Sunday, October 13, 2013

Public Safety Diver Monthly

Download Issue 103 and 104 with the latest news and information for public safety diving

http://psdiver.com/images/PSDiverMonthlyIssue103-_Secure.pdf

http://psdiver.com/images/PSDiverMonthlyIssue104-secure.pdf

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Effective February 1, 2013, the management of the Dive Search and Rescue Team has been revised. The new management system ensures that rules and regulations established by Los Angeles Fire Department, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and U.S. Navy (USN), as well as those established by other state and local government agencies are followed and adhered to.

Dive Team Organizational Chart

A Dive Safety Board has been implemented to oversee the dive program. The purpose of the Dive Safety Board is to ensure the highest level of safety for the LAFD dive program specifically to provide administrative, operational, safety guidance, and oversight to conduct all dive operations in a uniform manner.

The immediate action items for the Dive Safety Board include:

Update and implement dive safety standards and procedures

Issuance of new equipment and associated mandated training

Audit and update of required training and documentation

The creation of a Dive Safety Manual

Additional action items will be based on input from dive team members.

This management system centers around team participation and is designed to be inclusive and have transparency. All team members are stakeholders and encouraged to take responsibility in the successful implementation of this management system. Additionally, all dive team decisions will be based on credible and acknowledged sources and based on established dive industry standards and procedures.

Safety is of primary importance in all of dive operations. It is expected that LAFD divers follow public safety dive practices and standards that are established by the NFPA, OSHA and LAFD. Furthermore, each diver shall use good operational judgment, use well-maintained equipment, and have a professional attitude in the execution of their duties.

The Dive Safety Board will ensure that each member possesses the necessary equipment and training to carry out their duties in a safe and efficient manner.

Dive Team in Action

Boat 3

Container Arrival

Hazmat Incident in the Harbor

Pickup for a Tank Ship Inspection

Catalina Run

Diving Hollywood Reservoir with LAPD

Pool Training

Guardian Closeup

Mate Serpa

Iowa Dive

Mate Malafronte

Paul Cullen

Training

Point Fermin Body Recovery

Fatal fall off Point Fermin

USAR 85

LAFD Harbor Companies, USAR, Helicopters, Marine Units were utilized to located and recovered the body of a 60 year old male at the base of Pt. Fermin cliff, approximately a 150' fall. Normally not accessible from land at high tides, the unusually low tide allowed land companies to access the victim and utilize the helicopter to evacuate.

(See video of the helicopter operation below)

Preparing for a rope operation

Boats stages for water entry

A peek over the edge

Marine units from above

Located the victim

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Dive Team Training

Dive team members participated in new equipment and procedure training. All team members received training in the new OTS comm's system, Guardian Full Facemask and Redundant Air Source.

Instructor Jason Teter addresses the class

Jason Teter, Shawn "Sidemount" Mason and Chad Crouthamel

Divemaster Dave Brooks, Emillo Russi and Todd Hix

Dry Runs

Inventory Time

New equipment inventory at Fire Station 49
A team effort!!

Tank Ship Inspection

Berth 186

Pump Out

Boat 4, Boat 3, Engine 49 handled a 25 ft sailboat that was taking on water

Cruise Ship Visit

The Costa Deliziosa visited the Port of Los Angeles during it's around the world trip.

The Costa Deliziosa, a Spirit Class cruise ship operated by Costa Crociere is a similar ship as the strickend Costa Concordia that ran aground in the Mediterranean in 2012.

The Costa Concordia

Bridge Jumper

Photo's courtesy of Chris Conkle

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Boat Fire

LAFD Boat 4, Boat 3 and Engine 49 responded to a well involved 35' cabin cruiser. The fire completely gutted the interior of the vessel.

Body Recovery MacArthur Park

On December 11, 2012, Boat 3, Engine 49 and Battalion 6 were dispatched to 2032 Wilshire Blvd for a reported “Drowning” in MacArthur Park Lake at 0706 hours. The initial dispatch, at 0641 hours, included Task Force 11, Rescue 13 and Battalion 11.

Engine 49, Boat 3 and Battalion 6 were dispatched at 0706 hours and were designated as Dive Group. Equipment from Boat 3 including; dive equipment, extra SCUBA bottles, dive communications and the Mesotech Sonar equipment were loaded into Rescue Ambulance 649. Fire Boat Mates from Boat 3 and Boat 4 responded with the Dive Group. At 0754 hours, the LAFD Dive Group arrived on scene. A Recreation and Parks boat was made available and provided to the Dive Group.

After it was determined that the incident was strictly a search and recovery operation, in coordination with LAPD, the Mesotech Sonar was assembled and prepared for deployment near the last known location of the victim. The Mesotech Sonar was deployed via boat and relocated three separate times to identify targets and narrow the search area. The sonar search revealed underwater hazards, plumbing and support structures. Divers encountered zero visibility due to the heavy silt at the bottom of the lake. The dive team cleared the first two targets and located the victim at the third target location. The victim was found in 11 feet of water, 12 minutes after the search was initiated, total dive time was 19 minutes.

The dive team reported that the victim had been located and they initiated the “marking” procedure, with consideration to scene preservation for investigative purposes.

LAPD Detectives and the Coroner’s Office responded to the incident and dictated procedural operations following the locating of the victim. LAPD Divers secured the victim in a body bag for removal from the water. A medical report was completed by RA 13 and the Coroner initiated the appropriate protocol.

Sinking Vessel

Fire department marine resources responded to a reported sinking vessel. Upon arriving on scene,

LAFD Boat 1 found that a 40' Department of Fish and Game vessel "Garibaldi" had been struck mid-ship by a large container barge (in photo background). The vessel sustained substantial damage and was taking on water. LA County Lifeguards and US Coast Guard assisted LAFD Boat 1 in successfully mitigating the incident.