Del Valle Engine Co Assignments

Engine 1: Driver - FF/PM Knabe
Exp/Capt - Woods
Exp - Franco
Exp - Hernandez

Engine 2: Driver - FF/PM Nassour (FS60 "B")
Exp/Capt - Cornejo
Exp - Santos
Exp - Spears

Engine 3: Driver - FF Russell (FS60 "B")
Exp/Capt - Konkankit
Exp - Case
Exp - Figueroa

Engine 4: Driver - FF Robideau (FS60 "B")
Exp/Capt - Aguilar
Exp - Cicinelli
Exp - O'Donoghue

Benefit For The Bravest

A Huge thank you goes out to the five explorers that participated this past weekend at the "Benefit For The Bravest". I have recieved many phone calls expressing a lot of thanks. From what I understand you five went above and beyond the call of duty. Thats what it is all about. Way to make the post and yourselves shine! The auto extrication drill will be schedualed in the near future with TF 75 and HR 56. So thanks again to the following members:
Explorer Vasquez
Explorer Woods
Explorer Santos
Explorer Figueroa
Explorer Granados

Post 100 Explorers Hit The Forest

Recently two of our own Explorers from Post 100 , Phillip Konkankit and Chris Aldaba, joined explorers from LA County Fire, Ventura County Fire, Oxnard Fire and the US Forest Service in the 12th annual Angeles National Forest Wildland Firefighter Explorer Academy. The intense 4-weekend long training was held at the Biedeback Regional Training Center where explorers would showup on Friday evening and endure long days and nights until going home Sunday evening, just to return the following weekend and start all over. During their academy the explorers recieved numerous certifications including Basic Wildland Firefighter, S-190, S-130, S-110, and ICS-100. At the end of the academy numerous awards were given out for both top academics and physical fitness, but the most gratifying award was the "Most Outstanding Explorer" award which was granted to our own Explorer Phillip Konkankit.

Congratulations Phillip, and great job to both of you for representing the Department so well and for a job well done!

Structure Fire!!!

During their ride-along @ FS 60 on Thursday June 29th, Explorers Christine Shaffer and Phillip Konkankit responded with TF 60 RA 860 E86 RA 86 E76 EMS 14 and BC 14 to 5025 Cartwright Ave for a structure fire. While enroute Battalion 14 reported a good size loom-up. Upon arriving onscene, companies found a detached garage fully involved. During their fire attack operations members began hearing loud popping noises coming from the fire. These turned out to be fireworks that were stored inside the garage.

Explorers Shaffer and Konkankit were extremely beneficial in establishing a fire attack line, and getting the proper equipment to the fire. At one point they even got some "nozzle time" from the exterior. Way to go guys!!! Making 100's proud again, and per the captains at FS 60.......you are both welcome back anytime. Keep up the hard work!!!

Calling all Explorers!!!!!!!

Hey everyone,
In an attempt to make this a more beneficial site for everyone, I am calling upon all of you to post comments on the web site, or give me a call with interesting stories or pictures from your ride-alongs that you think someone out there may benefit from. This will give everyone a chance to get your "lessons learned" out there. I look forward to hearing from you.

Fundraising

Throughout the year Post 100 is involved with many activities outside of our tuesday night meetings. In addition to those functions our sponsor, Learning for Life, is a non profit organization that without them we would not exist. At this time I am asking for your suggestions in regards to holding a fundraising event. I have come up with some ideas but I would like to hear some other ideas. Be original, be creative......Whatever you got, either post a comment on this web site with your idea or let me know at a tuesday night meeting. Lets see what you got.

Lessons Learned!!!

On Tuesday May 30th, 2006 @ 1538 hours, Rescue Ambulance 75 was stolen outside of Mission Community Hospital in Panorama City. Both paramedics were inside the emergency room busy transfering the care of their patient to the er staff. When the members exited the hospital they found their ambulance stolen. After alerting the proper authorities and a police chase which ended peacefully in Valencia the ambulance was recovered with no injuries or damage.

