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Earthquake 3.5 M - Offshore Baja California, Mexico Posted: 23 Jan 2009 11:33 AM PST Magnitude 3.1 OFFSHORE BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Earthquake Details Magnitude 3.1 Date-Time Monday, January 19, 2009 at 05:48:40 UTC Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 09:48:40 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones Location 32.443°N, 117.699°W Depth 32.6 km (20.3 miles) Region OFFSHORE BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Distances 56 km (35 miles) WSW (242°) from Coronado, CA 57 km (35 miles) WSW (255°) from Imperial Beach, CA 61 km (38 miles) SW (223°) from La Jolla, CA 64 km (40 miles) SW (234°) from San Diego, CA Location Uncertainty horizontal +/- 1.2 km (0.7 miles); depth +/- 31.6 km (19.6 miles) Parameters Nph=020, Dmin=61 km, Rmss=0.13 sec, Gp=230°, M-type=local magnitude (ML), Version=O Source California Integrated Seismic Net: USGS Caltech CGS UCB UCSD UNR Event ID ci10372097

Ride along with Tanker 910 on Freeway Fire Posted: 23 Jan 2009 10:25 AM PST California Wildland Fire YouTube discovery: Tanker 910 during the 2008 Freeway IC wildfire Tanker 910 on Freeway Fire Crew: Flight Captain Kevin Hopf, Chief Pilot Jack Maxey, Flight Enginneer Brad Pace, CAL FIRE Captain John Romero This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

FEMA: Weekly National Situation update report Posted: 23 Jan 2009 01:43 PM PST National Situation Update: Friday, January 23, 2009 Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED). Significant National Weather South: The hard freeze warnings for parts of Florida ended this morning and temperatures will finally move quickly upward today. Another cold front will gradually move through the South this weekend. Showers will develop from the Oklahoma-Texas Red River Valley into the Tennessee Valley and will then gradually move toward the northern Gulf Coast, northern Florida and the southeast coast. Highs will range from the 70s and 80s in Texas to the low 70s in Florida and 50s and 60s in the Carolinas. West: Showers will continue today along the west coast before moving into the Northwest. The heaviest rain will be in northern and central California with a foot or more of snow in the highest elevations of the Sierra. Snow from California to Colorado with amounts diminishing this weekend. High temperatures will range from the single digits in southern and eastern Montana to the 70s in southeast California and southern Arizona. Midwest: Another arctic cold front will move southward through the Midwest to the Ohio Valley. Scattered areas of light snow are possible over parts of Michigan, northern Wisconsin and northern Minnesota.with a little light snow possible in the central Plains. Lake-effect snow will develop across Michigan. Light snow will move eastward from South Dakata, Nebraska and northern Kansas into Iowa. High temperatures will range from around zero in the Dakotas and the upper Midwest to the 30s across Kansas, southern Missouri and Kentucky. Northeast: Some light snow is possible as an arctic cold front moves into the region from the Midwest. Highs will range from the single digits along the Canadian border to the 30s and few lower 40s in the Virginias. (NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources) Fire Management Assistance Grant No activity. (FEMA HQ) Tropical Weather Outlook Western Pacific: There are no current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center) Earthquake Activity No new activity (FEMA HQ) Preliminary Damage Assessments No new activity (FEMA HQ) Disaster Declaration Activity On Thursday, January 22, 2009, the Governor of Washington State requested a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of severe winter storms, occurring January 6 - 16, 2009. The Governor is requesting Individual Assistance for nine counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide. The Governor of New Hampshire requested an adjustment to the federal cost share for FEMA-3297-EM-NH and FEMA-1812-DR-NH. The Governor is requesting 100% Federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B) under the Public Assistance program for FEMA-1812-DR-NH and for direct federal assistance for FEMA-3297-EM-NH. (FEMA HQ) Last Modified: Friday, 23-Jan-2009 08:11:12 EST Source: fema.gov- reports - Link

