SPECIAL NOTICE

SUBJECT:  NEW YORK CITY TERRORIST ATTACK

AS FIRE CHIEF, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR RECENT EFFORTS AND ACTIONS REQUIRED AS A RESULT OF THE NEW YORK CITY TERRORIST ATTACK.  BOTH UNIFORMED AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL WERE IMPACTED BY YESTERDAY'S EVENTS.  THIS UNPRECEDENTED ASSAULT ON OUR NATION CATAPULTED TERRORISM TO THE FOREFRONT AND, AS AN EMERGENCY SERVICE, NECESSITATED OUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS.

THE CATASTROPHIC LOSSES SUFFERED BY THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE BOTH STAGGERING AND OVERWHELMING. AS FIRST RESPONDERS, WE SHARE THEIR PROFOUND GRIEF AND SORROW.  IN A SPIRIT OF SOLIDARITY AND SYMPATHY, THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER MULTIPLE FORMS OF ASSISTANCE THAT THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS OR DEEMS APPROPRIATE.

ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON, OUR FEMA CA-TF1 USAR TEAM, CONSISTING OF 70 MEMBERS, WAS ACTIVATED AND DEPLOYED TO NEW YORK CITY TO ASSIST IN SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS.  THE TEAM ARRIVED EARLY THIS MORNING AND WILL AUGMENT THE MULTITUDE OF THE RESCUE WORKERS ALREADY ENGAGED IN THIS EFFORT.

TO PROVIDE FOR THE USAR TEAM MEMBERS' SUPPORT, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY CONTACTED BY A DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE AND WERE PROVIDED WITH A HOTLINE NUMBER TO RECEIVE CURRENT STATUS UPDATES.  THIS HOTLINE - STAFFED BY A CADRE OF DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WILL CONTINUE TO LIAISON WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AS LONG AS THE USAR TEAM IS DEPLOYED.  FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THE USAR TEAM HOTLINE IS (213) 485-6017.

THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT FAMILY FACES A LONG, ARDUOUS ROAD TO RECOVERY.  I KNOW THAT OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE LOVED ONES AND COLLEAGUES OF THE FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS.  A RELIEF FUND THROUGH THE LOS ANGELES FIREMEN'S CREDIT UNION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT AS A DEMONSTRATION OF OUR CONCERN AND SUPPORT. CHECKS MADE PAYABLE TO THE "NYC FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FUND" CAN BE SENT TO THE:

LOS ANGELES FIREMEN'S CREDIT UNION
C/O NYC FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FUND  
POST OFFICE BOX 60890             
LOS ANGELES, CA 90060-0890         

THE RED CROSS IS ORGANIZING BLOOD DRIVES FOR THOSE WISHING TO DONATE BLOOD FOR THE VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY.  THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS FOLLOWING  THE LEAD OF THE CITY IN THIS AREA AND SUGGESTS THAT YOU TELEPHONE 1-800 GIVE-LIFE TO LOCATE A BLOOD DRIVE CONVENIENT FOR YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND RAPID RESPONSE WHICH, IN THE WAKE OF THE NEW YORK CITY TERRORIST ATTACK, ENSURED THAT OUR CITY WAS PROTECTED.  THE LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE AND THE AMOUNT OF SUFFERING RESULTING FROM THIS TRAGEDY ARE INCOMPREHENSIBLE.  I KNOW THAT YOU JOIN WITH ME IN OFFERING CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR THE VICTIMS, VICTIMS' FAMILIES, AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL.  I ALSO PRAY FOR THE CONTINUED SAFETY OF OUR DEPLOYED USAR TEAM MEMBERS.  LASTLY, I ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION, SUPPORT AND COOPERATION SHOULD FUTURE EVENTS REQUIRE OUR INVOLVEMENT.

WILLIAM R. BAMATTRE
FIRE CHIEF