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San Bernardino: Gasoline fuel tanker explosion Posted: 14 Jan 2009 08:14 PM CST Fuel explosion causes lockdown, evacuations SAN BERNARDINO - Authorities evacuated dozens of people, locked down an elementary school and doused flames in a tense battle to keep 2,500 gallons of diesel fuel from igniting at a gas station Wednesday. The fire started at 8:45 a.m. after vapors from a fuel tanker exploded at the Merit Oil Company on the corner of Del Rosa Avenue and Pumalo Street. Al Green, who has been driving eight years for Merit, happened to be standing on the side of the tanker when a fireball shot up into the air. "If I had been up there, I would have been toasted," he said. The explosion engulfed the tanker in flames and also burned a couch and several trees. Green had just finished transferring 2,500 gallons of gasoline into an underground tank at the gas station when some vapor turned into a fireball. "We're real fortunate that the explosion didn't happen in the middle of fueling," said San Bernardino fire Battalion Chief Mike Alder. Despite the explosion and the fire to the fuel truck, the driver escaped with no injuries. Forty firefighters rushed to the scene in four minutes and worked frantically to extinguish the blaze. Their worry was the additional 2,500 gallons of diesel fuel that remained in the truck's second tank. Firefighters closed off a 500-foot area surrounding the gas station and evacuated about 40 residents from the area, said San Bernardino fire spokesman Steve Tracy. Nearby Hunt Elementary School was placed on lockdown - meaning students were kept inside classrooms - while firefighters battled the blaze. Firefighters sprayed water and foam onto the tanker, eventually putting out the flames. No fuel spilled from the truck. "The biggest thing now is to figure out why it happened," Alder said. Tatiyana Vollhardt, director of safety for Merit Oil Company, said there have been no explosions from fuel transfers in the company's history, which dates back to the 1950s. That's a fact that had Green laughing nervously. "Why me?" he asked. Source: sbsun.com - Link

Tea Fire: Red Cross to distributeTea Fire Assistance Funds Posted: 14 Jan 2009 08:05 PM CST Santa Barbara, CA-- The Red Cross is ready to distribute more than $400,000 to victims of the Tea Fire and it couldn't come at a better time. Many of the Santa Barbara and Montecito residents affected by the November wildfire are struggling to put their lives back together. To be considered for assistance, you're urged to contact the Red Cross at 687-1331

Stay and defend is here to stay...more info Posted: 14 Jan 2009 07:53 PM CST Fire chiefs debate 'stay and defend' Firefighting tactics a change in the wind? - Wildland Fire officials are considering a policy that would allow some people to stay and defend their homes rather than simply ordering neighborhoods evacuated. There's a debate going on among California fire officials about whether residents whose homes are threatened in wildfires should be allowed to stay behind and defend their homes rather than evacuate because firefighters are overwhelmed. Top officials from fire agencies in seven Southern California counties started last fall to discuss moving toward an evacuation policy that makes allowances for people who want to try to save their homes. Wednesday Firescope meeting: Stay and Defend tactic was briefly discussed, While no action was taken, board members stressed the plan will take some time to develop. Fire chiefs in tinder-dry Southern California, faced with lean budgets while more people squeeze into the region, are starting to rethink long-standing policies on ordering mass evacuations in a wildfire, debating whether it may be wiser in some situations to let residents stay and defend their homes. "We don't have enough resources to put an engine at every house in harm's way," said Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper. "We figure, if people are going to stay, maybe they can become part of the solution." This is not a program we say, 'Here,' and just put it on a piece of paper," said Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper. "This will take a long-term dedication." Modeled after a concept in Australia, where homeowners in rural areas fight fires on their own, the program would teach people how to make their homes more fire-safe and how to save their property if firefighters are unable to respond. It also would be up to individual fire agencies to adopt the policy. Fire officials who support the program said it's not meant to train people to replace firefighters, but rather to have them snuff out embers and other burning material that may land on a house before the flames arrive. The ideal candidate for the program would be someone who is physically fit; has cleared brush from around their home; has a stucco-walled home with fire-resistant roof tiles; and who has decided prior to the fire on whether to leave or stay. Not everyone is convinced such a program would work in their communities. The challenge for fire agencies will be providing a clear and pointed educational campaign so people aren't confused. "My concern is expecting residents to react correctly in the extreme conditions of a wildfire, particularly a wind-driven firestorm, is asking too much, perhaps, and could lead to injury or worse," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman said. Freeman recalled a fire in 1996 in Malibu where several firefighters were burned by flames because a jittery resident who evacuated at the last-minute accidentally blocked a road that fire trucks were trying to access. "If people stay, then lose confidence and they decide to evacuate when it's too late, then they are very vulnerable," Freeman said. The paradigm shift comes just months after another round of major wildfires that ravaged neighborhoods from Santa Barbara to Orange County. Officials in Ventura and Orange counties said they have taken steps to inform the public about the new approach and want to create instructional materials. But getting to change people's mindset might be too big of an obstacle for fire officials to overcome. During a fire in October in a tony gated community of Porter Ranch in the San Fernando Valley, a long line of cars crawled down a road because many residents waited until the last possible moment to get out of the neighborhood's only open exit. "When we call for the evacuation order, we want you to go," said Ventura County fire Capt. Ron Oatman. "I think people don't realize the urgency until it happens in their backyard." Ruben Grijalva, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said he would like to see how the policy change would work at a fire agency before endorsing it. Roper said outside of the meeting that the earliest his department could have the program in place would be sometime early next year. Freeman said no two fires are the same and whatever decision is made by fire officials it shouldn't be a blanket approach. "What might be good for one area, may not be good for 10 others," Freeman said. "One size does not fit all in this case." More info: Calif fire officials mull over stay-defend policy - Mercury News - Link Fire chiefs debate 'stay and defend' - LA Times - Link Calif fire officials mull over stay-defend policy - SFgate.com - Link

