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FEMA: 2008 Sayre Fire Wild Fire - Oakridge assistance Posted: 02 Feb 2009 02:44 PM PST Temporary FEMA Housing For Oakridge Residents Release Date: February 2, 2009 Release Number: 1810-041 PASADENA, Calif. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is making sure that eligible residents of Oakridge Mobile Home Park have temporary housing while they wait for the park to reopen. Approximately 600 households had to evacuate the park, which has remained closed since fire raced through in mid-November. Approximately 500 manufactured homes were destroyed while about 100 others will be habitable again once the park is able to reopen. While they wait to return, Oakridge residents are making do with a variety of temporary housing arrangements from living with relatives or friends to renting homes, apartments or mobile homes elsewhere. "We are keeping track of these residents to make sure they get whatever rental assistance they are eligible for," said Mark Neveau, FEMA's federal coordinating officer for the disaster. "As time goes on and residents run out of insurance benefits for their rentals, we may be able to step in and help." Most homeowner insurance policies include "loss of use" benefits that can be used to pay for a temporary rental unit until the policy-holder can return home. While those benefits remain, residents are not eligible for FEMA assistance. "But they may become eligible for help if their insurance benefit runs out," explained Tom Maruyama, deputy state coordinating officer. "Anyone who registered with FEMA and was initially denied assistance because they had insurance should call back if their loss of use benefit runs out before they are able to return to or replace their damaged dwelling." For more information call FEMA's toll-free helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). At a recent public meeting for Oakridge residents, many expressed concerns that their insurance will run out before they can buy replacement mobile homes and move back into the park. FEMA also may be able to assist residents who are insured but have not yet received their insurance benefits. If 30 days or more have elapsed since an insurance claim was filed and no benefit has been received, FEMA may be able to provide an advance against insurance benefits. The money must be repaid to FEMA when the insurance is received. What FEMA requires to determine eligibility for applicants with insurance is a copy of the insurance policy and their claim. When the issue is the need for rental assistance because the loss of use insurance benefit has run out, evidence of rental cost also is required. Often a copy of a lease agreement for the temporary residence will suffice. Rental assistance and insurance advance assistance from FEMA is available for any eligible applicant in any of the four counties declared as a presidential major disaster area – Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and Santa Barbara. Once an applicant becomes eligible for FEMA rental assistance, the amount they receive is the "fair market value" for rental housing appropriate for the size of the household in their county of residence. Those values are determined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Temporary housing assistance may be available for up to 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration, which was Nov. 18, 2008, for the wildfire disaster in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and Santa Barbara counties. There is a limit of $30,300 for any combination of FEMA Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance under the Individuals and Household Program. The Other Needs Assistance grants, which are jointly funded by FEMA and California on a 75 percent-25 percent basis, may pay to replace personal property, transportation-related needs, disaster-related medical or dental costs and other serious unmet needs. For applicants who receive the maximum FEMA grant and still have serious unmet needs, a separate California grant program may be able to provide state supplemental assistance up to $10,000. FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism and man-made disasters. Related links: Marek Fire victims get burned twice More Information on California Wildfires Last Modified: Monday, 02-Feb-2009 14:36:47

SAR: SLO - Missing Reticulated Python Posted: 02 Feb 2009 01:47 PM PST Update: February 2, 1:30 pm - Missing 23-foot python found in San Luis Obispo Clarice, the 23-foot missing python, has been found in San Luis Obispo. Clarice was found behind the owner's home, sustained minor injuries - a few scratches Press release from the San Luis Obispo Police Department. WHAT: Missing Reticulated Python WHERE: 200 block of Ramona Dr., San Luis Obispo WHEN: February 2, 2009 The Police Department, in conjunction with County Animal Control Services, is attempting to locate a 23 foot Reticulated Python snake that was last seen in the area of 240 Ramona St. in San Luis Obispo. Police officers and animal control officers searched the area and located one of two missing python snakes. The still missing snake was last seem at approximately 10:00 PM last night at the owner's home. The domesticated snake is orange and weighs approximately 130 pounds. A snake of this size can consume pets or small children so residents in the area are asked to keep their pets and small children inside. The Police Department is continuing the search and the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Department is deploying Search and Rescue personnel to assist in the effort. Anybody who sees the snake is asked to call 911. Citizens should keep their distance and not try to capture the reptile.

