California Fire News

Friday, November 30, 2007

California Fire News

News: OT News: Hero Stops Runaway SUV On Golden Gate Bridge

Posted: 29 Nov 2007 02:56 PM CST

Hero Stops Runaway SUV On Golden Gate Bridge

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) ―

A quick-thinking truck driver prevented a serious traffic hazard on the Golden Gate Bridge Tuesday morning when he towed a Jeep containing an unconscious driver to safety amid a busy morning commute, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A 62-year-old Tiburon woman apparently passed out while driving her Jeep Grand Cherokee southbound on bridge lanes at around 6:50 a.m., the CHP said.

Mill Valley resident John Beatty was driving behind the Jeep and noticed it was moving slower than the flow of traffic. He drove up to the right side of the vehicle and saw the woman slumped on her steering wheel.

Beatty took bold and immediate action. He drove his Ford F-350 Super Duty utility truck in front of the Jeep and allowed it to essentially crash into the back of his vehicle so it would latch on, according to bridge officials. He then "slowly and safely" guided the Jeep across the bridge's southbound lanes and brought it to rest in a safe area, away from the flow of traffic.

"He accomplished this while numerous other motorists, oblivious to the emergency, passed," the CHP said in a statement.

Officers said the woman had apparently suffered a medical condition that caused her to lose consciousness. Emergency crews transported her to California Pacific Medical Center, where she later died.

The cause of her death is unknown.

The CHP and bridge officials said if it wasn't for Beatty, this morning's traffic tragedy could have been much worse.

"Due to the action of this Good Samaritan, a potentially worse situation was averted and we are all thankful for that aspect of the traffic incident this morning," said bridge manager Kary Witt.

The bridge's southbound lanes were closed for about 15 minutes. Lanes of the highway were cleared at 7:15 a.m. and traffic began moving normally at about 8 a.m., the CHP said.

Article source: SF Gate
Video: CBS 5

CA-SCU- LeDeit - San Jose - Prescribed burn - 400 acres

Posted: 29 Nov 2007 02:32 PM CST

Satellite Map of Ledeit Fire perimeter
Credit: Cal Fire News / Geo Mac

Cal Fire is preparing to continue igniting a controlled burn in the hills above Morgan Hill / San Jose near Lick Observatory - Called the Ledeit Fire (Pronounced Lee Day) The Cal Fire teams are currently setting up radios and performing other preparations prior to the firing operation.
Cal Fire hopes to eventually burn 700 to 1000 acres,
Expect a large header this afternoon around 3:00 to 4:00 with operations slowing down later in the evening.
VMP - Ledeit
Location: Mount Hamilton South of Lick Observatory - NW of Lick Fire in Henry Coe State Park Area earlier this year
Current size: Approximately 400 acres
Prescribed size: 1000 acres

What is the CDF Vegetation Management Program (VMP)? The VMP was created in 1981 as a cost-sharing program between private landowners and CDF to reduce fire-prone vegetation. Through prescribed burns, as well as mechanical means of modifying vegetation, VMP projects strive to reduce the risk of large damaging wildfires and improve the growing conditions of native plant and wildlife species. A prescribed burn site can also act as a fire break, stopping a wildfire in its tracks; and firefighters use these previously burned areas as safe places to take a stand against a fire

Big Basin State Park - Prescribed burn

Posted: 29 Nov 2007 11:07 AM CST

The haze drifting southwest from Big Basin State Park is the result of a slow-moving prescription burn started by State Parks and Cal Fire crews in a 500-acre plot of redwoods Nov. 9. The prescribed burn is designed to blacken 500 acres, but late Wednesday it had charred about 120 acres.

Forest Service Schedules Second Prescribed Burn For SNF

Posted: 29 Nov 2007 11:00 AM CST

BJ Hansen

MML News Reporter

Sonora, Ca -- The Forest Service has announced that a second prescribed burn will begin Thursday within the Stanislaus National Forest.

Earlier this week, it was made public that beginning Thursday a 100 acre burn will occur two miles north of Arnold along Summit Level Rd.

Also starting tomorrow will be a 400 acre burn in the Wrights Creek area, four miles south of Long Barn. Smoke may be visible for many days along the Hwy 108 corridor.

The Forest Service notes that the benefits of a prescribed burn include promoting forest health, reducing flammable vegetation and protecting the public and firefighters.

Source: Article