Mendocino County: Prison term for arson, marijuana cultivation Posted: 14 Jan 2009 06:45 PM CST Prison term for arsonist By Linda Williams/TWN Staff WriterPosted: 01/14/2009 10:57:13 AM PST Mendocino County Superior Court Judge David Nelson on Monday sentenced Gerardo Soto-Gonzales, 33, a Mexican national with a Clearlake residence, to four years in state prison for arson of forestland. Soto-Gonzales pleaded guilty to setting an arson fire while firefighters were already responding to a major fire east of Willits in August 2008. The charges for the two other fires set near the same location were dropped with the agreement they could be considered by the judge to determine Soto-Gonzales' sentence. In August, CalFire helicopter pilots spotted Soto-Gonzales setting fires while they were ferrying crews and dropping water on the Island Fire located northwest of Lake Pillsbury near Big Signal peak. The CalFire pilots observed a Hispanic male in camouflage gear kneeling down and lighting a brush pile on fire. The pilots used the force of the air driven by the helicopter rotor to push Soto-Gonzales down, allowing the pilots later to identify him. A fire crew had to be rescued and flown to a safe area after the arson-set fires threatened their safety. Firefighting efforts were then suspended in the immediate area to allow federal, state and county law enforcement officers to apprehend the arsonist. Soto-Gonzales was arrested on a forest road near the fire's origin. Soto-Gonzales told arresting officers he was a Mexican national and admitted to starting the fires. He had a lighter in his possession when arrested and other evidence linking him to marijuana cultivation. When arrested, he admitted to officers he was one of a group growing pot in the area. Investigators estimate the three arson fires burned 45.2 acres of private forestland before being extinguished at a cost of $175,000. The US Forest Service hired a number of officers in 2007 specifically to target marijuana eradication on public lands. In the week prior to the arson, the officers conducted a series of raids on nearby gardens. Source: willitsnews.com

Haz-mat: chemical tanker overturned - asphalt spiil Posted: 14 Jan 2009 07:31 PM CST LAcoFD Tanker Crash Photo Credit: http://www.nbclosangeles.com An overturned tanker is blocked traffic Wednesday morning on the eastbound 210 Freeway in Azusa. A tanker carrying about 10,000 gallons of liquid asphalt crashes in Azusa. All lanes on the eastbound 210 Freeway are closed at Azusa avenue. California Highway Patrol officers said the SigAlert will remain in effect into Wednesday afternoon The tanker was carrying about 10,000 gallons of liquid asphalt. The truck slid sideways across multiple lanes and chemical cleanup crews responded to the scene. Fire Inspector Sam Padilla said about 1,000 gallons of the liquid asphalt spilled from the tanker. He said the chemical solidifies as it leaks from the tanker. Traffic was backed up on the eastbound side of the road. Spectators were causing a slowdown on the westbound side. No injuries were reported. Source: http://www.nbclosangeles.com - Link .

