Video showing LAFD Air Operations Fire 4 with hoist/swift water rescue and safely placing firefighter and dog on Bandini Boulevard Bridge.

Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter Joe St. Georges, 50, was lowered by a helicopter hoist line Friday afternoon into the rough waters of the Los Angeles River in Vernon, California to rescue a dog in trouble. The dog put up a struggle during the swift water rescue as the firefighter attempted to secure him for the ride from the water surface near the 37th Street Bandini Boulevard Bridge to the safety of the helicopter. During the struggle, the German Shepherd mix bit the Joe St. Georges on the hand and thumb. The video of the rescue was captured by a KTLA Channel 5 news helicopter.

The dog was lowered safely to the Bandini Boulevard Bridge and transported by a fire/rescue ambulance to a Downey shelter run by the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority, which serves 14 cities, including Vernon.

The dog will be quarantined to rule out rabies infection. The Los Angeles firefighter suffered significant injuries to his hand and arm. He is seeing a hand specialist on Saturday. The Los Angeles City firefighters responded from LAFD Fire Station 44 in the Atwater Village area 1410 Cypress Avenue. The helicopter team flying Helicopter 4 — a Bell 205A-1 from Air Operations in Van Nuys, CA. Helicopter Fire 4 is primarily used to drop water on wildfires, but can also be used as an air ambulance or as a hoist for rescue operations.

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Google Street view of the Los Angeles River from the Soto Street Bridge looking toward the Bandini Boulevard Bridge.

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LAFD Air Operations ci.la.ca.us/LAFD/airops.htm

Get a knife! Get a knife! We gotta get water. We need water. Get the baby. Spray the baby!

Video of two off-duty Milwaukee firefighters and bystanders making a dangerous rescue on Sunday of a 32-year-old woman and her two children, ages two and four who were trapped in their SUV that had overturned. The firefighters also got help from an off-duty police officer (Lt. Mark Wroblewski), neighbors and bystanders — armed with fire extinguishers that bought some extra time. The video was shot by neighbor Jerry Lepkowski.

John Rechlitz, who was driving near the accident, received an urgent call from his wife about the accident and fire. Together brothers John Rechlitz and Joel Rechlitz, off-duty firefighters with the Milwaukee Fire Department raced three blocks to the scene at 22nd and Layton and smashed the windshield to get the mother out first … and then a four-year-old boy.

The two-year-old had already been handed out of the car to bystanders from the mother trapped in the car.

One of the children suffered burns to at least 30% of his body. The off-duty firefighters also suffered burns to their hands and forearms.

An explosion, most likely an air bag canister detonating, is heard at about 2:50 elapsed time. Depending on the year and model of vehicles, this rescue presents a variety of dangers. Air bag canisters can become projectiles that can injure or kill rescuers, victims and bystanders. Air bags can detonate while rescuers are in the path of the exploding air bag. Gas tanks can explode. Flaming gasoline can project out of the gasoline inlet, if the right conditions exist to build pressure and blow off the gas cap. Electric shock hazards can exist in newer hybrid vehicles.

Lots of safety notes for the rescuers (not to say they weren’t prepared). A sharp object was needed to cut a seat belt, presumably connected to a car seat. One of the rescuers mentioned he needed gloves. The windshield takes a lot of work to shatter and remove. Things to think about … to always have available in your car or truck. Keep in mind that the seat belt cutter needs to be in a secure place that you could reach in a wrecked car. It it’s loose, it might fly out of reach.

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The site where an overturned SUV rested and burned while off-duty firefighters and bystanders rescued three victims of the accident.

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Map of rescue site where three victims of an SUV vs. tree and vehicle fire extricated by off-duty firefighters, neighbors and bystander in Milwaukee, just northwest of Mitchell Field.

Los Angeles Fire Department Rescue Ambulance (RA 71) backs out of the front gate at 100 Carolwood Drive, Bel Air in Los Angeles.

MORE INFO ON THE MICHAEL JACKSON RESCUE CALL …

9-1-1 TRANSCRIPT/AUDIO AND HINTS OF PHYSICIAN INCOMPETENCE AT THE SCENE …

In the Hollywood.tv video, it appears that the gate security laments with a moan and outreached hand on the back window of the ambulance, as Los Angeles Rescue Ambulance 71 changes direction from reverse to forward, and heads for the hospital.

In response to the Los Angeles Fire Department Rescue Ambulance (RA 71) backing out of the gate at 100 Carolwood Drive, many YouTube commenters critiqued how slowly the ambulance backed up. They don’t realize that doing CPR is not effective when the crew is tossed around in the back of the ambulance. In addition, an ambulance will pull over to a stop on the side of the road if a new intravenous cannula has to be inserted, medications are introduced into the intravenous line, or any other detailed techniques need to be performed. Backing up and changing direction needs to be done with care. Picture this: Hitting a pothole or swerving while a paramedic is using a syringe plunger to introduce meds into the IV — not a good idea.

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Route from LAFD Fire Station 71 at 107 South Beverly Glen Boulevard to 100 North Carolwood is .9 mile (unknown if crews were in the fire station or on the street at the time of dispatch).

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Satellite image map of rented mansion where Michael Jackson died (34.08118800, -118.425086 or 100 North Carolwood, Bel-Air/Los Angeles).

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Google route (estimated ambulance transport route) from 100 Carolwood Drive to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

Video of crane rescue over a burning building in Atlanta, Georgia.

The metal on the deck was popping with footprints from the melting soles of the shoes of Ivers Sims, the victim trapped on the crane.

Two Ames, Iowa police officers receive “Awards of Valor” for risking their lives in a daring rescue last December 27, 2007.

Officers Jeff Brinkley and Clint Hertz responded to a vehicle on fire at North Grand Mall in Ames, Iowa and found a lone car with fire in the rear of the car and fire extending into the passenger area of the car on December 27th [MAP/SAT].

Brinkley was first on the scene. Hertz arrived seconds later.

At first the officers were unsure, if the car was occupied; but with a variable visibility of smoke in the car’s interior, Clint Hertz opened the front passenger door and was able to recognize an unconscious figure inside the car.

Brinkley: “From the time that I got out of my car to the time that little ‘poof’ went over Clint’s head, was like 62 seconds — start to finish.”

Mayor Scott McCoy video of Pontiac Police and firefighters rescuing woman in rapid current (no audio).

A police officer threw a lifeline by guidance of observers as the woman was being swept under the Route 66 Bridge, on which the police officer and other rescuers were standing. The woman was able to catch the lifeline and firefighters were able to pull her toward the shoreline with the line. One firefighter jumped in the river to secure her rescue to shore.

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More info …
City of Pontiac, Illinois — Pontiac.org
Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service: Chicago: Vermilion River at Pontiac