MikesPhotos

Mike,

With the LAFD, how does their dispatch system work? I've never really grasped the concept of box alarms.

Thanks

We don't have Box Alarms in LA. You can read about lettered assignments for structure fires here in this post.

Beyond that, if you roll your mouse over an active call in the game, you can see a good representation of a typical LA response to that type of call.

btw- i am completely umfamiiar w/ LACoFD, do they operate quints?

The Los Angeles COUNTY Fire Department operates both tillered and non-tillered quints, and I believe even a few non-quint straight trucks, depending on what apparatus came over when the area was aquired via contract. The great overwhelming majority of trucks are 75ft tillered quints, with more 100ft being purchased in the last order.

Oh yeah Mike I wanted to ask you something...

Did the LAFD ever fully switch from the Crowns and Lafrance units?

All LAFD Tillered trucks in front line service are American LaFrance. There are still some old Seagraves with the open rear in reserve.

You seemed to have missed the point entirely, so let's try this again.

Well, engine 7 is skinned accurately, along with engine 88 (now 288 ingame). Other units are modeled and skinned after their real life counterparts.

7, 88/288 are all older models and don't have Chevrons. While the ones in game have them because they are representative of the latest models, and not specifically those units in real life.

USAR 85 seems to be in station 1 along with engine 7 and 88 (288). To be really accurate you would have to model TF1 along with RA1 to go in station 1. I don't see what the problem is in changing a 2 to a 7 for accuracy's sake, esp. when other units are modeled after real life units. Obviously, the map doesent reflect LA at all, so I don't really think that the stations being inaccurate is a big deal. In my opinion, the units should be as accurate as possible. Not so much the map and stations.

You are correct, to be really accurate, USAR would have to be removed, B1, would have to be removed, and all of the numbers would have to be changed which is not something you, nor anyone else wants.

The maps, the stations, and the units, do indeed represent a great cross section of LA from the wildland interface to the port areas in a way that I have always been impressed with, seeing how none of the game designers or mod makers are from LA. What helps that is the fact that LA is so diverse and having lived in much of the US and been to great sections of the world, places tend not to be very different from one another.

Would I like the map and stations to be accurate? Hell yeah, but I know that an accurate map and accurate stations will never ever happen.

How hard would changing a 2 to a 7 be? You could get ShaneGreen to do it.

Also, RA 802, which is ingame, should also be changed becuase there is no RA 802 in the LAFD.

But there has to be a line drawn between specific and representative. The members of the mod chose to draw that line at something that really should NOT be an issue, and to us, isn't an issue, and that is the numbering scheme. Why is 802 numbered 802? Because it is the second model of ambulance. Why isnt Engine 7, Engine 1 then? Because Hoppah was fond of that image and wanted to make that rig and has updated it over time.

You seemed resigned to the fact that the map and stations will never be accurate, feel free to add the numbering will not either. It will be representative in that the numbering scheme will fit in with the current practices ie. Reserve Engines if ever added will be 400 series, 2-Cars will be 200, BLS ambulances will be 800... but they will not be specific.

How hard is it? When you have a list of over 60 things that are being worked on that affect gameplay, stability, improvements and scripting, #61 change a couple of numbers doesn't even register on the list.

So just to repeat, because I know you will be chomping at the bit to reply to this because you truly want to see the numbers change...

The numbering and paint schemes used for ALL units in the game are Representative and may or may not reflect any current vehicle in service at this time.

Hey,

I saw a SWAT helicopter in a youtube video, but can't quite remember which one. I was wondering is that available to get, or download, etc?

LAPD's Huey is no longer in service and they are waiting to get one of the retired LAFD ones once the new helos are in service. Also, Hoppah has stated numerous times that he wants to keep the rapelling feature a speciality of the National Guard. It just goes to show how little SWAT misses the rapelling when they could retire the big blue bird without having any replacement on tap for quite a length of time.

The one you saw in a video was made by someone as a demonstrator, you'll have to contact that person.

Would a firefighting helicopter be any good in the LA Mod?

My personal opinion is that it would. I've lobbied hard in the past and still hold out hope for an LACoFD Firehawk to be added with water dropping capabilities to augment the LAFD helicopters air ambulance role. While the model would just be a very minor revision to the current blackhawk in the game, unfortunately, the water dropping aspect attached to a helo has not been solved and probably won't be for quite some time.

The benefit of the helicopter in addition to the plane would be quicker turn around offset by smaller/more concentrated drops.

Also I was thinking, is a quint ingame possible?

Thanks

Possible yes, but LAFD does not use quints. That is why we have the Task Force/Light Force concept.

Question, then the answer will determine if this becomes a suggestion:

Does LA have any Traffic control vehicles that aren't like police cruisers... ?

