Saturday, January 31, 2009

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Breaking News: LAC HAZ-MAT WMD response brings felony charges

Posted: 30 Jan 2009 03:49 PM PST

Hotel firm charged in LA pool chem disposal

The corporate owner of downtown's The Standard hotel has been charged with a felony alleging workers illegally disposed of pool chemicals that sickened subway riders and sparked fears of a terrorist attack.

According to the federal complaint unveiled Friday, workers poured acid and chlorine down a roof drain beside the hotel pool on Jan. 19. The chemicals, pumped from two 50-gallon tanks that were three-quarters full, snaked down to a street-level storm drain and the fumes caused people to start vomiting at a subway station two blocks away.

"They thought initially it was a terrorist incident," said Joseph Johns, who heads the environmental crimes section at the U.S. attorneys office. "You get a report of chlorine gas in the subway and everyone starts thinking nerve gas a la Tokyo."

About 100 first responders showed up at the scene including police, fire and FBI hazardous materials personnel, as well as a weapons of mass destruction coordinator for the FBI. The nearest intersection was shut down for hours.

The complaint names Hotelsab LLC, doing business as Andre Balazs Properties, as the defendant. The company also owns Chateau Marmont and the Mercer along with other luxury hotels in Florida and New York.

"We are sorry for this employee mistake involving diluted swimming pool chemicals," said a statement issued by Nadine Johnson, a spokeswoman for The Standard. "We will continue to assist the government."

The Standard is a popular night spot where the city's young and hip crowd can lounge by the rooftop pool sipping drinks against the backdrop of the skyline.

The maximum fine for the disposing of hazardous waste without a permit is $500,000, Johns said.

On Nov. 18 Los Angeles County Fire Department hazardous materials investigator Jim McCarron gave the hotel a maintenance request telling officials that they urgently needed to do something about the chemicals on the roof.

Late that night a hotel supervisor tasked Jared Murphy, a hotel employee who works the graveyard shift, to take care of the problem. In the complaint, Murphy said his supervisor instructed him to put on gloves and run water down the drain while he pumped the concentrated chemicals out of the tanks.

Murphy said he was told the water would "not make it so hazardous."

Johns said more charges could be filed if it's determined that company officials or employees knew that disposing of hazardous chemicals without a permit was illegal.

"Dilution is not the solution to pollution," John said.

Source: SF Gate - Link

CA-VNC- Chatsworth - WUI - Structure fire - Four mobile homes w/injuries

Posted: 30 Jan 2009 03:50 PM PST

Update: 13:50 - Fire knocked down, Fire officials said one person was rushed to a hospital in full cardiac arrest. Four structures damaged or destroyed in Chatsworth mobile home park.
Update: 13:29 - Structure fire in Chatsworth, No brush involvement
2 mobile homes on fire in mobile home park. Fire expected to be held with units onscene.
Injuries: 2 injuries, civilian, unk age, gender, severity.
Update: 13:22 - 24425 Woolsey Canyon Rd- 1 mobile home on fire in mobile home park. In brush area.

LAFD responding to multiple reports of a wildland fire, possible structure threat
IA: 13:15 - Responding to reported brush with possible structures. No on scene yet. Multiple calls.
Resources: LAFD, LACoFD VNC
Location: Woolsey Canyon Rd and Valley Circle Blvd; Chatsworth, Los Angeles, CA 91304
area bordering Chatsworth Reservoir Park near Woolsey Canyon. TB MAP 499-F7; FS 106; Google Map - Link
Comms: Ch:9,12 -470.4875

Photo credit: ABC7 video screenshot KABC -Link

Esperanza wildfire: Arson trial Juror's to see flame tattoo on suspect's arm.

Posted: 30 Jan 2009 09:03 AM PST

Jury to see Calif. arson suspect's flame tattoo

3 hours ago

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A judge says jurors in the trial of a California man accused of setting a deadly wildfire will get to see photos of a flame tattoo on his arm.

Raymond Lee Oyler's attorney said he was concerned jurors might see the tattoo photos and conclude his client is an arsonist. But a judge ruled Thursday that the jury could see four photos of Oyler's left arm.

The 38-year-old Oyler is accused of setting the October 2006 fire that killed five U.S. Forest Service firefighters in the San Jacinto Mountains, about 90 miles east of Los Angeles.

Prosecutors contend Oyler was a serial arsonist who set some two dozen blazes. He has pleaded not guilty to 45 counts, including murder and arson, and faces the death penalty if convicted.

Modesto: Three alarm - Multi-unit residential structure fire - 40 homeless; No serious injuries

Posted: 30 Jan 2009 01:44 PM PST

Burned out Apartment complex
Credit: Modesto Bee - Link

Update: Apartment complex fire leaves 40 homeless; No serious injuries.
The blaze was reported at 5:52 a.m. and Modesto Fire Department personnel were on scene within minutes, said Battalion Chief Hugo Patino.
Three buildings at the Greenbriar complex at 2200 Coffee Road were "heavily involved," Patino said.

Modesto Fire Department - Three-alarm fire at an apartment complex
IA: 5:52 am - Multi-unit residential structure fire, Smoke showing, Evacuations underway
Location: Greenbriar Apartments, 2200 Coffee Road in Modesto
Resources: Seven engines, two trucks and 27 firefighters responded. The Red Cross is on scene, helping to arrange shelter.
Damages: Multiple apartments were destroyed or heavily damaged - 40 people homeless.
Sixteen apartments were affected — clustered in units of eight, four and four. They share a common breezeway and attic, Patino said, which likely allowed the fire to spread. The eight-unit cluster suffered the worst of the fire damage, while the others had a combination of fire and water damage. .
Injuries: One resident jumped from his second-floor apartment and suffered a sprained wrist, Patino said. There were no other reports of injuries to residents or firefighters.

News: Aero Union CEO Terry Unsworth has died

Posted: 30 Jan 2009 02:25 AM PST

Aero Union chief Terry Unsworth has died

Terry Unsworth, the face of aerial tanker manufacturer Aero Union in Chico, has died.

Unsworth died Wednesday afternoon. The cause of death was not immediately available, but was understood to be natural.

Since 2002, Unsworth has worked for Aero Union, a company based at the Chico Municipal Airport that converts military aircraft into aerial firefighting tankers that drop retardant or water onto wildland fires.

In 2005, Unsworth became the president and chief executive officer upon the retirement of Victor Alvistur.

"He was a tremendous people person," Avistur said Thursday from his Chico home. "He could relate to employees, shareholders and customer groups. He was very good in communications.

"Anyone who knows Aero Union, knows this, Terry was a tremendously dedicated worker. He worked hard and long on Aero Union's success."

Unsworth gained wide recognition in 2004 when the U.S. Forest Service canceled Aero Union and other tanker companies' contracts over concerns regarding the viability of the military aircraft. Under Unsworth's leadership and a company team effort, Aero Union was the first company to regain Forest Service approval.

Last year, Unsworth also spearheaded a cooperative program to provide local high school students training at his company that was to lead to paid apprenticeships.

Arrangements are being handled by Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home. Services are still pending.

www.aerounion.com/