Wednesday, October 17, 2007

California Fire News

California Fire News

Link to California Fire News - Structure, Wildland, EMS

Plumas County Burn Restrictions Lifted

Posted: 16 Oct 2007 09:37 PM CDT

Plumas County private land burn restrictions lifted

As a result of cooler temperatures and recent rainfall, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has lifted the restriction on residential burning on private land in Plumas County under the fire protection of the Plumas National Forest, effective Oct. 11.

8th Anniversary of NorCal Fire Outbreak

Posted: 16 Oct 2007 11:56 PM CDT

By :californiadisasters Kim Noyes

Eight years ago tonight Northern California was being raked by a Diablo Wind event that drove three large fires, one of which was tragic in the Redding area.

One was the Vargas Fire in Fremont that started in the Sunol Grade area and burned 900-1,000 acres of dry, grassy hillsides overlooking the east side of the City of Fremont just north of the Sunol Grade. On a side note: this fire burned a few blocks over from my grandmother's home at the time and she didn't even know what was going on until I called her from Atascadero and told her about what I had heard on KCBS AM-740 which explained the smoke she was smelling.
Another was the Sixteen Fire that began on the west side Rumsey Canyon in the Cache Creek area of Southwest Yolo County.
Diablo Winds drove the fire southward into the northern reaches of Lake Berryessa and ultimately consumed 40,000 acres.
On a side note: does anybody know if the arsonist who used to operate in that area and was recently arrested was ever connected to this fire?
Last but not least was the Jones Fire which began in the Jones Valley area northeast of Redding and ripped southward along the east side of Redding consuming 26,202 acres, 954 structures, including 176 homes, and killed one volunteer firefighter.

Check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters/
And for for further reading check these links:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/CASE/CA991016/nando.html

Modesto City Museum Burned Out

Posted: 16 Oct 2007 02:50 PM CDT

Modesto City Museum Burned Out



THE BUILDING HOUSING THE CITY OF MODESTO, CALIFORNIA, collection of historic artifacts was destroyed Sunday morning in a fire. The 1920's-era schoolhouse was closed in 1953 and converted into a community center.

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Modesto Bee photos

The city had to close the building to the public in 2003 because it was unsafe. But it was still used by the police and fire departments for training and, for some odd reason, to store its collection of priceless artifacts.

Around 1:20 am Sunday the FD received a fire call for the building and found heavy smoke and flames showing from the upper floor. After making an attempt to knock it down from the inside on a quick attack, they had to retreat outside because of the deteriorated condition of the building. It is a total loss.

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"I am in shock," said Wayne A. Mathes, the cultural services manager, who is in charge of the McHenry mansion and museum and the city's Landmark Preservation Commission. "There were things that were just totally irreplaceable. It's all gone. There is just nothing left."

The Modesto Bee further reports: The building had suffered numerous intrusions from transients and vandals, officials said. The city had boarded up the upper windows and put metal mesh over the windows downstairs for security.

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Read the full story in the Modesto Bee HERE.
Also a short VIDEO.

Comment on the whole story at Firegeezer.com:

Firegeezer asks: If those artifacts were valuable and irreplacable, why were they left in an abandoned and unprotected building with a known vagrancy problem? Wasn't there anybody in Modesto with the foresight to prevent this from happening?

Southern California Fire weather Daily Outlook

Posted: 16 Oct 2007 03:08 PM CDT

A Pacific trough will maintain cool temperatures and high humidity over most of the region through Wednesday. This trough will also bring scattered showers to Central California tonight.
Southern California Fire Weather Outlook synopsis:

So Cal GACC

  • Most locations over Central California will receive less then a quarter inch of rainfall with this trough.
  • Most locations over Southern California will not receive any measurable rainfall with this trough. There will be strong and gusty southwest to northwest winds over the mountains and deserts through Wednesday.
  • A weak ridge of high pressure will build into the region from the Pacific Ocean bringing warmer temperatures and lower humidity to the region Thursday and Friday. Another Pacific trough will move through California bringing cooler temperatures and higher humidity to the region Friday night and Saturday. This trough will also bring scattered showers to the entire region Friday night through Saturday morning.
  • Most locations will receive less then a quarter inch of rainfall with this trough. The snow level will be around 7,000 feet over the Sierra. There will be strong southwest to northwest winds over the mountains and deserts Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon.
  • A strong ridge of high pressure will build into California from the Pacific Ocean bringing much warmer temperatures and very low humidity to the region Sunday through the middle of next week. There will be strong and gusty north to east winds over the mountains and below the canyons and passes of Southern California Saturday night through Monday
Three to Seven day outlook: Thursday through Monday

Coast and Coastal Valleys...
Strong and gusty northeast winds along with very low humidity below the canyons and passes of Southern California Sunday and Monday.

