LBReport.com Learns LBFD Ran Out of Available Responding Units Amid Large Number Of Medical Responses w/in 90 Min. Period Weds. Afternoon (Mar. 21), Had To Call Downey & Pvt. Ambulance Firm To Respond; LBFD Mgm't Says Situation Is Unusual, But Not Unheard Of

Councilwoman Schipske notes LB had two additional responding units before Council majority made cuts under Mayor's "proportional budget reductions"; Schipske, Gabelich & Neal last year sought to use oil revenue to avert some cuts and brought agenda item this past Tuesday to get details on responses in wake of cuts

(March 22, 2012) -- LBReport.com has learned that for a period of time yesterday afternoon (Mar. 21), the Long Beach Fire Department ran out of available units to respond to a large number of medical calls for service...and at one point LBFD requested assistance that came from Downey and also called a private ambulance service to respond.

LBFD Deputy Chief Mike Garcia confirmed to LBReport.com that during a roughly ninety minute period which began in the 1 o' clock hour March 21, LBFD had 25 dispatches (incidents called in) of which 15 were medical calls. On such calls, he indicated responses come from the nearest engine or truck company or parademic rescues or BLS [basic life support] ambulances...and acknowledged that when a couple of those calls came in, there were no LBFD rescue units available to respond [they were handling previously received calls for service].

Deputy Chief Garcia said LBFD went right away to "auto-aid" agreements that it has with L.A. County and area east cities such as Downey and had them come in to cover. He noted that LBFD responds when County areas are low on resources as well...and said L.A. County Station 98 responded although they were ultimately cancelled on scene and weren't used.

So...was LBFD short staffed at that time? "No, we were fully staffed," Deputy Chief Garcia said. "Our response is system based, and 25 calls in that 90 period is an unusually high number. It's not a very common occurrence, and with that many calls at once, it stretched our resources. Frequently during a 90 period we don't have that high a call volume and we're able to cover and handle all of our emergencies, but this was one of those rare cases where everyone called at once."

How often does this sort of thing happen? Deputy Chief Garcia acknowledged it's not unheard of and it does happen but didn't have a figure immediately available on exactly how often; he offered to have LBFD's data personnel provide it and we're awaiting that information now. (When LBReport.com receives it, we'll add it here; please revisit this page for updates).

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske -- who a day earlier with Councilmembers Rae Gabelich and Steve Neal brought a City Council agenda item requesting details from city management on LBFD responses in the wake of the budget reductions made by a Council majority last year (implementing "proportional reductions" advocated by Mayor Bob Foster) -- noted that the Council majority's cuts had removed responding units from at two LB fire stations...and if those two units were available, they might have been able to respond.

"They may have been fully staffed, but the Council majority's cuts reduced that staffing," she said, and added. "What took place is very disturbing and it's one of the reasons why the Council and the public need to see this data, to learn exactly what the results are of those budget cuts."

In August 2011, Councilmembers Schipske, Gabelich and Neal proposed using a portion of $18 million in accrued oil revenue to avert some of the Mayor/Management proposed cuts to LBFD and LBPD. Mayor Foster opposed it and a Council majority voted it down (3-6) in September. In October, the same Council majority (Garcia, Lowenthal, DeLong, O'Donnell, Andrews, Johnson) voted to spend the sum on other items ranging from tree trimming to a City Hall website upgrade.

Further to follow.