Thursday, January 31, 2008

Announcement: Marc Mullenix Services - Obituary

Marc Mullenix of Fairmount Fire Department near Denver Colorado passed away on 1- 28

Division Chief Marc R. Mullenix

Wednesday, February 6 - 1200 hours

Faith Bible Chapel
6250 Wright Street
Arvada, CO 80004

Google map


Please send all flowers or contributions to
Fairmount Fire
4755 Isabell Rd
Golden CO 80403.

Cards can be sent to
Shawna Legarza
PO Box 785
Mancos CO 81328

Memorial Fund:
Marc Mullenix Life Challenge Foundation

Donations can be made at the time of the services or mailed to: "details to follow"

Further issues/concerns/info: Fairmount Fire - 303-279-2928
Official Information source ->
Fairmount Fire Department -Fairmount, Colorado

Apparatus staging will begin at 1030 at the Faith Bible Chapel Worship Center. Departments wishing to bring apparatus should contact:

Lt. Rick Goodman at 303-435-9411

Download the Memorial Service Posting Here in PDF

Download a map of the service location here in PDF

Mark Mullenix quotes on Cal Fire news:

Obituary: Marc Robert Mullenix

Memorial services for Mancos resident Marc Robert Mullenix will be held at noon Wednesday, Feb. 6, at Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada, Colo.

Marc was born Sept. 16, 1957, in Downey, Calif., the son of Robert and Charmaine (Sterling) Mullenix. He passed away Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, in Mancos at the age of 50.

Surviving Marc are his wife, Shawna Mullenix of Mancos; his daughter, Nikki Mullenix of Longmont, Colo.; his mother, Charmaine Mullenix of Santa Clarita, Calif.; and his brother, Norm Mullenix of Prescott, Ariz.

Marc was preceded in death by his father.

Memorial contributions can be made in Marc's name at the Durango branch of Wells Fargo Bank.

Arrangements are being made through Ertel Funeral Home.

For further information or to send condolences, log on to ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.



Condolences: James "Skip" Craddock MCFD/HFEO

Cal Fire News expresses our sincere condolences to the family of "Skip" Craddock. Skip Passed away unexpectedly January 30, 2007. A long-time HFEO with MCFD, Skip retired in 2000. His smile, warmth and generosity will never be forgotten by his extended MCFD family.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

News: Hayfork's brand new fire engine in wreck

Hayfork's fire engine in wreck while en route to new home

HAYFORK -- A brand-new fire engine had traveled almost 2,000 miles and was only about 40 miles from its new home in Hayfork on Tuesday morning when it was hit head-on in the slushy snow.

The shiny red engine would have been the town's first new rig in 40 years. Although the engine had to be towed away from the wreck, it's unclear whether it can be repaired or if a new one will need to be ordered, said David Loeffler, chief of the Hayfork Fire Protection District. Either way, he said the district plans to end up with a functioning, new pumper engine.

"I'm still holding the check," he said.

The check is for $295,000.

The truck, which was being delivered from Lyons, S.D., was hit by a sport utility vehicle Tuesday morning on Highway 299 near Crystal Creek Road.

Jerry Siemonsma, 63, of Hartford, S.D., was driving the 2008 Rosenbauer fire engine west at 8:25 a.m. when Sherie Dabney, 32, of Redding lost control of her eastbound SUV and slid into the path of the truck, said Ken Tidwell of the California Highway Patrol. Both vehicles were going about 20 mph and collided head-on.

Siemonsma was not injured in the wreck, and Dabney was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Redding with moderate injuries, Tidwell said. He said the highway was slippery from rain and snow at the time of the wreck.

A grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is covering the cost of Hayfork's new fire engine, Loeffler said. The district, which has 19 volunteers, currently has three functioning fire rigs -- all more than 40 years old.

Loeffler said the new engine was ordered last year and was set to become the primary engine for the district, which serves Hayfork's nearly 2,500 residents.

"It's designed to take care of the town," he said.

Source: redding.com

IAFF News: Fire Fighters Help Send Giuliani Packing

January 30, 2008      Contact: Bill Glanz 202 824-1566 or 202 329-5856 (cell)

Fire Fighters Help Send Giuliani Packing


Washington, DC – International Association of Fire Fighters General President
Harold A. Schaitberger issued this statement today on the decision by former
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to drop out of the 2008 race for president:

“Rudy Giuliani’s decision to end his campaign for president of the United
States is good news for our country and is a clear repudiation of his shameless
effort to profit – politically and financially – from a national tragedy.

“The International Association of Fire Fighters sought to expose Giuliani for
his unusually selfish motives since he launched his unlikely run for the
nation’s highest office.

“The IAFF sought to expose Giuliani for using a trumped-up version of his role
in the events before, during and after September 11, 2001.

“Last year, we began loudly making it clear that Giuliani’s bad judgment had
proven to fire fighters that he was unqualified to be president.

“We produced a video chronicling Giuliani’s failures up to, during and after
the tragedy that he shamefully used as the platform for his campaign. ‘Rudy
Giuliani – Urban Legend’ has been viewed more than 400,000 times on the
Internet.

“Then, in the last two weeks of the Florida primary, when a majority of voters
traditionally make up their minds, and in the primary that Giuliani staked his
campaign on, we dispatched retired New York fire fighters to Florida to
continue chipping away at the Giuliani myth.

“Retired FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Riches and retired FDNY Deputy Chief Al Santora,
who both worked during Giuliani’s administration, traveled across Florida to
let people know that FDNY fire fighters don’t support Giuliani’s candidacy. We
also sent campaign literature to more than 128,000 Florida voters outlining
Giuliani’s shortcomings.

“Giuliani ran a campaign based on misinformation, portraying himself as a 9/11
hero. Our fire fighters countered with the real message – that Giuliani is a
shameless self promoter – and our message is the one that resonated.

“We said from the beginning that using 9/11 as the foundation for his campaign
put Giuliani on shaky ground. Now the ground beneath Giuliani has crumbled.

“While there are certainly many reasons the voters rejected Giuliani, the role
our members played was significant and they should be applauded for standing up
and telling the truth during the most important election that our country
holds.

“Voters no longer have to listen to Giuliani brag about his perceived 9/11
accomplishments. September 11 was a national tragedy, not a political launching
pad. Perhaps Giuliani will grasp that now.”

The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington,
DC, represents more than 287,000 full-time professional fire fighters and
paramedics who protect 80 percent of the nation’s population. More information
is available at www.iaff.org

Fire News: Marc Mullenix passed away

photo of Marc MullenixMarc Mullenix of Fairmount Fire Dept near Denver passed away on 1- 28

Marc Mullenix (ICT1 trainee on Rocky Mtn Team) passed away last night.