Inland Valleys and Surrounding Foothills...
Strong and gusty northeast winds along with very low humidity below the canyons and passes of Southern California Sunday and Monday.

Mountains (Excluding the Sierra Range)...
Strong and gusty northeast winds along with very low humidity over the mountains of Southern California Sunday and Monday.

Sierras...
No significant fire weather expected.

Deserts...
No significant fire weather expected

Northern California Fire weather Daily Outlook

Posted: 16 Oct 2007 01:59 PM CDT

DailyOutlook - Nor Cal GACC

A wet week is shaping up for the North Ops region as several more storm systems are lined up from the Northern California coast on westward through the central Pacific. The next system moves on Tuesday, and another moves in late Thursday into the early part of the weekend. High pressure builds in on Sunday and may bring several days of drying, along with N-NE winds.

Coast Range Westward:
No significant fire weather is expected. More wetting rain thru Saturday. Warming/drying Sun-Mon

I-5 corridor, including Sacramento Valley and surrounding foothills:
No significant fire weather is expected. More wetting rain thru Saturday. Warming/drying Sun-Mon

Cascade-Sierra Nevada from 3500' to Crest, NE California and NW Nevada:
No significant fire weather is expected. More wetting rain/snow thru Saturday. Warming/drying Sun-Mon

The men accused of accidentally starting the $118 million Zaca fire appeared in court today, say they're not guilty

Posted: 16 Oct 2007 01:29 PM CDT

The ranch hands accused of accidentally starting the $118 million Zaca fire appeared in court today, entering pleas of not guilty.
Jose Cabrera and Santiago Cervantes appeared in court today facing felony charges in connection with the fire. Their employer, Rancho La Laguna also faces those same charges and also plead not guilty.
Authorities believe their "recklessness" ( No fire control plan) on the job sparked the Zaca Fire on the fourth of July. The fire was started by the ranch workers using a grinder on a water pipe, which ignited very dry vegetation and quickly spread across State lands and into the Federal wilderness.
The massive Zaca fire (SRA) and Zaca Two (Federal wilderness) fire burned for two months and ultimately consumed more than 240,000 acres becoming the second largest wildland fire in California's history. If convicted, the defendants could face jail time, fines and responsibility for a portion of the fire cost. The total cost of the fire is over $118 million.
They will be back in court in December.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY - Agricultural burns, with a permit, are now allowed

Posted: 16 Oct 2007 12:40 PM CDT

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY - Suspension lifted on some controlled burns in San Luis Obispo County

This week's return of a little wet weather prompts Cal Fire to end their suspension on certain controlled burns.

Agricultural burns, with a permit, are now allowed. However, controlled burns in yards are not permitted until the end of fire season.

BURNING SUSPENSION LIFTED

- Cal Fire ends suspension on controlled burns.

- Agricultural burns with a permit are allowed.

- Yard burns not allowed until end of fire season.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

California Fire News

California Fire News

Link to California Fire News - Structure, Wildland, EMS

GACC - News and notes - North Ops

Posted: 16 Oct 2007 12:20 AM CDT

10/15/07
1000
All Northern Region Cal Fire fixed wing aircraft are out of service starting today.

EDIS- WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM PDT TUESDAY

Posted: 16 Oct 2007 12:02 AM CDT

EMERGENCY DIGITAL INFORMATION SERVICE
Updated: 21:59 PDT on 2007-10-15
WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM PDT TUESDAY Actual/Future/Severe/Possible
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SOUTH COAST-SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
Update sent at 21:22 PDT on 2007-10-15
WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PDT TUESDAY... ... HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING Actual/Future/Severe/Possible
VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE-
Update sent at 21:22 PDT on 2007-10-15
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK Actual/Immediate/Severe/Likely
ANTELOPE VALLEY-
Cancel sent at 21:22 PDT on 2007-10-15

Memorial Scheduled in Hollister for Fallen CAL FIRE Dozer Operator

Posted: 15 Oct 2007 04:29 PM CDT

Lick fire dozer tenders


Thursday Memorial Scheduled in Hollister for Fallen CAL FIRE Dozer Operator

Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Matt Will of the San Benito Monterey Unit died of injuries sustained while fighting a 50-acre fire in Monterey County yesterday.

