California Fire News

Award for a multiagency team that helped firefighters battle the deadly Esperanza fire Posted: 29 Sep 2007 09:19 PM CDT October 1, 2007 UARC employees honored for wildfire monitoring effort By Tim Stephens This Altair Unmanned Aerial System provided valuable real-time fire information. Photo courtesy of NASA. The NASA Ames Research Center has honored six UCSC employees at the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) as part of a Group Achievement Award for a multiagency team that helped firefighters battle the deadly Esperanza fire in Southern California last year. The Wildfire Research and Applications Partnership (WRAP), which includes UARC Earth Sciences researchers, used the Altair Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to provide valuable real-time fire information to the Esperanza Fire Incident Command Center. Those honored in the NASA award include Jeff Meyers, technical area manager of the UARC Earth Sciences research team; Ted Hildum, staff scientist; Bob Billings, senior field engineer; Kent Dunwoody, senior field engineer; Eric Fraim, remote sensing data analyst; and Haiping Su, staff scientist. The operation during the Esperanza firestorm in October 2006 was the first time that an umanned aerial system operating in national airspace was used to provide real-time fire condition information. Acting in response to an emergency request from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, the multi-agency WRAP team was deployed to southern California. The team provided valuable information about the fire perimeter, hot spots, and fire behavior to the Esperanza Fire Incident Command Center within 24 hours of the governor's request. During the mission, real-time data was gathered by sensors aboard the unmanned aerial system, telemetered to ground-based computers, hosted on GoogleEarth, and delivered to the command center for the fire. It was particularly important to map the fire's quickly changing behavior and detect hot spots that had jumped fire lines. Four firefighters died in the Esperanza Fire, which burned more than 40,000 acres in Riverside County. The efforts of the WRAP team members on the Esperanza Fire Emergency UAS Mission led to an improved understanding of critical fire information by the fire management services, showcased a first-time use of UAS capabilities on a disaster event, and opened the doors to future uses of sensors, UAS platforms, and real-time decision-support systems for national emergencies. The Airborne Sensor Facility at NASA Ames is managed by UCSC through the UARC

South San Francisco - 3 Alarm Structure Fire Posted: 29 Sep 2007 09:07 PM CDT South San Francisco has a 3rd alarm house fire at Pine and Cypress, Near 101 at Grand Sizeup: exposure problems Battalion 17 made it a 2nd alarm on arrival. Comms: Control 21 - 154.100 for dispatch

CA-LNU- London IC - Structure --> Vegetation Posted: 29 Sep 2007 08:27 PM CDT Sizeup: Sonoma 15:45 First in E1469 Large column, fully involved barn surrounded on 3 sides by vineyard, extension into the grass, continue the assignment. Full wildland response Air Attack 140 Tanker 85 Tanker 86 Copter 104 DT1441 DT1440 2 Delta crews enroute Comms: 151.34 - LNU East 151.46 - LNU West

