Car Slams Guardrail Catching Fire

On Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at 1:13 a.m. a small sedan traveling west bound on East Rd. in La Habra Heights was unable to negotiate a sharp hairpin corner, slamming into the guardrail and bursting into flames.

The driver of the automobile was out of the car upon the arrival of the Fire Department and was not injured. Firefighters extinguished the fire in 15 minutes limiting the fire extension into the surrounding brush.

The force of the impact destroyed about 50' of guardrail and closed East Rd. for about and hour. Firefighters used rotary saws to cut up the guardrail that was twisted across the roadway.

The cause of the collision is under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Vegetation Fire Sparked by Welding operatoin

On Tuesday October 17, 2017 at 11:22 a.m. La Habra Heights Firefighters responded to the 1800 block of Subtropic Dr. on a reported unknown type of fire. On arrival Firefighters discovered a small fire in a in an outdoor vegetation trellis. The majority of fire was extinguished prior to the arrival of Firefighters.

Photo by Rick McClure

Firefighters continued extinguishing the flames and overhauled the area to extinguish any remaining hot spots. flying embers did start a small patch of weeds on fire approximately 75' away. The fire was contained to about 25' of trellis.

The cause of the fire was determined to be due to a welding operation on the overhead trellis.

Fire Causes Major Damage to Home in La Habra Heights

On May 7th, 2017 at 12:35 p.m.  La Habra Heights  Firefighters supported by Firefighters from Los Angeles County Fire, Vernon, and Santa Fe Springs were dispatched to a reported structure fire on Dorothea Rd. in La Habra Heights. 

Upon E771’s arrival, firefighters discovered heavy smoke showing from the property and immediately laid a supply line from a nearby fire hydrant. Heavy smoke and fire was visible through the first and second story roof of a 5000 sq. ft. 2-story home. Firefighters made entry through the front door to discover heavy smoke on the first floor. As the firefighters progressed up the stairway they encountered near zero visibility and discovered fire showing in one room to the right of the stairs.

 The Firefighters observed that the fire had burned through the floor from the single story attic portion of the rear section of the house.

The attic of both the one story portion of the home and the second story portion were fully involved in fire.

During the firefight, while firefighters were inside the structure, there were two partial roof collapses. The Incident Commander accounted for all firefighters and ordered firefighting operations into a defensive mode.

 

It took 50 Firefighters 90 minutes to get a knockdown on the fire. Firefighters spent the next 5 hours overhauling the structure and extinguishing all of the hot spots. Due to the extensive damage to the roof, the entire roof and tiles had to be removed. The fire was confined to the both attic's and one room causing extensive damage to the roof structure. There were no injuries and all companies were released from the fire. La Habra Heights Firefighters remained on scene throughout the night to extinguish any hot spot and prevent a rekindle.

The cause is under investigation by LASD Arson Detectives, however the preliminary finding indicates a possible electrical issue in the 1^st floor attic and there is no indication of arson.

 

Brush Fire Scorches 1/2 Acre in La Habra Heights

On May 5th, 2017 at 6:45 p.m.  La Habra Heights Firefighters were dispatched to investigate a report of smoke in the area of Hacienda Rd. and Reposado Dr in La Habra Heights. With smoke showing from the powder canyon area, a full brush assignment was requested and additional Firefighters, camp crews, and air support from Los Angeles County Fire, Santa Fe Springs, Downey, and Vernon were dispatched.

The fire was located just off Skyline trail, North of the end of Reposado Dr. Due to the fire being located within the Habitat Authority Preserve area, ground crews had to navigate narrow dirt roads to gain access to the fire. The fire was contained to approximately 1/2 acre of heavy brush and 8' tall milkweed. 75 firefighters assisted by several water dropping helicopters were able to knock down the fire in about an hour. Crews remained on scene for several hours to completely extinguish the fire and create a scratch line around the entire perimeter.



Several factors helped Firefighters quickly control the fire. The recent transition by the La Habra Heights Fire Department to the Los Angeles County Fire Dispatch and communications system has improved communications and interoperability between the two agencies. A series of multi-agency wildland drills with Departments from Los Angeles and Orange Counties have recently been conducted in the Heights, with the next one scheduled for the end of the month.

The cause of the fire has been determined to be an illegal campfire. There were no witnesses or suspects.

