Narrow Roads and Fire Engines Don't Mix

Photo by Mike Myers

On Sunday, March 5^th, 2017 at 11 A.M. the La Habra Heights front line 2008 KME fire engine was involved in a non-injury, solo vehicle accident in the 500 block of East Rd. in La Habra Heights. 

During the accident the engine dropped off the right side of the roadway, landing on both axles and sliding along the edge of the pavement like a skateboarder on a rail. The Engine came to rest on the downhill slope, nearly rolling over and down the 50', 30 degree embankment. 

The vehicle came to rest with the left front and rear wheels barely in contact with the roadway.  

Photo by Mike Myers

Upon coming to rest, the Firefighters were able to exit on the uphill side of the apparatus while the Captain, fearing that crawling over the center console would cause the vehicle to roll down the hill, elected to exit the vehicle on the downhill side.

No injuries were sustained. L.A. County Dispatch was notified, as was the La Habra Heights Fire Chief  and Assistant Chief. Both responded emergency to the incident to provide incident command and ensure the safety of department personnel and apparatus. 

Photo by Mike Myers

L.A. County Fire responded their USAR and Heavy Rescue 103 to the incident to provide technical expertise in the recovery of the apparatus.

Two heavy rescue Tow Trucks were requested. In concert, one tow truck connected cables to the rear wheels on each side while the other connected to the front. 

The vehicle was literally hoisted into the air to bring in upright and back onto the roadway. It took approximately 4 hours to safely stabilize and recover the apparatus.

Upon recovery, a preliminary safety check was performed which revealed minimal damage. The Engine was driven back to quarters, placed out of service, and is undergoing suspension and minor body damage repairs.

Photo by Mike Myers

The cause of the accident occurred due to several factors  including a narrow, winding road with lane widths of approximately 9 feet, a blind corner with both opposing drivers hugging the center line due to the narrow lane width, the Fire Engine driver moving slightly to the right to avoid a potential accident, the rear dual wheels cheating the corner to the passenger side due to the length of the Engine, and a sharp drop off at the edge of the fog line and pavement.

Please read the Preliminary Green Sheet Report .

Driver Transported to Trauma Center in La Habra Heights Traffic Accident

On Saturday October 29, 2016 the driver of a vehicle traveling Southbound on Hacienda Rd. near West Rd. lost control of his car and went off the roadway striking a tree with the driver side of the vehicle.

The force of the impact pushed the car back into the roadway, coming to rest in the Northbound lane. The driver suffered serious injuries and was treated and transported to a local trauma center by La Habra Heights Firefighter/Paramedics.

The cause of the accident will be investigated by the L.A. County Sheriffs Department.

La Habra Heights Traffic Accident Sends Three to Hospital

On October 1, 2016 at 3 AM, La Habra Heights Firefighters responded to a head on traffic collision on Harbor Blvd near Kashlan Rd. Upon arrival La Habra Heights Firefighters found a two car traffic collision with three patients complaining of injury.



Firefighters used extrication tools to open the drivers door to remove the injured driver.

La Habra Heights Paramedics with AMR Ambulance transported two patients to UCI trauma center in fair condition.

Los Angeles County Fire Department assisted  the La Habra Heights Fire Department by providing patient care and transporting one patient to a local hospital in stable condition.

Harbor Blvd. remained closed for several hours.

Woman Hit By Car Critically Injured

On September 29, 2016, La Habra Heights Firefighters responded to a citizen's report of a pedestrian struck by an automobile on Hacienda Rd. just south of City Hall in front of Osornio Park in the city of La Habra. 

Photos by Rick McClure

Engine 71 and Engine 72 responded and found an adult female in critical condition after being struck by an automobile. Paramedics began rendering Advanced Life Support to the injured woman. 

L. A. County Engine and Squad 191 and La Habra 1 Ambulance arrived on scene and due to the location being in the County area, patient care was transitioned to L.A. County Fire. 

Due to the patients condition, LACo Engine 191 requested an air ambulance to transport the patient to a local trauma center. 

La Habra Heights Engine 71 and 72 set up the helicopter landing zone in the adjacent soccer field to ensure the safety of bystanders. Firefighter Paramedics loaded the patient into the waiting helicopter and the patient was transported to the LAC/USC Medical Center in critical condition.

Patient is loaded into L.A. County Air Squad 11 for transport

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.

Proof That Airbags Save Lives in La Habra Heights

On July 21, 2016, a solo vehicle traffic accident occurred on West Rd. near Subtropic Dr. in La Habra Heights. Firefighters arrived on scene to find a new 5-seat compact car, which had struck several short steel/concrete barrier poles, causing it to flip over, narrowly missing a power pole and coming to rest on it's roof.

All 6 occupants had self-extricated themselves from the vehicle prior to Firefighters arrival. Firefighter/Paramedics assessed the occupants and determined there were no injuries sustained during the accident. Fortunately, both front and side airbags deployed during the accident.

Firefighters conducted a search of the vehicle and immediate area to ensure that no other patients were ejected or missing. The cause and circumstances of the accident are determined by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department