Last year he was a Type 1 Incident Commander trainee on Kim Martin's Incident Management Team in the Rocky Mountain Geographic Area.

Marc was a veteran of Ground Zero/ 9-11 and an IC IMT2 during Katrina operations.

UPDATE: Marc Mullenix services

Services for Marc Mullenix will be held
Feb 6th, 1200 at the
Faith Bible Chapel
6250 Wright St
Arvada, CO.

Please send all flowers or contributions to
Fairmount Fire
4755 Isabell Rd
Golden CO 80403.
Cards can be sent to

Shawna Legarza
PO Box 785
Mancos CO 81328

Previous employers and assignments included:

  • Bureau Land Management Station Forman for the Benton Fire Station, California (1989)
  • Wildland Fire Division Chief for the Boulder Fire Department, Colorado.
  • Fire Management Officer for Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.
  • Fairmont Fire Protection District, Colorado.
  • Ground Zero New York, New York 9-11-2001
  • Katrina -Texas - IC IMT2

Here is a link to a short article of Marc recounting his work at Ground Zero
Here is a link to a short article of Marc recounting his work at the Snaking fire outside of Denver which appeared on the CNN web site.
Here is a link to a short article on Cal Fire News of Marc discussing the Neola North Fire

Marc Mullenix quotes found on the web:

In regards to Ground Zero- "We saw the faces; we heard the stories; we were at the pile when they found a body," he says."In 22 years of fire service, this was by far the worst thing and the best thing ... the most psychologically draining thing I've ever done. Every nerve ending was ripped open like a scab. I'll never forget the smell. The noise was unbearable ... every one of your senses is maxed out. "

In regards to the Colorado wildfire threat - It`s like you`re a boxer You`ve knocked the guy down , but the fight`s not over yet" (s)

In regards to the Mason Fire then the No. 1 Priority In Nation - Colorado wildfire - " The fire has got the advantage right now" (s)

Marc Mullenix the optimist regarding a 80 square mile fire in Nebraska- "We've had a very productive night last night, and we've had a very productive day," (s)

Marc Mullenix the optimist regarding the Neola North Fire Utah - "Buckets of water don't do much when your humidity is in the single digits, Marc Mullenix, an incident commander-in-training, said Monday.
"This is some pretty tough weather to fight fires in."Still, crews successfully have thrown back the fire!"
(s)

Join the discussion of Marcs passing at: WildlandFire.com Theysaid Forum
As friends and
colleague's share remembrances about this larger than life professional wild land fire fighter's life, The following quotes in regards to Marc are from Theysaid.

"
Marc was a colleague, mentor, and friend. Words fail to express our loss.
Please say a prayer for our brother, his family, and his friends.
Rest assured, his passion will live on in all of us fortunate to have worked
with him.
Godspeed, Marc, Godspeed."

"
Marc was an excellent firefighter, leader, teacher, motivator, and friend"

"
When someone as fine as Marc passes on it's hard to know what to say.
He was a good thinker, good strategist, cared for the troops, knew how
to communicate. He was a LEADER. It's hard to think that he won't be
around doing what he did well. Our loss, fire's loss. My condolences to
his family."

"
I am deeply saddened to hear of Marc's passing. Marc was an excellent firefighter, leader, teacher, motivator, and friend. The most important thing I learned from Marc was 'always take care of your people'. It was hard not to have fun when around Marc, even when situations got to be a bit rough he had a way of keeping morale up while keeping the troops focused on the task at hand. He was a great guy that will be dearly missed.
My condolences to his family.
Godspeed, Marc."

"
I met Marc at least twenty years ago in Boulder, CO and wrote a story about this larger-than-life wildland guy. Just talking with him, I could sense that this man was going places in the wildland fire world. And, he sure did! He was known far and wide in that world, thinking out of the box. Doin great things for his wildland fire folks. He reminded me of wildland fire legend, Paul Gleason. Since they knew each other, I should think that they are sittin side by side under a big old pine tree swapping fire stories up yonder. Ya, that's how I picture him and his friend, Paul."

To his wife Shawna, and to his daughter, extended family and vast numbers of friends and colleagues, the sincerest condolences on the passing of one of wildland fire's memorable and excellent personalities. He's home now.
RIP

Please leave comments here

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

SAR News: Volunteers join search for Brianna Denison

Update: 02-04-08 - Join the hunt for Brianna Denison.

Volunteers will be working till February 10th to search for
the kidnapped young woman, taken recently from a home near
UNR.

Those interested can sign up to help at the Mandalay A room
at Circus Circus (8:30am). Dress warm.
Lets not give up hope that she is still alive.
Brianna DenisonBrianna Denison Missing - Kidnap - Sexual assault victim


Volunteers join search for Denison
JACLYN O'MALLEY


Volunteers from two national missing children's organizations are in Reno looking for Brianna Denison, the 19-year-old college student who was abducted from a friend's home eight days ago.

The crews arrived after the Sunday announcement that DNA has linked Denison's abductor to the man who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a University of Nevada, Reno student a week before Christmas.

That man, who has not been captured, kidnapped the 22-year-old student on Dec. 16 from the parking lot of her apartment, which is a few blocks from the house at 1395 MacKay Court where Denison was last seen.

Police believe he is a local man, worked in the area or is very familiar with the UNR area.

Workers from the Laura Recovery Center for Missing Children based in Friendswood, Texas, and the Polly Klaas Foundation based in Petaluma, Calif., are expected to begin searching on foot today throughout the region. The group will be searching state parks, lakes and reservoirs and walking alongside highways, such as U.S. 395 through Carson City and Interstate 80 through Fernley.

Police returned to the neighborhood where Denison was abducted and walked throughout the UNR area posting updated fliers about her disappearance, which occurred about 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 20.

Police urged anyone with information about anyone resembling the suspect to come forward with tips, no matter how inconsequential they seem. Because DNA has been collected, people can be ruled out as suspects, said Commander Ron Holladay.

The man's DNA has been entered into a national database of convicted offenders' DNA but did match any in the system. Scientists said there are large backlogs in entering DNA profiles into the system.

Holladay said people also should consider someone who has drastically changed his behavior, suddenly moved or is known to have small children's items in his vehicle. The UNR student who was assaulted did not see his face but said she saw a baby shoe inside her attacker's truck.

Police suspect her attacker tried to break inside her locked apartment the morning before Denison was abducted.

