The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department sent out an emergency message to its patrol cars Wednesday afternoon, asking people to wear masks and change their uniforms before stepping into homes because the air is so toxic after nearby wildfires that have been going on for several days. Altadena police officers were alerted to the need for decontamination.
The message, sent at 4:35 p.m., began, “**Attention all personnel**,” and stated that the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team had confirmed that Altadena’s air was “containing lead, asbestos, and other harmful particles.” “It is dangerous, including the risk of injury,” he said.
An all-caps message on the department’s aging computer dispatch system told lawmakers that hazardous materials teams are encouraged to wear N95 masks when working in the area.
“Hazmat recommends that you decontaminate your uniform before entering your home,” the message concludes.
The notice comes as lawmakers first responded to reports of the Eaton Canyon wildfire, which killed at least 16 people and destroyed thousands of homes, businesses and historic buildings in unincorporated Altadena and neighboring Pasadena. It took place just over a week later. The Eaton Fire nearly destroyed the sheriff’s station on East Altadena Drive, so deputies evacuated with everything they could carry, including guns, body cameras and memorabilia from the building, which was built in 1948. I was forced to.
After moving to the nearby Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, deputies from Altadena and throughout the county flocked to the area for grueling 12-hour shifts. At first, they helped with the evacuation. They later turned to suppressing the looters.
Suggestions that the air around them could be toxic came as no surprise to several deputies working in the area.
“My eyes were burned and red,” said one deputy who worked several shifts there in the days after the fire broke out. The lawmaker requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media and feared retaliation.
Other lawmakers and officials expressed similar concerns, reporting symptoms such as coughing, red eyes and headaches.
Even in forested areas, wildfires can cause a variety of problems, including toxic particulate matter that can lodge deep in the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing respiratory problems, cancer, and other health problems. produce pollutants.
But when fires razed through cities, destroying buildings such as hardware stores, which burst into flames with buckets full of paint and toxic chemicals, the smoke contained all sorts of chemicals, including lead and asbestos, which lawmakers had warned could be dangerous. Contains harmful particles. Wednesday’s message.
Sheriff’s Department officials said they responded by making sure deputies had masks available for them to wear.
Richard Pippin, president of the Assn. Los Angeles deputy sheriffs stressed that their officers are still doing their jobs despite difficult working conditions.
“Sheriff’s deputies are fully aware of the dangerous conditions they face in these fire zones, including asbestos, lead, and other hazardous materials in the air they breathe, and they “It doesn’t stop us from focusing on our mission of protecting property and those affected by this tragedy,” he told the Times, adding that the union has been in contact with Sheriff Robert Luna to discuss the future. He added that they are discussing how to prepare for such an incident.
“The outpouring of support from the community has been tremendous and our councilors are extremely grateful,” he continued. There will be disasters of this scale, and even bigger disasters in the future. ”
Source link
