Came to this venue for the fire academy graduation, the place itself is big and full of the…read moretraining equipment. The graduation is not like any of the graduation that I ever been to! I was so amazed by the future firefighters and how quick they responded during the demonstration. A very neat experience!

It took 8 minutes to come to my husband. They really told me nothing when the put him in a white…read moresheet saying it was easier to carry him out. I followed the ambulance to the hospital and they did not even turn their lights on. I think they already knew he was dead but treated him like it when they took him from our home

To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be You've got to…read morebe there to know it, what everybody wanna see... Upon entering off Figueroa St you'll see two lines to your left, one for birth the other for death. The forms off to the right either for birth or death certificates. Once you complete your form you'll have two lines. Service is very quick I was in and out with the birth certificate in less than 10 minutes around 11am. Plan your day to avoid the LA traffic jam then enjoy your day in LA. Both parents do not need to be present to obtain a birth certificate. Parking available in the structure or street meter. If meter parking is available I suggest that one as you typically won't be there long. So if you live or pass away in LA this is a place you'll have to be at. Don't worry you won't wait in traffic like on the LA freeways at this spot. God bless

They ignore anonymous complaints. Even when not anonymous, they don't do their jobs. I reported…read morerats in my building ceiling (common shared indoor hallway ceiling) where you could see the foam tiles chewed away at almost every corner, and many round urine stains. I specifically reported that they were in the ceiling, I can hear them running in the evenings. The county inspector came over, notified the building manager days before coming, and said she saw nothing. Of course, the manager quickly replaced the foam tiles, painted them, patched them up and vaccuumed the floor. There were still signs - some urine stains and some chewed corners of tiles- but when I asked if she had seen that evidence, she said it was only in her "job description to look down for rat feces - not to look up." I was amazed... I asked specifically for her to look into rats living in a ceiling space and it's not in her job description to look up? What a sad excuse. It's disgusting that these employees don't do what's morally right, and they get paid big $. Why would you announce that you're going to do an inspection so the builing can hide their evidence? Why wouldn't you look up? You expect me to believe that there's a job description that says don't look up? or barely shift a tile to see the rat nests/feces? I offered to do this myself in her presence and she refused to come back for me to show her the feces. Tax money laundering at it's finest. What is the point of this department if no one does their job? Not even the supervisor cared when I called in. She could hardly speak English, and didn't care at all. Her job security is off the charts.

This is the LA County fire department station 58 in Ladera Heights, not to be confused with the LA…read moreCity fire department station 58 over on Pico/Roberson in Beverlywood. What's the difference? The LA County Fire Department provides medical and fire rescue services to unincorporated Los Angeles County and for contract cities (like a very small city that depend on the larger LACoFD for the resources). My friend and I had just parked at Home Depot when we heard some good 90s Hip-Hop and became intrigued when paired with a visual of a long ladder pointing straight up to the sky with a banner showing LA County Fire Dept. over on the other side of the wall. "Is there a fire station over there?" we asked each other. We confirmed our suspicion after walking out of the Home Depot lot on Slauson and saw the back of the fire station. The lady DJ was doing a fine job. A handful of firefighters were getting ready to do an auto extrication demonstration and they borrowed a tiller truck from the Marina Del Rey station for show-and-tell as well. A firefighter on the mic walked the audience through step-by-step of how the extrication from a vehicle is done. It is definitely hard work, especially in the noon-o'clock heat. So much work just to break down the frame and free a victim out. We got spotted by a different firefighter who invited us in for pancakes. It was pancake breakfast day - they were serving pancakes, sausage and eggs made fresh by firefighters, plus drinks, cereal, fruit. I didn't have any of the food but it looked OK! While we were checking out the fire station and half-watching the extrication, I found it a quite puzzling that while in line for food, some people acted like the firefighters were wait staff and at least two people ordered firefighters for drink deliveries. I sure hope they were actually friends and family of the firefighters and not people feeling entitled that their tax dollars paid for this. I mean, have some respect for people who put out fires, save cats from trees and provide first medical response! Another puzzling but laughable incident was this kid who got a plastic helmet from the station, stood on a fire truck parked right outside, and while his mother was trying to take his picture, he shouted, "I WANT TO BE A POLICE OFFICER!" Damn, that's cold on a hot day. Anyway, this year instead of donating money to United Way via work because I've read that the organization spends so much money on itself / its own parties, etc. that I'm going to donate all that to the various fire stations I visited this year, this one included!

The response was quick since I live few feet from the station. But they almost denied to take my…read moresister to the hospital. She was almost unconconscious lying down with shortness of breath and chest pain and thompson were interrogating me and telling me there is NO POINT of taking her to the hospital!!! Are you kidding me and he also told me he is as qualified as a Doctor !!! Can you believe the nerve if this guy. I will make sure he does not work there anymore. I will file a complaint against this guy!!!

We stopped by around 11 AM, but they were conducting training that day. They suggested we come back…read morelater, so we returned in the early afternoon and were able to get a tour of the fire station. I must give a huge shout-out to Missy. She is a wonderful ambassador for the BHFD. She was our tour guide and gave our family a very thorough tour of the main station house in BH. She was super patient, easy-going, and friendly! We were lucky to have her give us a tour! Our son got to "play" inside an ambulance, fire engine, and a fire truck. He was on cloud nine! They offer tours from 10 AM to 11:30 AM and 1 PM to 4 PM. Take a tour, you won't regret it!

Came here for a blood drive. The space itself is so clean and easy to navigate. It was really cool…read morehaving the city host inside the fire department. We were able to see the firemen go down the pole and off to their emergency. They had an old style fire truck inside as well. Def appreciated the exclusive sneak peak during this blood drive. Shout out to them for all they do!

Honestly they really hurt my feelings last year haha. My apartment had water damage and it caused…read moreall of our fire alarms to go off for hours and hours. The overnight management for my apartment that I have just moved into told me to call the fire department. So I didn't want to, but I did because I wanted to sleep too and figure out if something was going on. So I called them and they showed up in three of them walked in and it was like two young people a guy and a girl and then an older man and the older man was really nice, but the chick was so standoffish and they young guy just was annoyed. Which I get bc it was early and it was my first time calling the fire department. Then they told me to never call the fire department again for something like this. Then a couple of months later, one of my roommates left a candle it and the fire alarms are going off for an hour. And I didn't react because the fire department told me not to call for something like that again. Well after an hour, I start smelling smoke and we have to call the fire department. Like I literally held off on calling because of how bad these firemen and fire lady hurt my feelings a few months earlier. Anyways they came for that too which I had already put the fire out! (Little fire lady myself) but they aired it out with a big fan. So yeah just be nice because chances are the person doesn't wanna have to call you it's just I don't know Jack about fire prevention or any of that jazz. You don't know the impression you're leaving on your community and how it can affect your community after that.