Stop the insanity! Fresno may bill victims for emergency services Posted: 23 Jan 2009 09:24 AM PST If you get into an accident in Fresno County, the Fresno County Fire Protection District may someday come to your aid -- then bill your insurance company. The fire district's board Wednesday night supported an agreement to bill insurers of crash victims who live outside the district. Now, the district's lawyers and staff will determine the types of crashes and vehicle fires they will bill insurers for. Final approval of the agreement could occur at the board's February meeting. Since district residents voted down an assessment last year that would have paid for more staffing, the district has been seeking new ways to raise revenue. Most district services are currently paid for with property tax revenue. Representatives of an Indiana company -- Emergency Services Billing Corp. -- answered questions from the board at Wednesday's meeting. The company handles insurance billing for local government agencies, attaching a fee to the insurance company. Allen Keen, vice president of sales for Emergency Services Billing Corp., said billing for fire department responses occurs in about 25 states. His firm works for 63 agencies in 10 states. District documents show that the average motor-vehicle accident claim collected by the Indiana company is $1,638. For vehicle fires and motor-vehicle accidents involving nondistrict residents -- and by charging district residents under certain circumstances such as negligence -- the district could recover $550,000 annually, district documents said. Overall, the district had about 780 incidents that would have qualified for claims last year. "This is the future of trying to recover costs," said district board President Mike DelPuppo. "This way we can stay afloat and try not to raise taxes on the district's residents." One district area that raises concern is along Interstate 5, he said. When an accident or vehicle fire occurs, the district sends firefighters long distances and moves others from station to station to cover for those tending to victims. Not everyone is sold on the district's plan. "Our concern is the effect that this could ultimately have on our policy-holders," said Victoria Fernandez-Williamson, a public affairs specialist with State Farm Insurance in Fresno, who attended Wednesday night's meeting. She said the program could lead to higher premiums. A representative of a statewide insurance organization said insurers should not be asked to pick up the tab for government services. "What this means is that municipalities who charge for these services are asking those citizens who carry auto insurance to help pay for budget shortfalls or provide the local community with additional revenue streams," said Tully Lehman, a Sacramento-based communications specialist with the Insurance Information Network of California. "Unfortunately, these fees tend to penalize responsible drivers with insurance as collection companies typically don't bill uninsured drivers." The Fresno County Fire Protection District covers 2,600 square miles of Fresno County and 150,000 residents. Source: fresnobee.com - Link

CAL FIRE: Lincoln - Barn Fire kills a dozen horses Posted: 23 Jan 2009 09:18 AM PST LINCOLN, Calif. -- About a dozen horses were killed early Friday when a fire ripped through a barn in Lincoln, fire officials said. The blaze started shortly before 3 a.m. at Doug Ingersoll Training Stables on McCourtney Road. Firefighters said a 4,000-square-foot barn on the property was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived, giving them no chance to save the animals. "The environment was too dangerous," said Fred Lopez of Cal Fire. Fire crews from Lincoln, Penryn and Cal Fire battled the blaze. The facility is well known for training cutting and roping horses.Many of the animals lost in the blaze were worth many thousands of dollars apiece. Source: ksbw.com - Link

