California Fire News - Updates in your mail box
California Fire News - Updates in your mail box |  |
| RRU - Maxwell VMP - Pile Burning Operation to Take Place Throughout Winter and into Spring Posted: 10 Mar 2009 12:12 AM PDT
Chief Dan Johnson (951) 659-3337 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Australia: "F" word gets Fire Captain axed Posted: 09 Mar 2009 04:56 PM PDT  Firefighter John Willis dumped after Black Saturday outburstA FIREFIGHTER with 40 years experience has been axed for swearing during the Black Saturday bushfire crisis. John Willis lost his job as captain of a Gippsland brigade for swearing on emergency radio when his crew allegedly ignored instructions and put their lives at risk. The CFA said the fireman was stripped of his rank after at least two outbursts during last month's tragic inferno. But Mr Willis said he was singled out because he said "f-ck" out of frustration when his crew tackled a fire against orders. At the time, the dairy farmer was battling a blaze on his property that threatened a house and burnt out 50ha of pasture. "If I did swear, it was out of frustration, not anger. When it (a fire) is on your own dunghill, it's a different story," he said. "I did have a bit on my plate." The row follows a TV slip by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who described the economic crisis as a "political shitstorm". Mr Willis said he was forced out as captain of the Carrajung brigade, south of Traralgon, by local operations manager Greg Flynn. "He virtually demanded I resign because I swore at my guys. These blokes had gone the wrong way and put themselves in danger," he said. Mr Willis said he reapplied for the captain's job at a recent meeting but was not accepted because of the swearing incident. He said his neighbors didn't take offense when they heard him swear on a citizen's band UHF. They took cakes to his property the next day, he said. Mr Willis, who has been demoted to the rank of firefighter, has been a CFA member since his mid-teens. He has travelled on his own time to hundreds of fires - in Victoria and interstate - and worked at car accidents, storms and other emergencies. But CFA executive manager of public affairs Robert Hogan said there had been three complaints in the space of four days about "bullying language" by Mr Willis. One came from a strike team leader and another was from a sector controller. Mr Hogan said that Mr Willis had been counseled during the previous two years over his behavior. "He wasn't a suitable person to represent his brigade, let alone CFA in a senior role," Mr Hogan said. "He's got a history of that sort of behavior." He said the CFA would be criticized if it did not step in. Mr Willis said he had an exchange with a strike team leader after he failed to stop a fire outbreak heading for his property, but denied having words with a sector controller. "Bullying? That's crazy. Unbelievable," he said. A senior colleague of Mr Willis said swearing was understandable in such a high-pressure situation. "He's got home to find a fire in his back paddock. I believe on the occasion of him swearing, he had lost half his farm to fire," he said. The CFA's decision to demote Mr Willis had caused widespread disappointment in the community, the volunteer said: "A lot of people are upset about this." A regional meeting tonight will discuss the issue. Mr Flynn said it would not be appropriate to comment. Source: www.news.com.au - Link | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SAR - Davenport - 17-year-old male fell into the ocean near Davenport. Posted: 09 Mar 2009 03:50 PM PDT  The search was suspended at about 12:30 p.m. after search and rescue officials searched the area looking for the Los Gatos teenager who was reported missing at about 4 a.m. Monday. Fire Authorities said a group of six friends had gathered on the Davenport beach known as Shark's Tooth Beach at about 11 p.m. to camp. Shark's Tooth Beach Photo source: ksbw.com Update: 1200hrs - No Joy - The search, which has covered 40 square miles, has been extended to noon -The Coast Guard, California State Parks personnel and Cal Fire continue searching for a missing 17-year-old Los Gatos boy in the waters just south of Davenport. The boy was reported missing at 4 a.m. and had been at the beach, known by locals as Shark's Tooth Beach, having a barbecue with five others since 11 p.m., according to Kirk Lingenfelter, state parks superintendent. The beach-goers were drinking, and at some point in the early morning, two of them decided to swim out to the pinnacle in the cove. One returned, but the other did not and a 911 call was placed at about 4 a.m. The water temperature was about 51 degrees and the air temperature, with wind chill, was about 31 degrees at that time of the morning. The search, which has covered 40 square miles, has been extended to noon. State Parks lifeguards are on the bluffs. The Coast Guard has boats on the water and a helicopter involved in the search. The waters off the beach are choppy and filled with whitecaps and 8-foot swells. The beach is on Coast Dairies property between Bonny Doon Beach and Davenport. Three of the beach-goers were from Chile, one was from Lake Tahoe and two, including the missing boy, were from Los Gatos, according to the State Parks official. Update Source: www.santacruzsentinel.com - Link Cal Fire Chief Ian Larkin said personal watercraft and another chopper were on their way to aid in the search. Search and Rescue - Davenport, California Coast Guard looking for teen lost in ocean DAVENPORT, Calif. (AP) - More help is arriving as rescue crews continue to search for a 17-year-old boy who disappeared in the ocean near Davenport. A Coast Guard helicopter searching the area has been joined by rescue boats and crews on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. A Coast Guard official says they received a report the boy fell into the water a little after 4:00 this morning. Rescue crews are dealing with 15-foot swells as they search the area. Davenport is a tiny coastal town with steep cliffs that tower above the sea. The community is about nine miles north of Santa Cruz. Source: KSBY - Link | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Australia: USFS fire crew finds sanctuary Posted: 09 Mar 2009 09:20 AM PDT By Monique Ebrington 10th March 2009 02:00:07 AM John Schmechel from Sonora, California, Ross Pekinpah from North Fork, California, Megan Timoney from Eden, Utah, Eric Heyn (back) from Eureka, Montana, Jay Esperance from Caspar, Wyoming and Robert 'Buck' Silva from Alturas, California, travelled from the United States to help control fires affecting the Yarra Valley. FIRE authorities from the United States of America swapped work for wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary last Thursday. The six member group, from California, Wyoming, Utah and Montana, arrived on 15 February to help control fires affecting the Yarra Valley. Due to return back to the US Sunday 15 March, they were thanked for their support with a behind-the-scenes tour of the sanctuary. Parks Victoria's Information Unit Leader at the Woori Yallock Incident Control Centre (ICC) Reegan Key played tour guide on the day. Ms Key had been working with several of the crew as part of the ICC logistics team and said the group were really keen to see the wildlife. "I had suggested that Healesville Sanctuary should be a really lovely place to visit, particularly, with the proximity of the fires, they could see the local wildlife," Ms Key said The crew toured the sanctuary's animal hospital, visiting wildlife injured by the fires, fed kangaroos and had a private birds-of-prey experience. Firefighter Jay Esperance from Caspar in Wyoming said their presence in helping with the fires was well received by both the authorities and the community. "We've received the red carpet treatment. Everyone has been very gracious. It's been a huge honour to come over and help out," Mr Esperance said. Source: starnewsgroup.com.au - Link | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Earthquake 3.1 M - Baja California, Calexico, CA Posted: 09 Mar 2009 09:10 AM PDT  Earthquake Details
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| You are subscribed to email updates from California Fire News - Structure, Wildland, EMS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
Inbox too full?  Subscribe to the feed version of California Fire News - Structure, Wildland, EMS in a feed reader. | |
| If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: California Fire News - Structure, Wildland, EMS, c/o Google, 20 W Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment