Huntington Beach Fire Department

As fires burned in northern Los Angeles County two weeks ago, members of the Huntington Beach Fire Department were there battling the blazes with their fellow firefighters. That might seem a bit far from home, but the Fire Department's efforts could pay off if things get bad in their backyard. The firefighting work was part of a statewide agreement among fire agencies to help one another in time of need. It's an agreement that should help us all sleep a little easier, knowing we're not only in the capable hands of our local firefighters -- they've also got backup if they need it. The fires in Topanga and Burbank were just the latest reminder that we never know when a disaster may strike that requires us to call for extra help.

Ever since their heroic efforts after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it was hard to imagine the respect for firefighters climbing any higher. That was until last month, when wind-whipped wildfires swept through Southern California hillsides and forests, turning once scenic landscape and homes into cinder and killing some 20 people. Again, firefighters had to dig deep and perform miracles in sometimes unimaginable situations. They fought the flames valiantly and did their level best to save homes and human lives from a fiery destruction.

Full recovery expected for student A 15-year-old student who suffered a heart attack and went into full cardiac arrest at Marina High School on April 24 is expected to make a full recovery. Andy Bonsall, a Marina High teacher, and Scott Gruneisen, the school's security guard, performed CPR on the girl, who had stopped breathing and had no heartbeat. The paramedics took over lifesaving measures upon arrival and rushed the student to the hospital.

A 14-year-old Huntington Beach boy was hit and killed Wednesday when a pickup truck driver swerved across the road and knocked the boy off his bike, police said. The 20-year-old driver then crashed into a cinder-block wall and was seriously injured, authorities said. Two teens were riding bikes west on Indianapolis Avenue in the bike lane at about 2:10 p.m., Huntington Beach police Lt. Dave Bunetta said. The eastbound Ford F-150 shot across the center line and hit the boy. “For unknown reasons he tried to make a turn or swerved towards the intersection of Everglades [Lane]

Officials responded Sunday to an unusual call — a fallen horse. Amir, a 29-year-old Arabian, fell in the street and couldn’t get up near Quarterhorse Lane and Pimlico Circle, said Martha Werth, spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Fire Department. Irvine resident Marion Grady was riding Amir in a group along the trails when the horse shied away from two runners and slipped as it was about to cross the street, she said. Amir fell straight down, and Grady was able to step off unharmed.

A San Gabriel man died last week after being crushed in a construction accident at the site of the future Hyatt Regency Grand Coast Resort in Huntington Beach. Raymond Paul Corder, a 45-year-old construction worker, succumbed to internal injuries sustained at his job site at about 3:15 p.m. May 16. Corder was crushed while unloading a crane from a flatbed truck at the site, near the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach Fire Department officials said.

The man whose body was found in a burning car May 31 in Huntington Beach has been identified as Jim Purcey, an author and political activist. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s coroner’s office identified Purcey, 59, as the deceased, although Supervising Deputy Coroner Dan Aikin declined to comment on how the fire occurred. “As far as cause of death, we’re not releasing any details until we come to a final conclusion,” Aikin said.

For years, I have heard and read disparaging remarks about the Huntington Beach Police Department. Their reputation of being aggressive, hard-nosed and overly zealous is well-known. Their exploits on numerous Fourth of July "celebrations" have been documented. However, until now, I did not fully believe all of the stories. On those rare occasions when I had the opportunity to talk to a police officer (even while receiving a fix-it ticket), these officers were polite and even friendly.