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County FS 73 has always had a lot of apparatus for the size of the station. E73, sq73, pat73, WT73 , foam 73, and the swift water rescue units and I think a battalion or division SUV. Parking used to be the engine and foam at the front and the water tanker behind the foam tender and squad behind the engine running out the back of the station. I think the patrol and SUV were housed in the garages to the side of the yard at the back and the swift water rescue was in the garages to the side by the automatic gates. That was my last visit a few years ago however from video footage i see all has changed. It seems Engine and Squad now run from the front, patrol behind the engine, foam behind the squad at the back. Not sure where WT73 is or parks and has the batt or div been moved out to another location and are the swift water units still there? I thik the swift water is staffed by lifeguards and not the firefighters from the station. That foam unit look slike it belongs in a museum, must be getting replaced soon! Hope all are ok.. JT

Currently as far as I know LACoFD operates 5 firehawks and a Bell 412, 2 Bell 412 EPs and 2 Bell 412 HPs. Firstly what is the difference in the 412, the Ep and HP, in performance payload and missions? Which mission are preferred by the crews for which airframe and why not a full firehawk or bell fleet? Do the crews prefer the Bells for SAR due to improved high altitude performance which is what I know Bell helis excel at, or do crews prefer firehawks for all missions? What determines what airframe is the ready bird? It seems the Malibu bird is generally more often than not a Bell 412.

Why does LACoFD use the Bells for the east area copter duty? Shame they dont get more of a look in with the San Gabriel Mountains and ANF area. Seems LA Sheriff Air Rescue 5 has the ANF and mountains for SAR ops. Often hear them working with FS 82s and 79s units up in the mountains along with USFS fire units on SAR missions and traffic collisions

The Canadian Forces also still rely heavily on the Bell, the call them Griffons. They use them for troop insertion and extraction, CAS, SAR and utility. A few squadrons operate them with door guns attached. Also the Canadian Special Forces flight use blue painted Griffons, basically Bell 412s.

thanks for the info. While researching the Air Squad info also read CALFIRE and San Bernadino and other agencies are replacing all thier Vietnam era Hueys with S70 Firehawks. Ventura County also just purchased 2 firehawks but not sure whetherr or not they are planning on replacing all the Hueys as they have quite a fleet of them and love them. I also read that although the Bells have less water load capacity than a firehawk and a less payload for rescues, the S70 Firehawks have far higher maintenance needs, are more expensive to operate and the flight hours to scheduled maintenance ratio is lower than the Bells, basically the Bells are cheaper and easier to maintain and stay in the air longer.

Who provides fire cover and staffs stations in the Angeles National Forest and the mountains?

yes been listening in on Broadcastify. Seems the ANF units deal with a lot in the mountains with La Sheriff Air 5 and county units get stood down. lot of hiking and sporting injuries, lost hikers etc. Did not realise ANF fire had a SAR capability but they seem to be a very handy and capable and versatile resource in the mountains.Litened in on Broadcastify to ANF units starting and conducting a search for a fallen cyclist and located the injured party then cleared and staffed a heli spot and assisted Air 5 to assess and load the patient. Are the USFS ANF stations staffed 24/7, I understand they have barracks at the stations due to the isolated locations, Are they staffed through the winter months or just during high fire season? do the firefighters have additional duties such as rangers or as I have heard SAR work as well.

So just heard a traffic collision in 82s district on the Crest Highway up in the hills, Assignment was E582 and a squad which I could not hear as feed was poor. Where was LF82 and E82? Are LF been not staffed or put on strike teams?

Is there still and E82 stationed at FS 82 or is it just the Light Force 82 there now?

Anybody have any knowledge as to what determines if a patrol is staffed and responds with the engine on all calls? It seems that some patrols, ie: patrol 70 and patrol 144 and patrol 128 and 97 and 79 always respond on calls with the engines.Where as others, such as patrol 71 never seem to respond at all. Never herd patrol 71 respond at all actually whereas patrol 70 is always out and about and on the air. Also do the patrols, actually patrol? or do they sit on the station with the engine waiting on calls? Cheers.

thats great info many thanks. Made it a lot clearer now.

thanks. how do they fit all that equipment into the station!!!?? I can see the engine and LF truck sit at the front with the LF engine behind E82, but where do the Patrol and Batt go? cant see any shelters from photos.

thanks. maybe Patrol 71 just never gets mentioned but does respond. Yes they did get some type 3s, not sure where they are or whether they are even operational yet.

