California Fire News

Judge Denies Corral Fire Suspects' bail request

Posted: 22 Dec 2007 01:20 PM CST

Judge Denies Corral Fire Suspects' Request To Be Released

Two men suspected of accidentally starting a destructive wildfire in Malibu were denied Friday a request to be released on their own recognizance while awaiting trial.

William Thomas Coppock, 23, and Brian David Franks, 27, of Los Angeles, are charged with recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury and recklessly causing fire to inhabited structures in connection with the Nov. 24 Corral Fire that destroyed 53 houses and severely damaged another 23.

Dean Allen Lavorante, 19, and Eric Matthew Ullman, 18, both of Culver City, and Brian William Anderson, 22, of Los Angeles, face the same charges. They are free on bail.
All five also face an allegation that the crimes were committed "during and within an area of a state of emergency."They are accused of going to a cave and notorious party spot on state park land overlooking Malibu to drink beer with girls and light a campfire when the area was under a Red Flag warning because of high winds and low humidity.

Instead of a routine bail hearing Friday on whether the two men were risks to the community if freed while awaiting trial, Judge Michael K. Kellogg laid out the prosecution's case against all five suspects."There is nothing to show me that there wasn't this callousness and a high level of carelessness," Kellogg said. "And all the sorries in the world don't change that."Kellogg rejected requests by attorneys for the two men that they be released on their own recognizance.

However, the judge noted that according to sheriff's reports, Franks had at least tried to put out some of the fire and lowered his bond to $100,000.Coppock's bail was reduced by $10,000 due to an earlier math error, to $230,000, and his attorney said he would post bail later Friday.
The judge said he spent a great deal of time reviewing the investigative reports and noted that the allegation of causing a fire during a state of emergency requires a sentence of prison time.
He said investigators believe that Anderson, Coppock and Franks stole packages of precut firewood from the Ralphs supermarket in Malibu and added that wood to a small campfire already started in the cave by Lavorante and Ullman.

The first two men apparently left the cave after the arrival of the other men, who allegedly drank 18 to 30 cans of beer and some other liquor.Investigators believe Anderson kicked burning logs out of the cave and into surrounding brush and told Frank to put it out, according to a sheriff's report read by one of the attorneys."Anderson kicked a burning log out of the cave and said, 'Here, put this out,'" Goldstein said. "Guys were laughing."

Anderson has already been released on $240,000 bail.
Earlier, the attorneys said their clients are being made scapegoats and that instead of starting the fire, they tried to put it out. The three Los Angeles men will next face a preliminary hearing Jan. 7 in Van Nuys. The Culver City teenagers will be arraigned there Feb. 14.

Harris Fire- Id of 4 who died in wildfire near U.S.-Mexico border

Posted: 22 Dec 2007 01:00 PM CST

Identification of four Mexican Nationals who died in wildfire near U.S.-Mexico border during illegal crossing complete

The Associated Press

Launched: 12/21/2007 07:02:27 PM PST

SAN DIEGO—A young married couple and a plumber were among four Mexicans killed in October's Southern California wildfires and identified by investigators Friday, nearly two months after their bodies were found near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said the dead were Ruben Santos Ramirez, 28, and his wife Areli Peralta Rivera, 25, from the small town of Mazatlan, Guerrero near Acapulco, Mexico; Lourdes Eugenio Tadeo, 21, from the same town; and Ruben Mendez Hernandez, 23, a plumber from Mexico's Guanajuato state. The town of Mazatlan shares a name with the larger city on the Pacific Coast.

The charred remains of the four, who were believed to have crossed the border illegally, were found in a ravine on Oct. 29. Investigators from the California Department of Justice used DNA analysis to help identify them.

Another member of the group, 20-year-old Alejandro Martinez of Mazatlan, died last month at UCSD Medical Center.

Peralta's father, Concepcion Peralta, was in San Diego County attempting to find out his daughter's fate. He had hoped upon his recent arrival that she was only missing.

The victims were among eight people killed by the Harris Wildfire in San Diego County, which also seriously injured four firefighters and a teenage boy and consumed hundreds of homes in the rural communities along the U.S.-Mexico border east of San Diego.

