A disabled Los Angeles resident was trapped inside her home for days after someone stole her wheelchair ramp, leaving her to consider crawling up the concrete steps of her own entryway just to get outside. Then Task Force 94 showed up, tape measures and power tools in hand, and built her a new one from scratch.
The ordeal came to light after LAFD Engine 94 responded to a non-emergency call in a neighboring district that revealed the resident's situation, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Task Force 94 took on the job of measuring and fabricating a replacement ramp before returning that night to finish the installation. As NBC Los Angeles reports, the crew measured, cut, and fabricated a custom wooden wheelchair ramp before installing its framing and plywood surface directly over the concrete steps, replacing the ramp that had been stolen.
A Captain's Personal Initiative
LAFD Captain Jack Baham purchased the lumber and hardware for the project out of his own initiative, while Firefighter Adam Corcuera directed the rest of the crew through the measuring, cutting, and fabrication of the custom wooden structure. Once the ramp was built and installed, firefighters tested its incline and stability with a motorized wheelchair before signing off on it as safe, restoring the resident's access to her own home.
The power tools that made the build possible didn't come out of the city's own equipment budget. They were donated by the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, as noted by the Los Angeles Fire Department. The foundation was established in 2010 specifically to bridge municipal funding gaps, LAFD Foundation reported. The foundation notes that roughly 95% of the City of Los Angeles fire budget goes toward personnel costs, leaving just 5% to cover tools, safety gear, and other equipment, per a report from LAFD Foundation.
The Stolen Ramp
The circumstances of the ramp theft are not detailed in the available sources. The available sources also do not detail a 2009 Los Angeles Times report about a replacement ramp in Glendale. They do not identify the material of the stolen ramp or the location of the incident.
The incident highlights how mobility barriers can make it difficult for wheelchair users to enter and leave their homes.
Fire Station 94
Fire Station 94 is identified as part of the LAFD's South Bureau.
The call that led firefighters to the resident's door was classified as a Public Assist call, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The LAFD operates 106 fire stations.
