California Fire News

Former HMB firefighter accused of threatening chief

Posted: 25 May 2007 12:38 AM CDT

A disgruntled former Coastside firefighter is accused of challenging his acting chief to a fistfight at a May 15 meeting of the Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District board. The incident disrupted the public meeting, causing department officials to consider a restraining order against the veteran firefighter.

Dave Cornell announced at the meeting he was leaving the local fire department and took the opportunity to complain about the leadership abilities of acting Chief Paul Cole as well as plans to contract for services with CalFire, the state's firefighting arm.

Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District board member Lane Lees said when Cornell was done speaking he "called out" Cole and thrust his firefighting badge in the chief's face. Later Half Moon Bay police were called to the Main Street fire station to document the incident.

"We stopped the meeting," Lees said. "It was really bizarre."

Cornell acknowledges that he told Cole "you can find me any time, anywhere," but maintains it was not meant as a threat.

"I told the board members I was thoroughly disgusted," Cornell said Tuesday. "I stood in front of (Cole) and held my badge. I told him it stood for honor and integrity for many people, but to him the shield is just something to hide behind."

Cole could not be reached for comment. Half Moon Bay police say they are continuing to investigate whether the matter constitutes a challenge to a fight or disturbing an assembly, both misdemeanors.

Cornell, who had been a firefighter/paramedic for the department before his resignation, had been active in opposing plans for a contract with CalFire. A majority of members of both the Half Moon Bay and Point Montara fire protection district boards have been seeking to turn over daily operations of Coastside fire services to the state after damning reports from two former acting fire chiefs who detailed a range of serious problems within local firehouses.

In the letter he presented to the board that night, Cornell wrote, "If I stay, I fear I will wind up in jail for doing something stupid but well justified."

Cornell served in Afghanistan with a Special Forces detachment of the California National Guard. His words, combined with his military background, concerned members of the fire board.

Board member Jerry Donovan said the board's legal counsel suggested Cole seek a restraining order to keep Cornell away from the fire station. While no such order had been filed by Tuesday, Donovan and others said officials would do so soon.

Meanwhile, Capt. Jesse Basher of the California Army National Guard called Cornell "one of my guys" and said such an outburst would be completely uncharacteristic.

"Dave Cornell is a good soldier and a good American," Basher said. "He is just top-notch."

An online message board commonly used by firefighters indicated that Cornell has been hired by the San Rafael Fire Department. Calls to the chief there were not immediately returned. Cornell confirmed he had been hired by another department but declined to say where he worked.

CAL FIRE - Officials say pickup truck caused fires

Posted: 24 May 2007 08:58 PM CDT

Cal Fire officials believe they have found the cause of three vegetation fires that burned through Calaveras last week.

A 1997 Ford pickup was tracked down as a result of witness reports. It was believed the cause of the fires was from a faulty catalytic converter.

Calaveras County sheriff's deputies stopped the truck at 6:22 p.m. Thursday. Cal Fire officials then inspected the converter and concluded that sparks generated from it were the cause of three fires on Wednesday and Thursday.
The truck is owned by a Calaveras resident who was unaware of the condition of the converter as well as the fires that it sparked. There was no suspected arson in the case.

The latest fire broke out in Mokelumne Hill between Highway 26 and Howard Lane on Thursday, May 17. Roughly seven acres of grass, valued at $1,400, were destroyed.

On Wednesday, May 16, two fires were reported in Valley Springs. One burned along Paloma Road and another was near Watertown Road and Highway 26.

Researchers push U.S. to let them grow pot

Posted: 24 May 2007 07:43 PM CDT

Researchers are pressing the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to allow them to grow marijuana for research purposes.

The researchers, who claim a recent DEA administrative law judge's ruling that it would be in "the public interest" to allow marijuana to be grown for study vindicates their cause, said samples of the plant grown by the government are difficult to obtain and of poor quality, The Washington Post reported Thursday. "The DEA has an opportunity here to live up to its rhetoric, which has been that marijuana advocates should work on conducting research rather than filing lawsuits," said Richard Doblin, president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, which has been fighting to test possible medical uses of marijuana for years. "It's become more and more obvious that the DEA has been obstructing potentially beneficial medical research, and now is the time for them to change," he told the Post.