"We are hopeful still that Brianna is alive and hope this new development will help facilitate her release if she is being held against her will," Lt. Robert McDonald said Monday of the DNA link. "We have his DNA, and we are going to find him if not today or next week or next year, then 10 years from now. We will find him.

"We won't ever give up."

For the past week, Reno police have taken calls on a 24-hour hot line, which has not yielded any significant tips. On Sunday, emergency dispatchers utilized a reverse 911 automated system that left a telephone message with Reno residents updating them about the suspect information and the DNA link.

On Tuesday, UNR police Chief Adam Garcia e-mailed students and staff to update them on the case. He said the disappearance of Denison, a Santa Barbara City College student, has created an increase in students' safety awareness. Last week, UNR police hosted safety presentations on campus and a community briefing with Reno police to address safety concerns.

"I find any crime of this nature despicable regardless if it is connected to the campus or not," Garcia said. "In our mind, the close proximity of events hit home when we first heard of the November assault, and we have followed it closely since then."

Garcia was referring to a Nov. 13 incident in which a 21-year-old UNR student was assaulted about 5 p.m. in her apartment complex parking lot in the 400 block of College Drive. The assailant ran away after she kicked him and screamed.

Police said they cannot connect the incident to the December rape and Denison's disappearance but continue to investigate.

"We are asking that people take their safety into account," Garcia said. "I still feel the campus is safe. People should be concerned for their safety, but that should not be translated into being frightened. They should take appropriate actions to protect themselves."

Source: RGJ.com

News: After Delays, California Firehouse Rises

ANNE KRUEGER
The San Diego Union-Tribune


HARBISON CANYON -- Harbison Canyon fire Capt. Mike Simpson has kept a firetruck at his house for more than four years, ever since the station in the East County community was destroyed in the 2003 wildfires.

With a recent groundbreaking for a $1.1 million station, that truck is expected to have a new home by fall.

The road to a new fire station has been beset by numerous obstacles, including difficulties reaching an insurance settlement and finding an appropriate site for the building.

"You name it and we had to jump through it or it backfired on us," said Dave Nissen, chief of the San Diego Rural Fire Protection District.

Simpson, captain of the seven volunteer firefighters who serve Harbison Canyon, said he expects volunteers will want to spend time at the station so more people will be available when an emergency call comes in.

"Most people don't want to come down and hang at my house," he said.

Simpson said he and his girlfriend, also a firefighter, have often been the only volunteers to respond to emergency calls because there was no station. Nissen said the Sycuan Indian tribe's fire department also has responded to emergencies in Harbison Canyon.

The previous fire station -- a two-story, wood-frame building at least 60 years old -- was among more than 300 structures that burned in the tiny community in 2003. Nissen said the fire district took more than a year to settle the claim with its insurance company.

The former station site, at Harbison Canyon Road and Frances Drive, wasn't suitable for rebuilding because it didn't have adequate room for firetrucks to turn onto the road, Nissen said.

The district initially bought a 1.3-acre site from the county for $150,000, but Nissen said an environmental report showed that it couldn't handle a septic system, meaning no toilet facilities could be installed.

The county agreed to take back the land and return the district's money, and the search for property continued. Another prospective site was rejected because it's in a flood zone, Nissen said.

Finally, a 1-acre site was located on Harbison Canyon Road near St. George Drive. The district paid $400,000 for the land, which had been the site of a home destroyed in the fire.

In addition to the $900,000 insurance settlement, the district also received $100,000 from the Sycuan tribe and $50,000 from county Supervisor Dianne Jacob's office to pay for the new station.

The 2,400-square-foot building will be made of prefabricated steel, with an office and a common room. Nissen said it will have a slate facade and improvements along the roofline to make it more attractive.

Mary Manning, a Harbison Canyon resident for 32 years, said she has been trying to get a fire station since the old one burned down.

"In actuality, we're going to end up with a building that is considerably nicer than what we lost," Manning said.

Robert Fligg, a real estate agent and member of the local planning group, isn't so sure. He said he thinks the fire department can build a better station with the insurance money.

"I just feel that they're putting up a metal building and they're not spending the money that we got," Fligg said.

Nissen said he expects the fire station will be open by October. In addition to protecting Harbison Canyon, the station will be a landmark and a meeting area for the community, he said.

"Fire stations are pillars of the community," Nissen said. "It breeds confidence in the community when you have a fire station."

Source: Firehouse.com (link)

Monday, January 28, 2008

SAR: Brianna Denison - Suspect DNA recovered

UPDATE: Brianna Denison - Search is being organized in Reno tomorrow.../More details to come

UPDATE: Brianna Denison - Suspect DNA recovered


Update #3:

The Reno Police Department and the FBI are continuing to investigate the disappearance of Brianna Denison and the following information is being provided as part of a request for additional assistance:

Evidence obtained from the scene of Brianna Denison’s disappearance included DNA genetic samples. After analysis by the Washoe County Crime Lab, a positive link has been established between this case and a Kidnap and Sexual Assault case that occurred at a nearby residence on December 16, 2007 @ 2:05 a.m. The victim in the December case was also the victim of a recent (1/19/08) attempted burglary at her residence in the 1400 block of N. Virginia St. On November 13, 2007 shortly after 5:00 p.m., an unknown suspect sexually attacked a UNR student who was walking to her home in the neighborhood. That case is also being investigated as being possibly connected to those already mentioned.

Additionally, detectives have learned of new information relative to these three mentioned cases which is being distributed to the public. This information is relative to a possible suspect vehicle and a suspect description which are as follows:

Suspect vehicle: Extended cab pick-up truck or SUV, dome light above the windshield, tall enough that it requires a step up to gain entry, floor-mounted console that was described as “fairly skinny” that opens in front, blue and red LED read-out on the radio, cloth seats, automatic transmission. There was a baby shoe on the front seat floor board. There were 8 ½” x 11” white pieces of paper with typing on the floor board of the front seat.

Suspect: White male, approximately 28 - 40 years, long face with a square chin, taller than 5’6” but not excessively so, very strong but not with a significantly muscular build, a belly that was described as not excessively large and firm but not flabby, an “innie” belly button, a light covering of hair on his arms, no jewelry or a watch, facial hair about a quarter to a half an inch long below his chin and was soft and not prickly as stubble normally is, unknown if he had a mustache, brown head hair of undetermined style, normal speech with no accent or regional dialect, no smoker’s breath, no alcohol, no bad breath, no cologne or after-shave.

