California Fire News
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| Posted: 06 Dec 2007 06:55 PM CST  Governor Calls on Blue Ribbon Task Force to Review State Fire Response 11/6/2007Source: CalFires.com article With the devastating southern California fires under control, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today called on the Blue Ribbon Task Force to assess the next steps to take at federal, state and local levels of government to prevent and fight future fires. Additionally, the Governor asked the task force to review the Governor's Blue Ribbon Fire Commission's recommendations, generated after the 2003 fires, to evaluate if the recommendations are still the best and most effective ways in preventing and fighting fires.
"The state did a great job in quickly responding to the terrible southern California fires and the cooperation between all levels of government was impressive," said Governor Schwarzenegger
Specifically, the Governor called on the Blue Ribbon Task Force to thoroughly assess the next steps at all levels of government and to evaluate the role that greater cross-agency training and resources, local planning, defensible space, building standards, Fire Safe Councils, public education and other public policies can and should play in preventing and fighting fires.
The Governor's Blue Ribbon Fire Commission was established in November 2003 by both Governor Gray Davis and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In April 2004, the Commission issued 48 recommendations for improving emergency preparedness to prevent and respond to California wildfires. The recommendations included eight federal recommendations, 20 state recommendations, one local recommendation and 19 recommendations that involved multiple jurisdictions.
The Blue Ribbon Task Force was formed after the recommendations were submitted by the commission and includes representatives from county and city firefighting officials, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), state fire chiefs and labor unions including the California Professional Firefighters Association and the California State Firefighters' Association.
Over the past four years, Governor Schwarzenegger has increased funding to state fire protection by 84 percent. This amounts to $259 million for equipment, firefighters, planning and fuels management. Since 2003, 109 new engines have been purchased to replace old CAL FIRE engines at a cost of $26.5 million.
In July 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed executive order S-6-05, allocating significant resources to fulfill the Governor's Blue Ribbon Fire Commission's recommendations. This included:
Governor Schwarzenegger today sent the following letter to the Blue Ribbon Task Force Chairman Mike Warren:
November 6, 2007
Via hand delivery
The Honorable Mike Warren
Dear Chief Warren, Over the past two weeks, Southern California's residents and some of the hardest working first responders in the nation faced, and conquered, wildfires of historic scope and power. I know we are all proud of the heroism demonstrated by the firefighters, law enforcement officials and volunteers who risked their lives to battle these devastating fires. With the flames firmly under our control, we now have the responsibility and opportunity to carefully craft what next steps California can take to meet the challenges of fire season. The swath of destruction left by these most recent fires leaves us no other choice. I applaud the work of the Blue Ribbon Fire Commission in assessing the 2003 fires and putting together a tough, comprehensive set of recommendations. At this time, I am submitting to the Task Force an analysis conducted by my office of the 2003 recommendations. You will see that we have addressed many of the Commission's recommendations – including year-round staffing in high-risk regions, expanding reverse 911 systems and coordinating the Multi-Agency Incident Resource Processing System with the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System. Given the substantially larger scope of these most recent fires and developments in technologies available to fight fires, I believe we can benefit from an evaluation of these 2003 recommendations. In light of the past four years, are the 2003 recommendations still the most efficient and effective path to increasing our fire preparedness? I ask that the Task Force members address this critical question in their assessment, and help us identify what policies require more attention and resources. My administration has worked diligently to make significant progress in fire protection, providing resources to raise staffing levels, improve equipment and increase the coordination and efficacy of our response. At their height, these most recent fires burned at twice the size of their 2003 predecessors. I believe the success of our firefighters in successfully containing these mega fires, with fewer lives lost and structures destroyed than in 2003, is a testament to our policies. But we can always do more, and we will. I look forward to the Task Force's help in achieving this. Sincerely, Arnold