By Dana Bartholomew
The Daily News of Los Angeles
SAN FERNANDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters routinely risk their lives to save people and property in San Fernando.
But firefighters were unable to stage a community event today because of insufficient liability insurance, city officials say. Critics contend the joint police and fire demonstration was killed because of politics.
“They can come roaring down the main boulevard at 100 mph without having to show any insurance,” said Julian Ruelas, 31, of San Fernando, who chairs a city council recall effort.
“Yet when their trucks are parked, and they’re showing boys and girls their equipment, they suddenly have to produce $5 million more in insurance.”
The all-day police and fire demonstration was supposed to draw parents and children from across the region for Fire Services Day at San Fernando Recreation Park.
Hosted by the San Fernando Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department — which provides fire services under contract to the city — it was to have included police cars and firetrucks, helicopters and search-and-rescue demonstrations.
It also was supposed to feature info booths, safety tips, local food and entertainment by a radio station.
But the event went south this week after city officials discovered the LAFD lacked sufficient insurance to cover event volunteers.
They say what initially was billed by a police planner as a small gathering of police cars and firetrucks had suddenly turned into a major spectacle. That included water and aerial demonstrations, and a police dog that has allegedly bitten two residents.
“If there’s anybody who loves to put on a spectacle, it’s me,” said Mayor Brenda Esqueda. “But I didn’t find out about this until Monday, with a flier in my mailbox.”
“But the city attorney was never informed. It would have been too much of a liability for San Fernando.”
There will be other Fire Services Day events at stations in adjoining Sylmar, Mission Hills and Pacoima.
Ruelas contends the public event in San Fernando was canceled to prevent signatures from being gathered to recall Esqueda,
Councilman Mario Hernandez and Councilwoman Maribel De La Torre, considered a council majority.
He said his recall committee, supported by the San Fernando police union, had intended to gather signatures at the police and fire demonstration.
To date, the committee has gathered 2,300 signatures, Ruelas said, nearly 300 more than required. He hopes to gather 500 more by the May 23 deadline.
“This is yet another example of the council majority stymieing the citizens of San Fernando having a public community event,” said
Ruelas, whose late aunt, Councilwoman Julie Ruelas, was the subject of a recent recall.
But City Administrator Al Hernandez said politics had nothing to do with it.
“The long and the short of it is, I can’t expose the city to risk,” he said.
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