Suspect clothing at the time of the Kidnap/Sexual assault: red (not maroon) short sleeve shirt described as being made of material similar in feel to a Fubu jersey-type shirt (silk/rayon/polyester type) with a medium blue-colored neckline, short printed (possibly embroidered) word on the upper left breast area, another shirt underneath with wrist-length sleeves, unknown color pants – regular length – not jeans. The pants reminded the victim of basketball pants as the material was smooth but they made no noise when he moved and they had an elastic waist band and no zipper.




Update #2: Possible suspect description:
White male likely in his 30s, Approx 5'-6" with a long face and square chin.
  • Large stomach and an "innie" belly button.
  • Shaved hair around his pubic area
  • Wears jersey-style shirt and workout pants with an elastic band.
Vehicle: Truck description from previous assault victim:
Pickup truck or a sport utility vehicle - White male between the ages of 28 and 40 who may be driving a pickup truck or a sport utility vehicle.

The assault victim also told authorities that the truck used in her December kidnap had a dome light above the windshield, was tall enough to require a step and had a floor-mounted console with a radio featuring red and blue LED lighting. A baby's shoe was on the floor of the vehicle, as were pieces of paper with typing.

24-hour tip line at 775-745-3521.


DNA Ties Teen's Kidnap to Previous Sex Assault

Reno Police Zero In on Suspect Accused in Coed's Abduction, Attack Last Month

Reno police announced the break in the case of the missing student, Brianna Denison, late Sunday and today will begin a more focused search for a suspect described as a white male between the ages of 28 and 40 who may be driving a pickup truck or a sport utility vehicle.

"It is a huge leap for us in the case," police Cmdr. Ron Holladay said today on "Good Morning America." "What we need to do now is find the suspect and match up the DNA."

If you have any information on this case, please call the 24-hour tip line at 775-745-3521.

The same suspect is now wanted by police for a Dec. 16 sexual assault in which he allegedly abducted another young woman outside her house near the University of Nevada-Reno campus and sexually assaulted her.

The victim in the December assault was also the target of an attempted robbery on Jan. 19, the day before Denison vanished as she slept on a couch at a friend's off-campus house.

There is no hard evidence linking the attempted robbery with Denison's disappearance, or the December sexual assault.

For a week, Denison's family and friends have held onto hope that Denison will be returned by her abductor. Lauren Denison, the young woman's aunt, called the announcement about the DNA match "bittersweet."

"We have something we can focus on now without letting our minds run wild," she said on "GMA." "We're in a sense happy, but saddened by what we know this suspect is capable of doing."

Authorities reinterviewed the victim of the December attack after they made the match to DNA left behind in Denison's abduction. They hope that details provided by the victim, who has not been identified, might help them identify and apprehend the suspect.

The assault victim also told authorities that the truck used in her December kidnap had a dome light above the windshield, was tall enough to require a step and had a floor-mounted console with a radio featuring red and blue LED lighting. A baby's shoe was on the floor of the vehicle, as were pieces of paper with typing.

In addition to being a white male likely in his 30s, the suspect was described as about 5 feet 6 inches tall with a long face and square chin. He had a large stomach and an "innie" belly button, according to police. He had shaved the hair around his pubic area and was wearing jersey-style shirt and workout pants with an elastic band.

Source: ABC News
Video:

News: American LaFrance filed for bankruptcy

Fire Engine Maker Files for Chapter 11

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Fire engine maker American LaFrance on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing inventory problems and a depressed market for emergency equipment.

In a filing submitted to U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, the South Carolina-based company said it had problems changing from a unit of Freightliner, which ran the company from 1995 through the end of 2005, to its new owners.

Freightliner provided accounting, inventory and payroll services to American LaFrance through June, the court documents said. When American LaFrance went to a new system, there were inventory and customer data problems.

The company was also unab le to finish many vehicles on order, according to documents filed in bankruptcy court. The documents also cited new emission standards that the company said will require vehicle design changes.

The company, which employs about 1,000 workers in six states, has more than 1,000 creditors and more than $100 million in liabilities. American LaFrance's Chapter 11 filing protects it from creditors' lawsuits while it reorganizes its finances.

A company spokesman did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Monday.

Source: Chron.com

HEALTH ADVISORY: Avoid the waters off Morro Bay

HEALTH ADVISORY: San Luis Obispo County health services department - Avoid the waters off Morro Bay

MORRO BAY - The waters around Morro Rock and along the beaches of Morro Bay have been contaminated.

A warning has been issued by the health officer of San Luis Obispo County. On Sunday there was a power outage at the California Men's Colony and a nearby sewage treatment plant. The back up power failed, causing pproximately 20,000 gallons of sewage treleased from the California Men's Colony to Chorro Creek in San Luis Obispo. According to the health officer, the sewage has been contained, and sewage is not currently running down to Chorro Creek. It is advised that the public stay out of the water. The water is being tested today and results will be available later this afternoon.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

EARTHQUAKE: 3.0 GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

M3.0 - GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA - 2008 January 28 01:28:48 UTCAddress:
-

+34° 2' 31.56", -117° 14' 11.40"

Earthquake Details

Magnitude 3.0
Date-Time
  • Monday, January 28, 2008 at 01:28:48 UTC
  • Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 05:28:48 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location 34.042°N, 117.237°W
Depth 14.9 km (9.3 miles)
Region GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA
Distances
  • 1 km (1 miles) ESE (118°) from Loma Linda, CA
  • 6 km (4 miles) WSW (255°) from Redlands, CA
  • 8 km (5 miles) ESE (108°) from Colton, CA
  • 11 km (7 miles) SSE (152°) from San Bernardino, CA
  • 93 km (58 miles) E (91°) from Los Angeles Civic Center, CA
Location Uncertainty horizontal +/- 0.2 km (0.1 miles); depth +/- 0.6 km (0.4 miles)
Parameters Nph=136, Dmin=9 km, Rmss=0.37 sec, Gp= 25°,
M-type=local magnitude (ML), Version=C
Source
Event ID ci14345056


Google Earth >kml, Google Map
Other Maps: Recent earthquakes with fault and topographic information


http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Maps/Los_Angeles.gif

Update: Missing Pacifica Firefighter found dead

Update: Jeffrey "Lunchbox" Rhodes, a 45-year-old Pacifica firefighter and Brentwood resident who had been reported missing since Friday, was found dead in his pickup truck in a rural area of Brentwood with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Brentwood police Lt. Tom Hansen reported.(2)
Update:Missing Pacifica firefighter found dead after traffic accident

Jeffrey Jeffrey "Lunchbox" Rhodes, “outstanding” man and firefighter" Pacifica firefighter from Engine 72 and Brentwood resident Jeffrey Rhodes, 45, was found dead this morning after a two-day search, according to Pacifica officials.
  • Pacifica City Manager Stephen Rhodes (no relation) confirmed at 1:15 p.m. that he had received word that Rhodes’ body had been found earlier this morning.
  • The father of four went missing after leaving his Brentwood home before dawn on Friday morning, en route to begin his firefighting shift in Pacifica, according to media reports.