Schwarzenegger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TEMPORARY SHELTERS AVAILABLE FOR ANIMALS Posted: 06 Dec 2007 06:09 PM CST ORANGE COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA PRESS RELEASE # 2EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: December 6, 2007 Time: 1220 TEMPORARY SHELTERS AVAILABLE FOR ANIMALS EVACUATED FROM THE CANYONS Orange County Animal Care Services (ACS) will accept domestic animals from the evacuated areas at the Orange County Animal Care Center, 561 The City Drive in Orange. Animal owners are asked to bring identification, vet information, and any special foods or medicines along with their animals in order to ensure their animals receive appropriate care and they can be reunited with their animals when the evacuation is over. General information about Orange County Animal Care Services is available on their website at www.ocpetinfo.com or by calling (714) 935-6848. The Orange County Fairgrounds has the capacity for up to 100 head of livestock. Residents who need to evacuate large animals and livestock are directed to go to Gate 5 at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Livestock, other than horses, will also be sheltered at Orange High School, 525 N. Shaffer St., Orange. General information about Orange County Animal Care Services is available on their website at www.ocpetinfo.com or by calling (714) 935-6848. The Silverado Library will close at 5 p.m. today rather than at 6 p.m. due to the mandatory evacuation. It is closed, as always, on Friday. No decision has been made on whether to reopen on Saturday | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ORANGE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND PUBLIC Posted: 06 Dec 2007 06:06 PM CST ORANGE COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA PRESS RELEASE # 1EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mandatory evacuations for residents of Modjeska, Silverado and Williams Canyons will take effect at 1700 hours. Date: December 6, 2007 Time: 1100 ORANGE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND PUBLIC The County of Orange activated and staffed the Emergency Operations Center with CountyINFORMATION HOTLINES ACTIVATED agency representatives at 1100 hours on December 6, 2007. The Public Information Hotline has been staffed and is ready to accept calls of inquiry in regard to evacuations in the Canyon communities of Orange County. The Public Information Hotline phone number is (714) 628-7085. All resources and support personnel have been identified and are on standby ready to mobilize other areas of the Emergency Operations Center when needed. Due to the prediction of heavy rain and the danger of mudslides in the area of the Santiago Fire, the following orders and advisories are in effect. Mandatory evacuation of large animals is ordered at 1100 hours for Modjeska, Silverado and Williams Canyons. The Orange County Fairgrounds has been designated as a reception area for evacuated large animals Voluntary evacuations for residents are in effect at 1100 hours for Modjeska, Silverado and Williams Canyons. An evacuation center has been set up at El Modena High School, located at 3920 East Spring Street in Orange. Mandatory evacuations for residents of Modjeska, Silverado and Williams Canyons will take effect at 1700 hours. If you have questions please call the Orange County hotline at 714-628-7085. If you have an emergency please call 911 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blog article: City of Malibu to Post Reward for Info on Corral Fire Perpetrators Posted: 06 Dec 2007 03:19 PM CST Editor: Did burning Marsh mellow projectiles cause the terrible losses in the Malibu Corral fire? Source article: Malibu surfside news City of Malibu to Post Reward for Info on Corral Fire Perpetrators
• Investigators Comb Clues that Could Lead to Partygoers Who May Have Started Blaze BY HANS LAETZ The Malibu City Council is slated to establish a special reward fund at its meeting next Monday and approve a $10,000 allocation for information that "directly leads to the arrest and conviction of a person or persons found to have caused" the Corral Fire two weeks ago—a fire that may cost upwards of $100 million. Meanwhile, intensive scrutiny continues of the Corral Canyon site where the blaze that claimed over 4900 acres and destroyed or damaged 90 structures is believed to have started. In addition, cash register data, credit card records and video surveillance pictures from Malibu supermarkets have been examined by arson detectives, an official has confirmed. And a firefighter from Northern California, the most seriously injured person, has returned to his home in rural El Dorado County to continue recovering from facial burns suffered protecting a Malibu house. Rumors have swept the community that youthful partygoers purchased firewood, marshmallows and party supplies at a Malibu supermarket the night of Friday, Nov. 23, just hours before fire swept down Corral Canyon. "Investigators have looked at receipts and financial data, and this information is unquestionably going to lead us to the persons we need to talk to," said Los Angeles Sheriff's spokesperson Steve