MAYOR BRIC BECOMES A FIREFIGHTER

Well.... at least for a few hours. On a cool Friday morning Burbank's Mayor, Gary Bric, put on firefighting gear and participated  in training drills designed to sharpen the skills of firefighters. Mayor Bric was part of four-person engine company to start the morning. He was assigned to a company that took a hoseline up a staircase, extinguished a mock fire, found an unconscious victim in heavy smoke and assisted in the victim's rescue.

Burbank Fire Department Firefighter Grant Stephens and Engineer Cameron Cerwin organized the day's schedule and accounted for the Mayor's safety during the scenarios. As the Mayor was using equipment that he was unfamiliar with, it was very important to make sure Mr. Bric was safe at all times. The mayor used the same gear that all firefighters wear when entering a building to fight a fire, including a mask and "self-contained breathing apparatus."

The Mayor then assisted with an emergency medical response. On arrival at the scene, he observed an engine company and a rescue ambulance provide life-saving procedures to a man found in "full cardiac arrest." Fire Captain Mike McDonald explained what was going on as the Mayor observed four firefighter EMT's and two firefighter paramedics treat the patient with drugs, CPR, and defibrillation to restart the person's heart prior to transporting the patient to the closest emergency room equipped to deal with cardiac emergencies.

Then came another fire in a two-story apartment. With the staffing on the engine company reduced to three persons, Mayor Bric found himself to be the only firefighter on the rig, along with an Engineer and Captain. The mayor quickly learned that every aspect of the firefight became harder and took more time. With the fire eventually put out and the victim rescued, Mayor Bric confessed that the firefighters "can keep their job." 

The mayor already had a high level of respect for what Burbank's firefighters do on a daily basis, but having the opportunity to participate "first-hand" gave him the rare insider's view. The firefighters in attendance we both impressed and thankful for the Mayor's taking time away from his busy schedule.

Peter Mursurlian, the City of Burbank Public Information Officer, filmed the day's events for the March episode of "Mayor on the Street." Look for the segment to appear on this website in the near future.

Pictures from left to right/top to bottom:

Photos 1 & 2:  Mayor Bric and Captain Stone discuss the Fire/Rescue scenario

Photo 3:  Mayor Bric pulls an 1 3/4 inch hose line to the front door of the simulated apartment fire

Photo 4:  Mayor Bric dons a face piece in order to "go on air" before entering the smoke filled apartment

Photo 5:  Mayor Bric attempts to drag out a victim from the second floor while the other firefighter holds the fire in check

Photo 6:  Mayor Bric catches his breath when he is done with the evolution

BURBANK FIRE FIGHTERS PARTICIPATE IN SPARK OF LOVE

BURBANK FIRE CAPTAIN DAVE SCHMITT TRAINS FIREFIGHTERS TO SURVIVE FIREGROUND SITUATIONS

Burbank Fire Captain Dave Schmitt has spent much of the past two years working with other fire experts to develop a curriculum designed to teach firefighters how to survive a variety of situations that could potentially kill them.

The program was put together by the International Associations of Fire Fighters, who provided the funding and oversight. Led by L.A. County Fire Captain Derek Alkonis, Capt. Schmitt spent hundreds of hours with a training cadre in putting together instructional videos, props designed to duplicate possible "entrapment scenarios" and methods of initiating teams of firefighters to rescue the trapped or lost firefighter.

The Burbank Fire Department made a significant investment of Capt. Schmitt's time in order to assist the entire fire service of North America in saving the lives of firefighters. Other participating departments included the Fire Department of New York, L. A. County F.D., Toronto F.D. and Chicago F.D. Pictured below is Captain Schmitt explaining to a firefighter how to escape from a common entrapment situation for firefighters; one in which fire causes a ceiling assembly to come down on the firefighter, entangling him in a web of wires.

BURBANK FIRE FIGHTERS HELP BOYS & GIRLS CLUB!

Members of Local No. 778 moved and erected a playhouse donated by a Burbank resident for the kids at the Burbank Boys & Girls Club. Mike Malloy, Paul Magnante (and son Dean), Chris Piligian, John StocThe club, located at old Fire Station 13 on North Buena Vista, is the site where many of our city's youth spend time after school in a variety of activites.

Pictured (L to R) are firefighters Paul Magnante (and son Dean), Clint Coe, Chris Piligian, John Stockton, Mike Malloy and Paul Konzen with the playhouse behind them.