California Fire News - Updates in your mail box
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| Earthquake - Magnitude 4.2 - Baja California, Mexico (Near the border) Posted: 11 Apr 2009 09:18 PM PDT  Earthquake Details
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| Wildland firefighting Pack Test - Unfit for duty Posted: 11 Apr 2009 03:41 PM PDT CPF, CalChiefs, Cal-EMA Agree: Pack Test Falls Short as Fitness TestCalifornia's new Emergency Management Agency (Cal-EMA) has joined with labor and management to reject efforts to impose an inadequate physical ability test on both incoming and incumbent firefighters. In a joint statement, Cal-EMA, CPF and the California Fire Chiefs Association (CalChiefs) conclude that the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's "Pack Test" can't and shouldn't be used as a "fit for duty" test. "The Pack Test is a measure of an individual's 'work capacity,' not their ability to do his or her job successfully," reads the statement. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STATEMENT The NWGC developed the Pack Test as a way to demonstrate the level of work capacity needed for wildland firefighting positions. But it falls short of NFPA firefighter fitness standards (NFPA 1021, 1051, 1582 and 1583) as well as the Joint Labor-Management Wellness Fitness Initiative (WFI) in determining fitness for duty. "Fire departments impose a false sense of security that is tied to the Pack Test as an indicator of fitness for duty," said the joint statement. Of even greater concern to public safety is the potential impact a Pack Test implementation could have on the state mutual aid system. By creating a patchwork testing system instead of recognized national standards, implementing the Pack Test could delay mutual aid response or even preclude some departments from responding. Rather than implementing the Pack Test, the California fire service leaders believe our state should maintain a verifiable and job-related performance standard that complies with NFPA standards. The WFI is that complete package and should be the model for any physical fitness standard in the state. The joint statement is signed by Kim Zagaris, Cal-EMA's Fire and Rescue Chief, Sheldon Gilbert, president of CalChiefs, and CPF President Lou Paulson. CLICK HERE TO READ THE SIGNED JOINT STATEMENT Source: California Professional Firefighters (CPF) - www.cpf.org - Link This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CAL FIRE RRU: Patient pulls gun on firefighters Posted: 11 Apr 2009 02:28 PM PDT  Eight-Hour Standoff Ends in Thousand Palms; Arrest MadeTHOUSAND PALMS - A man who deputies say pulled a gun on firefighters trying to treat him for a seizure at his Thousand Palms home is in custody after a more than eight hour standoff that ended with the man's arrest at an Indio hospital. Firefighters were called to the Shenandoah Springs Mobile Home Park in the 32000 block of Wells Fargo Drive at 10:49 Friday morning, according to Riverside County Fire Capt. Fernando Herrera. "We arrived at the scene, our firefighters went inside and made contact with a man who had a seizure of some type," Herrera said. "He was somewhat incoherent and confused. During the process of questioning the victim and trying to gather more information from him, he became restless." The man then picked up a handgun, prompting the firefighters to immediately leave the trailer and call for backup, Herrera said. After nearly eight hours on the scene, a sheriff's SWAT team stormed the mobile home only to find nobody inside. But according to the Sheriff's Department, a tip led authorities to arrest the same suspect at JFK Hospital in Indio later Friday night. There were no injuries during the incident. Authorities have not released the suspect's identity. Source: KESQ - Link  | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Breaking News: Sunday school teacher was arrested, suspicion of killing Sandra Cantu Posted: 11 Apr 2009 07:54 PM PDT Local hometown newspaper the Tracy Press was specifically mention by Tracy Police spokesperson Tracy police Sgt. Tony Sheneman during this mornings press conference as a leading factor to solving this case yesterday as the case was rapidly built in the afternoon and late into the night after the suspect gave conflicting stories to the Press and Police. This mornings Tracy Press edition which went to press before the suspect was arrested had two pages related to the this suspect, the suitcase which was admittedly hers, and the conflicting stories by the suspect who was one of the last people known to have to see her alive. Huckaby claimed to Press reporters Friday that she had found a note that had the words "suitcase" and "water," as well as "Whitehall," the street near the irrigation pond where she was found. ***** The Tracy Press a local hometown newspaper, Tracy Police Department, Tracy police Sgt. Tony Sheneman, and all the Investigators deserve special recognition for the seemingly non-stop hours of work and speedy capture of a suspect in this horrific case.  Breaking News update: A Sunday school teacher was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, whose body was found in a suitcase in an irrigation pond.Melissa Huckaby, 28, was arrested at 11:55 p.m. Friday, about five hours after she drove herself to the local police station at the request of officers, said police Sgt. Tony Sheneman. "She gave enough information to us during the course of the interview that probable cause was there to arrest her," said Sheneman. No other arrests were made. Huckaby is a granddaughter of Pastor Clifford Lawless, whose Clover Road Baptist Church was the subject of a police search. Huckaby taught Sunday school at the church and lived with Lawless in the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park that also was Sandra's home. Lawless did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment Saturday. Huckaby was being held without bail at the San Joaquin County Jail, with arraignment set for Tuesday, according to the county sheriff's Web site. The local newspaper, the Tracy Press, reported that Huckaby was released Thursday from Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, where she spent several days in intensive care for what she described as "internal bleeding." Update: 4-11-09 Noon - Suicide Watch - Melissa Huckaby is being held in a "Observation cell" at the San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp, sheriff's Deputy Les Garcia said this afternoon. Huckaby, arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, refuses to see visitors, Garcia said. Jail records did not indicate whether she had an attorney. Petty Thief: Huckaby was recently convicted for petty theft in San Joaquin County, and was scheduled to appear in court on April 17 to check in with a county mental health program as part of a three-year probation sentence. According to court records, Huckaby had claimed she was not mentally competent to stand trial in the case. The judge ordered her to be examined by physicians. Later, it was determined that she was competent and she pleaded no contest. In an interview with the local newspaper on Friday, Huckaby said someone else by the same name was charged for the November theft from a Target store. Huckaby was also convicted by Superior Court in Los Angeles County in November of 2006 for a petty theft in Bellflower, records showed. Huckaby was scheduled to appear in court on April 17 to check in with a county mental health program as part of a three-year probation sentence for a petty theft she pleaded no contest to. In an interview with the newspaper on Friday, Huckaby said someone else by the same name was facing charges for the attempted November theft from Target.  Sandra Cantu 8 years young - Rest in peaceA public memorial service has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday in the gymnasium of West High School. The family is also planning a private service. Fry Memorial Chapel, 550 S. Central Ave., which is handling the arrangements, will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today to allow members of the public to express their sympathy and support in guest books that will later be given to Sandra's family. The family has requested that gifts and letters no longer be left at the entrance to their mobile home park and would like to thank everyone for supporting them and honoring Sandra. Public memorial service map - link
Sources: Related Links: Exclusive: Woman in mobile home park reported missing suitcase  |
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