in progress.
The Jacob and Kate Munoz video
is already posted on both sites and
was shared on social. Videos about
the LA Galaxy fundraiser, the Golf
Tournament, some of our longtime
donors and sponsors, some Relief
benefits and services testimonials
are almost ready to debut.
Help us secure more subscribers on
Widows & Orphans YouTube in or-
der to hit 1,000 subscribers to get a
donation button. Subscribe and en-
courage your friends and family to
do so as well. This is being adver-
tised in the Grapevine, with paper
flyers, on both websites and across
social media.
Online auction: April is working
hard to solicit items for this year.
Marlene and April recently worked
at and observed another charity’s
auction.
Drill Tower Presentations: These
continue very regularly. Marlene,
Heather Leavitt and HealthComp
revamped the PowerPoint presen-
tation for the new speakers. Also
working with Member Services for
their input. New Hire Guide has
been updated to reflect July 1 ben-
efits and services changes.
Car Show: There are several sign-
ups and registrations coming
through weekly. Post cards and fly-
ers were created by Juan Carlos to
promote it. Juan Carlos also secured
donated promotional items. All are
encouraged to participate with this
event.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no formal new business
on the agenda.
Chris shared he received word the
LAPD secured their contract. It still
has to be ratified. Heather also sent
Chris some information.
OLD BUSINESS
No old business was discussed.
SETTING OF MEETING
DATES
1) Annual LAFD Memorial Car
Show: The event will take place on
Sunday, September 10th at Frank
Hotchkin Memorial Training Cen-
ter. Please spread the word and have
interested parties sign up.
2) LAFD Invitational Golf Tour-
nament: This annual Relief hosted
golf tournament is scheduled for
Monday, October 16th at Woodland
Statement of Ownership
Hills Country Club. A hosted din-
ner for our sponsors, donors and
VIP guests will happen the night
before on Sunday, October 15th.
The next committee meetings will
take place on Wednesday, August
16th. The next board meeting will
be on Wednesday, September 6th.
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) Joe Vigil Retirement Happy Hour
will take place on Saturday, August
5th at Sunset Terrace Restaurant in
Thousand Oaks from 2:00 p.m. to
6:00 p.m. Jeff Cawdrey will handle.
2) Mark Chase Retirement Lunch
will take place on Tuesday, August
8th at Doubletree Hotel, Thousand
Golden Ballroom in Los Angeles at
11:00 a.m.
3) Shannon K. Saffo Retirement
Dinner Dance will take place on
Saturday, August 12th at San Pedro
Elks Club from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00
p.m.
4) James D. Anthony Retirement
Dinner will take place on Saturday,
August 26th at the Anthony resi-
dence at 4:00 p.m.
5) Tony “Sluggo” Vidovich Retire-
ment Dinner will take place on
Sunday, August 27th at Dalmatian
American Club / Slav Hall in San
Pedro at 4:00 p.m. Chris Stine will
handle.
6) Mike Morales Retirement Din-
ner will take place on Saturday,
September 30th at NOOR Events
in Pasadena at 5:00 p.m. Steve Tufts
will handle.
7) John Williams Retirement Lunch
will take place on Wednesday, Sep-
tember 27th at USS IOWA Battle-
ship in San Pedro at 11:30 a.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Chris Stine entertained a motion to
adjourn. Jeff Halloran so moved.
Kenny Breskin seconded. There
was no discussion and no objec-
tions.
Motion carried to adjourn. The
Board of Trustees meeting ad-
journed at 11:38 a.m.
Chris Stine, President
October 2023 • 57
 CLASSIFIEDS
For advertising information, please contact:
Eric Santiago - (323) 259-5231 - eric@lafra.org
MERCHANDISE INCOME TAX PREPARATION
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Joe Flores, Certified Tax Profes-
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Price is $14,500 for both. (OBRO) - Chicago Cubs Spring Training
Contact Sandie Freeman - LAFD Fields, 3+2 - Pool - Putting Green
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2. Walking distance to Scottsdale
REAL ESTATE Stadium and 10 minute drive to
FOR RENT Salt River Talking Stick Fields
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ranging from Kindergarten through
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Contact Kym at frazierkym@ Two-story with vaulted ceiling,
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skiing, and forest. Great deck, lots
SERVICES of trees, fireplace/wood, cable TV/
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BUSY BEAVER TREE AND linens. 6-person max , pets ok.
LANDSCAPE. Tree trimming $150/day, 2-night min. Week rate
and removal, stumpgrinding, and available. Contact Donna at (760)
firewood sales. Mixed firewood, 723-1475 or DnBeep@gmail.
eucalyptus and oak. Delivery com. See photos at www.schaf-
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3 bath chalet with large loft with
CRAIG SANFORD HEATING & it’s own bathroom in Fawnskin,
AIR - Free estimates, residen- Big Bear Lake. Sleeps 10, walking
tial, commercial. Great rates for distance to some of the best hik-
LAFD and LAPD. Toll free (877) ing trails in Big Bear, 15 min drive
891-1414, (661) 298-3070, FAX to Snow Summit and Big Bear
(661) 298-3069. State License No. Village. Huge back deck area with
527114 phenomenal views of the lake.
Lots of cooking supplies; instapot,
58 • October 2023
air fryer, and more! Game room
with boardgames, pool table,
foosball and darts.
https://abnb.me/24MAsKIuZlb
CAMBRIA HAVEN IN THE PARK
HILL AREA OF CAMBRIA. A
beautiful studio with one queen
bed, perfect for two people to get
away. Enjoy ocean sounds and
views with a patio and yard for
that small pet. Full size kitchen.
Close to Moonstone Beach, the
Fiscalini Ranch and Cambria’s
West Village. Hearst Castle is
minutes away. Call Ana 559-
974-2509 for fire family discount
pricing.
COEUR D’ALENE, ID HOME
One story 2 bed, 1.5 bath
located in quiet neighborhood in
the Sanders Beach area. Fully
furnished, wifi, central heating/
ac, laundry. Walking distance to
downtown CDA, the lake, parks,
and multiple bars/restaurants.
No pets, no smoking. Contact
Andrew at CDArental99@gmail.
com for questions, availability,
pricing.
COLORADO RIVER HOME IN
MOOVALYA KEYS. Parker, Az.
3 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Sleeps 8,
50’dock, gated community. $450/
night plus fees, 3 night min.
okpauly@hotmail.com
COZUMEL, MEXICO CONDO
Beautiful, large, modern 3
bedroom, 3.5 bath condo at The
Landmark, 3800 sq. feet. Sleeps
6, ocean views, steps from beach.
Smart TV, Wi-Fi, pool, jacuzzi,
tennis. All master suites with
ensuite bathrooms. No smoking.
Call David (LAFD retired) at 949-
294-2953. Email: azmalproper-
ties@gmail.com Facebook: The
Landmark 511
GORGEOUS WATERFRONT
RIVERHOUSE on the lagoon
of the Colorado River for rent.
Family home-5 bedrooms, large
bonus room for kids, 4 1/2 baths .
Sleeps 15. Fully loaded with top of
the line appliances. Private launch
ramp. No pets. No smoking. No
large parties or events. Contact:
Gigi (714)454-0922 (Spouse-
LAFD) for special firefighter family
rates and for snowbirds Check out
details:
https://airbnb.com/h/theriver-
housevacationhome
GRAND CANYON/ WILLIAMS,
ARIZONA. 4 bed,
3 bath Historic Home one
block from Route 66. WALK
to everything! 8 person MAX.
No special events. Gorgeous
house. Unique property.
www.HistoricYellowHouse.
com
Listed on National Register of
Historic Places Grand Canyon
Railway, Bearizona, Elephant
Rocks Golf Course. Call
Kerry-Lynn Moede (602) 818-
6559 JDMoede@aol.com
HAVASU/BOATERS.
3bdrm(2king,1full) 2bath, turnkey,
w/d, WiFi, Dish, gas bbq,
1/2 mile to Windsor launch, cov-
ered gated boat parking,
3 nites $450, $100 for each addi-
tional nite- cleaning included, pics
available. Email:
rickpuglisi1103@msn.com
(626) 665-9890
HAVASU LANDING
3 Bd, 2 BTH home, sleeps 6-7.
Gated Community. Fully furnished,
pano view of lake. Wi-fi, direct TV,
flat screens and BBQ. Clubhouse,
pool, spa and rec. center steps
away. California side of Lake
Havasu. Enjoy the casino, two
launch ramps or the 12 min cata-
maran shuttle to London Bridge. No
Smoking/Pets. $175 nt. Weekdays,
$225 nt. Fr-Sat. Excl. Holidays. 2
nt. min. Cleaning fee of $125. Call
Tony Wren 760-688-6082 LACoFD
for questions and pics.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA HOME.
Across the street from Indianapolis
Motor Speedway.
3Bed/2Bath in town of Speedway.
Walk or bike to Main St.
Short drive, 7 miles, to Lucas Oil
Stadium, Downtown Indy, River-
front, 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.
Sleeps 8. Within a mile of fishing
& skiing. Close to Mammoth and
Yosemite. Spacious living room,
kitchen, and wood deck. Smart TV
and Wifi. $150/night plus cleaning
fee of $125. Email for pictures.
Brian Smith LAFD (310)872-7311.
junecabin52@gmail.com
LAKE HAVASU AMAZING
LAKEVIEW POOL HOME. 1800
sq.ft. built 2018, 3 bed, 2 bath,
sleeps 8. (King, Queen, Full
2xTwin). Finished backyard with
pool and spa. Fully furnished w/
linens, WiFi, internet TV, laundry,
large kitchen, BBQ, 2 car garage.
Quiet neighborhood. 3 miles from
launch ramp. No pets / no smok-
ing. Call Karen (661) 965-0542.
LAKE HAVASU LANDING
RESORT. 3 bedroom, 2 bath,
waterfront house, boat, mooring
out front, fully furnished, laundry,
gas BBQ, launch ramp, gated com-
munity, grocery store, hardware
store. No pets, no smoking. Email
Kathy at scarkj@yahoo.com or
call (760) 858-4470
LAKE HAVASU BEAUTY FOR
RENT - 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 1600 sq.ft.
Fully furnished with all ameni-
ties- Laundry & BBQ. 13,000 sq.ft.
lot. 3 car boat-deep garage. 3
miles from launch ramp. Close to
downtown shops & restaurants.
View of the lake. Quiet street in
good neighborhood. No pets. No
smoking. Snowbird rates. Call
Mike (661) 510-6246
LAKE HAVASU GETAWAY
3 bed, 2 bath, Kitchen, Boat Park-
ing, with a AMAZING VIEW of the
lake. located near restaurant’s,
and the option to use two different
boat launches both about 1 mile
from house. large fenced in back-
yard. Small PETS are welcome,
NON SMOKER Please. $180. nt.
Weekends $240. Fri-Sat EXCL
Holidays. 2 night min. Cleaning
Fee $125. pics avaialable. Email
rbrianson@hotmail.com call
Brian LAFD 714-376-2032
LAKE HAVASU LANDING.
TH1-29, Waterfront, 3 BD 3 BA,
Direct-TV, DVD, WiFi, BBQ,
Mooring, Casino, Market, Launch
Ramp, Marina, Off Road Trails,
Gated. No Smoking/Pets, $285
Weekday, $850 Weekend, $1995
Week, Maid $150, Resort TOT fee
25%, bring linen, (310) 418-1577,
daggertooth@aol.com
LAKE HAVASU LANDING RE-
SORT BEACHFRONT HOME with
boat mooring. Swim, ski or fish
from front yard. 4 bed/2 bath, fully
furnished. 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
LAKE HAVASU POOL HOME.
1900 sq. ft. remodeled 3 bdrm,
3 1/2 baths, sleeps 8. (1 King,
2 queens). Backyard with pool,
jacuzzi with underwater lights.
Fully furnished w/ linens, laundry,
WIFI, INTERNET, TVs, BBQ.
$150 weekdays, $250 week-
ends, $175 cleaning fee. 2 night
minimum. No smoking. Call Gabe
Moreno at 714-724-5556 or email:
fightin25@yahoo.com
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.
LOG CABIN NEAR JACKSON
HOLE WY: Close to Snake River,
Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, World
Class Skiing. Call (818) 207-
0811 LAFD Retired. Visit: www.
aspenhill
cabin.com for all information.
MAMMOTH CONDO. 10min walk
to Village.1bd+loft, 2ba, sleeps 6,
in unit pvt dry sauna, garage park-
ing, WiFi, Smart TVs, balcony with
view, spa, pool. Fire dept rates
available. David Jaureguy, LAFD,
818-266-9844
bigwoodtreetops@gmail.com
MAMMOTH CONDO, La
Vista Blanc, Cozy 2 BD 2 BA,
Furnished, WiFi, Cable, Pool,
Spa, BBQ, Sleeps 4, Winter $150,
Summer $130, Maid $175, 14%
TOT(6092), No Smoking, (310)
540-4648, pvignery@aol.com,
(310) 418-1577, daggertooth@
aol.com
MAMMOTH CONDO AT MAM-
MOTH ESTATES. 4BR/3BA,
sleeps 10, fully furnished, 2
TVs, DVDs, WiFi, towels/linens,
fireplace. Full kitchen. Walk to
Gondola Village and shuttle. Com-
plex 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. Updated
2 bedroom 1 bath old mammoth/
eagle lodge area. Sleeps 5. Fully
equipped kitchen, wifi, pool, spa,
laundry. Walk to restaurants, bars,
stores, park and trolly. Winter $175
summer $130 plus cleaning fee,
holiday rates vary, multiple night
discounts. No pets.Contact Will
Nevins 26”B” (714) 697-2587
MAMMOTH CONDO IN SNOW-
CREEK IV. Super nice 2 bedroom
/ 2 bathroom located in FAN-
TASTIC Snowcreek IV. *PETS
WELCOME! King, Double Queen
bunk, & trundle, Nicely furnished
with high-end appliances. Fully
stocked kitchen. Washer/Dryer in
the unit. Pricing varies by season
and demand. Exceptional condo!
Goldencreek637@gmail.com,
909-576-2025,
https://goldencreek637.wixsite.
com/mysite
MAMMOTH CONDO. Two
bedrooms, Large loft. Three full
bathrooms. Sleeps 8. Walk to
Canyon Lodge. DVD, Cable, Wifi,
Pool, Spa, Rec. Room, BBQ.
Winter $175 Sun - Thurs $195 Fri
/Sat Holiday Periods. Summer
$150 Plus Cleaning. No Smoking
or Pets. Call Craig Yoder (909)
948-3659.
MAMMOTH CONDO AT THE
WOODLANDS - Spacious &
sunny. 2 bedroom, loft, & 2 baths.
Sleeps 8. Cable HDTV, DVD, &
Wi-Fi. Pool, Jacuzzi, & sauna in
complex. On shuttle route. No
smoking & no pets. $160/night
winter, $125/night summer. Plus
cleaning and bed tax. Call Terry
Imlay (949)322-3473 or (949)458-
0768
MAMMOTH LAKES - One
bedroom, extremely charming
wildflower condo. Full amenities,
close to shuttle. Antiques, art,
satellite TV, fireplace. Sleeps 4.
