Fire Department

In an attempt to at least partially rescue the city Fire Department's budget, the City Council agreed Wednesday to transfer $1.75 million from the dwindling reserve fund to help pay for emergency medical supplies. The council also agreed to more fully examine the Fire Department's billing procedures and collection rates. An ordinance is expected to be drafted within a month to establish new structures for the recovery of medical supplies.

They were doused with hoses and dunked with buckets of water. Streams of water poured down the faces of the proud firefighters recently in the Fullerton Fire Department's traditional promotion ceremony. Rebecca Brown was promoted to a full-fledged firefighter after completing her probationary year of intense training and testing. She is the city's first female firefighter. Also, Ben Garrett was promoted to captain, and Spencer Hampton was promoted to fire engineer.

Faced with mounting opposition from Hollywood Hills homeowners, the Los Angeles City Fire Department asked Monday for more time to discuss with residents a department proposal to locate a helicopter ambulance service on a ridge above the Hollywood sign. Fire officials and Council President John Ferraro, who represents the area, asked a hearing examiner for the city's Planning Commission to delay making a recommendation on the proposal until Oct. 1.

The Anaheim Fire Department will soon get a much-needed 75-foot ladder truck, called a "Quint," which carries water and hose lines. The City Council has approved the purchase of the $549,000 truck from Simon Ladder Towers Inc. of Ephrata, Pa. The new truck will help firefighters in emergency rescues as well as fighting fires, and will reduce the number of vehicles needed to respond to an incident, Anaheim Fire spokeswoman Tabby Cato said.

The city's Fire Department has been accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, officials announced. The Virginia-based organization analyzes fire departments by a strict set of criteria, including training, administration, public education, and physical and human resources, said commission manager Andrea Walter. The Culver City Fire Department is the first in California and one of eight in the nation to complete the voluntary accreditation program, she said.

The Fire Department will operate out of a temporary trailer camp at the corner of Standard Street and Grand Avenue for the next year while the Main Street fire station is being remodeled. Firefighters moved to the temporary site this week. The department's phone numbers have not changed, and Fire Chief Larry Sheldon maintains that emergency fire and paramedic service will not be affected by construction at the Main Street site.

The Fire Department will open its Harbor Boulevard station to the public Saturday in an effort to raise awareness of fire hazards. Station tours will be given, fire equipment will be on display and firefighters will demonstrate how they put out fires and extricate people from crashed cars. The open house will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The station is at 520 S. Harbor Blvd. The event is free of charge.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a reorganization plan for the Orange County Fire Department that officials said will save money and prepare the department for more sweeping changes next year. The interim plan, which is expected to save the department $1 million by scaling back administrative costs, was adopted by a 4-0 vote. Board Chairman Harriett M. Wieder was absent.