California Fire News

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

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

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

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.

California Fire News

Martis Valley Station Closed - Mold cleanup

Posted: 15 Oct 2007 12:38 AM CDT

Cal Fire closed the Martis Valley Station located on Truckee Tahoe Airport Road this week to investigate the discovery of mold in the building that state firefighters share with their Truckee counterparts.

Personnel moved out Wednesday from the station, State firefighters were ordered not to re-enter the building without protection. Cal Fire would normally shut down the station at the end of the fire season and this closure coincides with the end of the fire 2007 season.

I5 Fire - All southbound lanes will be open for commute

Posted: 14 Oct 2007 11:59 PM CDT

All southbound lanes will be open for commute

Cal Trans just announced all SB lanes for the 5 will be open in time for tomorrow's commute. Metrolink is adding trains for commute as well.

I-5 Tunnel Fire Updates: NO MORE FATALITIES EXPECTED

Posted: 14 Oct 2007 04:03 PM CDT

Santa Clarita - Newhall Pass - I-5 Tunnel Fire Updates:

THREE DEAD - NO MORE FATALITIES EXPECTED
WRECKAGE OF TWENTY EIGHT TRUCKS AND ONE CAR HAS BEEN CLEARED FROM TUNNEL

The freeway remains closed as officials try determine the cause of Friday's crash and the extent of structural damage.

Three people, two men and an infant, are confirmed dead and 10 injured in the I-5 tunnel vehicle accident and fire.

28 commercial vehicles and one passenger vehicle involved in the crash, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Bridge Damage:Bridge appears to be in good shape. "I'm very pleased with how well this bridge held up," said Cal trans Director Douglas Failing, Failing said it was still too early to estimate how long it would take to reopen and repair the tunnel. "If it goes well, it could be open in a couple of weeks," he said, but if damage proves more significant, it could take much longer.

Tunnel Damage extensive: Walls heavily damaged and have exposed rebar which has separated from the concrete, concrete spalling, heavy soot cleanup, no structural cracks found, the tunnel's roof appeared sound. Fire damaged road and the asphalt shoulders of the road,

About 10 workers had shored up the tunnel sides temporarily with wood and steel beams and were inspecting the tunnel, taking samples of concrete that would be examined for signs of structural damage.

NIIC - USFS - FINAL MORNING REPORT - The last morning report for 2007

Posted: 14 Oct 2007 02:46 PM CDT

Friday, October 5, 2007 – 9:00 A.M. EDT

GOOD MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY GO HAND IN HAND

PREPAREDNESS LEVEL	1
STATES MOST AFFECTED:
Print Today's Morning Report (PDF file)

CURRENT SITUATION

THIS IS THE FINAL MORNING REPORT. SHOULD ACTIVITY PICK UP AGAIN, WE WILL RESUME ITS PUBLICATION AND POSTING ON THIS WEBSITE.

Initial attack activity was light yesterday, with 107 new fires reported burning 1,485 acres. Currently, there are no fires or complexes and no Wildland Fire Use fires, reported over 500 acres in size. Yesterday, there were no new fire over 500 acres reported and one contained. Nationally, there are no Incident Management Teams assigned.

The National Preparedness Level is 1. There is minimal large fire activity nationally. Most Geographic Areas have low to moderate fire danger. There is little to no commitment of national fire management resources.

INCIDENT HEADLINES

Nationally, an estimated 1,878 structures have been destroyed to date.
520 personnel are assigned to the fires, a decrease of 141 or 21.33% from yesterday.
For the detailed National Situation Report (www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf).

SUMMARY OF FIRE ACTIVITY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

Fire Activity

Yesterday

Year-to-Date

2006 Fire Season

on This Date

2000 Fire Season

on This Date

10-Year Average

to Date

Number of Fires

107

74,031

82,214

81,884

67,557

Acres Burned

1,485

8,245,535

9,102,776

6,901,103

5,736,924

RESOURCES COMMITTED

Crews (20 persons)	Engines (5 persons)	Helicopters Assigned	Airtankers Assigned	Overhead Personnel	Total Personnel	Personnel Change
15	22	2	11	74	520	-141

MAPS OF CURRENT FIRE ACTIVITY

National Interagency Fire Center Fire Danger (www.fs.fed.us/land/wfas/fd_cls_f.gif)
National Incident Information Center Current Fires Over 500 Acres (www.fs.fed.us/news/fire/firemap.shtml)
National Interagency Coordination Center Monthly Fire Outlook (http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_outlook.jpg)

WEATHER OUTLOOK

Discussion: Gusty winds are expected today over a wide area from the southern California mountains across the southern Great Basin and into Colorado and Wyoming. Gusty offshore winds are on tap this weekend over portions of southern California. The Southeast will see scattered showers today and Saturday with generally warm, dry weather in the Northeast.