Winter $110, Summer $85 plus
cleaning fees. Call Bill Clark (818)
371-6722
Email: shakesong@aol.com
MAMMOTH SEASONS 4
CONDO. Cozy 1 bedroom condo
with full-size pullout couch and bo-
nus room with twin size bunkbed
that comfortably sleeps 4 adults
and 2 children. Conveniently
located 15 min walk between the
Village and Canyon Lodge at 244
Lakeview Blvd. Visit https://www.
seasons4.com/94269/ for pics,
amenities, and reviews. $125/
night; off-peak (May, June, Oct,
Nov): $100/night; cleaning: $100.
Bobby (310) 350-5552.
MAMMOTH SNOW CREEK IV.
Beautiful 2bd 2ba 1140sqft. Check
us out at Airbnb.com/h/ourdeer-
friendsretreat for availability. Email
us directly for fire family pricing.
OurDeerFriend
sretreat@gmail.com. Shane
Hirsch(LAFD) 714-803-9324
MAUI, HAWAII VACATION
RENTAL. Kamaole Sands beach
front resort, spacious I bedroom,
2 bath condo #7104 located in
Kihei beautiful beach and garden
views with park like settings, with
pool, jacuzzi and bbq stations
just outside of relaxing lanai. For
pictures and rates contact:
mauirentalgroups@vtrips.com
complex #7104 sleeps up to 4
adults with some exceptions for
children. Retired firefighter owned
with 10% discount given to all
LAFD firefighters and policemen.
NASHVILLE CONDO. Two bed-
room condo, sleeps 6, in Down-
town Nashville. Walking distance
to Broadway St, hockey and NFL
stadium. Contact Wayne, LAFD
@ (805) 796-7863 for availability
and price.
PALM DESERT CONDO.Montery
Sands, 3 BD 2 BA, Furnished,
WiFi, Cable, Pool, Jacuzzi, Ten-
nis, Sleeps 4, $200 Night, $800
Week, $3200 Month, Maid $150,
12% TOT(STR2019-0002). No
Smoking, (310) 418-1577, dag-
gertooth@aol.com
SHELL VACATION CLUB time-
share points for sale! Points allow
for maximum travel flexibility. Stay
at any Shell Resort or use RCI to
travel the globe with thousands
of options! 8700 annual points
can be used for accommodations,
airfare, rental cars, or cash out.
Take over deed for $10,000 obo!
Same point value costs $30k-40k
at resort. Maintenance fees are
$235 monthly. Vince Nixon—LAFD
retired 805-585-8808
RIVERFRONT IN BITTERROOT
VALLEY, MT. New custom 2/2 in
Darby. Fish from deck! Leather
furn. Brand new appliances. Out-
door entertaining. Fly fishing, ATV
trails, hiking.Traeger/Blackstone.
Outdoor pool table. Wi-Fi, cable.
Laundry. 1 min. from where they
film “Yellowstone.” May – Sept.
Daughter of fallen firefighter.
www.bitterrootriverhouse.com
or call (406) 274-7670
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Romantic
Chalet Family getaway. 3 bed/2
bath plus loft. Sleeps 8–10. Cable
TV, washer/dryer, WiFi, woodburn-
ing stove. 7 minutes to casinos and
Heavenly. Located in Tahoe Para-
dise. $125 per night plus cleaning.
Call Shawn at (661) 476-6288.
October 2023 • 59
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60 • October 2023
Engine Company 18. 2616 South Hobart Engine Company No. 18. 2616 South Hobart
Street. 1906 – 1916. LAFD Photo Street. Circa 1920. LAFD Photo

Present Day. August 14, 2023—Photo Courtesy of Elan Raber, L to

Engine 18 Opening Day Dec 31, 1968. R: Captain Elan Raber, FF/PM Tim Baker, FF/PM Trent Western,
Photo Courtesy of FF Dave Holcomb FF/PM JJ Curtis, FF Ed Mancillas, Engineer Dean Arrigoni

Fire Station 18
October 2023 • 61
 Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association
7470 N Figueroa Street
Los Angeles CA 90041-1725

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