Yes and No. The department of transportaion (LA DOT) uses the parking enforcement bureau for traffic control. These are hybrid toyotas with amber lights, for the most part, and pics can be found on my page. They are only requested for extended cleanup/call out with PD handling the majority of traffic control duties.

And as for a suggestion, it has already been suggested and discussed within the mod, and probably needs to be added to the first post, that they be added much like the original unarmed police in the game. Seeing as how a DOT van is already in the game with arrow bar, and PD is prevalent with cones and flares, it's super low on the addition scale for it really doesn't add anything that can't already be accomplished easily.

A few more suggestions, just for accuracy. RA102 in real life does not have the chevrons on the back, as you can see in this photo. I suggest you just change the 102 to 107, as RA107 has the chevrons as seen in this photo.

Also, the coroners van should have the traffic advisor above the rear doors like this rather then on the back of the lightbar as it is ingame.

Again these are just suggestions to make the game more accurate.

Accurate yes, but ultimately you run into the problem of Specific vs Representative. To be completely accurate, Fire Station 1 would not have the units it has, nor would Fire Station 2. Then you get into the issue of models and numbering, Do you have RA107 in Fire Station 1 when it should be RA1, but RA1 might have ab older style ambulance or Engine, so do we not have the new version in the game because FS1 doesn't? Or do we just use random numbers that are representative of various units throughout the city and that don't necessarily reflect any actual unit in service but represent a mix of the majority of units one would find if they were to walk around LA and conforms to the general numerical scheme used by the LAFD?

i dont know how usefull these sugestions are but i want to thank everyone that takes there time to reply to the commints my idea was a trailer that the tec van could tow with baracades, cones, flares, traffic vests, and other traffic equitment and mabie it could also have a light bar on top to re direct cars after you detach it from the van so i guess it could be like a traffic control trailerto deal with high density areasjust an idea

Regards,

Jab166

Well, let me ask you this, can you give me an example of when you would use this in freeplay in a way that you find more efficient or better then having the current Caltrans van used as a rolling arrow bar, and PD cars for traffic control, cones and flares? The only trailers we really use here in LA and SoCal, be it LA DOT, CALTRANS, or LACo Public Works, are the arrow boards and now and then porta potties. The arrow board might have a "cool!" factor for some people, but when you realize the trailer logic in the game is not perfect, and it seems that having the Caltrans van just park there with the arrow is just as effective, I'm not quite certain the "cool!" factor beats the simplicity of using PD and the van.

Mike

Is there a RA 802 in the LAFD?

No

Wasn't thaere a problem with the sirens in the late 60s and through the 70s where when on more then one occasion There were Code 3 cashes where the sirens were too loud or something? I'm working on a new mod for the 60-70s (For Emergency, S.W.A.T. and Adam-120

No idea. I didn't wear my first badge until 1994.

I have a question regarding RA102. I've seen conflicting photos of this rig. I've seen RA102 in two different paint schemes, red box and red over white box. Is RA102 currently the red over white box or all red box?

The photos

Red box

Red over white

The white boxes are the older style and are technically reserves. But even with the recent purchases over the last few years, the ambulances get so much wear and tear on them that many stations are still using the old ones more often then not. 102s was in the white box for about 4 to 6 months this year, and 84s hasn't been able to keep a red box for more then a few weeks at a time for whatever reason.

Unlike reserve engines which almost never see the light of day unless there is a big brush fire, you'd be had pressed to drive around a battalion and not find a couple of whites still in use full time while waiting for new rigs or repaired ones.

Is there any way to increase the mission budgets? It would really be nice to play these missions with the resources you need and not have not to count pennies.

You have 2 choices, 1 you can use the cheats found on Emergency-Planet.com to add more money or you can edit campaign.xml found in Mods\Los Angeles Mod v1.7\Specs

UPDATED 12/28/2008: AHA-2008 is Done!

A week of updates has finally come to a close and so has the American Heroes Airshow 08 pics! Todays update includes over 80 shots of the Huntington Beach SAR, LASD Malibu and Montrose SAR, California National Guard Hummer and LMTV, USAF HH60G, and USMC AH-1 Cobra. Enjoy!

:O do you have more photos of the san francisco fire department? for my san francisco mod? please pm me

No need for the pm, I only have the ones I uploaded in that update. A few SFFD engines came down as part of the strike team and were in staging when I went to grab more water and a new pair of gloves, so what you see is what you get.

UPDATED 12/27/2008: AHA-2008 PD

It's been a while, but we're back to the American Heroes Airshow pics! Today's update finishes up the Law Enforcement section by adding 106 shots of Inglewood PD's Mobile Command Post, K9 patrol car, Motor units, Kern County SO's Air Unit, LA County PD, LA IMPACT, LASD Air 5, A-Star, Disaster Communications, Van, Pasadena PD, and Orange County Sheriff and Riverside County Sherrifs new Dodge Chargers. Enjoy!

