MikesPhotos

Heh, I was wondering how the entry points for each apparatus would be received. It was one of the things I really worked hard on was trying to find a way, so that even if there wasn't a 2nd station added, we'd be able to liberally spread resources out to where they were needed the most. The trick was to make sure you could get an EMS unit on scene quickly in far points of the map by using the LACoFD squad in opposite points from ambulance and the EMS Captain. Making sure you had Truck and USAR access where they'd be needed the most opposite from FS1, and put the motorboat transporter near a drop off so it wasn't coming from all the way across the map. I'm glad to hear that this has been well received and liked. Personally I feel it has completely changed the way I tackle freeplay now and made old maps feel new again. Also that harbor physical rescue in the South East corner doesn't happen per se, but there is the vehicle into a water vs 2 peds in the upper west, a vehicle into the water on the east side near the bridge, and a similar truck into the water by the docs in the upper north that is compounded by how narrow the access to the area is. Mike

If you are unwilling to read the thread to see if your idea has been hammered over and over again, then please use the search button. If you are unwilling to do both, you are more then welcome not to post on these forums. There is nothing more annoying to the general members of this board and to the mod makers themselves then someone believing they have the latest and greatest idea that has already been hashed and rehashed 60 times before. To Everyone, Please read the entire thread or use the search button. We don't ask much to be a part of this community, but we do ask that you take some time and just the smallest bit of effort before posting. Nope, he's a private press photographer in the area who covers emergency incidents. I don't believe he has ever been a Firefighter. His pics are amazing though.

Hmm, I have deluxe and all of the houses with hostages were open doors. Oh! i forgot about that mission, it's been forever since I played the original ones. But yeah, that'd be a good use for it.

The lightbars on the fire engines match the ones currently in use by the LAFD on their engines. Why change it to something else? If we had calls where Law Enforcement had to do dynamic entry on locked doors I'd fully agree! But the only locked doors that I'm aware of come into play involves Fire/EMS responses. Forceible entry is something Firefighters do on a daily basis without the need for calling SWAT

Red cross hummers have been the big deal since just after Katrina. Type Red Cross and Hummer into google and you can read the press releases and such of all the donations and programs throughout the US. We also have the POVs and the DRVs as well for rehab and civilian services during fires and disasters. One thing that might be better then such a massive revamp, would be to reskin the vehicle or remove it and replace it with the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency SUV. During a disaster or large scale incident, the EMSA will transport additional Doctors, Nurses, and Emergency Medical Personnel as well as set up mobile field hospitals in conjunction with FEMA DMATs. LACoEMSA is the parent organization in charge of all EMS in Los Angeles County, including LAFDs. The forward facing clear lights on lightbars are known as "take downs" if they steady burn, and sometimes known as pursuit lights when they flash. At the corners on bars like the MX7000 or Vista, you can have sweeping lights known as pursuit lights if they sweep 90 degrees, or intersection lights at 120 degrees. Fixed lights on the sides are known as alley lights and can also be set up to flash. As for clear lights to the rear, I've never seen any set up like that though I have heard of some depts having intersection lights back there, but I've never seen it without a colored filter anywhere in the US that I've been. In the game, check out the LAPD with the arjent lightbar and you can see the flashing takedowns and other lights as well. Intersections on the mx7k or a vista would be hardly visible, and the multifunction clear lights on the Smart Vision of the CHP is already set up for the proper rotate. If you're looking for a spot light kind of function, the problem with that is that it would have to be attached to the special light function with the arrow bar. We've already seen how bad the lighting engine is in the game, just put two ambulances next to each other and use their flood lights and you can't see anything. Imagine multiple police cars all with their arrows on to direct traffic amongst other vehicles and having the takedowns, doorpost spots, and such on. . Please read through the last couple of pages, that vehicle has already been discussed a few times very recently. The game currently models the correct version of brush patrols used by the LAFD. There were 2 hummers in service at one point but 1 rolled, and the other was removed and given to the Museum. Mike

The good news is that with 1.6 just having come out with so many new features and toys, we're content to wait for quite some time. Heck, the new entry points and the FBI alone have changed the way I handle the missions and I'm still having a blast getting used to all of the new stuff. Mikey did such an awesome job with the bike I find myself looking at the LAPD harleys as I pass by each day and noticing all of the little details he added. Heh, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not ready to think about 1.7 yet, but the new manual and EMS system will be awesome. And yes, I spent hours trying to figure out how to get people onto the freaking roof during a fire, I admit it!!!

Santa Monica is it's own independent city withing the Los Angeles County borders. It has it's own Fire Department, Police Department and Municipal services, though as of recently, LAFD has taken over dispatching for them in an unusual partnership that has not gone as well as either had hoped. The mod itself is representative of the Los Angeles City Fire Department and Police Department, and LA City in general. With that, it includes numerous agencies that LAFD and LAPD interact with on a daily basis such as the USFS (Tujunga/Sunland area), LASD and LACoFD (Hollywood and many others), LA Port Police, and CHP to name a few. I'm not saying this is a bad idea, but one thing to note is that the game clock runs fast... real fast. A second engine from off map takes between 6 to 15 minutes to arrive at an incident on the games default setting. In real life, as you can see by this map, there is no area where a 2nd company would take longer then that. Usually it's stepped with the first unit arriving in less then 5, the 2nd and 3rds taking 5-7, and everyone else after that is usually there in under 10. Mike

SAR dog is used for the Deluxe map's missing person event in Freeplay.

