Headlines - Just News headlines all the time: May 30, 2007

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

California Fire News

City of Sacramento Fire Department - Reward For Union Pacific Trestle Fire

Posted: 29 May 2007 11:22 PM CDT

City of Sacramento Fire Department: Press Release

Reward For Union Pacific Trestle Fire


May 24, 2007 For Immediate Release Incident No.	Senior Special Agent Nina Delgadillo Phone: 1-888-416-4533 nina.delgadillo@atf.gov

Date/Time of Occurrence:	May 24, 2007 - 3:30p.m.
Type of Incident:	Announcement
Location:	5770 Freeport Blvd, SACRAMENTO

The Sacramento Fire Department and the ATF Announce a Reward For Union Pacific Trestle Fire Sacramento- the Sacramento Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will announce a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the Union Pacific Railroad Trestle Fire in Sacramento on March 15, 2007. The fire destroyed a 1300 foot section of elevated railroad trestle at approximately 5:30 p.m. near Exposition Parkway and Tribute Road and investigators later determined the cause of the fire was incendiary in nature. ATF and Investigators from the Sacramento Fire Department and Sacramento Police Department have information which they believe is valuable, however they need additional information from the public which may assist them in solving this case. Investigators and volunteers will be distributing leaflets to the public; the area of distribution will include numerous transient camp sites along the American River Parkway. Anyone having information and seeking to receive a reward , should call 1-888-ATF-FIRE.

DBA:	Sacramento Fire Department

Cal Fire Suspends All Outdoor Burning - News Story

Posted: 29 May 2007 11:10 PM CDT

Cal Fire Suspends All Outdoor Burning

"LINCOLN, Calif. -- Cal Fire has suspended all outdoor burning because dry weather this winter has led to a rise in wildfire danger.
The state usually sees a peak in fire danger in summer and fall, but the lack of rain and snow has made this winter different than most."We didn't have a choice," Cal Fire spokeswoman Tina Rose said. "You have to cut off the burning. If there is going to be the dry conditions we're experiencing plus north winds, it would be insane not to."
As for rainfall, the Sacramento region experienced the driest January on record.
Cal Fire crews said in a matter of seconds, a debris fire can quickly get out of control.
"All up and down Northern California right now, we're seeing fires that we'd not normally see until June," Rose said. "For the last two weeks we've run from one escaped debris pile to another."
In Lincoln, on McCourtney Road, two homes were saved from controlled burns that got out of hand.
Lincoln resident Ron Allbirtain said he just found out about the burn ban."It means we can't clear our property like we want to," he said. "Sometimes there are rules we have to follow that we don't like, but it's for our benefit."

Fatal Wildfire Brings Policy Questions

Posted: 29 May 2007 10:43 PM CDT

Fatal Wildfire Brings Policy Questions

Sunday May 27, 2007 11:46 PM

AP Photo LA114

By GILLIAN FLACCUS

Associated Press Writer

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) - A blaze that killed five federal firefighters last year has emboldened those who question the cost of saving the ever expanding number of homes on the fringe of wilderness.

The five perished last fall while protecting an empty mountain vacation home from the Southern California fire, which authorities say was started by a 36-year-old auto mechanic now charged with murder.

However, the deaths also were blamed on social and political pressures and decisions to put homes before the safety of firefighters, according to a report last week from the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection.

As another fire season heats up, some U.S. Forest Service officials say a shift in strategy is inevitable as firefighters increasingly risk their lives defending communities that have been built in prime fire territory.

``We are not going to die for property,'' said Tom Harbour, national director of fire and aviation management for the Forest Service. ``It's time for homeowners to take responsibility for the protection of their homes.''

Chief Forester Gail Kimbell would not say whether the service is considering a change in policy on defending homes in certain fire conditions, but the agency plans to address flaws in the response to the deadly fire in remote Twin Pines, about 90 miles east of Los Angeles, and is conducting a longer-term review of overall firefighter safety.

Firefighters' attitudes also are an issue in protecting homes.

Public expectations can sometimes lead to bravado and a cavalier mind-set among firefighters, experts say. A recent investigative report in the five deaths listed overconfidence, excessive motivation and risk-taking as contributing factors.

``One of the standard fire orders states: 'Fight the fire aggressively having provided for safety first,''' said Peter Leschak, a 26-year firefighter and a commander for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Division of Forestry. ``There has been an argument recently to change that because we don't need to encourage firefighters to be more aggressive - half the time we're holding them back.''

Federal firefighters could scale back structural protection without too much political fallout, but that would not be easy for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which answers to the governor, said John Maclean, a federally certified firefighter and the author of several books on wildfire disasters.

The state agency spends 44 percent of its budget on wildfire suppression annually, he said, and much of that work means protecting homes where suburbs collide with wilderness.

More than 6 million homes in California stand in wildfire ``red zones'' - areas defined in part by their thick brush and steep slopes - and that number is expected to grow by 20 percent in the next decade, according to a recently released insurance report.

``There is an expectation on the part of a lot of people that somebody better get in there and do or die for their house,'' Maclean said. ``If you stop doing that and you stop taking reasonable risk to protect structures, you'd have a new governor in about five minutes.''

David Kassel, who rebuilt his San Diego home after it burned in 2003, said he would be shocked if firefighters started backing off structural protection.

``What is the purpose of the fire department? Are they just going to stand around and watch?'' Kassel said. ``If the structures are being left to the local departments to take care of, isn't that simply shifting the risk from one department to another? I wouldn't want to be the fireman who would say, 'I'm going to leave this to you because we can't handle something risky.'''

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On the Net:

Esperanza fire report: http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire-er-memorial-esperanza.php

CA-TCU- LIME IC VEG FIRE

Posted: 29 May 2007 07:06 PM CDT

FULL VEGETATION RESPONSE 1 TO 2 ACRES, MODERATE ROS

ALL COLUMBIA AIRCRAFT

HIGHWAY 108 AND LIME KILN ROAD/SANQUINETTI

ST 9275G
WT 549
CDF TAC 8

CA-SCU-DEL VALLE - NEW START

Posted: 29 May 2007 05:36 PM CDT

CA-SCU-DEL VALLE IC

NEW START FULL WILDLAND RESPONSE

2-DOZERS
1-AA
2-AT
1-EPRP (EAGLE 1)
2- DELTA CREWS

Alaska-Intense Wild Fire Burns On for 5 days | 16,465 acres

Posted: 29 May 2007 12:47 PM CDT

Intense Wild Fire Burns On for 5 days -16,465 acres

INTERIOR OF ALASKA – Firefighters are, and have been tackling several fires burning in Alaska right now! The largest of the fires is the Mooseheart fire – the fire began on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 and officials estimate that the size of the fire is more than 16,465 acres- fire Managers report that the fire was still burning intensely, in some areas, on Monday afternoon.

The Mooseheart fire is located about 25 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs and is said to have been ignited by Lightning.

At least 75 fire fighting personnel are working to control the fire and there are seven Smoke jumpers also on site, mopping up around structures where a successful burnout was conducted over the weekend.

Red Flag Warnings for high winds from the southwest could hamper visibility and precautions to residents who live near Manley Hot Springs, that also have respiratory problems, have been issued, due to the smoke."