Whitmore. The sheriff's spokesperson would not address rumors that firewood and snacks—including marshmallows—purchased at Ralphs Supermarket in Malibu Colony were matched with evidence recovered at the fire origination point. The rumors have been embellished with unsubstantiated reports that lit marshmallows were used as projectiles based on where the burnt confections were found. Arson detectives had clustered around the series of rock formations and caves overlooking the San Fernando Valley, at the north end of Corral Canyon Road, in the immediate aftermath of the fire. The caves and secluded views on state parkland have attracted hundreds of young adults on prior full-moon nights, prompting complaints from nearby residents that State Parks Department rangers need to crack down on the situation. Whitmore would not confirm that tire impressions were collected by the dozen or so arson investigators who were combing dirt roads near the caves after the fire. Television helicopters captured pictures of deputies apparently pouring a white substance onto the dirt at the parking lot. "All I will say is that investigators are using every single tool available in this case," Whitmore said. "We have received literally scores of substantial tips that we're following." Up to now, arson investigators will only confirm that the fire was caused by human activity, leaving open the possibility of either an accident or deliberate action. Whatever happened, the fire started on State Parks property where open flame is prohibited during a Santa Ana wind when the fire danger is highest. The fire swept south from the cave area at about 3 a.m., Nov. 24, and in the next four hours inflicted the worst damage to Malibu since the 1993 fire that claimed nearly 400 homes. One firefighter suffered facial burns, and a total of eight were injured. Los Angeles County firefighters are still calculating losses for the Corral Fire, which may total over $100 million once value of the 53 destroyed houses are added in to the 34 that suffered severe damage, and the dozens of destroyed power poles, cable lines and vehicles are factored into the total. El Dorado County firefighter Scott Herzog returned home to the Sierra Nevada foothills last week, after spending nearly a week at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. Herzog was one of the Cal Fire strike team members pre-positioned in Camarillo when the Santa Ana winds were first hinted at in long-range weather forecasts. Herzog's engine company had just arrived at a house in Latigo Canyon when it was engulfed. "I looked down at my arms and I saw fire, I looked down at my legs and my pants and I saw fire, fire, fire," he told reporters at his home fire station near Sacrmento last week. The flames inflicted second-degree burns on Herzog's face, but a full recovery is expected, he said. In other fire related news, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is working to coordinate the myriad public agencies—some of them working at cross purposes—in the Santa Monica Mountains region to come up with unified policies on fire planning. Some residents and Malibu officials have complained that they are being prevented from trimming brush within mandatory clearance buffer zones because of environmental concerns voiced by the California Coastal Commission. Yaroslavsky's field coordinator, Susan Nissman, said a January meeting will "outline a strategy for creating a Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Council Alliance, which will include all the stakeholders in the north Santa Monica Mountains region." "The wildland urban interface issues that this region confronts requires a collaborative approach that includes vegetation and fire management planning among all the stakeholders and setting priorities and goals we can all work on together," she said in a letter to Malibu City Council members. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inciweb: Jack Wildland Fire - YNP - 1,108 acres - 65% Posted: 06 Dec 2007 10:24 AM CST Jack Wildland FireINCIDENT UPDATED SummaryThe Jack Fire started on Oct. 29 from lightning associated with thunderstorms moving over the Park. The Jack Fire is located on the north and south sides of Turner Ridge north of Wawona. It was originally placed under wildland fire use management for resource benefits and public safety. On Nov. 8, the fire spread outside the fire use management zone causing a change in strategy. At this point, management actions were taken to slow fire spread south toward Wawona. Due to these management actions and cooler temperatures, very little fire activity was observed after November 12. However, as drier conditions were restored last week the fire began to spread significantly. Successful management actions, including burnouts and hand line construction, have held the fire at the Wawona Road and north of the community of Wawona. The fires this year in Lake Tahoe and Southern California are a reminder that is important to use fire as an ecological restoration tool as well as to create defensible space around fire prone communities. Basic Information
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