Beachgoers Sure To Spark Busy Days For Lifeguards, Fire, Police

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — With soaring temperatures expected across the Southland, particularly inland, the beaches of Los Angeles County and Manhattan Beach are sure to bring many out to enjoy the sun, surf and sand in the coming days. And when the crowds come out, the calls for lifeguards and fire departments tend to increase due to heat stroke, exhaustion and other heat-related maladies.

Just yesterday afternoon, as the first wave of heat took hold, LA County lifeguards and Manhattan Beach Fire Department paramedics responded on the sand to a 40+ female who was "weak and dizzy," just south of the Manhattan Beach Pier, confirmed MBFD Battalion Chief Scott Hafdell. As a transport paramedic vehicle attempted to enter the lower south beach parking lot near the Manhattan Beach Pier, it wasn't able to reach the end of the parking lot due to vehicles in the way.

Hafdell, who is one of three MBFD battalion chiefs, said MBFD engine drivers frequently practice maneuvering the city's many small streets, alleys, and parking areas to better acquaint themselves with "certain angles". He said MBFD drivers also are aware of streets that are impassable for their vehicles and know what streets to turn onto to get to specific areas in those cases.

On Friday afternoon, Engine 21 traveled down Manhattan Beach Boulevard, turning left onto Ocean Drive near Shellback Tavern. The driver easily navigated the roads in spite of added outside dining areas, cars and lots of people. Hafdell predicted the department will have a busy couple of days due to the heat wave and the fact that beaches are one of the few places people can go for recreation due to COVID-19 restrictions.

On the north end of Manhattan Beach, at the El Porto parking lot, he told Manhattan Beach Patch there are "counters at each end of the lot" who keep track of when a parking space becomes available so cars can be let in. He noted the parking lot tends to fill up early in the day, requiring the Manhattan Beach Police Department to close it off and not let cars past Ocean Drive. They frequently also have to post no turn signs on Highland Avenue/Vista Del Mar at 45th Street to completely block traffic from proceeding down to the parking lot because many drivers simply sit and wait or park and wait for a spot in the lot, which leads to congestion on 45th Street and Highland Avenue.