California Fire News

Saturday, December 8, 2007

California Fire News

From the Secret list: Remembering Pearl Harbor and Firefighter Purple Hearts

Posted: 07 Dec 2007 02:35 PM CST

Hey...
Today is a rough day for many Americans and Firefighters, even if you didn't realize it. While some others might barely remember why, we remember. If you were around on Dec. 7, 1941, you will definitely never forget what the date means and how it impacted our nation. Today is Pearl Harbor Day. Remembering the attack at Pearl Harbor is directly remembered by fewer each year...as the "greatest generation" continues to pass on. The attack on Pearl Harbor left a toll of 2,388 dead and 1,178 wounded...including Firefighters (read on)....and pushed the United States into World War II.

We had a chance to again visit Pearl Harbor just a few weeks ago-and it is clear that in Hawaii, the attack and those who lost their lives, has NEVER been forgotten. We were privileged to see Pearl Harbor through the private words and eyes of a wonderful and very proud Federal Fire Department (Hawaii) Battalion Chief...who, when showing us around, continued to use the words "OUR history" and "OUR Nation"...his message was clear to us. Pearl Harbor happened to us. Everyone of us.

It's 2007 and we are at war now as well. In WW2, it wasn't just the soldiers who went to war-EVERYONE got involved and made a difference to protect our Country-and defeat the enemies. Today we need to remember those who served, those who were lost and those who survived the attacks in 1941. We must keep their memory alive as a reminder that they paid the highest price for OUR freedom. And we also must remember the young women and men who are serving overseas-today-right now as you read this stuff, they are serving you and I.

During the Pearl Harbor attack. 3 Engine Companies of the Honolulu (Hawaii) Fire Department, (Engines 1, 4, and 6) were dispatched to fight the fires caused by enemy attack. HFD Fire Captain John Carreira, Captain Thomas Macy and Hoseman Harry Pang all gave their lives in the Line of Duty. 6 other Firefighters were wounded while fighting fires at Hickam Field: Fire Lt. Frederick Kealoha, Hosemen Moses Kililikani, John A. Gilman, Solomon Naauao, Patrick McCabe and George Correa. All of these Firefighters were awarded Purple Hearts and became the only civilian Firefighters in the U.S. to do so.

Freedom includes the right to feel what you wish regarding our current military deployment. But either way and no matter what, we must very aggressively and proactively protect our freedom from attacks by the known and unknown enemies. The enemies who plan and would love to take it away from us...and would do so in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, those who hate what we have, what we stand for, what we believe in and how we live as Americans, offer us no options.

Need a reminder? Go here...quickly:

http://www.fdnylodd.com/9-11-Never-Forget/Memorials/Blood-Of-Heroes.html

The following are some excellent links with video related to remembering December 7, 1941.
http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/
http://www.nps.gov/archive/usar/ExtendWeb1.html

Take Care-BE CAREFUL and our thanks to ALL who have served and are serving OUR Country in our Armed Forces and Military/Federal Fire & Rescue Services.

BillyG

The Secret List 12-7-07 / 1027 hours

www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

USFS: Cascade Complex Accident Prevention Analysis released

Posted: 07 Dec 2007 02:23 PM CST

Cascade Complex Accident Prevention Analysis

The Cascade Complex Accident Prevention Analysis is now released and posted on the web.

This report examined the circumstances surrounding three events:
The entrapment of two fire support contractors, implementation of the "stay in place plan" for the Cascade Complex Incident Command Post, and the decision to remain at that same ICP after the event.
The process used to review and investigate the accidents analyzed in the report may not be familiar to many of you.
The Accident Prevention Analysis (APA) process has several unique characteristics:
• The APA process is designed to meet the intent of the Forest Service Serious Accident
Investigation (SAI) process but incorporates the Doctrinal approach of principal-centered
performance rather than rule-focused compliance.
• The process forces a focus on the 'upstream' culture and the organization that influenced
performance. This goes beyond the proximal root cause that is typically labeled a causal
factor in other types of investigations.
• Using an APA instead of the more typical SAI process does not relieve anyone of
accountability for their actions. Had there been any evidence of a willful disregard for human
safety, the APA process would have been terminated and an Administrative and/or Law
Enforcement Investigation would have been instigated.
• The process values learning over blaming. The analysis is sufficiently complete to enable the
reader to understand what the decisions were made at the time, why they were made and how
those decisions seemed right, making perfect sense at the time. This is very powerful because
the players in this event were our most qualified and competent. If their decisions and actions
made sense to them at the time, it is very likely similar decisions and actions will make sense
again to others unless we share this experience and learn from it.
Enclosed is a question and answer document that further elaborates on this review. I encourage
every line officer and firefighter to read the report, discuss it, and learn from it. You can download
the report at: http://www.fs.fed.us/fire, under the heading: "What's New."

Introduction to the Cascade Complex APA

Cascade Complex APA
(8.0 MB - large file please be patient)

Forest Service Environmental Assessment of Fire Retardant and Decision Notice

FS Defines Process for Professional Liability Insurance (AGENCY ONLY)

2007 Independent Panel Large Wildfire Cost Review Recommendations
(1.6 MB - large file please be patient)