  • A search began after he never showed up for work.

    • Pacifica Deputy Fire Chief Steve Brandville said Rhodes had been with the fire department for five of six years and was an “outstanding” man and firefighter.
    • “All I can say is, he was one of the most liked people in the department,” said Brandville. “It’s been especially hard on the crew itself. They’ve been very tight and this came completely unexpectedly.”

    Sources: Photo by Mary Sheppard, (SFGate.com)

Alert: Pacifica firefighter missing since Friday afternoon

Update: Missing Pacifica firefighter found dead
  • Pacifica City Manager Stephen Rhodes (no relation) confirmed at 1:15 p.m. that he had received word that Rhodes’ body had been found earlier this morning.
  • The father of four went missing after leaving his Brentwood home before dawn on Friday morning, en route to begin his firefighting shift in Pacifica, according to media reports.

  • A search began after he never showed up for work.

It was not known as of 2 p.m. where Rhodes’ body was discovered, by whom or in what condition. The Brentwood Police Department did not immediately return calls, although Brentwood officers previously reported that they did not suspect foul play.

Route: 63-mile route from Brentwood to Daly City

Description:
White male, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 170 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. Note:
Tattoo of a bird on his left shoulder.
Vehicle:
1998 white Ford-150 truck with an extra cab and the license plate 5T28550.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call either Detective Couch at 925-809- 7730 or Detective Daansen at 925-809-7732.

BRENTWOOD - (1)Police are asking the public for help finding a Brentwood man who disappeared on his way to work early Friday morning.

Jeffrey Rhodes, 45, left home about 4:45 a.m. for his firefighting job at Pacifica Fire Department but never arrived, said Lt. Tom Hansen of Brentwood Police Department.

Rhodes' wife reported him missing about 12:30 p.m., Hansen said.

Since then Brentwood police together with California Highway Patrol and East Bay Regional Parks have been searching for Rhodes, tracing his usual 63-mile route with ground units and a couple of helicopters to see if he'd had an accident and driven off the road, Hansen said.

Police don't suspect foul play, he added.

Rhodes was driving a 1998 white Ford-150 truck with an extra cab and the license plate 5T28550.

He is described as white, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 170 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. Rhodes also has a tattoo of a bird on his left shoulder.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call either Detective Couch at 925-809- 7730 or Detective Daansen at 925-809-7732.

News: Tracy Fire Department responds to house collapse

Photo by Bob O'Connor/Cal Fire NewsPhoto by Bob O'Connor/Cal Fire News
Update: A man killed in a collapsed house in Saturday afternoon was identified today as an unlicensed contractor out of Stockton Rodel Pamintuan, 41, was inside the house at 3741 W. Grant Line Road in Banta when the building suddenly collapsed. Another man also in the house and was rushed to San Joaquin General Hospital for treatment of minor head injuries.

Cal-OSHA spokeswoman Kate McGuire said her agency was notified of the incident and received a report that said a beam inside the house was removed just prior to the collapse. She added that the agency will not investigate further. McGuire said the case is out of Cal-OSHA’s jurisdiction because Parmintuan was a private, unlicensed contractor.



Tracy, Ca - The Tracy Fire Department responded to a complete structural collapse of a house in Tracy Saturday, the collapse killed one Man and injured another one.

A house in rural Tracy that appeared as though it was being prepared for demolition collapsed today, killing a man and sending another to the hospital

Collapse
Fire crews remove debris from the house as they worked to shore up the remaining section of roof. Photo by Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
An old house collapsed on the 3000 block of West Grant Line Road this afternoon, killing a man and injuring another as the two worked to demolish the house.

The two men, both described as being in their mid-30s, had emptied the house and seemed to be gradually tearing it down, said Tracy Fire Department Division Chief David Bramell.
The name of the man who died had not been released as of this afternoon.

The other man was driven by ambulance to San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp for minor head injuries.

About 15 firefighters worked to carefully remove parts of the collapsed house to get to the man’s body.

Whole story at: Tracy Press - A house in rural Tracy that appeared as though it was being prepared for demolition collapsed today, killing a man and sending another to the hospital.

Photo from Glenn Moore -Tracy press

Photo by Bob O'Connor/Cal Fire News

Tracy Fire department radio communication frequencies:
Primary channel frequency of 155.055 mhz
Tactical channel frequency of 154.310 mhz.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Alert: Orange County issues Voluntary evacuation order

Orange County issues Voluntary evacuation for Santiago, Modjeska, Silverado, Williams and Harding canyons. (USGS Web Cams)

Orange County public safety officials urged residents of wildfire-denuded Santiago, Modjeska, Silverado, Williams and Harding canyons to evacuate their homes Saturday in advance of a storm that could produce flooding and mudslides.

Firefighters want people to be out their homes by noon, but the evacuations are only voluntary.

Firefighters will begin emergency preparations at 8 a.m. Sunday by calling in additional swift-water rescue crews and moving a rescue truck into place at the mouth of Silverado Canyon to shorten response time, said Capt. Mike Blawn of the Orange County Fire Authority.

A bulldozer will be available around the clock to clear any mud flows, he said.
Starting about 6 a.m. Sunday, firefighters will begin patrols of riverbeds and will have two swift-water rescue teams ready to be deployed by helicopter, Blawn said.

Firefighters set up K-rails in strategic spots along Modjeska Canyon Road to divert runoff from homes.

Large Animals: Horses and other big animals can be taken to the Orange County Fairgrounds, and evacuated residents can go to El Modena High School at 3920 E. Spring St. in Orange, where a shelter will open at 4 p.m.

News: Ventura City proposal for 911 Tax - $50 per call

Editorial: Time for a recall and a new chief in Ventura?

The City of Ventura is proposing a large 911 tax under the guise of a fee, This will cause increased property damages during fires, reduced response times to medical emergencies, and sooner or later deaths will be directly attributed to this foolish, greedy plan which will cause people to think twice and wait longer before placing emergency assistance calls.

