California Fire News
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| Firefighter breaks Firefighters fall through floor Posted: 28 Nov 2007 08:39 PM CST
The blaze broke out about 11:28 p.m. at the complex on Via Mallorca near Caminito Eastbluff and was knocked down by 11:50 p.m. Two firefighters suffered minor to moderate injuries when a balcony floor collapsed. They were treated at a hospital and released. Fire spokesman Maurice Luque said one firefighter fell when the floor collapsed and the second one on the balcony below was also hurt. "He fell through the floor. As he fell to the (lower) level, a firefighter there was injured trying to break his fall," Luque said. Five units were damaged in the blaze, with one unit heavily damaged by fire, Luque said. At least ten people were displaced.The fire caused $150,000 in damage to the structure and $50,000 damage to the contents. Luque said investigators believe the fire was started by smoking material, but it still remains under investigation. It also is unclear where exactly the fire started, he said. Source: SignOnSanDiego | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EDIS: RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT Posted: 28 Nov 2007 08:20 PM CST
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| CA-SCU- Lick Observatory - Controlled Burn - 700 acres Posted: 28 Nov 2007 04:09 PM CST  SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cal Fire is conducting a controlled burn Wednesday on Mt. Hamilton that has attracted the attention of thousands of South Bay residents. Officials at Cal Fire stationed in Morgan Hill said the fire is being held to about 700 acres. The plume of smoke could be seen by drivers along Highway 101 from Sunnyvale south.The burn is located near the Lick Observatory. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EDIS: SO CAL WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT Posted: 28 Nov 2007 11:46 AM CST  Updated: 09:43 PST on 2007-11-28
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| Los Angeles - Red Flag Condition and restricted parking Posted: 28 Nov 2007 11:43 AM CST  A Red Flag Condition has been issued for Los Angeles City.
Red Flag Restricted Parking will be in effect from
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| News: Great article at LAFD Blog - Fire weather, Red Flags and Burn Index Posted: 28 Nov 2007 11:27 AM CST The Science Behind LAFD Fire WeatherBy Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire DepartmentOriginal article at: LAFD Blog -The Science Behind LAFD Fire Weather How are decisions made by the Los Angeles Fire Department to pre-deploy resources on days of high wildfire hazard? The answer is science. The LAFD utilizes a Burning Index (BI) as the basis to determine the Department's commitment to pre-deploy resources. A number of procedures occur daily to determine the actual BI: First, fuel moisture readings are taken at Fire Station 108 on Mulholland Drive and communicated to the Division 3 office located at Fire Station 88 in the San Fernando Valley. These fuel moisture readings are matched with predicted fire weather information (i.e. high/low temperatures, humidity, wind speed and direction) provided by a group of federal meteorologists that specialize in fire weather predictions at the Fire Weather Center (FWC), in Riverside California. This inter-agency group composed of California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services provides the information to determine the LAFD Fire Rating and pre-deployment of resources. LAFD Division 3 also conducts real time weather surveys throughout the San Fernando Valley to determine existing weather conditions. In addition, the National Weather Service web site is used to monitor fire weather conditions in and around the City of Los Angeles. The National Weather Service information may be different from the weather information provided by the Fire Weather Center. National Weather Service information may indicate a Red Flag Warning, where weather information from FWC will indicate a lesser rating i.e. Extreme or Very High rating. When the National Weather Service and FWC weather information do not match, the importance of real time weather surveys gain importance when considering pre-deployment of resources. Real time weather surveys and long-term weather predictions are considered to be a better predictor of weather conditions for the City of Los Angeles. However, this does not preclude the possibility of Red Flag Warning conditions in other areas of Los Angeles County. The BI-levels stated as a numerical value are as follows: BI 0 to 37 = Low BI 38 to 47 = Moderate BI 48 to 110 = High BI 111 to 161 = Very High BI 162 to 211 = Extreme BI 212 and above = Critical Red Flag Alert days occur simply when the wind speed is 25 miles per hour or more and the relative humidity is 15% or less. A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now... or will shortly. History has proven that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential. On Extreme, Critical and Red Flag Alert days the Fire Department pre-deploys resources. The pre-deployment of resources into selected Neighborhood Fire Stations serving brush areas is proactive to address the increased brush fire potential. The specific stations/locations selected for pre-deployment are based on fire experience, area access, and fire potential. To determine current Red Flag Parking Restrictions within the City of Los Angeles, please call 3-1-1 or visit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inciweb: So Cal BAER Coordination Burned Area Emergency Response Posted: 28 Nov 2007 11:21 AM CST So Cal BAER Coordination Burned Area Emergency ResponseINCIDENT UPDATED 19 MIN. AGO SummaryForest Service and Department of Interior and California State Interagency Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams are conducting ground and aerial reconnaissance on the recent southern California wildfires. The BAER teams consist of resource specialists such as Hydrologists, Soil Scientists, Geologists, Biologists and Engineers with experience working on BAER teams throughout California and the Western United States. A Multi-Agency Support Group has also been established to provide overall coordination for federal and state BAER and damage assessment efforts by facilitating multi-agency coordination and communication, coordinating public information, and providing support to the individual BAER teams. Forest Service BAER teams, a Department of the Interior (DOI) Interagency BAER team, California State BAER teams,and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) damage assessment teams are working cooperatively to address emergency stabilization needs on a watershed basis across mutiple federal jurisdictions. One of the first priorities for each BAER team is to finalize a Soil Burn Severity map to determine the pattern of the burn on the landscape. Hydrologists and Soil Scientists refine the initial map received from a satellite image of the fire produced from the Remote Sensing Application Center (RSAC) and by the USGS Earth Resources Observation System (EROS) Data Center. Further modification and revision is expected as more field data is collected and observations are made. The Soil Burn Severity map is critical as it "sets the stage" to assess potential impacts to resources and downstream values at risk. Final Soil Burn Severity maps have been completed for the following recent southern California fires: Buckweed Fire, Grass Valley Fire; Harris Fire, Poomacha Fire, Ranch Fire, Santiago Fire, Slide Fire, and Witch Fire. SoCal BAER teams are meeting with interagency cooperators to discuss initial issues and potential values and threats such as: Life, Property and Safety. Threats to: 1) people and property; 2) trails, roads and highways; 3) recreation sites; and 4) water systems; and Resources. Threats to: 1) water quality; 2) soil productivity; 3) cultural resources; 4) species of special concern; 5) OHV incursion into fire areas; and 6) noxious weeds. SoCal BAER teams continue to coordinate during the emergency assessment and implementation phases with affected agencies, cooperators and other interested parties. Weather Forecasting and Flood Information is available from the following agencies: American Red Cross Flood and Flash Flood News and Tips at http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_240_,00.html Los Angeles County Department of Public Works at 626-458-5100 and at http://dpw.lacounty.gov/wrd/Flood/index.cfm Orange County Flood Control Division at 714-834-5618 and at http://www.ocflood.com/ San Bernardino County Flood Control District at 909-387-7995 and at http://www.sbcounty.gov/flood/ San Diego County Emergency Services at 858-694-3900 and at http://www.sdcountyrecovery.com/erosion_control.html National Weather Service Forecast Office for Los Angeles Area at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/ National Weather Service Forest Office for SW California Area at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/ CALFIRE, U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR WORK TOGETHER TO RELEASE FIRST OF THE ASSESSMENT REPORTS ON OCTOBER WILDLAND FIRES: The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Department of Interior have released the first Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Assessment Reports designed to assist federal, state, and local officials in creating a comprehensive remediation plan and to guide restoration efforts. BAER Assessment Reports are completed for each fire or group of fires. California State BAER reports being released are the Santiago Fire, Small Fires, and Rice Fire. The Forest Service released BAER reports on the Harris, Buckweed, Ranch, Grass Valley, Slide, Santiago Fires. The Department of Interior report released a report on the Harris, Witch and Poomacha fires. Additional BAER reports will be released as they become available. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE), U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior deploy BAER Teams to assess the restoration and remediation needs following wildland fires. Reports compiled by the State of California can be viewed by visiting http://www.oes.ca.gov/ . Forest Service BAER reports can be viewed by clicking on each of the fire name listed in the above paragraph or by visiting the U.S. Forest Service web page at http://www.fs.fed.us/ and selecting your Forest from the pull down menu. The Department of the Interior report can also be viewed at www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings.html. For additional information, please contact the following National Forests for questions regarding specific questions related to Southern California Forest Service BAER efforts: Angeles National Forest at 626-574-5200; Cleveland National Forest at 858-673-6180; Los Padres National Forest at 805-968-6640; and San Bernardino National Forest at 909-382-2600. Additional Orange County Links: http://www.ocgov.com/ (See Latest News Section) http://www.ocgov.com/disasterasst.asp (Disaster Assistance) http://.oc.gov.com/lac.pdf (Local Assistance Centers) Resources & Development Management Department: http://www.ocrdmd.com/ (See Top Left of Page for Link) http://www.ocrdmd.com/services/FireInfoPropertyOwners.aspx Basic Information
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