Source: Article

California Fire News

FEMA and OES Grant $41 Million to CAL FIRE For Autumn Wildfires

Posted: 21 Dec 2007 05:17 PM CST

The grant will go to reimburse the state for regular employee overtime, equipment use, equipment rental, contract labor, aircraft use, materials, and similar costs incurred by other firefighting agencies ...

PASADENA, Calif. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) announced today that an estimated $41 million in public assistance funding will go to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for eligible costs incurred to fight the recent Southern California wildfires.

FEMA will provide 75 percent ($30.9 million) in firefighting costs, with the remaining 25 percent ($10.3 million) coming from the State of California. CAL FIRE, together with FEMA and OES project officers, is currently gathering cost documentation to determine the exact reimbursement amount.

The grant will go to reimburse the state for regular employee overtime, equipment use, equipment rental, contract labor, aircraft use, materials, and similar costs incurred by other firefighting agencies that are part of the California Master Mutual Aid Agreement.

"When the costs of battling 24 fires in seven counties overwhelms the state's resources, there are programs in place to provide the necessary assistance," said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael Hall of FEMA. "States should not have the added burden of worrying where funding will come from when firefighters are battling to save lives and property."

Under FEMA's Public Assistance program, state and local governments, Native American tribes, and certain private non-profit organizations in the disaster-designated counties may be eligible for assistance in the form of reimbursement for certain costs incurred in the disaster.

The Public Assistance program funds essential government costs. The categories of expenses eligible for assistance can include debris removal; emergency protective measures, including overtime pay for emergency workers; repair of roads and bridges; repair of water control facilities; repair of public buildings and equipment; repair of public utilities; and repair of recreational facilities such as parks.

"The nearly $31 million in public assistance grants that FEMA will provide to CAL FIRE as reimbursements for their heroic efforts in protecting lives, property and the environment during the recent fires is welcome news," said State Coordinating Officer Henry Renteria of OES. "The money will significantly reduce the burden costs of responding have placed on CAL FIRE, the State of California and its taxpayers."

Wildfires driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, spread throughout seven southern California counties beginning October 21, 2007. These wildfires resulted in the destruction of public and private property and the disruption of utilities and other essential services.

There were 24 named fire incidents, including the Canyon, Buckweed and Ranch fires in Los Angeles County, the huge Witch and Harris fires in San Diego County, the Santiago fire in Orange County, and the Grass Valley and Slide fire in San Bernardino County. Santa Barbara, Ventura and Riverside Counties were also affected by the firestorms.

To date, 521,663 acres have been burned; 3,309 structures destroyed, including 2,180 residences, and 281 structures have been damaged. Fire conditions were extremely dangerous due to the Santa Ana Winds coupled with an ongoing drought and low humidity levels. Because of the numerous fires, local resources were depleted requiring implementation of the California Master Mutual Aid Agreement.

Eligible costs began October 21, and can continue until the incident period is closed. The estimated eligible costs for this project are based on data submitted by CALFIRE. These costs may be revised when actual eligible costs are fully documented and provided to FEMA.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) coordinates overall state-agency response to major disasters in support of local government. OES is also responsible for maintaining the State Emergency Plan and coordinating California's preparedness,mitigation and recovery efforts.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 350 500 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20472 United States

Contact Information:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency
lynda.westcott@dhs.gov
Tel: 626-431-3178

SoCal Fire News: FEMA closing Wildfire assistance centers

Posted: 21 Dec 2007 02:06 PM CST

FEMA Ends Staffing At Wildfire Assistance Centers

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Today is the last day for wildfire victims to get help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at four remaining San Diego County disaster assistance centers.

The centers in Fallbrook, Ramona, El Cajon and Rancho Bernardo will reopen December 27th as Small Business Administration disaster loan outreach centers.

The SBA is the primary source of funding for long-term reconstruction of damaged private property.

FEMA officials say more than 12,000 people in San Diego County have applied for assistance since the wildfires.