Firefighters are cool. They're all about helping people and they are model examples for being…read moreorganized and clean. While they always say the public is welcome to visit the station, it is best for any grown-ass adult to bring a kid - your own or borrowed. Get paid triple-overtime when visiting on a Saturday with one of my favorite kids to babysit? Score!! LAFD Station 13 is extra special to me now. Not only is it literally down the street from Dino's Chicken and Burgers (Dino's Fries is all I need), but they have an Asian Captain (Represent!). And I got the most interesting fire station tour. All the fire trucks/engines were out on call so I got to see the KITCHEN and the LAUNDRY room. This is exactly the stuff I want to see but usually never. The kid saw a bunch of firefighters so he was skipping-back-to-the-car happy too. The crew at Fire station 13 was extremely welcoming. I don't recommend anyone/everyone walking up and taking time away from firefighters doing their work. I just happen to be in the area, and having a kid who makes the best puppy eyes, and had already paid the meter for an hour across the street. The chief happened to walk across the empty station and saw us wave. He waved back and could have kept walking inside but he opened the garage doors. Being oblivious to his apology that the station is empty (e.g. let him walk back to his office), we (mostly I) asked if we could check out the very cool-looking vintage truck out back. The chief was extremely kind and said yes and we ended up taking up an hour of his and his 9-person crew's time. Not only did we get to spend time on the vintage truck, the kid got 2 helmets (damn greedy kid), and got the best tour I have ever had. Saw all the rooms in the fire station (Turnout is where the gear for firefighters who were not working that day is stored; the fitness room; conference room; chiefs' offices; the fax machine that prints the calls that are dispatched to the station; the pole; and the commercial kitchen with 3 refrigerators). I am a behind-the-scenes person and this is the stuff I am interested in. By the way, I am posting photos from the tour so that others don't need to see it in person - it's nothing special but this is the stuff I like. The kid got to see a fire truck come back to the station AND a truck taking off to respond to a call broadcasted at the station (the red phone and white phone ringing and all) as well as firefighters hustling. That was cool, even for me. Firefighters talked to him, gave him a juice packet, offered him a hotdog, which he gobbled happily in the car and between bites wouldn't stop talking about the experience. The Asian captain even offered to put bulgogi on the hotdog. Love it! I wasn't expecting much when I waved in front of the garage door but turned out to be the best fire station experience yet. I won't show my face again because I don't want to waste their time again but am definitely grateful for the comprehensive tour and service that they provide to the Pico-Union area.

I purposely waited to review the ACLU Foundation of Southern California for my 200TH REVIEW…read more With my well-intentioned big mouth, I always thought I was going to land in court for one reason or another--with the most likely reason of course leading to a debate over free speech. During college, I was in MEChA. We spoke out a lot on many issues--living wage, immigration, free speech, LGBT-IQ, tuition hikes, globalization, etc. I probably could have gotten in trouble for some of the rallies and protests. Secretly, the dreamer me always hoped that if I did, organizations like the ACLU would help me out. Being a cautious person, I do know the consequences of my actions most of the time and if it wasn't worth it, I wouldn't have done it in the first place. I can, however, admit when I'm wrong and will apologize if I ever err and will try to right mistakes. Otherwise, it's going to be a long, costly fight for the other person to force me to do something I don't believe in. Since high school, Annie Dillard has reminded me "You can't test courage cautiously, so I [try to run] hard and [wave] my arms hard, happy." ACLU, Lambda Legal, and Human Rights First are tops and definitely giving attorneys a good name in my humble opinion. I like that I don't like all their clients. It's just not right to protect the rights of some and not others. It doesn't (and can't) work that way. Props to protecting so many civil liberties (http://www.aclu-sc.org/press_clips)! One of my favorite non-profit organization to donate and support when I can afford to (http://www.aclu-sc.org/support_us). Note the difference between the 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(3) entities if tax-deductions are important (http://www.aclu-sc.org/pages/tax_info).

As a college student I though ACLU was a Communist cell; mainly for taking unpopular positions,…read moredefending people who spoke out against "the establishment." But slowly I started to realize that taking on unpopular positions, defending outspoken people is supported by The United States Constitution, thus I realized The ACLU DEFENDS THE CONSTITUTION, using its legal teams to oppose people, especially politicians who use their power for their own personal agenda and disregard The Constitution. I've been a member of The ACLU for several years, donate occasionally in order to keep their work going, to keep "powerful" forces from attacking individuals. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, WE NEED YOU SPECIALLY IN THESE DARK DAYS!!!

I called this station to see if they will properly install an infant care seat. The fireman on the…read morephone informed me they do not perform these requests often and directed me to the CHP office near me. Thank you for saving me a trip.

Awesome, amazing, and great service…read more Had a Littie scare tonight and called them and They came and made sure I was okay and gave me some great advice. Thank you to the paramedics and firefighters and the dispatchers. You guys are all so amazing. I really appreciate all of you and everything you guys did for me. God Bless you guys