Brother Will passed away Tuesday, October 9 at 08:55 hours as a result of his injuries which he sustained in a rollover accident involving his dozer unit. He leaves behind a wife and two young children, and his immediate family were present at his side at the time of death.

The cause of the accident are still under investigation. A CAL FIRE accident team has been assigned.


MEMORIAL SERVICE

A Memorial Service for CAL FIRE HFEO Matt Will has been scheduled for this Thursday:

WHAT: MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MATT WILL

WHEN: Thursday October 18, 2007, 2:00pm

WHERE: San Benito County Fairgrounds in Hollister. DIRECTIONS

CAL FIRE personnel whose classification requires a Class "A" uniform shall wear a Class "A" uniform. All other personnel, including on-duty personnel on in-service engines, shall wear Class A uniforms or clean and pressed station uniform.

Friends/Family/General Public are asked to arrive by 12:00pm.

There will be a reception immediately following the Memorial Service nearby on the Fairgrounds property.


APPARATUS INFORMATION

Fire Apparatus and Dozer/Transports will be parked in a static display. There will not be a formal apparatus procession.

Dozer/Transports are requested to arrive by 10:00am so they may be placed in a static display that the family procession will drive through.

Fire Apparatus are requested to arrive by 11:00am so they may be placed in a static display that the family procession will drive through.

At approximately 1:45pm vehicle operators will stand by their vehicles at the position of attention, with their emergency lights activated, while the family procession passes by.

All other uniformed personnel will be directed to form a "Sea of Blue" human corridor through which the family will walk thru into the Fairgrounds. Specific instructions will be provided upon your arrival at the Fairgrounds.


HONOR GUARD PARTICIPATION

Honor Guards wishing to participate are asked to call Jeff Windham with CDF Firefighters Honor Guard at (951) 906-2382 ASAP.


RSVP REQUESTED

CAL FIRE asks that those planning to attend RSVP via email:

rsvpwillmemorial@fire.ca.gov

In the text of your email please provide the following information:

  • Agency name with contact phone number
  • Type of vehicle i.e Dozer/transport, Engine, Utility, Marked Admin veh etc.
  • Number of personnel attending

FOR THE FAMILY

Brother Will leaves behind a wife and two young children.

Firefighters wishing to make donations to assist Brother Will's family may contribute to The Matt Will Memorial Fund, through Local 2881's Benevolent Foundation:

Make checks payable to:
CDF Firefighters Benevolent Foundation (Tax ID#20-5686356)

Address:

Matt Will Memorial Fund
CDF Firefighters Benevolent Foundation
1731 J Street
Sacramento, California 95814

Click here to read original news report at Cal Fire News

Blue sheet

California professional firelighters LODD announcement: CAL FIRE HFEO Matt Will

EDIS: GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK

Posted: 15 Oct 2007 01:49 PM CDT

EMERGENCY DIGITAL INFORMATION SERVICE
Updated: 11:48 PDT on 2007-10-15
WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 AM PDT TUESDAY Actual/Future/Severe/Possible
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SOUTH COAST-SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
Update sent at 10:25 PDT on 2007-10-15
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK Actual/Immediate/Severe/Likely
VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE-
Alert sent at 10:25 PDT on 2007-10-15

BLM’s Folsom Office Lifts Emergency Fire Restrictions

Posted: 15 Oct 2007 01:27 PM CDT

News Release

For Release: Oct. 15, 2007
Contact: David Christy (916) 985-4474
CA-CC- 08-05

BLM's Folsom Office Lifts Emergency Fire Restrictions

Due to the onset of cool, rainy weather, the Bureau of Land Management's Folsom Field Office has lifted emergency fire restrictions on all BLM-managed public lands within its boundary effective today. This includes BLM-managed public lands in Nevada, Yuba, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Sacramento, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Sutter and Mariposa counties, a total of about 230,000 acres.

According to Fire Management Officer Ken Hood, there is no longer a need for emergency restrictions because of cooler, wet weather. However, general fire restrictions remain in place. A copy of those restrictions is available for public viewing at the BLM Folsom Office, 63 Natoma St., Folsom. California campfire permits are needed for fires and stoves outside of established campgrounds.

"BLM Folsom fire management would like to remind the public that the weather conditions could require fire restrictions to go back into effect and to check for any additional fire restrictions before using the public lands," he said.

For additional information, contact BLM's Folsom Field Office at (916) 985-4474.

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