While the heavy brush in the area was more than 8' tall, it has not yet dried out. In addition, favorable weather conditions and a lack of wind allowed firefighters to safely attack the fire from the ground. Unfortunately, a few days of low humidity and strong winds can have a significant negative impact on firefighting tactics and efforts.

Brush Clearance: An Investment towards a Safer Community

Courtesy of txdot.gov

Prevention, early detection, and rapid response against invasive plants are investments to you and your neighborhood. Control costs increase exponentially over time if infestations of invasive plants are allowed to persist. 

One mature tumbleweed, for example, can spread up to 250,000 seeds and germinate with very limited amounts of moisture. This allows tumbleweeds to dominate other vegetation and can become even a greater nuisance during the worst of droughts. 

Invasive plants such as tumbleweeds should be abated quickly and aggressively to prevent infestations and to reduce the risk of a fire endangering you and your loved ones.

Palm Tree Maintenance Prevents Wildfires

Palm Tree Maintenance: According to the California Invasive Plant Council, Mexican fan palms are extremely invasive, and palm trees with untrimmed fronds harbor rats and snakes, and can be a fire hazard if neglected.

There are many other types of palm trees that are lower-maintenance, more fire-wise and environmentally better choices. Mexican fan palms can become exceedingly tall, and what makes it an extraordinary fire hazard is the “petticoat” of dead fronds that stay on the tree from year to year if not removed.

The dead fronds may be easily ignited, and in a fire, the fronds can fly all over, igniting new fires where they land. Very tall palm trees are dangerous to trim, so it is recommended that you hire only the most qualified personnel to perform the work. If you have Mexican fan palms on your property, check to make sure they are being maintained to reduce fuel for a potential fire.

LHHFD Firefighters Extinguish VW Fire

On August 16, 2016 La Habra Heights Firefighters responded to Avocado Crest Rd. and Skyline Crest Rd. on a reported auto fire. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire in the engine compartment and prevent the spread of the fire into the passenger area or surrounding brush. No injuries were reported.

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) - What's The Big Deal?

The La Habra Heights Fire Department recently conducted several "Interoperability" Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) drills with a dozen other local fire departments. These drill are critical to the successful management of any fire that threatens La Habra Heights. Below is an excerpt from an article describing the challenges faced by all cities faced with fighting fires in a WUI environment.

The Sand fire burns out of control along near Acton, California, on Sunday.

          

"Southern California is on fire again. The Sand fire in the Santa Clarita Valley mountains north of Los Angeles has burned 38,873 acres, destroyed at least 18 homes and taken one life. Smoke from the fire created what the LA Times referred to as an “apocalyptic haze” around Los Angeles County and a scorch mark it left behind was clearly visible in images from NASA’s Landsat satellite. On Tuesday, the acting governor of California, Tom Torlakson, declared a state of emergency in the county, declaring that the fire is “likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single local government.”

 

What distinguishes the Sand fire isn’t its size..."

 

Read More

 

 

 

 

Ella Koeze is a visual journalist for FiveThirtyEight



Traffic Accident Closes Fullerton Road in La Habra Heights

On July 31, 2016 at 6:10  P.M.,  The La Habra Heights Fire Department responded to the 1700 block of Fullerton Rd. on a reported vehicle into a power pole. Upon arrival, Firefighters located a single vehicle which had struck and sheared a power pole causing live wires to fall to the ground.

Firefighters secured the area, blocked traffic, and determined that there were no injuries. Southern California Edison was contacted to secure the power lines and repair the power pole. The downed power lines caused power a outage to approximately 10 local residents. Firefighters remained on scene for several hours until Edison had secured the downed power lines.

Edison workers estimate that Fullerton Rd. will be closed between Chota Rd. and Dorothea Rd. until approximately 1 P.M. on August 1, 2016.

Residents can check the status of power outages in the affected area HERE.

LHHFD Encourages Wildfire Preparedness

The La Habra Heights Fire Department (LHHFD) recommends that all residents continually assess their emergency preparedness for wildfires. Serious drought conditions combined with an abundance of dry vegetation continues to plague much of California. 

Should a fire occur in the city, we encourage homeowners to evacuate early. Residents shouldn't wait for a formal evacuation order since doing so can clog our roadways making it difficult for firefighters to get into an area, delaying our firefighting efforts and threatening your neighbors.