RRU News:Retiree Ted Yarbrough has died Posted: 23 Jan 2009 08:51 AM PST Long-time city fire official dies Ted Yarbrough Former Banning fire marshal and emergency services coordinator Ted Yarbrough has died. The sudden death Jan. 18 shocked leaders of the Pass area because it had only been in November that the 60-year-old fire captain had retired from active duty. "Ann and I were shocked to learn of Ted's passing," said Banning Mayor Bob Botts, referring to his wife. "We had just recently been to a countywide disaster preparedness meeting with him and of course he was in his element." Yarbrough suffered an apparent heart attack at home Sunday afternoon. He was taken to Loma Linda University Hospital, where he died that night, according to a statement by Dale A. Hutchison, deputy chief, Western Operational Area of Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department. Theodore J. Yarbrough was well known and respected in the Pass area. He had worked many years with the U.S. Forest Service before joining the Banning Fire Department in 1990, where he served as fire inspector. In 1998, he became part of the CAL Fire/Riverside County Fire Department when Banning became part of the Riverside County cooperative fire protection program. Bob Ewert, a former division commander with the Los Angeles Fire Department worked closely with Yarborough for the past 18 years. In an important part of Yarbrough's duties, he would go into local gated communities to help them organize their own self protection programs against disasters. He and Ewert also went into the northeast communities in Banning and did the same. Yarbrough and Ewert together wrote a book distributed to Banning residents, which is a step by step procedure for public safety. "Ted Yarbrough was always willing to show up whenever he was called upon," said Ewert. "Just in Sun Lakes alone, which has the biggest public assemblage in Banning, he spent a considerable amount of time consulting and assuring that public safety was always first and foremost. His rigidity on demanding public safety be followed was very much admired." Although he had only retired in November he was anticipating becoming an active community volunteer." Banning Councilwoman Debbie Franklin's friendship with Yarbrough went back several years to the days her husband, retired Fire Captain Roy Franklin worked with him in the Banning Fire Department. "He was a true gentleman, a person willing to work with anyone," Franklin said Tuesday. "He was so sincere and dedicated as he worked to resolve any problems." She said they had worked on the annual Disaster Expo in Banning and attended many community meetings on emergency preparedness. "Ted's motto was 'be prepared' and he stressed that wherever he went in the community," said Franklin. "Sadly we have lost a very sincere and dedicated true gentleman." Mayor Botts said that Yarbrough will be remembered as a dedicated fireman and official. "There will be many things that describe Ted's legacy but the first two words for me are 'professionalism' and 'dedication'. Wherever and whatever Ted was doing, through his career and with the City of Banning, he was always dedicated in all of his efforts, and carried them out in such a professional way. We will miss him so much." Ted Yarbrough is survived by his wife Francie, son Andy (Lisa), daughter Becky (Vince), grandchildren Rachel and Sarah-Noel, three aunts, many cousins and his innumerable friends. Graveside services are scheduled Friday at 10 a.m. at Hillside Memorial Park in Redlands, followed by a Memorial Service at noon at the Fellowship in the Pass Church, 650 E. Oak Valley Parkway in Beaumont. Arrangement are being handled by Weaver Mortuary of Beaumont. The family suggests donations to Wildland Fire Fighters Foundation, 2049 Airport Way, Boise, Idaho, 83705. Obituary: Theodore James Yarbrough Theodore James Yarbrough was born in San Fernando, Calif. on August 22, 1948, to Harry and Virginia Yarbrough. After several moves, his family settled in Highland, Calif., where his brother, Rusty, was born. Ted graduated from San Gorgonio High School in 1966. He began his fire service career with the United States Forest Service as a Del Rosa Hot Shot in 1967. He continued to work for the Forest Service in Day Canyon, Waterman Canyon, Lytle Creek, Big Pine Flat, Vista Grande and Mill Creek until 1990. He spent a majority of his Forest Service years as a fire prevention technician, a job he loved. Ted married Francie Lee Higgs on May 27, 1972. They had two children, Andrew Charles and Rebecca Lynn. After the Forest Service, Ted went to work for the City of Banning Fire Department, and retired in 2008, as Cal Fire Captain, Fire Inspector and Emergency Services Coordinator in Banning. Ted had two grandchildren, Rachel Shalom Yarbrough, and Sarah-Noel Karisee Yarbrough, who were his pride and joy. Ted went to be with his savior on Jan. 18, 2009. Ted will always be loved by his wife, Francie, his son Andy and daughter-in-law Lisa, his daughter Becky and son-in-law Vince, his grandchildren Rachel and Sarah-Noel, his Aunt Angie, Aunt Hass and Aunt Mary, his many cousins and his innumerable co-workers and friends. Graveside services will be held Friday, at 10 a.m. at Hillside Memorial Park in Redlands, followed by a memorial service at noon at the Fellowship in the Pass Church, 650 E. Oak Valley Parkway, in Beaumont, under the direction of Weaver Mortuary. The family requests memorial contributions be made to Wildland Fire Fighters Foundation 2049 Airport Way Boise, ID 83705. Source: http://www.recordgazette.net/articles/2009/01/23/obituaries/08obituary.txt

Retirement: Kern County fire chief Dennis Thompson Posted: 23 Jan 2009 10:07 AM PST Dennis Thompson Kern County's fire chief Dennis Thompson has announced his retirement as Kern County's fire chief and emergency services director. Thompson has been with the fire department for 36 years and has served as chief for the last five years. "It has been a privilege working for the (Kern County Board of Supervisors), this department and the constituents of Kern County," Thompson wrote in a letter to department personnel. "I have been truly blessed by my employment with Kern County and the opportunity to work for one of the finest fire departments in the state of California and the nation." Thompson's retirement will take effect March 14. The department didn't announce who would replace Thompson or details about Thompson's post-retirement plans.

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