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Thursday, February 26, 2009

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Marine accused of setting 4,000-acre fire in SoCal

Posted: 25 Feb 2009 10:45 AM PST

The Associated Press

Posted: 02/25/2009 09:42:11 AM PST

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.—A Camp Pendleton Marine has been charged with recklessly setting a 4,000-acre wildfire that threatened homes in and around the San Diego County base last October.

In a prepared statement Wednesday, base officials say Lance Cpl. Nason G. Lamb faces military charges of reckless endangerment, setting fire to and damaging property and making a false official statement.

Authorities contend Lamb started a fire during a training exercise. A hearing will determine if he should be court-martialed.

Base officials and officers with his unit, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, did not immediately respond to a message seeking contact information for Lamb.

Investigators say two fires in the area on Oct. 13 threatened homes on the base and in nearby Fallbrook and Oceanside. No damage or injuries were reported.

The other fire remains under investigation.

Source: Mercury News - Link

Chico: Firefighters, police cash in on overtime

Posted: 25 Feb 2009 08:29 AM PST

CHICO — The addition of overtime earnings put firefighters and police officers in the position of the city's top earners in 2008.

According to salary information recently requested by the Enterprise-Record, 121 city employees made $100,000 or more last year with the addition of overtime earnings. Of those, 54 are firefighters, many of whom more than doubled their regular pay through overtime earnings. An additional 35 were in the police department.

The E-R's online searchable database at www.chicoer.com/salaries also added this week the 2007 and 2008 figures for Butte County employees.

The top wage earner in the city last year was City Attorney Lori Barker, who took in $194,654.98. She was followed by Fire Capt. John Probst, who earned $193,385.50 by working 1,567 overtime hours and earning $83,800.18 in overtime; Fire Division Chief Steve Simpson, who filled in as interim fire chief last year and earned an additional $20,390.32 in "special pay," at $188,262.89; City Manager Dave Burkland at $188,191.97; and Fire Capt. David Main, who worked 1,401.50 overtime hours and took in $75,252.63 in overtime pay, at $185,126.42.

VIEW Salary Database

The majority of the top fire earners also earned "special pay" for their work on special teams, where they receive additional compensation for the extra risk. Historically, many of the top overtime earners in the Fire Department earn a portion of it while helping out with other fires around the state or filling in for those out fighting. Area firefighters were also called to serve in last summer's Humboldt Fire and Butte Lightning Complex.

The city is reimbursed its costs and an administrative fee for the out-of-city and emergency fires. The Enterprise-Record requests salary figures each year, beginning with the 2006 calendar year after the California Supreme Court ruled salaries of government employees are public records.

Source: Chicoer - link