The lesson learned for everyone, including explorers driving plug puggies (department pick-up truck), insure that your vehicle is properly secured and the keys are not in left in the ignition. If your vehicle can not completely secure (ie. engine or truck) than one member must be on the vehicle at all times.

More information on this incident can be found at the department web site, www.lafd.org.

Another Post 100 Success Story!!!!

Well once again the department adds two more Post 100 explorers to their fire department family. FF/ex-explorer John Goshorn and FF/ex-explorer Cynthia Sato graduated Drill Tower 40 on Thursday May 25th. These two are perfect examples of hard work and determination paying off. John will be assigned to Task Force 26 "C" on the truck and Cynthia will be assigned to Task Force 29 "C" on the engine. Both outstanding assignments where they will gain a lot of knowledge and expirence. Good luck to you both and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
(Pictured Above Lt to Rt: CI Eric Verwey,FF John Goshorn,
FF/PM Adam Knabe, FF Cynthia Sato)

32nd Annual California Fire Explorer Academy

The week of April 17-23 of 2006 was an exhausting yet exciting week for the 10 young men and women from post 100 that traveled to Modesto, CA for the annual academy. It was a week of early mornings, late nights and hard work in between. Immediately after arriving at the academy the explorers are divided up, among the explorers from all over the state into, divisions, battalions and companies just as in the ICS system. So right of the bat they are being trained. It doesn't take long for them to realize they aren't in Kansas any more. Throughout the week the explorers get the opportunity hear lectures and gets hands on training in many field including auto extrication, wildland, FF survival, roof operations, and the favorite.....live-fire training. Firefighters from agencies all over the state volunteered their time to come out and share some of their knowledge with the next generation of firefighters. During the last part of the week is what every explorer waits for.....The fires! On these days they get a good taste of fire behavior and conditions they will one day encounter inside a structure fire. It is hot & smokey and they feel every bit of it.











After all the training is done, comes the grand finale.....The burn down & BBQ. Everyone grabs a plate of BBQ and enjoys the show as the instructors finish off the structure that has been drilled on all week. Explorer Post 100 would like to especially thank all of the supporting agencies and instructors that made this possible and we look forward to next year.....Get Some!

Patches are in!!!!

The new Explorer Post 100 patches are in! Contact Explorer Joe Walstrom @ (818) 648-7908 in regards to purchasing patches.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Explorer Ryan Prusa for being accepted to the Paramedic Training Institute. Ryan along with a few other explorers are being sponsored by the LAFD to attend paramedic school. Good luck Ryan and keep up the hard work. In the words of my old capt. "Don't screw up!" Just kidding!!!

Dave Russon Memorial Fire Explorer Emergency Exercise

On Saturday May 20th members of Explorer Post 100 and Explorer Post 89 participated in an annual multi-agency drill including explorer posts from Los Angeles County, Compton, West Covina, Glendale and many others. The drill took place at the Del Valle training center north of magic mountain. These motivated young men & women worked hard all day long in return receiving priceless training on wildland fire fighting, auto extrication, Haz Mat, Urban Search and Rescue, and even live-fire training.

Each explorer post brought their own engine which the explorers staffed, with a certified firefighter driver of course. All apparatus were staged at a base camp, and once the event kicked off, the companies were dispatched to one of the above incidents. Once on-scene, the company received an introduction and lesson on a certain aspect of the fire service. After their lecture, the perspective company was faced with a related task whether it be repelling down to a vehicle over the side or cutting a fire line.

At the end of the day, the explorers conveyed to me how much knowledge and experience they gained from all of the instructors. One explorer even told me that he didn't really realize that there were so many more aspects to the fire service other than structure fires and of course ems.

A special thanks goes out to the Los Angeles County Fire Department for once again hosting this event that which turned into such a great success. Also I would like to thank Capt Eric Verwey for his participation and organization in getting both of the LAFD Posts involved. Members of LAFD Task Force 60 were instrumental in providing instructors for both the auto extrication and the live-fire training. Thank you all for all the hard work. And last but not least thanks goes out to FF Greg Stonebraker and FF Eric Gonzalez both from FS 60 for driving two of the engines with explorers, without them, our post could not have participated to the degree it did.