If I was a member of the Ventura community I would be organizing a recall today for members of the Ventura city council and the police chief who came up with this selfish harebrained idea which directly benefits the chief and his department. "I don't see anyone not calling 911 because of the $50 fee," said Police Chief Pat Miller, Who is obviously out of touch with his citizens who do not make the outlandish pay the chief does and worry about putting food on the table. This Tax will directly affect the poor and middle class poor who need the fifty bucks desperately unlike the overpaid chief.

I have a better idea an immediate 25% pay cut across the board for all upper managers in the City of Ventura, and a end to overtime abuse by city employee's, stating the obvious that all overtime request to be approved ahead of time by the city manager! A longer equipment replacement plan would help too. Do the police really need new cars every two years? I would like to see these cars ran into the ground before replacement! And no sir your officers do not need the newest light bar or other fancy gadget on the market each year use those old light bars laying around the city yard.

Email the Ventura police Chief

Dialing 911 in Ventura could cost you $50 per call, under a new city's proposal to recoup emergency dispatching costs and free up money to hire police officers and firefighters.

The Ventura City Council on Monday will consider approving a monthly "Emergency Services Access" fee to be collected on local cellular and land-line telephone bills. The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 501 Poli St.

In a revised version of the proposal, residents would have a choice: pay a flat $1.49 monthly fee on each phone line they own for unlimited 911 service, or $50 every time they call 911. The $50 charge could be the first of its kind in California.

Exemptions to the $50 fee would be granted for those reporting a crime or calling 911 on behalf of someone else for incidents such as a traffic accident or house fire. Low-income residents enrolled in the state's discount "LifeLine" service also would be exempt.

"I don't see anyone not calling 911 because of the $50 fee," said Police Chief Pat Miller, adding that he believed residents would appreciate having a choice of plans.

With an estimated 158,000 eligible phone lines, the city could recoup $2 million to $2.5 million of the $3.3 million it currently pays annually for 911 services, officials said. That would free money to hire police officers and firefighters.

Several Northern California cities charge monthly fees for 911 service, although some have been invalidated by judges who ruled they were essentially taxes that needed voter approval.

Ventura's ordinance would be the first in the state to give customers a choice, enhancing its legal defensibility, said its author, City Attorney Ariel Calonne.

Because the fee would pay for a specific city service, Calonne argued it would not be considered a tax and therefore not require voter approval.

"This is a creative way to add public safety in a horrible economy," he said. "I'm proud of it. This is not money being flushed into administrative overhead."

If approved, the fee would take effect May 1. The fee would continue indefinitely and could be adjusted annually for inflation by the City Council.

To pay on a per-call basis, residents would have to complete a city-provided form within 60 days of May 1. Customers could revert back to the monthly fee at any time, as long as they have paid off any outstanding debts

Friday, January 25, 2008

News: Flooding , Evacuations in Marin county

(01-25) 20:33 PST -- A flash flood warning has been issued for parts of Marin County, particularly in San Anselmo, Fairfax and Ross, as unrelenting rainfall drenches the region, the National Weather Service said tonight.

Creeks in those cities have reached flood level. Water is starting to spill over onto roadways, above all in downtown San Anselmo, where business owners have boarded up their businesses and up to 400 residents have evacuated from their homes, according to the San Anselmo Police Department.

Police went door-to-door at around 6:30 p.m. asking people in flood areas to move to higher ground.

"We sounded an alarm in both San Anselmo and Fairfax telling people to move to higher ground," said Todd Standfield, engineer with the Ross Valley Fire Department.

Standfield said the fire department has in place an automated telephone system set to call residents threatened by flooding with information on flood levels, where to find shelter, and how to get to higher ground.

Standfield said it's been a particularly active day for city officials because of the flooding - busier than it was during an earlier powerful storm this month.

"This one is much worse given the perpetual consistency of the torrential rainfall," he said.

He said the fire department has responded to a number of incidents of flooding, trees down, roadway accidents and mudslides.

"And obviously, the rain hasn't subsided," said Stanfield.

Periods of heavy rainfall are expected to continue until at least 6 a.m. Saturday.

Source: SFGate.com

LAFD: Fatal Rotary Aircraft Crash

A small helicopter crashed onto the southbound lanes of the Harbor (110) Freeway at Century Blvd.
There has been at least one fatality. All southbound lanes are closed.
Described as small, private type, possibly home made type.
Location: S/B 110 Freeway @Century Bl
Sizeup: Aircraft Crash With Fatality - Small helicopter crashed. Was on fire. 1 dead on board.
Comms: NFD; Ch:7,14 TG 704-C4; FS 57,
@11:01 PM -Ron Myers###

Info source: LAFD_ALERT

Update: KNBC news:
An investigation was under way Saturday in the death of a helicopter pilot who died in a fiery crash on a South Los Angeles freeway."Firefighters arrived to find the wreckage burning on the southbound Harbor (110) Freeway near Century Boulevard at about 11 p.m. Friday, said Ron Myers of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The pilot, based at Torrance Airport, was flying a Robinson R-22 from El Monte to Torrance when under unknown circumstances he crashed onto the southbound lanes of the freeway, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Ian Gregor
The pilot died at the scene and was the only person inside the helicopter, said Gregor, who added officials have yet to determine what led to the crash.
The FAA was out last night and so was the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board)," he said.The aircraft, which authorities believe was trying to land, did not make contact with any other vehicle on the ground, CHP Sgt. Eric Broneer told a camera crew.However, there were reports that one vehicle ran over debris from the helicopter's wreckage, Broneer told the camera crew.
Pieces of the wreckage were spread across the freeway, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was notified about power lines that may have been damaged in the crash, according to the camera crew.
The R-22 is a small, piston-driven chopper frequently used for training, and built at the Robinson factory in Torrance. Priced at $230,000 new, they are among the smallest helicopters manufactured, and weigh just 885 pounds.

News: Highway 1 @ Devils slide is now open

Closed earlier at the Devils slide area due to a moderate mud slide, Highway 1 is now open again.
Highway Interstate 5 has been re-opened at the Grapevine in both directions

In Los Padres National Forest, Highway 33 remained closed Friday between Wheeler Springs and the Santa Barbara County line due to heavy snow, said Matt Winter, an officer with the California Highway Patrol in Ventura.

Highway 101 remains closed both directions due to flooding in Navato, San Rafael Creek has overflowed its banks.

SAR News: Mountain avalanche - One dead, One missing


Updates: Three missing people accounted for, One missing skier has been located (Walk in)

Angeles National Forest spokesman Stanton Florea said an avalanche advisory was issued for the ski area at nearby Mount Baldy, a 10,000-foot peak about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, and the lifts were closed.

