Thursday, June 18, 2009

California Fire News - Updates in your mail box

California Fire News - Updates in your mail box

Link to California Fire News - Structure, Wildland, EMS

CAL FIRE HFEO TRAINING VIDEO

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 04:59 PM PDT


CAL Fire Bulldozer Crews Train at Camp Pendleton



Camp Pendleton, a United States Marine Corps base in San Diego County, California, serves as the ideal location for CAL Fire's bulldozer training. Bulldozer crews from all parts of the state come to the rocky mountainous terrain to practice the land clearing maneuvers that they use during wildfires.

"They run it like it's a regular fire, and this is to keep them in that focus and in that mode, because as we always say, we train like we play and we play like we train, " says CAL Fire Battalion Chief Mark Ostrander.

One of the key components of the bulldozer training is to practice communication, which is critical for keeping the dozers from running into each other or falling off the mountain. Ostrander says that it is easy to roll a bulldozer if an operator does not know what they are doing, which could lead to serious injury or death. All of CAL Fire's bulldozer operators are highly trained and come from either the fire service or a construction background, and during wildfires they work grueling twelve hours shifts.

To ensure the operators' safety, each bulldozer is equipped with special equipment. Chief Ostrander explains, "Inside the dozers they have radios and fire curtains. They have GPS, a special lighting package, and the cabs are enclosed so that if they get overrun by fire they can drop the curtains down and survive within it."

To most effectively clear the mountainous terrain, CAL Fire's bulldozer operators usually drive up the rocky landscape and then push the brush and debris downhill. The highest grade that they will climb is 75 degrees. Anything greater could be disastrous. Mike Howard, a CAL Fire Heavy Equipment Operator who spent years working his way through the ranks of the Fire Department, says that despite the danger involved with his job, he enjoys it and has never experienced a moment where he thought he would get himself into trouble.

In addition to performing wildland firefighting maneuvers, the CAL Fire teams use this training to practice rehabbing previously bulldozed areas to ensure that they do not become mudslide areas.

Related Video - To watch a video about CAL Fire's annual wildfire training on the Viejas Indian Reservation, click here.
Article Source: FDNNTV.com - Link
Author: Deanne Goodman FDNNTV.com

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Press Release: SAC METRO - PUBLIC MEETING TO ADDRESS STATION 33 CLOSURE

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 04:51 PM PDT


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PUBLIC MEETING TO ADDRESS STATION 33 CLOSURE
Sacramento, Ca, June17, 2009. On June 27, 2009 from 8:00 to 9:30 am Metro Fire officials will be holding a public forum meeting at Fire Station 32 located at 8890 Roediger Lane Fair Oaks in the community room. The meeting is to hear our communities concerns and to also inform our citizens regarding the closure of Fire Station 33 Located at 5148 Main Avenue. Engine 33 serves the communities of Orangevale and Fair Oaks.

Contact: Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Public Information Officer Phone (916) 616-2431 e-mail: sacmetrofirepio@smfd.ca.gov
Issued by: Captain Rusty Dupray (916) 616-2412 dupray.rusty@smfd.ca.gov

MCP: Tribute to former Camp Pendleton firefighter, and Marine, Sgt. Brian E. Dunlap

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 04:24 PM PDT


Former Pendleton Firefighter Remembered Marine Corps News|

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Hundreds of friends, family and fellow firefighters paid tribute to the former Camp Pendleton firefighter, California-native and Marine, Sgt. Brian E. Dunlap by gathering at San Diego's Hook and Ladder Firehouse Museum.

Former Pendleton Firefighter Remembered The ceremony commemorated Dunlap with a permanent display of his dress blue and firefighter uniform that will remain in the museum. Camp Pendleton officials and firefighters were also in attendance honoring Dunlap's heroic service.

"When I was deployed and found out about Brian's death I thought to myself, 'I am going to do the right thing,'" said Mathew Carr during the ceremony, former Marine and current firefighter, Fire Station 1, Camp Pendleton's Fire and Emergency Services. "I am going to honor the memory of the guys that didn't come home with us everyday by carrying the flag forward."

San Diego's Firefighters' Emerald Society sponsored the event with contributions from the public and is currently collecting charitable donations for the Brian E. Dunlap Memorial Fund which will provide scholarship opportunities for future high school students.

Dunlap was killed in action on September 24, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations in Al Taqaddum, Iraq, just north of Baghdad.

"Maria and I want to convey to Sgt. Dunlap's family that we are forever indebted to Brian for giving his life to the cause of freedom. Californians are deeply grateful for his courage and dedication to service of this country," said Gov. Arnold A. Schwarzenegger in a press release issued only days after Dunlap's death.

Dunlap enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1995 and was honorably discharged in 2002. Soon after, he became a firefighter on Camp Pendleton for the California Department of Forestry and helped extinguish 2003's deadly Cedar Fire. Dunlap was also personally thanked by former President George W. Bush during a visit to survey the California fire's destruction.

He then reenlisted into the Marine Corps' Reserve in 2004 and was attached to Marine Forces Reserve's 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Los Alamitos, Calif. and soon deployed to northern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After his death, Dunlap was inducted into the International Association of Fire Fighters' Wall of Honor in 2006.

Source: Military.com - Link

Canada: Alberta calls for wildfire reinforcements

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 11:19 AM PDT


Alberta Fire officials put out a call for help Tuesday, and Firefighters and equipment from around Canada and Mexico were headed to Alberta Wednesday to help battle 17 out-of-control wildfires.

The totals so far: 890 wildfires since April 1.
More than 67,000 acres of forest and scrubland have burned and Alberta officials were most concerned with 12 fires burning near Fort McMurray.

Resources: 600 Canadian firefighters are on the lines.
Damages: No property losses.
Deaths/Injuries: No injuries.

Out of area responders:
Northwest Territories sent 35 firefighters.
Ontario is sending 116 and three air tankers.
Quebec is sending two air tankers.
New Brunswick dispatched 10 firefighters.
Jalisco, Mexico, 21 firefighters en route.

Road Closures: Alberta Transportation announced several highways were closed and motorists should be prepared for more closures before setting out.
Weather: Many of the fires were attributed lightning strikes, and conditions have been very dry officials said.

SLO - controlled burn - 250-acre - Camp San Luis Obispo

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 10:55 AM PDT


What: San Luis Obispo County and Cal Fire crews are planning a 250-acre controlled burn Wednesday morning at Camp San Luis Obispo.

When: The burn is scheduled for 10 a.m. on the grassland's at the base's firing ranges.

Why: Fire officials say the burn will reduce hazards and provide troops at the base with safe firing ranges for training.

Google Map: Camp San Luis Obispo - link

Smoke: People in Chorro Valley and in San Luis Obispo can expect to see smoke from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the base.

CA-MCP- Haybarn - Camp Pendleton Wildland Fire - 101+ acres 50%

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 10:51 AM PDT


New fire starts on Camp Pendleton, 30 acres lots of potential, ordered two
additional air tankers.

Update: 1715hrs, media reports the first fire on the base has reached 101 acres per fire officials. fire is expected to be fully controlled Wednesday.
Update: 6-16-09 1710hrs - AA330 just released Tankers 10 and 72 to their home bases,

IA: 6-16-09 1320hrs - 30 acres, moderate rate of spread, high acreage potential, No structure threat.
Potential for extended attack, and requesting 2 additional airtankers (total 4). Also on scene Copter 12 and H-538.
Evacuations: Precautionary evacuation of two work areas at the Marine base.
Cause: Under investigation.

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