News: Almost 30 Atlanta Firefighters Call In Sick for Super Bowl Sunday Posted: 02 Feb 2009 11:44 AM PST Atlanta Fire Rescue Almost 30 Atlanta Firefighters Call In Sick for Super Bowl Sunday. 5 Fire Stations closed due to staffing shortage. The Atlanta fire chief blamed the situation on a combination of staff reductions, hiring freezes and furloughs. Firefighters Union say's Public Safety crisis in Atlanta has created a toxic environment. Five Atlanta fire stations had to close on Super Bowl Sunday after 27 firefighters called in sick, more than double the usual number. All the sick firefighters at the same time were not viewed as a coordinated situation, or a political statement, but more a situation of the firefighters simply being run down and susceptible to becoming sick. The Atlanta fire chief blamed the situation on a combination of staff reductions, hiring freezes and furloughs. And the fire union head blamed hiring freezes and city-imposed work furloughs for leaving the firefighters feeling beaten down and run down, according to reports. Under more favorable budget conditions, overtime would be authorized to cover temporary staff shortages. There were conflicting opinions on whether closing some fire stations on Sunday caused any safety issues. Budget reductions create a Firefighter safety crisis - The following is partial list of reductions Atlanta Fire Rescue has suffered in the FY09 budget: • Abolished 119 firefighters out of a sworn field operations force of 785 • Closed 4 fire companies, including the only dedicated heavy rescue and hazardous materials response unit • Cut staffing on all engine and ladder companies to 3 firefighters assigned contrary to established national safety standards • Reduced work hours for sworn firefighters by 18 percent with the equivalent loss in pay • Closed additional fire companies on a daily basis – over 25 times to date • Reassigned over half of our training staff in the face of unprecedented attrition • Eliminated the health and wellness program that provided early detection of occupational stress related killers In addition: • To cover a $140 million budget shortfall, Mayor Franklin's FY09 budget proposal abolishes 89 firefighter positions and cuts Fire Rescue's budget by over $13 million. • In addition, Mayor Franklin's proposal asks for a $44 million property tax increase to prevent further cuts to Fire Rescue and any cuts to Police. The tax increase is an average of $30 annually per homeowner. • City Council approves firefighter abolishments, but rejects Mayor Franklin's tax proposal and instead passes a $14 million tax cut, averaging $8 annually per homeowner. This necessitates another 5% budget cut to Fire Rescue. Letter from Firefighters Local 134 to Mayor of Atlanta Dear Mayor Franklin: I'm writing to ensure that you are fully aware of the negative impacts the budget cuts to Fire Rescue have had on fire protection, emergency medical services and disaster response in the City of Atlanta. The following is partial list of reductions Fire Rescue has suffered in the FY09 budget: • Abolished 119 firefighters out of a sworn field operations force of 785 • Closed 4 fire companies, including the only dedicated heavy rescue and hazardous materials response unit • Cut staffing on all engine and ladder companies to 3 firefighters assigned contrary to established national safety standards • Reduced work hours for sworn firefighters by 18 percent with the equivalent loss in pay • Closed additional fire companies on a daily basis – over 25 times to date • Reassigned over half of our training staff in the face of unprecedented attrition • Eliminated the health and wellness program that provided early detection of occupational stress related killers These reductions have resulted in increased response times for fire and emergency medical calls and greatly increased the dangers both to the citizens and firefighters. Because fire companies are operating at below-minimum staffing, it's necessary that more companies respond to provide for adequate personnel for safe and effective operations. Because of the closures, these fire companies must respond from farther away. During the increased response time, the fire or other emergency causes greater deaths, injury and property loss. In addition, Fire Rescue's staffing has fallen far below the risk level contained in the City of Atlanta. Fire Rescue currently has the capacity for four alarms. But because of the below-minimum staffing, Fire Rescue is responding two alarms to assemble the staffing necessary to address routine fire calls. There will come day when one or more major incident will overwhelm this below-minimum staffing scheme. Citizen's lives weigh in the balance. Firefighters are being asked to perform their jobs under unprecedented stresses by responding to more calls with fewer personnel and resources. At the same time, firefighter's pay has been slashed so deeply - about 18 percent - that many are unable to provide for their families. Pay was already so far below the market that most firefighters had to work a second full-time job, now they have to take on a third. All of this is a recipe for a public safety disaster. In our past, Atlanta Fire Rescue has responded effectively to many major incidents, like the Peachtree 25th and Fulton Mill fires, saving scores of lives and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of property. But the staffing, resources, and morale of Atlanta Fire Rescue have been damaged so greatly that it is a real question whether the organization could now adequately cope with one or more major incidents. When you took office, you inherited a Fire Rescue Department that was understaffed, under resourced and suffering from poor leadership. During the first six years of your administration, you made real progress by improving staffing, expanding programs, and recruiting progressive leadership. But now all the staffing and programmatic improvements have been swept away and you stand to leave a Fire Rescue Department in even worse shape than the one you inherited. The current conflict between yourself and City Council has created a toxic environment where Atlanta's elected officials are spending more time and energy blaming the other than creatively addressing the public safety crisis in the Fire Rescue and Police Departments. I appeal to you to use your last year to restore public safety in Atlanta by rising above past differences and working cooperatively with City Council and fire and police labor representatives. Atlanta's citizens, firefighters and police officers deserve nothing less. I believe you will find overwhelming support for yourself and council when you do. Please be aware that the International Association of Fire Fighters is doing everything in its power to secure federal assistance for public safety staffing by supporting legislation that will provide direct aid to municipalities for firefighters, police officers and teachers. We are also asking that matching requirements for Homeland Security grants to fund firefighters be waived during the current economic crisis. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that firefighters have the necessary resources to perform their sworn duty to protect citizens and return home to their families at the end of their shifts. I hope you will share that goal with us. Yours for a safer Atlanta, Jim Daws President Atlanta Professional Fire Fighters Association IAFF 134 http://www.atlantafirefighters.org/wordpress/ ATLANTA PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS

CAL FIRE - LPF - TA SAR - Cliff rescue Posted: 02 Feb 2009 09:24 AM PST Cal Fire launches cliff rescue in the Los Padres National Forest A motorcycle accident left a man stranded on a cliff in the Los padres national forest. Cal fire crews responded to an area near Parkhill and Black Roads to rescue the injured motorcycle rider Sunday afternoon. Cal fire was able to airlift the injured person off the cliff but not without some difficulties. The downed rider was near some power lines making it tough for the helicopter to reach him. He was airlifted off the cliff then he was taken by an ambulance to the hospital with a broken leg Source: KSBY - Link

LAFD: Greater Alarm Brush Fire - 20 acres - 100% Posted: 02 Feb 2009 01:06 PM PST GREATER ALARM BRUSH FIRE 8300 W. La Tuna Canyon Rd. Sun Valley Sunday, February 1, 2009 TIME: 2:50 PM INCIDENT #: 0730 *UPDATE: 8300 W. La Tuna Canyon* Knockdown called after 2 hrs, 30 min. Firefighters from L.A. City, L.A. County & Glendale used. No evac or homes threatened. - LAFD Dozer 2 On Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 2:50 PM, 26 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 LAFD Rescue Ambulance, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Rehab Unit, 4 Helicopters, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 6 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, the Dozer Company, Park Rangers, Animal Services, LAPD, DOT, a So. California Edison Representative, L.A. County and Glendale Fire Departments, under the direction of Assistant Chief Jeffery S. Mottram, responded to a Greater Alarm Brush Fire at 8300 W. La Tuna Canyon Rd. in Sun Valley. The first arriving Firefighters on scene found an auto fire which ignited approximately 1 acre of heavy brush. The winds were mild, approximately 15 miles per hour, but enough to aid the uphill moving fire. As the fire spread, several spot fires developed causing the fire to run from east to west. Additional companies, water dropping helicopters and hand crews were immediately requested to gain control of the blaze. The fire did challenge Firefighters, moving into a draw with homes located directly above along the ridge. Firefighters moved with precision deploying handlines for potential structure protection, coordinated with attacking the flanks of the fire with the aid of helicopters. 158 L.A. City Firefighters, 5 Engines from L.A. County and Glendale Departments were needed to contain the fire to 20 acres. No evacuations were called and no homes were directly threatened. Animal Services was requested for resident who wished to evacuate their pets. La Tuna Canyon Road was closed at Elben Street and the 210 Freeway offramp for the duration of the incident. Fire companies will remain throughout the night for any flare ups. Los Angeles Fire Department - Link Photo credit: Crescenta valley Sun - Link

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