Hi guys sorry for all the questions! But i am slowly learning LA!! A fantastically diverse area!! With regards Los Angeles Sheriff Search And Rescue Teams, is there a standard number and type of vehicles across all teams? I see Malibu SAR has a Dodge Ram with winch attached, a ford SUV a ford simmilar to the Ram but all in white and a trailer. What is the role of each vehicle? I assume the Ram is the first away to attend calls and the rest are back up or supervisor roles? Many Thanks in advance.

Is the Swift water Rescue Trailer at 70s have its own Squad to tow it and staffed by E70 personnel who are swift water trained, or is it just the trailer housed there and a Lifeguard unit rocks up to collect the swift water trailer with one of their own vehicles and responds that way?

Many thanks for the info. With regards been full time, they are all part time reserve volunteers, totally unpaid. They have a a full time LASD senior officer and sergeant who oversee operations and run the unit, they rotate through the unit, I have conflicting info on where 240 are based, i thought it was Lost Hills LASD station but also seen info they have a base or outpost in the middle of the Malibu Hills/Santa Monica Mountains. With regards Sierra Madre Search And Rescue Team, they are a stand alone independent unit that is only affiliated with and works with or alongside LASD but is not a part of the LASD, with that in mind are they allowed to respond on lights and sirens or Code 3 as it is termed in LA?

Hi all. was listening in on broadcastify just now and heard medic engine 771.... who might they be? never heard of that before..

Hi Hope I find you all well. If I may a quick question about stations that run patrols. I often hear patrols been sent as part of the response to runs such as medical runs etc ie: Engine Squad Patrol 107 difficulty breathing etc... Couple of questions, do 2 of the engine crew stay on the engine and the third FF drives the patrol or are stations with patrols 4 FF engines? Secondly do patrols respond with the engines all year round or just in high fire seasons? Many Thanks in advance.

From a recent general google search I did it seems CHP is going for Dodge Chargers as its primary pursuit and patrol vehicle replacing fcv's and the newer ford suv's. Must make for a better pursuit vehicle. Is this a generic CHP initiative? for the Dodge Charger? THe Hareys look awesome!! what are they tuned up to? Regards Jed

yes tuned up and stabilised tahoes that are pursuit capable are also set to hit the streets with chp.

Hi folks Hope you are all well. I have not been on for a while due to a rather hectic and manic period of time on the work and home front!! I am slowly getting back into things and have a couple of questions for those in the know if I may. Firstly is LACoFD FS 73 still running the ancient Foam 73 and still running as a Foam TF? On wilipedia updated 2016 Foam 73 is no longer listed? Secondly, it seems on Broadcastify.com LACoFD Blue 3 has been removed ot taken down or not monitored. Is this permenant or just temporary? Is Blue 3 still in operation? Many Thanks Jeg

HI I might be wrong but my understanding is that the only rigs that have a heavy rescue or extrication capability in LA are the Quints/Trucks/Light Forces. (not sure if some of the Squads or Heavy Squads carry MVA extrication equipment). I notice that along the PCH LAcoFD has no light forces or quints or trucks, so which station or company provides auto extrication for the PCH?? I see that LAFD has a Light Force at Pacific Pallisades but obviously that would provide coverage for City areas. Same I guess goes for the PCH through to Ventura County. No Light Forces, Trucks or Quints etc, just Engines and Squads. Thanks in advance. JED

Quint 3 to BH or 7 or 8s disttict is a bit crazy to be honest

Cheers ranger. That would be one heck of a treck for 125 with a confirmed pin.

Is the parking at 73s still engine and foam up front with tanker and squad out of the back bay doors and the patrol housed in one of the outgarages? Jed