San Jose Water Co. logging plan denied by California Forestry Posted: 29 Sep 2007 10:20 AM CDT Map of proposed San Jose Water land ownership - logging area High-tech effort blocks San Jose Water Co.'s logging plan By Paul Rogers Mercury News Article Launched: 09/29/2007 01:38:15 AM PDT A plan by the San Jose Water Co. to log 1,000 acres along Highway 17 has capsized, overcome by neighbors armed with high-tech cameras, mapping software and other Silicon Valley tools. The plan, which over the past two years became the most contentious logging battle in Santa Clara County history, failed to win the approval of officials from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Details were not available Friday evening because the agency had not yet released its official action letter. But neighbors opposing the plan said Rich Sampson, a top official in the forestry agency's Felton office, confirmed to them Friday over the phone that his agency turned down the project. Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, D-Los Altos, released a letter saying the plan "has been denied" and noting his "desire to see the area preserved as open space." While other logging battles feature environmentalists sitting in trees, this one featured Silicon Valley computer programmers sitting at their monitors, studying every acre of the plan. The tech-savvy opponents used Google Earth and other tools to rally support, even drawing former Vice President Al Gore to their cause last year. The investor-owned water company, which provides drinking water to 1 million people, said it wants to log to reduce fire risk on 1,002 acres of watershed lands it owns between Lexington Reservoir and Summit Road. The area has not been logged in a century. John Tang, a spokesman for San Jose Water, said Friday that the company may file an appeal to the state Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. He also said it has not ruled out reworking logging plans and returning with a new proposal. "We are very surprised and disappointed by the decision. We thought we were on the right track," Tang said. Tang noted that under the plan, the area would have been divided into nine units, each about 100 acres. Redwood and Douglas fir trees in each unit would be logged once every 18 years, starting with the lands nearest Summit Road. Opponents argued that the logging actually would increase fire risk because the water company and its contractor, Big Creek Lumber of Davenport, planned to remove too many large trees. They also claimed it increased landslide risks, and that the logging operation would disrupt their homes in small mountain communities such as Chemeketa Park and Aldercroft Heights. "This was a bad idea," said Kevin Flynn, a Cisco Systems manager who lives in Chemeketa Park along Highway 17. "It never should have gotten this far." The key issue was acreage. San Jose Water applied to the state for a "non-industrial timber management plan" that would have allowed logging on an ongoing basis over a 15-year period. State law sets 2,500 acres as the maximum amount of forest land containing commercially viable trees that any landowner can own while remaining eligible for that kind of logging permit. San Jose Water claimed there were 2,002 acres of commercially viable trees over the 6,000 or so acres it owns in the Santa Cruz Mountains. But opponents said there were 2,754 acres - 254 too many. The opponents enlisted the help of Kenneth Adelman, a Santa Cruz County resident who made millions when he founded TGV Software in the 1980s and later sold it to Cisco Systems. Adelman owns a helicopter and, in 2002, gained national attention when he flew along the California coast, taking more than 12,000 digital photos. Barbra Streisand sued him for invasion of privacy when her home turned up in his photo set, but he won the case. Last year, Adelman flew Google engineer Rebecca Moore, a Summit Road-area resident who opposed the plan, above the San Jose Water property. They took more than 700 photos, which she then merged with Google Earth software. Adelia Barber, a doctoral student in ecology at the University of California-Santa Cruz, then analyzed each photo, circling areas of redwoods and Douglas fir trees so the software could measure the exact area of each. At a minimum, the company has 2,754 acres of commercial timber, she concluded, but it could have as many as 3,428 acres if surrounding areas where small saplings could grow are included. State forestry officials agreed with Barber. But Tang noted the water company could sell some of its lands to get the forested total under 2,500 acres, making it eligible again for the ongoing permit. "We haven't ruled out anything at this point," he said. "We remain committed to protecting the environment, reducing the fire hazard and protecting the water supply."

Sacramento ceremony set for fallen today in Capitol Park. Posted: 29 Sep 2007 09:54 AM CDT Honors for firemen Sacramento ceremony set for fallen Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer Article Launched: 09/28/2007 11:10:02 PM PDT It's been a tragic year for the state's firefighting family. Fifteen firefighters, including five from the U.S. Forest Service who battled the Esperanza blaze, have died in the line of duty over the last year. Their names, and those of 14 others who died in previous years, will be added to the California Firefighters Memorial in Sacramento today. "We want to honor what firefighters do every single day," said Carroll Wills, spokesman for the California Professional Firefighters. "They put their gear on and answer the alarm knowing it could be the last alarm they answer. That dedication, commitment and courage deserve to be recognized." This is the first year in firefighters' memories where separate blazes have claimed multiple lives. The Esperanza Fire was the first, followed by a blaze that killed two Contra Costa County firemen - Capt. Matt Burton, 35, and Engineer Scott Desmond, 37 - who were trying to save an elderly couple from their burning home in June. During the Esperanza Fire, the crew of Engine 57 was overtaken by 100-foot flames on Oct. 26, as they defended a home in Twin Pines. Capt. Mark Loutzenhiser, 43, of Idyllwild; Jason McKay, 27, of Apple Valley; Jess McLean,27, of Beaumont; and Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, of San Jacinto died while standing their ground in front of the house. Pablo Cerda, 23, of Fountain Valley died Oct. 31 after he was taken off life support. There will be 29 names added today to the memorial in Capitol Park. Hundreds of uniformed firefighters are expected to attend the ceremony, which will include a reading of the fallen firefighters' names, a speech by Sen. Barbara Boxer, a presentation of flags to their families and a ringing of the "last alarm." The memorial was unveiled in 2002 and 855 names were added, listing all those who died in the line of duty since California became a state. The first name etched in the marble was James Welsh of San Francisco, who died in 1851. "This is the one spot in California where the people of California can come see the meaning of sacrifice," said Lou Paulson, president of the California Professional Firefighters and a Contra Costa County firefighter. "This is the one spot where we as firefighters can come to remember our losses, our brothers and sisters we've worked with and come to know and love." There are more than 1,000 names on the memorial. The five firefighters who died battling the Esperanza Fire will also be honored at National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on Oct. 6 and 7 in Emmitsburg, Md. American flags on all federal buildings will be lowered to half staff on Oct. 7 to honor the fallen firefighters.