911 Rescue and Recovery workers

Posted: 24 May 2007 07:27 PM CDT

911 Rescue and Recovery workers:

New York State
Workers' Compensation Board:
OFFICE OF THE CHAIR
20 Park Street Albany, New York 12207

EXTENSION OF FILING TIME IN WORLD TRADE CENTER RESCUE, RECOVERY AND CLEANUP CASES

Date: August 21, 2006

On August 14, 2006, Governor Pataki announced a comprehensive plan designed to extend the time for employees and volunteers injured in the rescue, recovery and cleanup operations after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center to file a claim for workers' compensation benefits and to receive prompt access to medical benefits while their claims are being litigated. Although it has been almost five years since the tragic events of September 11th, many people who participated in the rescue, recovery and cleanup efforts may have hidden health issues or suffer serious, disabling medical conditions that developed more than two years after their participation which may entitle them to workers' compensation benefits.

Workers' Compensation Law, Article 8-A

As a key part of his plan, Governor Pataki signed into law Article 8-A of the Workers' Compensation Law (hereinafter "WCL"), which extends the time for employees and volunteers who participated in rescue, recovery and cleanup operations following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center to file claims for workers' compensation benefits, provided they register with the Board before August 14, 2007. (Chapter 446 of the Laws of 2006). In order to register, those employees and volunteers who participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery and cleanup operations (hereinafter "WTC operations") must file with the Workers' Compensation Board (hereinafter "Board") a sworn statement, on Form WTC-12, listing the dates and locations of their participation in the rescue, recovery and cleanup efforts.

The filing of the registration form (Form WTC-12) does NOT constitute the filing of a claim. The filing of the sworn statement does however extend the time to file a claim. With respect to claims that were previously filed and denied as untimely under WCL §18 or §28, upon the filing of the sworn statement the claim will be reopened by the Board to reconsider this claim. This new legislation is effective immediately and is deemed to have been in effect since September 11, 2001. It will apply retroactively.

SEE REST OF ARTICLE AT LINK http://www.wcb.state.ny.us/content/main/SubjectNos/sn046_159.htm

CAL FIRE (CDF) has extended its contract with Silverado Avionics

Posted: 24 May 2007 07:15 PM CDT

WEST MELBOURNE, Fla., May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RELM Wireless Corporation , a leading manufacturer of high-specification two-way communications equipment for use in the government, public safety and private sectors, today announced that the California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE CDF) has extended its contract with Silverado Avionics, an authorized RELM BK Radio dealer, for purchases of RELM BK Radio products through June 30, 2008. The CDF's original contract with Silverado had an estimated value of $5.4 million with a three-year term expiring on June 30, 2007. Under the contract, Silverado provides BK Radio-brand portable two-way transceivers to the California Department of Forestry (CDF) for deployment in forests throughout the state. This contract is also open to all state agencies other than the Department of Forestry and may be utilized to purchase either P25 digital or analog products. Neither the contract nor the extension specifies purchase dates or quantities of equipment. RELM President and CEO David Storey commented, "As a long-time supplier to the U.S. Forest Service and the fire fighting community in general, we are very pleased that RELM BK Radio continues to be the product of choice for the CDF's two-way radio communications needs. This contract has been, and continues to be, a highly successful collaboration among the teams of Silverado, the CDF and RELM, and is a textbook example of our bedrock philosophy of listening to customers' requirements and meeting them. In this case, we incorporated specific enhancements and functionality to our portable radio design at CDF's request, effectively customizing the product to their application. This is just one of the ways in which RELM differentiates itself from competitors." Storey concluded, "We are looking forward to the extended relationship with Silverado and the CDF."

RELM Wireless Corporation

CONTACT: Company Contact: David Storey, Pres. & CEO, RELM Wireless Corporation, +1-321-984-1414, or Investor Relations: Jeffrey Goldberger of KCSA Worldwide, +1-212-896-1249, or jgoldberger@kcsa.com , for RELM Wireless Corporation Web site: http://www.relm.com/

Arrival of Firefighting Planes Delayed

Posted: 24 May 2007 01:54 PM CDT

Arrival of Firefighting Planes Delayed:

"It's a question of time, money and where the fires are most dangerous. CAL FIRE says its yearly decision on where to put fire attack planes and crews depends on conditions and how many aircraft are ready to fly.

Southern California bases are usually the first to see staffing with contract pilots to fly CAL FIRE's tanker and attack aircraft. The fire season usually starts first in the south, then moves to central California. This year, that means the attack base at Grass Valley and others in Northern California won't see planes and pilots before June 15.

"In a perfect world, we'd have a fleet of aircraft standing by all the time," said Matt Streck of CAL FIRE's Grass Valley attack base. But he quickly added that the yearly toll on planes from wear and tear means extensive maintenance and that planes can't be everywhere all the time.

