Alhambra Fire Department

An arson fire at Mark Keppel High School in Alhambra sent nearly 1,000 students and teachers scurrying for safety Friday and caused at least $500,000 damage, authorities said. Two teen-agers, both Mark Keppel students, were arrested on suspicion of arson after the 9:15 a.m. blaze, which gutted part of the drama department, Alhambra Police Lt. Rockey Caringello said. Alhambra Fire Department arson investigator Capt.

Members of the San Gabriel Valley Arson Explosives Task Force seized more than half a ton of illegal fireworks from a residential neighborhood, averting a potentially explosive and deadly situation, authorities said Friday. "Given the amount of fireworks in the residence, and the densely populated area . . . we could have had a detonation of all that material, and it would have destroyed a good portion of the block, or several houses," said Assistant Chief John Kabala of the Alhambra Fire Department.

Members of the San Gabriel Valley Arson Explosives Task Force seized more than half a ton of illegal fireworks from a residential neighborhood, averting a potentially explosive and deadly situation, authorities said Friday. "Given the amount of fireworks in the residence, and the densely populated area . . . we could have had a detonation of all that material, and it would have destroyed a good portion of the block, or several houses," said Assistant Chief John Kabala of the Alhambra Fire Department.

An Alhambra fire captain will receive the Medal of Valor on Saturday for saving the life of a UCLA student who threatened to jump from an eight-story building last year. Brian Savage responded to a potential suicide call from the Wysong Plaza retirement center. When Savage and his firetruck crew arrived, they found a suicidal UCLA student on the rooftop. While police officers distracted the student, Savage climbed up to the roof and got on top of a small structure that encased the stairwell.

After months of debate between firefighters and city leaders, the city's voters will go to the polls today to decide whether the Los Angeles County Fire Protection District should take over the Alhambra Fire Department. The measure, placed on the ballot by the Alhambra Firefighters Assn. and resident Jessica Wong, has bitterly divided local allegiances as firefighters and city management have argued over which agency would provide better service.

A wildfire burning on woody mountainsides near Azusa flared up again Saturday, forcing authorities to push back their estimate of when it would be fully controlled to Tuesday night, said a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman. A second fire 50 miles away in the San Bernardino National Forest continued to burn out of control.

Parts of a ballot argument by Alhambra officials opposing the merger of the city Fire Department with Los Angeles County were ordered scrapped Wednesday by a judge who ruled that they are misleading to voters. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Yaffe sided with the Alhambra Firefighters Assn. in ordering the city to delete certain claims over cost, service and ownership of equipment. The arguments will be included in voter guides prior to the Dec. 16 election.

Voters will decide Dec. 16 whether the Los Angeles County fire district should replace the city Fire Department and absorb its firefighters. The City Council set the election date after Alhambra firefighters gathered enough voters signatures to put the measure on the ballot.

Leaders of the Alhambra firefighters union announced Monday that they have gathered enough voters' signatures to force a special election on a measure that would transfer the city's fire protection to Los Angeles County. Asserting that county service would be cheaper and better, Alhambra Firefighters Assn. officials said they will give the City Council the option of switching to the county before forcing the issue to the ballot. "We have more than [the] 15% of voters' signatures needed.

The Chinese New Year celebration in Alhambra this year will be highlighted by pageantry and paramedics. The city's Fire Department will debut its Paramedic Bicycle Response Team at the annual parade, dispatching two pedaling paramedics who can weave through throngs of party-goers to treat any trouble.

Calling the donation a lifesaver, the fire department Wednesday accepted a $15,000 diagnostic cardiac monitor from one of the city's biggest employers. Alhambra Fire Division Chief John Kabala said the donation by the Ortel Corp. will allow paramedics to determine whether patients with chest pain are experiencing acute myocardial infarction and will allow emergency workers to provide appropriate and immediate critical care.

After months of debate between firefighters and city leaders, the city's voters will go to the polls today to decide whether the Los Angeles County Fire Protection District should take over the Alhambra Fire Department. The measure, placed on the ballot by the Alhambra Firefighters Assn. and resident Jessica Wong, has bitterly divided local allegiances as firefighters and city management have argued over which agency would provide better service.

Parts of a ballot argument by Alhambra officials opposing the merger of the city Fire Department with Los Angeles County were ordered scrapped Wednesday by a judge who ruled that they are misleading to voters. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Yaffe sided with the Alhambra Firefighters Assn. in ordering the city to delete certain claims over cost, service and ownership of equipment. The arguments will be included in voter guides prior to the Dec. 16 election.

These are hectic days for Alhambra's firefighters. It's not just fires they're trying to snuff out--it's their city Fire Department itself. The firefighters union is leading a ballot campaign to persuade voters that the city would be safer and save money by turning the department over to Los Angeles County. The unusual drive--complete with qualifying petitions, campaign mailers and a Dec.

Voters will decide Dec. 16 whether the Los Angeles County fire district should replace the city Fire Department and absorb its firefighters. The City Council set the election date after Alhambra firefighters gathered enough voters signatures to put the measure on the ballot.

A battle between the Alhambra Firefighters Assn. and the City Council moves to a Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday with a judge expected to hear the union's lawsuit seeking to prevent a new pay scale and work conditions being imposed on its members. The suit was filed in response to a council decision to unilaterally impose new work conditions on firefighters and declare an impasse after 15 months of contract negotiations stalled.

Sparking vehement opposition from Alhambra's top officials, the city's firefighters union has launched an effort to place a measure on a future ballot that would transfer the municipality's fire protection to Los Angeles County. Alhambra Firefighters Assn.

An Alhambra fire captain will receive the Medal of Valor on Saturday for saving the life of a UCLA student who threatened to jump from an eight-story building last year. Brian Savage responded to a potential suicide call from the Wysong Plaza retirement center. When Savage and his firetruck crew arrived, they found a suicidal UCLA student on the rooftop. While police officers distracted the student, Savage climbed up to the roof and got on top of a small structure that encased the stairwell.

A wildfire burning on woody mountainsides near Azusa flared up again Saturday, forcing authorities to push back their estimate of when it would be fully controlled to Tuesday night, said a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman. A second fire 50 miles away in the San Bernardino National Forest continued to burn out of control.

Leaders of the Alhambra firefighters union announced Monday that they have gathered enough voters' signatures to force a special election on a measure that would transfer the city's fire protection to Los Angeles County. Asserting that county service would be cheaper and better, Alhambra Firefighters Assn. officials said they will give the City Council the option of switching to the county before forcing the issue to the ballot. "We have more than [the] 15% of voters' signatures needed.