First in Fire Foundation i ts needed a lian es to various fire stations in Malibu and surrounding areas

Organization shares its ‘Love at a Grassroots Level’ with Los Angeles County re ghters

By SAMANTHA BRAVO Of The Malibu Times

As a special Valentine’s gift to show appreciation for the courageous service the Los Angeles County Fire Department provides, and with a generous grant from the Los Angeles County Supervisorial ird District (SD3) for needed appliances, the First-In Fire Foundation provided six Los Angeles County Fire Stations with new washers and dryers. is program bene tted selected local re stations in the Los Angeles County Supervisorial ird District, (SD3) chosen by the Los Angeles County Fire Department leadership.

e City of Malibu Fire Station 70 received a washer and dryer, Fire Station 72 in the unincorporated area of Malibu received a portable dishwasher; City of Agoura Hills Fire Station 89 received a washer and dryer; unincorporated Agoura Fire Station 65 received a portable dishwasher; Fire Station 67 in Calabasas received a washer and dryer; and Topanga Canyon Fire Station 69 received a washer and dryer.

Last year, e Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) recently accepted a generous donation of baby-back ribs from the First-In Fire Foundation’s “Fill the Firehouse Freezer” initiative, in honor of International Fire ghters’ Day on May 4.

“Our washing machines, dryers and dishwashers wear out pretty quickly from heavy usage — they are constantly running because there are three shifts of re ghters in rotation at every station,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Assistant for Division 7 Chief Drew Smith said. “ ank you to the First-In Fire Foundation and 3rd Supervisorial District o ce for making this happen.” is program, “Firehouse Laundry Room,” indirectly bene ts residents of Los Angeles County with a strong, healthy Fire Department and helps increase awareness of their local re ghters/ rst responders/ paramedics and of public safety and community readiness and resilience activities, which call attention to re safety education, Emergency Preparedness and other re department programs and projects also bene ting the community and enhancing quality of life.

Point Dume Headlands Parking

CONTINUED FROM A1 every nice day going forward into spring,” Graham continued. “One or two cars waiting for the few spots at the Headlands decide to just park and leave their car there ... and then 30 minutes later, we have a potential very dangerous situation with dozens of illegally parked cars. e volunteer police don’t have enough manpower if they’re called to another more urgent situation (today it was Tuna Canyon re) ... Lost Hills Police might show up, but that’s doubtful ... I’ve seen patrol cars just drive by during these events because it’s too overwhelming for them to start ticketing.”

As depicted in the photo, visitors parking illegally along Cliffside Drive block traffic coming around a blind curve, forcing them into a lane of oncoming tra c.

“I’m just waiting to hear the sound of a crashing car outside our house windows on days like this. Something has to be done, because it’s only going to get worse now that social media has tagged the Point Dume Preserve is unique “Firehouse Laundry Room” Program was a concept originated and developed by Foundation President Lyn MacEwen Cohen to enable a rehouse to be able to clean clothes and help re stations and local small businesses at the same time. Cost-e ectiveness has been achieved by the founda- walking to the Headlands myself. tion purchasing in quantity or at wholesale, and allows the foundation to help many more re stations.

Smith said these appliances will support the re station’s e ciency and hygienics with clean clothes and clean dishes and supports preparing for emergencies or disasters which can occur during natural and man-made disasters. e appliances also support the well-being of our rst responders, which is key, as they daily manage the complications and demands of the wild re season, unexpected earthquakes, extreme rain and ooding, and ambulance needs in the community.

“Fire ghters must complete regular household cleaning chores at the rehouse including their own laundry of dirty clothes, towels and bedding. Being a re ghter automatically means often getting really, really dirty in the line of duty,” Cohen said. “Rigorous tness training, and any kind of re ghting from structure res to back-to-back wild res, which are strenuous and Herculean. Turnout uniforms are normally sent out for specialized cleaning to remove chemicals and carcinogens. First-In Fire gives reghters exactly what re ghters need. We deliver on-site heavy duty, highly rated hygienic appliances to handle the heavy laundry loads necessary at a re station. is is a timesaving and huge morale boost for our local re ghters. No matter what, re ghters need to be clean.” a ‘must-see’ place,” Graham said. e nearest legal parking to the blu -top nature preserve, once the tiny parking area has lled up, is on Westward Beach Road — an uphill trek. But some say there’s a reason there’s so little parking — that the ecology here is too delicate to handle crowds, there are no restrooms, and almost no oversight by State Parks rangers.

Fire ghters thanked the generosity of the Los Angeles County Supervisorial ird District (SD3) and the First- In Fire Foundation for the charitable gift of the washers and dryers. e foundation encourages neighbors and friends to befriend their local re ghters and get involved in their local neighborhood emergency preparedness programs, which is valued by the re ghters and Fire Department Command Sta .

For more information on the First-In Fire Foundation, email rstin refoundation@gmail.com or visit www. rstin refoundation.org.

Some residents reported putting up their own signs directing visitors to park on Westward Beach Road if the headlands parking lot is full, but one or more of those signs may have been lost in recent storms.

Another local resident posted: “ e property was deeded with the express controls to keep it small in order to preserve the habitat and native species from the very trampling that is occurring. e inability of State Parks to maintain the area is an atrocity. e photos being posted show clear violations of people o -trail, and I’ve noted dogs oleash often when driving by or

“It’s become a party spot,” the resident continued. “I saw a glazed couple last summer stumbling to their car with the guy holding a glass bong ... I wonder if the deed transfer language provides for enforcement/taking back due to the lack of oversight and enforcement by State Parks [over] one of the last remaining coastal habitats in our SoCal area. Can’t we educate people as to the signi cance of its environmental contribution to the coast and historical status? It should be respected, rather than entirely ‘consumed,’ or its bird nesting sites (including cli s), small seal rookery, insects and rare plants could be gone forever. at is the job and purpose of the State Ranger program — education as much as enforcement of regulations and general laws.”

In 1979, Point Dume was acquired by the State of California. Of the 63 acres now making up Point Dume State Beach, the 34 acres on the blu -top was designated a State Natural Preserve in 1992 — one of the highest levels of protection a orded by law.