Really? I've never had that happen to me. The truck has always been staffed with 2. I'm wondering if it has something to do with the FFs having tools. Do the 2 get out of the rig if they have equipment in their hands? I'm wondering if perhaps that's the problem is that they don't get out, and the game doesn't register the truck as being "full" so it adds the 2 others. The aerial in its entirety isn't accurate. LAFD does not have any quints, nor does it have any non-tillered trucks, nor does it have any tower/basket rigs.

I'm curious why you want the smaller one instead? I personally love the big beast in the airplane crash mission, and its always worked well in freeplay too, especially around the docks.

Actually, that's not what I said, please read it again, but just for clarification.... The USAR rig is staffed with a Captain and Apparatus Officer (equivalent to an Engineer). They wear the standard blue work uniform throughout the day, but will change into either turnouts or USAR gear depending on the mission at the station before they respond. The overalls aren't really something you put on in the field like you can with turnouts and scba. When the full task force is needed, the Light Force assigned to the USAR task force is put out of service and they change out at the station into their gear and respond in their vehicles and then meet the USAR rig at the scene to complement it with the tools and staffing on the light force. You can see a USAR member here on scene of the Fatal explosion that took the life of FF Lovrien and here is a member along with a flight crew member on a cliff side rescue. In other words, for the sake of realism, yeah, popping out of the station in full gear is pretty much the way it happens. The public tends to get weird about seeing our undies for some reason. Actually the barbie doll comment wasn't quite directed at you, and please don't take it as such. it was more in regards to the influx of comments directed at me and others in private and public requesting an almost dress up game where every member is able to wear no fewer then 4 or 5 different outfits. One set of PMs wanted to be able to change the users hair and outfit so they would all look different in the game. Also as you can see from the pics, its not just a vest and helmet. LAFD USAR members wear a khaki oversuit with web harness pre-attached and Confined Space Rescue helmet. Hopefully before version 2.0, the USAR members will be edited to the proper uniform.

Like above, each department has their own standards and operating procedures. Some areas might be governed by additional county or state rules as well. LAFD responds to a handful of incidents without lights or sirens simply because there is no need to based on EMD information and the guidelines of the department. Sometimes it is left up to the discretion of the unit calling for additional units based on his experience, the situation on scene and his need. For example, E88 and RA88 are on scene of a Traffic accident. The Captain on the Engine requests an additional BLS ambulance for a 2nd patient who meets the transportation criteria but also meets the minorly wounded classification. Instead of having the BLS RA respond Code 3, he might have them respond without lights and sirens since the patient is not in any life threatening danger and there is no need to endanger the Public or the FF/EMT's on the ambulance. Another example would be an engine responding to a person who fell out of bed and they, along with their helpers, are unable to assist them back into bed. If the patient isn't hurt, never lost consciousness, and is for all intents and purposes fine, just on the floor, is there any real need to respond the way you would to someone with a gun shot or a home that is fully involved? Every area is different though, every department has different rules, some are hard fast believers in the old adage of, "If you don't need me there Code 3, you must not really need me at all", others are more practical and flexible and have a robust guideline and SOP manual dictating their responses and needs along with the safety of the department members and the citizens they serve. Mike.

The great men and women who make up the LAFD USAR detachment aren't barbie dolls. There isn't a whole lot of costume changes in the field, and let's all ask ourselves, is that really what we want this game to become, one of dress up? The LAFD members assigned to the USAR rig wear specialized uniforms consisting of a confined space rescue helmet and tan jumpsuit/overalls and let's be honest, it is a bit much to undress from Turnouts and suit up in USAR gear in the field. instead they will respond to the incident in the appropriate uniform from the station. As far as no real need for the special uniform, in the next version, you will find yourself using them more often for extrication duties and as RIC crew on an incident. By keeping them easily distinguishable, it makes the game play much easier and identifiable. Just by looking at the incident, you can see who is where, what their job is, and when you mass select, it helps keep the user from over-selecting everyone. Click the FF's to put out the fire, click USAR to remove victims, Click medics to set up treatment area. Everyone has a job, and everyone is easy to distinguish from each other seems a good reason to me. Personally I'd rather see "Call an Engine", "Call a Light Force" and "Call a USAR." But then again, i've been asking for the Call a Light Force command since the beginning, I think we may even be getting closer to that in future versions. I will say though, many incidents can be handled with either a single Engine or Light force. Many times if an incident escalates, you really only need to add an additional engine or two as well, and you don't want to create a parking nightmare in game. Even in real life, many times the IC will be cognizant of his area and request additional engines instead of task forces for just that reason. As for the Call a USAR TF, in the game there really aren't any confined space rescues or trench rescues that require a USAR Task Force. instead, like in real life, it is more of a specialized apparatus that is added as a single resource to incidents. During the last Earthquake a water main burst at a Macy's dept store in the Valley. The IC requested additional units and one of them was to "have the USAR respond" for salvage needs. More often then not, it'll just be requested just like that for extrication's, RIC on a fire, extra lighting, and other needs where an entire specialized task force isn't required, just the rolling tool box. In game you'll find it useful for night incidents for scene lighting, accidents where the Light Force is already tied up fighting fires, and for calls where you have a lot of victims and active firefighting going on where those 2 additional men can move the wounded to a treatment area near the paramedics without having to use firefighters committed to the incident. Actually there already is an EMT that can already stabilize. Remember that in the LAFD, all Firefighters in game and in real life are trained to the EMT-B level. For a BLS box you'd just have 2 FFs (or game wise, 1 FF and 1 stretcher team for bls) in it vs 2 Paramedics (or game wise 1 Paramedc and 1 stretcher team). In future versions, the EMS system may be changed to more accurately reflect BLS and ALS as well. Mike

