Three units within the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) were recognized Thursday at a promotions ceremony for going “above and beyond the call of duty,” as LBFD Chief Mike Duree described them.

“These unit citations are reflective of the best that the Long Beach Fire Department offers,” Duree said at the ceremony at the Fire Department’s headquarters. “These units and crews have performed in a manner that reflects the mission of the Long Beach Fire Department, to protect lives, property and the environment, improving the quality of life and safety of the community.”

Personnel from the LBFD’s Engine 9, Truck 7, Rescue 9, US&R Task Force 6 and Battalion 3 pose at a promotions ceremony after receiving a unit citation for extricating a man trapped in a vehicle in September. Photos by Brittany Woolsey

Complex Extrication on the 405 Freeway

A man’s life was saved in September 2014 when Engine 9, Truck 7, Rescue 9, Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Force 6 and Battalion 3 found the man’s vehicle wrapped around a large eucalyptus tree with the man trapped inside.

Firefighters first received the call at about 12:28PM on September 17 regarding an injury traffic accident with vehicle rollover and a person trapped on the northbound 405 freeway just south of the northbound 710, Duree said at the ceremony.

“The driver was trapped in a precarious position with his body twisted from inside the vehicle with one leg tangled underneath the dashboard,” he said. “His torso, head and neck were caught under the driver’s side and trapped between the vehicle and ground.”

The crews worked together to stabilize the vehicle, using more than 15 different specialized tools, and were eventually able to free the victim using the Jaws of Life, Duree said.

“Air bags, cable come-a-longs, high-lift jacks and wood cribbing were used to raise the vehicle and extricate the victim from the tangled wreckage,” he said. “This maneuver took a high degree of skill, coordination and teamwork. … The crews involved with this incident provided a rapid response and quality care due to their diligent training regimen. Their aggressive and coordinated efforts undoubtedly averted the loss of life that day.”

The LBFD personnel recognized for this incident were:
Captain Steve Volz (Engine 9)
Engineer Karen Rindone (Engine 9)
Firefighter/paramedic Chong Kim (Engine 9)
Firefighter John Jenkins (Engine 9)
Captain Sergio Arjonilla (Truck 7)
Engineer Ed Smith (Truck 7)
Firefighter Sid Sonnier (Truck 7)
Firefighter Bradley Robideaux (Truck 7)
Captain Duaine Jackson (Task Force 6)
Engineer Steve Sanchez (Task Force 6)
Engineer Steve Wiggs (Task Force 6)
Firefighter/paramedic Wade Haller (Task Force 6)
Firefighter Sean Fagan (Task Force 6)
Firefighter/paramedic Justin Verga (Rescue 9)
Ambulance operator Paul Kleinfinger (Rescue 9)
Battalion Chief Jim Arvizu (Battalion 3)

LBFD dispatch personnel pose after receiving a unit citation at a promotions ceremony Thursday.

Long Beach Fire Dispatchers

The dispatchers of the LBFD were recognized for their efforts in being the “first line of defense” in public safety, Duree said.

“They are truly the first responders when someone is experiencing, quite possibly, the worst day of their life,” he said.

Last year, he said, Long Beach Fire Dispatchers answered more than 182,000 calls, with nearly 74,000 of those requests being emergency calls.

“Each dispatcher met the challenge and responded in a professional and exemplary manner, proudly serving the City of Long Beach and the men and women of the fire department,” Duree said.

The dispatchers recognized were:
Daniel Cunningham, Communications Center Supervisor
Brian Olson, PSDIV – Administrative Supervisor
Michael Robideaux, PSDIII
Emily Heaslet, PSDII
Kit Gonzalez, PSDIV
Tiffany Pennock, PSDIV
AnnaMarie Alvarez, PSDII
Shayna Banks, PSDII
Kathleen Kacoullas, PSDIV
Kathryn Bost, PSDII
Christopher Glover, PSDIV
Casey Lickhalter, PSDII
Daniel Badajos, PSDII
Danica Jankowski, PSDI
Mayra Ruiz, PSDII
Brian Eldridge, PSDI
Alisha Albanese, PSDI
Christine Harding, PSDI

LBFD EMS personnel pose for a photo after receiving a unit citation at a promotion ceremony Thursday.

LBFD Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division

The EMS division was recognized for “playing a vital role in providing the best education and facilitating the highest levels of basic and advanced levels of prehospital care,” Duree said.

“The EMS division takes pride in what they do,” he said. “They honor the history and traditions of the fire service by working together to make positive improvements while exhibiting enthusiasm, professionalism, competency, initiative and accountability.”

Duree commended them for instituting the Rapid Medic Deployment (RMD) model, which has sparked controversy among fire personnel and the Long Beach community. RMD, which was first used by the department on July 10, moves from the use of two paramedics per fire engine to one. Those concerned have criticized the program for possibly hindering the quality and timeliness of patient care.

“An otherwise monumental undertaking, this has all been done while maintaining peak levels of performance with existing projects and assignments such as paramedic and EMT continuing education, prehospital care audits, EMT and paramedic certifications and re-certifications, and basic EMT training at the Long Beach Fire Recruit Academy,” Duree said.

The EMS personnel recognized were:
Joanne Dolan, EMS education coordinator
Dwayne Preston, EMT captain/paramedic coordinator
Brenda Sadler, nurse educator
Don Gerety, EMS educator
Koreen Kean, clerk typist
Jasmine Esparza, clerk typist
Veronica Ruelas, clerk typist