Safety News: CPF wins firefighter high-visibility safety apparel exemption Posted: 14 Jan 2009 04:56 PM CST Firefighters Now Exempt From Wearing High-Visibility Apparel The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today issued an Interim Final Rule to address safety concerns raised by the firefighting community regarding high-visibility safety apparel. The Interim Final Rule: • Revises the definition of "worker" to exclude firefighters when they are exposed to flame, fire, high heat or hazardous materials • Exempts firefighters from the requirement to use high-visibility safety apparel, when the use of such apparel may increase the risk of injury to firefighter personnel The rule is effective as of November 24, 2008. This amends the Worker Visibility rule (23CFR 634), which was designed to improve the safety of workers by providing increased visibility to approaching motorists and construction traffic. "Firefighters across the country spoke out and were heard," said Lou Paulson, President of California Professional Firefighters. "The firefighter's job is dangerous enough without adding the risks that these high-visibility garments pose. Common sense has prevailed." Click here to read this Interim Final Rule. Source: http://www.cpf.org - Link Firefighters-now-exempt-from-wearing-high-visibility-apparel More: 1 - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is recognized as the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, or bicycle trail open to public travel. It is available at - Link 2 - ANSI 107-1999 is the nationally recognized standard for high-visibility garments developed in conjunction with the International Safety Equipment Association. Copies may be obtained at: - Link

Arizona firefighters arrested for fires set near California Posted: 14 Jan 2009 08:24 AM CST Four volunteer firefighters of the Ehrenberg Fire District were arrested Monday in connection with at least 15 arson-caused fires in the unincorporated area near Blythe, Calif., according to the La Paz County Sheriff's Office. Authorities believe the suspects, between 19 and 23 years old, sparked the fires to make money. Ehrenberg firefighters are paid for each call they fight. "To increase the call level, they set their own fires," Lt. Glenn Gilbert of the Sheriff's Office said. "They were the ones that responded to put them out." Deputies also arrested two people who were not firefighters and are searching for four former firefighters who no longer live in Arizona, Gilbert said. The suspects have been linked to 15 to 20 fires in haystacks, wild lands and unoccupied structures since January 2008, Gilbert said. Investigators believe they could be responsible for as many as 35 fires. "We've known for the past couple of weeks that everything was leading back to the Ehrenberg Fire Department," Gilbert said. "Everything came together (Monday)." He said authorities interviewed one suspect who led them to several others. No injuries were caused by any of the fires, but Gilbert said they were potentially very dangerous to the residents of the small community. The six suspects were booked into the La Paz County Detention Facility in Parker. Gilbert said deputies know where to find the four former firefighters who are still outstanding. Source article: azcentral.com - Link

LACFD: Fire chief Glynn Johnson pleads not guilty Posted: 14 Jan 2009 07:49 AM CST Update: Tuesday, the dog's owners, Jeff and Shelley Toole were unable to get a seat in the crowded court room but succeeded in serving papers regarding a lawsuit against Johnson for the loss of the dog. An Los Angeles County assistant fire chief pleads not guilty to charges of beating his neighbor's dog with 12 pound rock, repeatably punching dog and breaking puppy's jaws by tearing them apart with his bare hands. Johnson is accused of a unprovoked beating of the 6-month-old German shepherd mix named "Karly". LACFD Fire chief Glynn Johnson found himself in a downtown courtroom Tuesday afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty on felony animal cruelty charges. Johnson faces four years in prison if convicted. He is free on $10,000 bail. Johnson is a Los Angeles County assistant fire chief who lives in Woodcrest. Prosecutors allege on November 3, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Johnson severly beat a dog on Armintrout Drive which required the neighbors pet to be euthanized; Johnson claims he was being attacked by the neighbors' pet, and that he acted in self defense. Previous related post:LACFD: Fire Chief arrested for Felony animal cruelty Court Video: http://cbs2.com - Link The following is the actual four felony charges in this case, defendants middle name is not a misprint. Case RIF147295 Defendant 591118 JOHNSON, GLYNN DEMON Arrest Charges: Count Charge Severity Description Violation Date Plea Status 1 PC 597(A) F CRUELTY TO ANIMALS 11/03/2008 Filed Charges Count Charge Severity Description Violation Date Plea Status 1 PC 597(A) F CRUELTY TO ANIMALS 11/03/2008 ACTIVE Enhancement Description Plea Status PC 12022(b)(1) Used Deadly Weapon/Comm Felony ACTIVE PC 1192.7(c)(23) Serious Felony/Deadly Weapon ACTIVE

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