Firefighter graduation ceremonies run head-on into diverse fire suppression/emergency response scenes; our courageous firefighters' lifesaving skills are always at the ready, wielded from air, land & water-related sites. HazMat teams respond to contain hazardous materials at emergency scenes, while U-SAR (Urban Search & Rescue) rigs are called to sites for use in rescuing trapped victims (e.g. earthquakes, aircraft/train/trench accidents, et cetera). The enormous Heavy Rescue specialized tow truck pulls apart crushed vehicles, tackles heavy lifting - including downed big rigs - frequently using the Jaws of Life to free trapped victims from hopelessly mangled wreckage. The Air Operations Unit uses up to ten helicopters for air ambulance access and fire attack; several planes can also be dispatched to drop water or a vivid red chemical retardant used to suppress wildfires in primarily rural areas. LAFD: "More than 85% of the Department's daily emergency responses are related to Emergency Medicine Services (EMS) which transport, on average, more than 500 people to local hospitals [via ambulance] every day."
From the coordinating personnel in Mobile Command Post rigs, to air and water-related support, to fire trucks (aerial ladder engines - called truck companies; "triples"- with fire hoses, water pumps & water tank carrier combinations; brush boxes - containing wildfire equipment), no emergency dilemma is insurmountable for our dedicated firefighters. Each challenge is battled beyond visible flames - eliminating hidden volatile hotspots lurking under smoky ash and danger-laden debris until "knockdown" is achieved: all in/all done, smoky sweaty hours later. These hundreds of daily incidents are often unreported beyond the extent of neighborhoods, yet the reality is significant: one more deadly dragon (fire) slain - one more hard-won victory captured. Meanwhile, the exhausted yellow and reflective-tape-clad men & women retrieve their heavy hard-used equipment and return wearily to the station, awaiting the next alarm.