Christopher A. Johnson is remembered with love. Posted: 29 Sep 2007 09:46 AM CDT Wearing his father's hat, 2 1/2-year-old Christopher Johnson Jr. salutes his mother, Rebecca Johnson, as they follow his father's casket Friday in Fresno Admiration for firefighter flows Christopher A. Johnson is remembered with love. By Jim Steinberg / Story at The Fresno Bee Family and fire department colleagues praised Christopher A. Johnson, 32, during his funeral service Friday as a firefighter-plus, a man who lived to save and enhance others' lives. Johnson died Sept. 20 of leukemia, presumed under state law to be a job-related death. All firefighters quench flames as part of their mission, but they do rescues, paramedic work and more, Johnson's colleagues said in Peoples Church. They said that Johnson taught and inspired others to do all this by his example. The funeral attracted hundreds of firefighters from the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection and other agencies from across the state. The engines of 55 firetrucks and associated vehicles roared low in the church parking lot, idling beside fire chiefs' cars, their red lights flashing as mourners celebrated Johnson's life. Bagpipes and drums droned sorrow and respect as mourners filed into, then out of the church. After the service, fellow firefighters carried Johnson's flag-draped casket, climbed a graduated black wood platform, then placed the casket on his station's red E-82 fire engine. Firefighters guided his son, Christopher Jr., known affectionately as C.J., who wore his father's outsized "cover," or hat, before the engine bearing Johnson's body departed for Sanger Cemetery. Inside the church during the service, men who had worked, lived and rescued with Johnson took turns saying what made this man special. His father, Fred Alexander Johnson, riveted the congregation with a roaring, heartfelt celebration of Johnson's life. He recalled his young boy's love of firetrucks and bliss at looking into the fireplace. The elder Johnson said his son had achieved his dreams by becoming a firefighter and was planning to add new skills. "He has moved on," Fred Johnson said. "He will always be my champion. God bless you, son. I love you. I love you." Johnson's widow, Rebecca, wrote her thoughts to him, and they were distributed as part of the funeral program. She invoked the 91st Psalm, concerning trust in God, including "for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways." Kim Penington, retired from Cal Fire, called Johnson "a leader, a fixer, a father." He called Rebecca "Becky" Johnson and C.J. "the sparks of his life." Penington remembered father and son together in the fire station southeast of Fresno. He recalled Johnson's concern every time there was news from the war in Iraq that another American helicopter had gone down. Penington has a son and daughter stationed there, and he remembered Johnson's care after each downed chopper to make sure Penington's children were all right. He conferred the greatest compliment for any firefighter: "Anybody in this room," he told the hundreds in the church, "would want Chris for backup." During the service, Johnson's fellow firefighters marched solemnly in the firefighters' equivalent of soldiers bearing rifles port arms, diagonally across their chests. They carried fire axes, hooks and other tools in place of weapons. A devout Christian, Johnson was praised by the Rev. Edward Thomas, who had married the Johnson couple. "Where do we go now?" Thomas thundered. "We are going to the throne of God for everlasting consolation." Mourners scattered across the congregation answered his plea that they raise their hands to God in glory, rejoicing at Johnson's destination, which they, too, can reach. Thomas told them, "Say, 'I'm going to the throne. I'm going to see Jesus.' " The congregation said, "Amen." After the funeral, fire Capt. Scott McLean of Cal Fire's Butte County station explained why Johnson's life and death were so important to firefighters and to everyone in the state: "Because he died for you. He committed his life to the citizens of California. This is steeped in honor. Tradition is imbedded, and it's in our souls."

Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Station photos spark concern Posted: 29 Sep 2007 09:42 AM CDT Station photos spark concern Published: September 28, 2007 By ALISHA WYMAN The Union Democrat Fire officials at two Cal Fire stations in the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit reported suspicious men taking photos of their stations earlier this week. This follows four similar incidents elsewhere in Northern California over the past few months. Homeland Security issued a bulletin to fire personnel a few months ago, warning fire stations to be aware of such incidents, said Dennis Townsend, chief of fire prevention and law enforcement for the unit. At the time, Townsend and others from the unit weren't too concerned due to the rural nature of the Mother Lode. "We didn't think anyone would come up and engage in that type of activity in our county," he said. But Monday, a firefighter at the Green Springs station looked out the window and saw two men taking photos of the station. When the station captain confronted them, they said they were students from Flagstaff, Ariz., on their way to Yosemite. The subjects left in a white sedan. The two men appeared to be in their 40s, spoke broken English, and were possibly of Middle Eastern descent, Townsend said. The captain got the license plate, but the car turned out to be rented. Later, firefighters at the unit's West Point station spotted subjects photographing an open engine bay. When the captain walked outside, the subjects fled in a white SUV. They too appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent, Townsend said. "I don't want it to sound like it reflects on any nationality," he said. "What we deal with is the nature of the incident." Stations reported similar incidents in Campbell, Yuba City, Fresno and Sacramento between late July and early September. It's not unusual to have people photographing stations, but they usually request permission to do so, Townsend said. That the men in question did so covertly caused department officials some concern. "Having two incidents in one day, it causes me to think that there's a potential for our security in our department and our stations to be compromised," he said. Townsend passed on the information to Cal Fire law enforcement officials in Sacramento. The department has also alerted unit stations to be on the lookout for suspicious activity, and to attempt to get license plates and vehicle descriptions should they see anyone taking photos. But so far, there isn't any reason for fear or alarm, he said. "They may be harmless, certainly, but whatever purpose they have might be a threat to our own security," he said.

CA - Shasta-Trinity National Forest - lifting fire restrictions Posted: 29 Sep 2007 09:38 AM CDT Shasta-Trinity to lift fire restrictions 9/27/2007 Shasta-Trinity National Forest will lift fire restrictions at midnight on Thursday. Beginning Sept. 28, forest visitors may once again have open campfires outside of developed campgrounds, providing they are in possession of a valid California campfire permit. "The cooler fall temperatures, longer nights and higher humidity have reduced the threat of extreme fire danger experienced during the hot and dry summer months," said Forest Supervisor Sharon Heywood. Heywood cautions forest visitors to continue to be careful with campfires, as the forest vegetation remains relatively dry in many areas. Historically, the forest has experienced wildfires as a result of campfires not completely extinguished. California campfire permits can be obtained prior to visiting the forest. These permits are available to visitors at no charge from any national forest, Bureau of Land Management or CalFire office. Terms of the California campfire permit include: Clear all flammable material away from the fire for a minimum of five feet in all directions to prevent escape of the fire. Have a shovel available at the campfire site for preparing and extinguishing campfires. Have a responsible person in attendance at all times. Extinguish the campfire with water, using the drown, stir and check method. The California Department of Forestry's dooryard/residential burning suspension remains in effect. For more information, phone Fuels Management/Fire Prevention Officer Julie Titus at 530-926-9666.

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