What about LASD? I think i've saw some using them.

The latest purchase added them which is why they have them in 1.7.

UPDATED 12/26/2008: Sesnon IC - Everything Else!

The End is Ni….ummm Here! Todays update of 44 shots is a hodgepodge of everything else I shot that day. You'll find pics of LAPD responding, the main LAPD command post, LAPD Metro-SWAT, LAPD and LACoFD LARCOPP, LACoFD Staff and Safety Officers, CHP, Daly City Fire, LAFD Chiefs, Fire 4, Engine 3, OPG Tow, Columbia CWN Helos and scenery from around the incident. That makes 377 new photos in 5 days! Enjoy!

Why are they not using them? Safety risk?

Because they don't want to? More then likely its an issue of budget and maintenance. Every little blinky light you put on a vehicle has to be purchased and maintained. The less you purchase, the less you have to maintain, and as there hasn't been a real issue with visibility problems or code 3 crashes, they probably feel that what they have is working well.

Is there a way to have people assist others? For example, when someone is full health you can only get one firefighter PM to heal at a time, or at least the animation. I would like to have multiple guys healing one person at a time even if they're full health for realism, is this possible because its annoying when someone gets a heart attack and you have 1 guy treating while the other 7 are standing around.

As for the other function, I think it's hard coded that we can't make the guys all work on someone at once, it doesnt really have to do with animation restrictions, but more the heal script. It might be possible to ammend the script to add a multiplyer to it for when more persons are present and trying to work on someone to increase the rate of healing, but I honestly don't know.

Actually Mikey, what zohar is asking is already part of 1.7! While it is true that you can only have 1 FFPM with a bag healing (the original doctor in the game), you can have that person assisted by additional medics and medic teams without the bag which will cause the patient to heal faster and unlike with the FFPM with the bag who stops treating the patient when health reaches full, these guys will keep treating he patient until picked up and transported. So yes Zohar there is a way and it's already part of the game.

UPDATED 12/25/2008: Sesnon IC - Strike Teams, LAFD, LACoFD, and More

We're getting close to the end of the Sesnon pics and here are 75 more from around FS106. There are shots from Imperial County units, San Francisco FD, OES, LAFD T96, staff sedan, field mechanic and plug buggies, Sacramento FD, and LACoFD E570 and LARCOPP. Enjoy!

Do the LAPD use Corner Strobes?

Look at the head lights.

*Points to the SEARCH button which is your friend...

It will direct you to this post with the following quote:

The LAPD does not flash the rear brake lights or reverse lights, nor do they have strobes in them or the corners. The only additional lighting is a wig wag head light flasher, sometimes mult-pattern, and 2 "a" pillar mounted spot lights.

While a lot has changed since that was written way back in march, they are still not deploying corner lights except for a few test units.

I'll be updating that post probably around feb when the new purchases start to be finalized.

What should I do in the Forest Fire-mission? Some good guidelines, please.

The Forest Fire Mission is a difficult one for many. The trick is to utilize your resources effectively and with the new changes in 1.7, it has become much easier. When the fire first starts, you have a fire in the south portion of the map burning in 3 directions.

The goal for the main body of the fire is to keep it east of the street and south of the dirt road.

Using motor officers, since they are the fastest and easiest to get through traffic, immediately shut down all streets so you dont have to worry about civilian car traffic. Just block all entry points with their bikes and forget about them until later.

Next, deploy strike teams of Engines to the west road and line them up so they can cover that flank of the fire. Also keep one or two engines free for spot fires in that area in case it jumps.

After that, you'll find a fork in the dirt road in the north area. I usually use that for staging and start sending engines out along the left and right branches. Just line them up and start hitting it hard. Don't just let the firefighters stand by the engine, but move them into the brush. You'll find they quickly create a buffer zone between the road and the fire.

I use my Air Tankers to slow the head of the fire east and north to give my units a chance to set up, clear out some trees and push into the fire.

I use my Helicopters for Helitac. These units are great for dropping off a group of firefighters with chainsaws and extinguishers to supplement my engines, especially on the east side.

Remember, once the fire hits the roads, they stop because of the natural break. Dont worry about what is already burning, just focus on the perimiter and keep it from jumping the roads. Eventually the fire in the center will burn itself out so don't waste your resources and air assets on it. Just keep hitting the edges.

Also keep a few brush patrols and usfs engines available for other fires that break out in the area. And calling up the national guard to come in and fell some trees near the fork in the dirt road and create other fire barriers is never a bad idea either.

Just remember, you have 4 divisions on the fire.

Division A - Left flank/Road

- Keep the fire from jumping the road and picking up any spot fires that do

Division B - Left fork of dirt road

- Keep the fire south of the dirt road

Division C - Right fork of the dirt road

- Keep the fire South of the dirt road and slow down the spread as much as possible

Structure protection Group - Rest of the map

- Keep patrols and engines spread out in case of additional fires or spread.

