California Fire News
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| Fire Burning At Granzella's In Williams - Structure fire Posted: 11 Oct 2007 09:52 PM CDT WILLIAMS, Calif. -- A extensive structure fire is burning at Granzella's Inn and Restaurant the structure has suffered major damage. Williams Fire has requested mutual aid from Yuba City ( water tender) and a ladder truck from OliveHurst. The Colusa County establishment is located at 452 6th Street in Williams. Updates: Capt. Paul Franklin of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the fire began around 4 p.m. in the restaurant, which he described as a total loss. at 6 p.m. firefighters were working to save its adjacent sports bar. |
| Cal Fire seeking woman in connection with Poly wildland fire Posted: 11 Oct 2007 08:11 PM CDT County/Cal Fire investigators are seeking information or the identity of a college-age woman seen near the wildfire that burned 60 acres near the Cal Poly campus on Tuesday. The young woman was seen running downhill from the fire scene shortly after it began at about 11:15 a.m. Witnesses described her as white, with brown hair and slender build, wearing blue jeans and a pink top. Anyone with information should call Cal Fire investigators at 543-4244 or University Police at 756-2281. |
| TCU - "Off-Peak" Fire Season To Start Monday Posted: 11 Oct 2007 10:10 PM CDT  Sonora, CA -- CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Chief Mike Noonan has announced the gradual closedown of the fire season will be initiated next week. Noonan labels the action as the initiation of the "off-peak" fire season. Currently the unit has six two engine stations. That will be reduced to six one engine stations. The total number of engines will be reduced from 21 to 15. Noonan adds that CAL FIRE officials will closely monitor the weather. The hope is that moisture will help grow the green grass which in turn lowers the potential for wildland fires.  Noonan says the initial criteria in determining the end of a season is the fire behavior potential. The primary factor is weather and wind conditions. Fuel conditions are then taken into consideration. As for the 2007 fire season, Noonan adds that while there have been a great number of fires he is extremely thankful there have been no major wildland fires. He is also thankful for Governor Schwarzenegger's executive order that added one firefighter to every engine. That, says Noonan, gave a tremendous lift to any unit's initial attack capabilities. |
| CA-TCU- Grizzley - Vegetation Fire Posted: 11 Oct 2007 05:27 PM CDT Location: PRIEST GRADE AT GRIZZLY RD - Highway 120 near bottom of priests grade now reported near Moccasin Penstocks, Sizeup: 2-3 ac mid slope, medium rate of spread, Header visible from units not at scene, AA 440 reports grass and oak, moderate rate of spread with light spotting Resources: Full wildland response, Columbia All aircraft, Dozertender, Baseline hand crews, Coulterville units also dispatched Comms: Command: CDF Com 9 151.175 TAC: CDF Tac 2 Updates: Running across from fish hatchery, north of highway 2 Acres backing downhill, Hose lay in place running uphill and downhill Holding Tanker 83 at Columbia air base 1442: Hetch Hetchy requesting no more Heli dips @ fish hatchery requesting they use Don Pedro lake... 1445: Tanker 82 released full, Tanker 83 released at base, Dozer 1449 released 1520: AA 440, Heli 404 back at base |
| U.S. Forest service volunteer killed in Afghanistan Posted: 11 Oct 2007 03:30 PM CDT  Stefani, 28, was on a volunteer mission with the U.S. Forest Service when he was killed in an explosion on Oct. 4 that impacted his convoy near Ghazni, Afghanistan. The Meadow Vista man was described Monday by his parents as the type of person to leave no job undone. "He was the leader," said his father Steve Stefani. "If he started something, he'd be the one to help finish it. That was how he was with everything in his life." Stefani was developing and implementing projects to help the people of the Ghazni Province. He had been serving a voluntary nine-month detail as a Foreign Agricultural Service adviser. He was a three-year Forest Service employee with the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. "Tom was doing what he really wanted to do," Steve Stefani said. "That makes it easier. He loved his job." Stefani, who was home schooled, is a Maidu High school alumnus. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Reno and was working on his master's degree. "I sent all his research material to Afghanistan," said his mother, Barbara Stefani. "He wanted to get his thesis finished." Stefani was scheduled for leave to visit his family on Thanksgiving. However, he told his superior that there was much work to be done and he didn't feel comfortable taking time off, his family said. "He was supposed to take leave, but felt he'd be wasting time," Barbara Stefani said. "The projects he was working on are important to help the country to sustain themselves." Stefani worked his way up to Eagle Scout and also was an avid member of 4-H as a teenager. "Tom was the brown-haired kid, who knew how to work hard and proudly showed his prize sheep," wrote Leslie Warren in a letter to the editor. "He was the kid with the big cowboy boots and hat and that sweet sideways, shy smile." Chuck Conner, U.S. Department of Agriculture acting secretary, said in a written statement that Stefani's work overseas was significant. Last month Tom proudly reported that construction had begun on a cold storage facility for farmers to store their commodities, which would enable them to preserve and sell the products," he said. "Tom's contributions will have a real and lasting impact on the people and agricultural economy of Afghanistan." Conner and Stefani's family have a common message to share. "I call on all Americans to reflect on the great sacrifices being made by brave men and women, including those in uniform and civilian volunteers, to protect our freedom," Conner said. Stefani's parents said they will "deeply miss" their son, but also want the public to consider why he sacrificed his life. "Our country is looking at a total negativity of this war. All we see is the bad and the bodies," Steve Stefani said. "Tom's an American and the people loved him over there - you don't see that side." Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, 11600 Atwood Road, in Auburn. A reception will follow. Story at: Colfaxrecord.com |