In record-dry Nevada County that means homeowners and those using the outdoors must be extra careful, especially during this upcoming holiday weekend. Joan Drummond of the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County says, "The fuel load that is standing out here, the brush, the other standing vegetation is essentially bone dry."

She warns homeowners to clear defensible space, to do yard work early to avoid sparks that could touch off a fire.

CAL FIRE said air attack bases in central California open Wednesday, putting resources much closer to the northern part of the state."

CA-SHF- Bolli Wildland Fire - INCIDENT UPDATED

Posted: 23 May 2007 02:24 PM CDT

Bolli Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED: 2007-05-23 11:47:18 ET

Location map for the Bolli Fire. The fire ls located 7 miles northeast of McCloud Bridge Campground, or 27 miles northeast of Redding California

May 22, 2007 Enlarge map
Credit: Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Summary

The Forest Service is currently engaging a fire seven miles northeast of McCloud Bridge Campground near White Rock Mtn. The Bolli Fire is currently 700 acres in size and is 2% contained. 18 smokejumpers, 10 hand crews, three engines, two helicopters, one water tender and air attack are on the fire. The fire does not threaten any structures and recreation along Shasta Lake is not affected. The area is very inaccessible and in the middle of nowhere. For more information contact the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Public Affairs Office at (530) 226-2500.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	05/22/2007 at 0725 hrs.
Location	27 miles northeast of Redding CA
Incident Commander	Bob Bente

Current Situation

Total Personnel	232
Size	700 acres
Percent Contained	2%
Fuels Involved	Timber and logging slash
Fire Behavior	Fire made significant runs upslope through heavy logging slash. Gusty winds caused spotting problems.
Significant Events	Driving time to to access the fire is approximately 2.5 hours from Interstate 5. Long drive times allowed fire to become established prior to ground resources arriving to support initial attack by SmokeJumpers. Fire is not accessible by vehicle and requires a 1 hour walk.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Not available
Projected Movement	During the next 12 hours (day of 5-23-07): Fire moving southeast into Chatterdown Creek. Dirunal winds will push fire south down drainage. Fire is expected to double in size today. In the next 24 hours: Potential is high for fire to cross Chatterdown Creek and establish on the south facing slope below Curl Ridge.
Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Remarks	Equipment and Crews: 10 crews, 2 helicopters, 3 engines, 1 dozer, 2 water tenders. Heavy logging slash causing control problems. Area is intermixed with private timber lands and Forest Service lands. Full control objective is compromised by areas of heavy logging slash. Gusty winds causing spotting problems.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	3-6 mph NE
Current Temperature	80-85 degrees
Current Humidity	22-28 %

UPDATE: 5-23-07 0700 Bolli fire is now 700 acres with 2% containment. Poor access and heavy logging slash are causing control problems. A type II Incident Command Team (Swartzlander) has been ordered. MWS

Reinforcements Called In To Fight Sierra Wildfire

Posted: 23 May 2007 03:16 PM CDT

cbs5.com - Reinforcements Called In To Fight Sierra Wildfire:

Reinforcements Called In To Fight Sierra Wildfire

May 23, 2007 10:50 am US/Pacific (AP) RENO, Nev.
Incident commanders called in reinforcements Wednesday to battle a stubborn forest fire in the Sierra Nevada foothills west of Reno.

The Highway fire that broke out Monday along Interstate 80 just west of the Nevada-California line was estimated at 350-400 acres and 20 percent contained, officials said.

It continued to burn Wednesday in heavy brush and timber, sending up a plume visible from Reno and choking the scenic Sierra town of Truckee, Calif., in a blanket of smoke.

Fire spokesman Franklin Pemberton said a federal, Type 2 management team was requested and should assume oversight of the fire late Wednesday or early Thursday.

"With that comes a little bit more clout in getting resources," he said.

About 150 firefighters struggled in the rugged terrain to contain the blaze.

Besides having to watch for loose boulders and burning debris rolling down on them, firefighters have to take care to keep their balance and not fall into each other while making their way on foot up steep slopes.

"It's a bowling alley up there," Pemberton said. "That's the term they use for a dangerous situation. Boulders keep rolling down the hill."

On Tuesday, firefighters were assisted from the air by two large and two medium helicopters, as well as two large air tankers, at least for a while.

The heavy air tankers were diverted later in the day to another fire in California, Pemberton said.

"We're competing for resources in a very early fire season," he said.

No homes or structures were immediately threatened, and no injuries have been reported.

Erratic winds on Tuesday also kept the fire active overnight, Pemberton said.

The forecast called for wind gusting to 30 mph Wednesday morning to ease by afternoon.

Fire officials said the fire was human caused, though exactly how has not been determined.