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM THIS EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA, THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AND THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL DESERTS OF ARIZONA DUE TO STRONG GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND HIGH FIRE DANGER.

National Weather Service – Warnings, Watches, and Advisories

IINTERNATIONAL LARGE FIRES

For further information, go to the Global Fire Monitoring Center at:
www.fire.uni-freiburg.de/current/globalfire.htm.
For further information on fires in Canada, please refer to: www.ciffc.ca/links.htm

The National Incident Information Center is here to serve you.

Monday – Friday, hours: 6:30 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. EDT

Weekends and Holidays, hours: 8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. EDT

Contact: Kris Eriksen or Kathy Arnoldus

Phone number: (202) 205-1450

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

I-5 Tunnel Fire Updates: 3 confirmed dead in I-5 tunnel crash

Posted: 14 Oct 2007 02:37 PM CDT

There is no anticipated opening at this time of the southbound tunnel or the overhead northbound lanes of I5 pending access for structural inspection of the 550-foot-long tunnel.
This Vital north-south route will be closed at least until Tuesday.
Heat was so intense that firefighters and other officials could not explore the tunnel beyond its ends.
They did not yet know the cause of the crash, how much damage was done to the tunnel walls and roof, or how long it would take for traffic to flow again on the eight-lane freeway overhead.

Casualties: 3 confirmed dead in I-5 tunnel crash - Fatal Count as of 10-13 - 3 Bodies (2 Adults, 1 Child) - Ten others are injured in the fiery multi-vehicle pileup. - Still Conducting search 15-20 Various Types of Vehicles.
Coroner's official Ed Winter said the three bodies that were recovered had not been identified. "We are methodically going through the wreckage vehicle by vehicle" looking for other bodies, he said.

Traffic Info-Northbound /Southbound Interstate-5 at 14, Auto and Truck Lanes-Will Be Closed Possibly for the Next 72 Hours-Traffic Should Avoid the Area If at All Possible

Traffic detours: CHP on Interstate 5... Here are the latest detours:

— Northbound from Los Angeles to Bakersfield, Sacramento: Take northbound I-5 to State Route 14, continue north to State Route 58 in Mojave and head west to State Route 99.

— Southbound to Los Angeles from Sacramento, Bakersfield: Take southbound I-5 to State Route 126, continue west to State Route 101 and head south.

— Eastbound State Route 126 to the Palmdale-Lancaster area: Take northbound I-5 to State Route 138, continue east. Another route is eastbound on State Route 126, which becomes Newhall Ranch Road, continue east to Bouquet Canyon Road and then turn west. Continue westbound to Soledad Canyon Road, turn left and continue eastbound to State Route 14.

DOT and CHP are using the old road as a bypass and have made the road a one way road at times depending on commute traffic, at this time traffic is open in both directions on the old road bypass.

Google map I-5 Newhall Pass tunnel area
View Larger Map

CAL FIRE Burn Permits Available Monday

Posted: 14 Oct 2007 12:23 PM CDT

San Andreas, Ca -- Effective 8 am Monday, CAL FIRE will lift the suspension of burning on private lands within the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit.

Burning will be permitted with no restrictions on burn hours but only on �Permissive Burn Days� as established by the Air Pollution Control District in each county.

CAL FIRE states that you must obtain a valid permit from the fire protection agency having jurisdiction in your area before conducting a burn. You must also follow the terms on the "no charge" permit. Call Burn info line:

Calaveras County residents - (209) 754-6600
Tuolumne County residents - (209) 533-5598
Amador County Burn Day hot line - (209) 223-6246

What the designations mean:

YES - This means burning is allowed.
NO - This means burning is prohibited.
CALL - The official decision was not available at the time the check was made.

Headlines - Just News headlines all the time

Tuesday, October 16, 2007