| Matthew Richard Will - 'He Was Just a Great Guy to Be Around' Posted: 11 Oct 2007 02:18 PM CDT  Oct 10, 2007Hollister - A faded yellow chair with worn wooden armrests - which has been reupholstered with care - sits outside of the maintenance shop at Cal Fire's Hollister Air Attack Base. It was Matthew Richard Will's, and he loved it. CalFire Battalion Chief Mark Edria said as he pulled into work, Will would often be standing near or sitting in the chair. It's one reminder of Will that Edria and the rest of the firefighters at the air base will be sure to struggle with in the wake the 30-year-old firefighter's death. "He was just a great guy to be around," Edria said at a press conference Wednesday. "To know he's not going to be with us is devastating." Will died Tuesday morning from injuries he suffered after the bulldozer he was driving rolled over as he fought the Colorado Fire in southern Monterey County the day before. He leaves behind his wife, Diana Will, their 10-year-old son Trysten and 8-year-old daughter Elsie - and a void not only with his family, but also with the members of the air base. While Will's death remains under investigation, CalFire personnel remembered Wednesday the man they say was jovial and had a big heart and strong hands. He was willing to do anything for anyone, they said. CalFire Capt. Steve Norris, who directs air operations and flies for the state's fire department, met Will when the two began working together at the Hollister Air Attack Base in May 2003. Will had moved with his family from San Diego to take the job in Hollister and keep alive the firefighting tradition in his family. Norris said Will had a strong work ethic. Will took on extra duties and was always trying to improve the work environment for everyone, Norris said. In addition to driving the bulldozer on the front lines for CalFire, Will also worked in the air base's shop, keeping equipment maintained from local stations. Will had also passed through the officer academy, making him eligible to become a captain, Edria said. "He just passed," Edria said. "He was very excited." Norris was there Monday just before Will was injured. Will told Norris that the dirt was soft on the steep hill he was clearing to contain the right side of the 50-acre Colorado Fire. "He was a little concerned when he was working the top part of the fire," Norris said. At one point, when Will was driving down the steep hill, Norris offered to have an airplane dump water on high flames near his bulldozer. Will told Norris he would wait. It was the last time Will spoke with Norris, he said. "He took care of it before it could drop," Norris said of the flames. The captain left to refuel before Will's bulldozer rolled over. Family members were unavailable for comment Wednesday. Edria said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called the Will residence Wednesday to offer condolences. A memorial service for Will is being planned. Story at: freelancenews.com |
| Posted: 11 Oct 2007 01:08 PM CDT By: Los Padres National Forest Published: Oct 11, 2007 at 08:13 Mt. Pinos District Ranger Tom Kuekes has authorized two projects to reduce hazardous fuels in Los Padres National Forest adjacent to the communities of Lake of the Woods and Frazier Park in Kern County. The projects are considered "high priority" by the Mt. Pinos Communities Fire Safe Council in their 2007 Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and will complement work being done on private property by the Kern County Fire Department. According to Ranger Kuekes, approximately 175 acres of brush and small trees will be thinned in the Lake of the Woods project. "This project includes creation of a new �shaded fuelbreak' along a ridge south of Frazier Mountain Park Road," said Kuekes. "The fuelbreak will be up to 500 feet wide and about 1.5 miles long and is designed to retain some trees and brush for a more natural appearance." Approximately 174 acres will be thinned in the Frazier Park project, including careful widening of the existing two-mile long fuelbreak north of the community. Kuekes said the Forest Service will now seek funding to implement the two fuels projects. "We hope to begin the work very soon using our local Forest Service fire crews until additional funding is available." The environmental analysis for the two projects began in 2006. For more information, contact the Mt. Pinos Ranger District office in Frazier Park at (661) 245-3731, or go online to www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/projects/analysis. |
| Burn Suspension Lifted in Nevada, Yuba and Placer Counties Posted: 11 Oct 2007 12:57 PM CDT Fire Season Winding Down By: Gina Chamberlin, CAL FIRE NYP Published: Oct 11, 2007 at 08:26 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Unit Chief Brad Harris, has announced that the suspension on all residential burning in Nevada, Yuba, and Placer Counties in areas designated as State Responsibility Areas (SRA) will be lifted effective October 11, 2007 at 8:00 am. This is due to the cooler temperatures and recent rainfall. Chief Harris stated, "Fire Season is not over yet, residents still must be very careful and maintain control of their fire at all times." Burning will be allowed on permissive burn days "open hours" with a valid burn permit which can obtained at your local fire station, free of cost. Chief Harris also added, "If a fire escapes your control, you may be held liable for all costs associated with the suppression of the fire and the damages it caused." The following are guidelines that must be followed in order to safely and legally burn: - Burn piles must be 4 feet or less in diameter and only contain dry vegetation. - Provide a 10 foot area free of flammable materials and vegetation around all burn piles. - An adult must be in attendance of the fire at all times with a shovel & water supply. - Do not burn on warm or windy days. - Make sure it is a permissive burn day. For Placer County (530) 889-6868, Yuba County (530)741-6299 or Nevada County (530) 274-7928. - Use of burn barrels or burning of household waste is no longer allowed. When burning, watch where the smoke goes and be a courteous neighbor by not smoking them out. Chief Harris also encourages residents "to use the free brush chipping programs as a safe alternative to burning." Nevada County Chipping Program (530) 272-1122, Yuba County (530) 713-7515 and Placer County (530) 889-0111 ext. 3 |
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