Basic Safety Tips

• If you see a wildfire and aren't sure if the Fire Department is responding, call 9-1-1. Don't assume that someone else has already called.
• If ordered to evacuate during a wildfire, do it immediately- make sure and tell someone where you are going and when you have arrived.
• HAVE AN EVACUATION PLAN! Narrow streets create evacuation issues. Please use the most accessible route out of the city and don't blog roads for others evacuating or fire apparatus.
• Many communities have text or email alerting systems for emergency notifications.To find out what alerts are available in your area, search the Internet with your town, city, or county name and the word “alerts.”
• If you or someone you are with has been burned, call 9-1-1 or seek help immediately; cool and cover burns to reduce chance of further injury or infection.

Fire Weather Watch

Fire weather watch = dangerous fire weather conditions are possible over the next 12 to 72 hours
Steps to Take

• Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
• High Hazard Watchouts! When together - Low Humidity (Under 15%), High Winds (25+)
• Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
• Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Prepare Your Home

• Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
• Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
• Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
• Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

After a wildfire

Returning Home

• Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
• For several hours after the fire, maintain a "fire watch." Check and re-check for smoke, sparks or hidden embers throughout the house, including the roof and the attic.
• Use caution when entering burned areas as hazards may still exist, including hot spots, which can flare up without warning. Evacuate immediately if you smell smoke.

Cleaning Your Home

• Wear a NIOSH certified-respirator (dust mask) and wet debris down to minimize breathing dust particles.
• Discard any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke or soot.
• Do NOT use water that you think may be contaminated to wash dishes, brush teeth, prepare food, wash hands, or to make ice or baby formula.
• Photograph damage to your property for insurance purposes.

Before Wildfire season- Make a Wildfire plan

• Know your wildfire risk.
• Make a wildfire emergency plan.
• Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.
• Familiarize yourself with local emergency plans. Know where to go and how to get there should you need to evacuate.
• Stay tuned to your phone alerts, TV, or radio, for weather updates, emergency instructions or evacuation orders.

La Habra Heights Firefighters Learn About the Fatal "Hacienda Fire" in 1955

During our recent Wildland Training, La Habra Heights firefighters were given a history lesson on the dangers of wildland firefighting as well as how these tragic events shape future firefighting tactics and safety procedures.

On September 2, 1955, Los Angeles County Fire Captain Glenn E. Rockey was killed on this La Habra Heights hillside during the "Hacienda Fire". The fire also took the lives of five young members of the Los Angeles County Probation Forestry Camp 5-1, and severely burned seven others.  Fire investigators mark the spots where some of the men were killed. (Los Angeles County Fire Department Historical Archives)

Almost 57 years after he was killed, the heroic efforts of Captain Glenn E. Rockey to save the lives of other Firefighters was finally recognized.  Los Angeles County 2012 Valor Awards: 
  

La Habra Heights Fire Department Hosts 2016 Wildland Training

 

In April, 2016, the La Habra Heights Fire Department had the privilege of hosting the "Area E" regional wildland firefighter training in the Heights. Firefighters from La Habra Heights joined with firefighters from Compton, Santa Fe Springs, Vernon, and Downey fire departments. We spent 3 days in a combined classroom and field exercise training sessions, designed to enhance our ability to support each other during the upcoming wildfire season.

 

 

Fire Chief Doug Graft from La Habra Heights shared his 38 years of knowledge and experience in wildland firefighting operations during the presentation. This presentation included a discussion of the 1955 "Hacienda Fire" in La Habra Heights which killed 5 firefighters and a Los Angeles County Fire Captain during an entrapment.

 

Firefighters then caravanned thru the Heights to a remote location to practice working together; extending nearly a thousand feet of hoseline and pumping.

 

Firefighters were able to practice deploying fire shelters in simulated wind conditions.

 

In all, over 100 firefighters from local mutual aid fire departments participated in this training. Residents can expect to see other local and regional mutual aid fire departments, who are likely to support La Habra Heights in our firefighting operations, conducting pre-fire training and planning. In addition, command staff from La Habra Heights is working  with allied agencies to improve communication among their command staff.

La Habra Heights Fire Department Recruitment Video