EDIS: RED FLAG WARNING - IMPERIAL COUNTY AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Posted: 21 Dec 2007 12:51 PM CST

RED FLAG WARNING - CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 232, IMPERIAL COUNTY AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST /7 PM PST/ THIS EVENING FOR THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AND SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY	Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 131YUMA/MARTINEZ LAKE AND VICINITY/LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AZ-CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 231LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY CA-CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 232IMPERIAL COUNTY AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY-
Alert sent at 10:37 PST on 2007-12-21

Official Google Blog: Southern California fire maps

Posted: 21 Dec 2007 11:56 AM CST

Official Google Blog: Southern California fire maps

LPF / SLO County - End of High Fire danger season

Posted: 21 Dec 2007 11:20 AM CST

Los Padres National Forest and San Luis Obispo County Fire season change .

High fire danger season is over for both the Los Padres National Forest and San Luis Obispo County Fire Department.

The area burned by the Ranch Fire will be re-opened.

Cal Fire closed the season yesterday, while forest officials will go to low fire danger season Friday morning.

Forest officials say wood burning campfires and barbecues will be allowed beyond campfire use sites with a valid permit.

In San Luis Obispo County, All burning requires a permit from the San Luis Obispo Pollution Control District.

Open burn season will start next Wednesday and will possibly run through April.

Fire probe of San Diego Gas and Electric sought

Posted: 21 Dec 2007 10:53 AM CST

Two environmental organizations yesterday asked state regulators to openly investigate how power lines caused at least three of October's wildfires in San Diego County.

Last month, Cal Fire determined that the Witch Creek and Rice Canyon fires – which began the week of Oct. 21 and destroyed nearly 1,350 homes – were started by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. power lines.

The Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club asked for a "formal and public" investigation into exactly how the fires were started and whether SDG&E and other utilities took necessary steps to reduce fire risk.

Three lawsuits filed last month in San Diego Superior Court contend that SDG&E was negligent and did not maintain the required vegetation clearance around power lines.

"Our goal is to make sure power lines are made safe so that they never again are responsible for fires that do so much harm to people and nature," said David Hogan, conservation director for the San Diego-based Center for Biological Diversity.

The California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates SDG&E and the state's other investor-owned power companies, says an investigation has already begun.

"We are working with state and federal investigators already to figure out whether any utilities contributed to the fires," PUC spokeswoman Susan Carothers said.

SDG&E filed a petition in early November with the PUC to initiate a review of the regulations that govern overhead power lines to determine whether additional rules and regulations should be adopted, SDG&E spokeswoman Christy Heiser said.

Hogan, of the Center of Biological Diversity, said any investigations thus far are being conducted "behind closed doors" and that the public has not been given assurances that the results will acted upon.

By David Washburn
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Source: Article

Santa Cruz County - Open burn season reinstated

Posted: 21 Dec 2007 10:01 AM CST

Open burn season in the unincorporated areas of the county was reinstated this week, Cal Fire announced Thursday.

The season runs from Dec. 18 to April 30 and people can light fires on Burn Days designated by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. In some areas a permit is needed and there are regulations:

• Only yard waste and brush from the premises of one- or two-family residences can be burned.

• Piles can be up to 4 feet in diameter.

• Burning waste material, including household garbage, tires, construction material, plastic, tar paper and poison oak is not allowed.

• A garden hose connected to a water source and a shovel must be readily available.

• An adult must supervise.

• No burning after dark.

• A 10-foot area around the burn pile must be cleared of flammable materials and vegetation.

• Incinerator burning is banned.

People can be cited for burning out of season or violating regulations and can be liable for costs of fighting out-of-control fires. Legal burn days are broadcast on the radio and are available by calling 800 225-2876. Contact the fire department before burning to find out if a permit is required.

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST - lowered the fire danger level from "extreme" to "high

Posted: 21 Dec 2007 09:59 AM CST

Rain brings end to ban on campfires

A five-month ban on campfires was lifted Thursday because of recent rains and cooler temperatures, forestry officials said.

In addition, the U.S. Forest Service lowered the fire danger level from "extreme" to "high," spokeswoman Stephanie Vela said. Charcoal barbecues and smoking will remain restricted to fire rings and grills in park recreation sites, Vela said.