Get ahead of the fire, stay ahead of the fire, make your stand and do not let it cross the roads.

UPDATED 12/24/2008: Sesnon IC - LAFD, Alameda Co, Santa Cruz Co, and More

Tis the season for Updates! Cranking out the Sesnon pics left and right here, and this batch is an eclectic mix of 86 shots from the two staging areas and the helispot. First up are shots of the Alameda Co Strike team with Engines from Alameda Co FD, Freemont, Livermore/Pleasanton, Newark, and Union City. After that, we have some shots from Santa Cruz County Strike Team XCZ2339A made up of units from the Ben Lomond FPD, Felton FPD, Santa Cruz FD, Scotts Valley FPD, and Zayante FPD. If that wasn't enough there are misc shots of CDF/CALFIRE units, LAFD Engines, EMS, RA's, Chiefs, BPs, Helitender 2, Fire 2 and 4, LA City Park Rangers WT2, and more shots from the LA School PD's Motor units! Enjoy!

That is Federal Protective Services, they have been around for a while. Basically their purpose is to protect federal buildings, you will see that car around federal buildings mainly, not really straying too far away. That may have changed since they merged into the DHS system but I doubt it.

Nope, you're exactly correct. They are the Federal equivalent of LA's General Service Police Department and the Los Angeles County Police Department (not LASD, LACoPD) which are basically security guards for their assigned buildings and property. The FPS in LA have an agreement, along with the FBI Police, that limits their jurisdiction to just the federal property, with only PC832 (think regular store security guard) rights and allowances off of federal property.

In Wash DC, you will find a special cooperation between the MPD and Federal Law Enforcement that is unique JUST to that area. You can read more about it here

But since this is LA, it wouldn't add anything to the game at all.

Are AMR ambulances in LA County ALS or BLS? Also, are they predominantly box or van style ambulances?

Depends on their use and contract, and there is no predominance.

I though that with the new standby commands, units are able to be called from off map if no vehicle was available. If that is correct, I see no problem calling SWAT (or any unit for that matter) from off map. Correct me if I am wrong.

That is still something that is being tested. The only real use will be for more calls will be for groups of units since there is no use putting in tons of coding and testing hours and adding more buttons, for something that can be done just as easily and quickly with just the F1-F4 commands.

I sure can. For example the airport mission in the LA mod. I carry the injured people out of the shops/departure lounges and take them to the lobby. I heal them up and then leave them there while I put out the fires. I usually keep at least one PM in the general vicinity of the "triage area" to heal new PTs coming in. When I call the RAs for transport, usually the first person I healed has had their health drop down far enough to warrant a "reheal" by a PM.

Just like in real life, if they required ALS care, you cannot stop providing care for any great (and I do stress GREAT) length of time. The unrealistic cheat for your way of playing would be to leave an EMT in that area to stabilize them after reaching full heal. In that mission, you should deploy the MCU or a stream of ambulances and start shuttling as soon as possible instead of leaving patients unattended.

That isn't a bug or something that will be changed.

I appoligize if this has already been asked but what about a swat commander that can call any swat vehiclel from out of the map to a designated position in the freeplay map i just was not sure because you all said there would be no police sargent but i did not know if that meant swat too. any commints would be great

Regards,

Jab16

The problem with this is the fact that, at this time, no unit is able to call an "Off Map" unit which is why you are unable to call for tow or engineer or any other off-map only unit.

How about adding the ability to stabilize to the FF/PMs? I hate it when I heal somone fully with a PM and then when I go to transport them, they'll die if I don't use a chopper. It's annoying when I have to get a PM to heal them again.

Can you give us some more information on your issue since I've never had any problem with patients dieing? If the patient is fully healed, you should be able to transport via any ambulance with or without a Paramedic inside and make it to the hospital with no problem. The only way I can imagine having an issue is if you stop treatment and leave the patient unattended for an extremely long period of time before transporting. Even with the patient just above the ambulance ok to transport limit, you can still make it the hospital from even the farthest corner of the maps via ambulance. Remember, just like in real life though you can't just abandon the patient for long periods of time and expect them to be ok. If you stop treatment and let the patient just lay there unattend on the ground for an extremely long amount of time, you are going to have issues. One of the great things about the new version is for those who are really bad off, you can have more then one medic team on them at once now and boost their health up faster.

Like After you've had a few calls and the units get all clustered in the station (It takes forever to rearange them) And then the units just alll go togeter with the drag box method.

Ummmm... huh? Clustered units? Rearrange? First let me ask you have you played version 1.7 yet? Your previous post said you did not have FR ... so i'm wondering if your suggestions are based on something that has already been greatly changed and modified.