Avalanche warning is in effect for Mountain High and Mount Baldy


Mountain avalanches in Wrightwood killed an off-duty ski patrol worker and left another person missing Friday as California strained under nearly a week of snow and rain.

The skier was p ulled from the snow in Wrightwood, a town in the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy C. Osterthaler said.

The 23-year-old was identified as an employee of the Mountain High ski area. He was taken to a hospital, where he died at about 4:30 p.m., said hospital spokeswoman Jana Retes.San Bernardino County fire officials said the man was skiing with two friends. The friends have not been located, according to authorities.Teams from Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties are assisting in the search.

A spokesman for Mountain High Resort said at least four avalanches were reported in the last 10 hours. John McColly, director of communications for the resort, said two avalanches were reported on a mountain road and two more were reported in a canyon area.

McColly said the resort received about 4 feet of snow during the recent storms. The avalanches occurred after an overnight storm that dumped new snow."I'm sure that the avalanches are due to the amount of snow that has fallen over the past several days," said Tim Wessel, division chief for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

The U.S. Forest Service said an avalanche warning is in effect for Mountain High and Mount Baldy.

Update: Three dead - A third avalanche victim has died, but a missing snowboarder walked out of the steep, snow-crusted mountains of eastern Los Angeles County early Saturday.

Friday's avalanche was at least the third and most deadly to catch skiers at the resort this week, officials said.
A large snow slide killed off-duty ski patrolman Michael McKay, 23, Friday afternoon.

A second avalanche, five minutes after the first, caught Darrin Coffey, 33, a veteran Mountain High ski patrol member. He was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the way down the mountain, but died at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

As much a 5 feet of snow fell at Mountain High this week, most of it in a 48-hour period ending Friday.

Rescuers Friday were working in a known avalanche path in Government Canyon, a gully on the east side of the resort.

Other searchers searched for the missing skier south of the mountain top.

Flash Flood Watches from LA to SF

FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT Actual/Future/Severe/Possible
:SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS- MONTEREY BAY...NORTHERN SALINAS VALLEY...HOLLISTER VALLEY...AND CARMEL VALLEY-BIG SUR COAST- SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS AND LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-
Alert sent at 12:39 PST on 2008-01-25

FLASH FLOOD WATCH .FOR THE BURN AREAS OF LOS ANGELES... VENTURA AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON Actual/Future/Severe/Possible
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY-SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SOUTH COAST- VENTURA COUNTY COAST- LOS ANGELES COUNTY COAST INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES- VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS- SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA-LOS ANGELES COUNTY VALLEYS- SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS- LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE- CATALINA ISLAND-SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-
Update sent at 12:05 PST on 2008-01-25
THE URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 PM PST FOR VENTURA COUNTY Actual/Future/Severe/Possible
MAINLY ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND INTO THE MOUNTAINS OF VENTURA COUNTY
Alert sent at 11:46 PST on 2008-01-25

Thursday, January 24, 2008

SAR News: Rescued hiker praises volunteers

After being stranded two days in the icy Mount Baldy area and coming out unscathed, a hiker from Camarillo said he's more grateful for his rescuers than his high-tech devices that helped them find him.

Ten to 12 search-and-rescue volunteers from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department searched the Cucamonga Wilderness area until they found 27-year-old Nathan Freund on Tuesday afternoon.

"They risked their own lives to save mine," Freund said Wednesday.

The experienced hiker became disoriented in dense fog Monday afternoon after he reached the top of 8,700-foot Ontario Peak, about 45 miles east of Los Angeles.

Freund said he had been in the area 15 to 20 times before.

As the weather closed in, he tried to keep track of his location by following heavily used trails. But the trail grew faint.

"Slowly, the footsteps kind of disappeared," said Freund, who lives in La Verne while attending Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont. "I was trying to tell my mind, OK, this is it, this is the way down.' I was so close, yet I didn't know exactly how to get back."

The fog caused Freund to lose his sense of direction. He said he made mistakes, such as traveling in the wrong direction and not marking his place at an important location.

But he had a sleeping bag and a tent, and he made good decisions that helped rescue crews locate him. He took a cell phone, a Global Positioning System unit and an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.

Freund's parents gave him the beacon for Christmas in 2006 to use if he ever got lost hiking.

Using his cell phone, Freund sent a text message to his sister, Rachel, and to his college roommate, telling them about his predicament Monday afternoon. Both notified authorities.

He also activated his beacon, sending a signal to the U.S. Air Force.

By Tuesday afternoon, the searchers found him.

"Nate did everything right," said Jodi Miller, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, adding that Freund correctly registered personal and vital information on his locator beacon.

But on Wednesday, Miller and others lauded the volunteers who handled the rescue.

"Truly, they are volunteers," Miller said. "They are taking leave off of their personal jobs. It means a lot to them. It was a very, very warm moment when he (Freund) got out of that search-and-rescue vehicle."

In Camarillo, Freund's father expressed similar sentiments.

The electronic devices are "cool," Erwin Freund said, "but this is not the real story."

Nathan Freund said the situation changed him. He said he is seriously considering joining a search-and-rescue team to help others who need the aid he sought.

"They took care of me very well," Nathan Freund added. "I have to give much thanks to them."

Source: Ventura County Star

San Bernardino County Press Release- Storm advisories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2008

County advises residents to prepare for storms

The National Weather Service and other forecasting agencies are predicting rain, heavy at times, for the next several days from Friday through Sunday, with the heaviest rain occurring on Saturday afternoon and evening.
The county is therefore warning residents in and below areas recently burned by wildfires to be aware of and prepare for the possibility of flooding.
Other low-lying areas near and adjacent to watercourses may experience localized flooding.

County public safety officials and crews will be monitoring weather conditions around the clock for the duration of the storms and will be poised to alert threatened communities should the need arise.

The county has several strategies and tools at its disposal, including the Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS), door-to-door and loudspeaker notifications, electronic message signs, physical and remote monitoring of flood-control channels and basins, and strategically positioned heavy equipment.

Residents are urged to be aware of their surroundings and approaching weather systems. They are also urged to review and update their emergency and evacuation plans, and if roads leading away from their property are in danger of being washed out, to identify the nearest high ground. Heavy thunderstorms can develop quickly and county crews may not have time to organize formal door-to-door evacuations.