You are correct, and there is no need to back you up, like I said, if he really wants to know, he can use the search button We're trying to promote that as much as possible these days. Actually it's 1000 feet per the California Vehicle Code section 25252. or 0.189393939 miles if you prefer Only for the nearest Starbucks and take out Chinese!

Almost all of the open cab models have been removed completely from the department. A few might still linger as reserve/training rigs but with the recent 26 new engines, and the other purchases in the last decade or so, its shocking and rare to find one of the open cabs anywhere. Kind of like when an open bucket truck rolls out on scene. A better choice, if a 3rd engine is made, will be the new 2007 Seagrave Marauder II. That'll make the raised cab Pierce the 2-car. The LAPD Huey hasnt been in service for quite some time now. It was way past its life cycle and LAPD is hoping to get one of the soon to be retired LAFD 412s when the Agustas come into service. The problem is that those birds have been beat up pretty bad and that may not happen. Yeah, I got to see the new Lenovo bearcat recently and frankly, the visible differences are pretty slight between it and Rescue 2. It just wasn't that impressive compared to what the FBI brought out that day.

The United States of America, unlike many European countries, does not have a national system of Fire Protection, Suppression or Emergency Medical Response. Instead each department has it's own policies based on their own geographical area, need, budget, and state/county protocls. There are very loose guidelines set forward by the NFPA and Firescope, but as to the specifics of your questions, there is no answer. No two agencies are alike, not even state to state or within the same county. Mike

Let me chip in here. The LACoFD Squad, USAR rig, and the Aerial Ladder truck will have them. Chain saws and axes will be on all vehicles. Jump bags will be on USAR only. Mike

First off, this post was moved because asking a question and saying it looks awful is neither an idea nor a suggestion. Second, use the search button for steady burn and you'll find hundreds of posts answering your question. The concise answer, if you don't feel like being bothered to search, is realism.

In the pic of Ladder 3, you can see two firefighters just to the left of the rig and above their shoulders is the tail boom of Corona PD's chopper with the tail code visible. It was a gimme a threw out there

I was hoping someone would notice that LOL Here's a pic of the side of the car to hold people over till you get back.

Yep, someone finally got it. I didn't think that one would be all that hard to be honest. Guess no one shows the boys and girls from Corona any love out there on the interwebs.

nope, no idea where that even is. VA I guess? It's a California city... but not California city this time

How about this.. Fire Truck from the same city. .. now you have a Car, bike and Truck!

When an entrapment is involved, the call is upgraded to a Physical Rescue Assignment from a standard Traffic Accident. Standard response will be 4 fire companies with not less then 1 Task Force, Heavy Rescue 56 if available, an ALS RA or more depending on number of patients, EMS Capt. and Battalion Chief. Now, because of the way the LAFD system is set up, it's 4 fire companies could become 1 Task Force and 2 additional engines, or 2 TFs (2 Engines and 2 Light Forces with one Light Force acting as the 3rd engine) depending on who is available at the time. USAR rigs will respond if requested and are usually added immediately if the incident is in their first in, or if they are closer then the nearest Light Force. They will also respond to door pops on minor TAs. Many times you'll hear E78 and RA78 respond to the traffic or LF102 and RA102 respond to the traffic, and when they get on scene the Captain will request it be upgraded to a physical rescue and respond USAR, which will send the additional units necessary to fill it out. USARs are a very specialized rig and respond mostly on special assignments like vehicle over the side, structure fires as part of the RIC usually, trench/confined space rescues, and calls where severe building damage has occurred. Staffing on them is just 1 AO and 1 Captain. When a USAR incident occurs, they'll respond as part of a USAR task force with usually the stations Light force providing the additional specially trained manpower. Also, only the Light Forces and USAR rigs carry extrication gear, bags, and cribbing. Mike

Heh, it's a recent scheme at least since 2003. And no, not Burbank. Actually, a quick google search for the dept came up blank for me too. Weird. No love for these guys I guess. Nope none of those So what's the general consensus? Move on to maybe a fire pic?