Residents are advised to stay clear of flood control debris basins and channels.
Persons can be swept away by a surge of water run off, mudflow, or debris flow. These areas are also dangerous when it is not raining as persons may become trapped in mud and debris by venturing onto what may appear to be stable soil. Do not drive where water is over the road as floodwaters can rise rapidly and sweep a car and its occupants away.

The San Bernardino County Flood Area Safety Task Force (FAST) is staying in close contact with the National Weather Service on the subject of developing storm conditions. FAST members include officials from various County departments, cities, and state and federal emergency agencies.

The public can obtain information on storm conditions by accessing the San Diego National Weather Service (NWS) website at http://www.weather.gov/sandiego.

Information on sandbags and other disaster preparedness measures is accessible through the county web page at www.sbcounty.gov/floodinfo by clicking on “Sandbag Information” and “Flood Control Home”. Recorded information is available by calling (909) 355-8800.

A limited number of free sand and sandbags is available at county fire stations.
Fire station addresses as well as information on placement of sandbags is available on the county web site.

County agencies have been conducting community meetings and distributing flyers and other disaster information.
Crews have been patrolling the burn areas and affected watersheds and removing debris that could cause blockages.
One key effort involved the removal of blackened trees, which could fall into waterways and create artificial dams that would eventually break loose and unleash torrents of water, mud, and debris.
Protective measures including k-rail and sandbags have been placed at strategic locations.

NWS is predicting up to 10” of fresh snow in the local mountains. Visitors and residents driving into the mountains should be prepared with chains and necessary supplies for snow conditions and possible road closures.

FLOOD ADVISORY - .OAKDALE - MODESTO - CERES

AT 357 PM PST. LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES REPORTED THAT DRY CREEK WAS OUT OF ITS BANKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF OAKDALE AND WOODFORDS

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED AN * URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR RAPID RISES ALONG AREA CREEKS... INCLUDING DRY CREEK IN... NORTHEASTERN STANISLAUS COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...OAKDALE...MODESTO...CERES
... * UNTIL 400 PM PST FRIDAY
FLOOD ADVISORY - NWS SACRAMENTO CA Actual/Future/Severe/Possible
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
Alert sent at 15:59 PST on 2008-01-24



SAR: Update - 93-year-old Redding man found safe

A 93-year-old Redding man who has Alzheimer’s disease was found safely by search and rescue crews at around 8:30 this morning, a SHASCOM dispatch supervisor said.

Crews found Arnold Walter Sargent near Texas Springs Road in Redding’s Centerville area, close to his home, the dispatcher said.

Sargent and had been reported missing since about 11 p.m. after he had wandered away from his home in the cold snowy weather.

Source: redding.com

Oregon: Sudden oak death quarantine expanded

Sudden oak death quarantine expanded for Oregon coast

Oregon has done a good job of keeping the tree-killing disease sudden oak death from exploding in the wild as it has in California. But any chance of eradicating the disease from the Southern Oregon coast, where it was first found in 2001, will require an expansion of the Curry County quarantine previously in place. Following public hearings held late last year, the Oregon Department of Agriculture is increasing the sudden oak death quarantine from some 26 square miles to about 162 square miles based on additional detections of Phytophthora ramorum, the fungus that causes the disease. The site, northeast of Brookings, remains the only place in Oregon where P. ramorum has been found in the natural environment.

"Our eradication efforts have worked very well at keeping sudden oak death from spreading to the rest of the state, but they haven't eliminated the disease," says Dan Hilburn, administrator of ODA's Plant Division. "P. ramorum has spread a little bit each year since we first discovered the disease nearly seven years ago, and we are continuing the eradication."

The fungus-caused disease has left a trail of dead trees in central and northern California ever since it was first detected in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid-1990s. P. ramorum invades susceptible trees through the bark, killing the entire tree or portions of the tree.

Certain species of oak commonly found in southwest Oregon, including tanoak and black oak, are very susceptible. But P. ramorum also infects rhododendron, huckleberry, madrone, myrtle, and several other shrubs.

P. ramorum was detected in Curry County about the same time it was first found in Humboldt County in northern California, where efforts to mobilize an eradication effort that includes cutting and burning of diseased trees did not materialize. Today, about 6,000 acres in Humboldt County have been affected by the disease compared to about 180 acres in Curry County.

"We haven't been able to get rid of it in Oregon, but it hasn't gotten away from us either," says Hilburn. "There is still a possibility that we can eradicate the disease. No one else in the world has ever eradicated a fungal disease like this from the wild. So the fact that we are still in the game is a remarkable achievement."

In order to be successful, Oregon officials have had to increase the quarantine area. Five new sites of P. ramorum have been detected outside the original 2007 quarantine area. While it is clear these are not new introductions but part of the original infestation in Curry County, some of the new sites are more than two miles from past sites.

That means the disease is jumping around a bit. Not every susceptible plant and tree within the quarantine area has the disease, but they may have been exposed.

"In order to keep the quarantine boundary so it contains all the possibly infected sites including those we don't yet know about and won't be able to find until next year's survey we've expanded the quarantine to a three mile buffer from all known infested sites," says Hilburn.

The quarantine is designed to keep sudden oak death from being spread through human activity by keeping potentially infected plant material from being transported from the area.

Signs are posted at all entrances informing people of the quarantine. Inspection and certain requirements are, for now, part of the way of life within the area. For many residents, there shouldn't be any change as long as at-risk plant material is not transported outside the quarantine area. For others, there will be an impact.

"There are nurseries and a timber mill within the expanded quarantine area that must now meet specific requirements set by USDA-APHIS (U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service) in order to move products outside the area," says Nancy Osterbauer, ODA Plant Health Program Manager.

Meanwhile, survey and eradication efforts will continue for a seventh straight year. Interagency cooperation has been a key to the project. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) have been responsible for aerial observation and detection of dead or diseased trees. ODF and ODA have been active in monitoring the spread of the disease on the ground. ODF has had the lead in cutting and burning the infected plant material while ODA monitors success of the treatment.

Oregon State University has provided the laboratory confirmation of P. ramorum when survey samples are taken. No single agency can provide the necessary resources to undertake the eradication project, but combined, success is possible. Research shows the disease can spread through wind-driven rain. That's why it is important to cut down affected trees quickly to take them out of the canopy and keep the fungus from splashing onto other trees and shrubs.

The disease can also be found in the soil and in water. USFS and ODF have been baiting more than 70 streams in southwest Oregon with rhododendron leaves as an early detection method for the disease.

The intensive monitoring and survey work underscores the importance of keeping the disease in check and confined to the original Curry County site.

Not only is the state's forest ecosystem and timber industry at risk, an important nursery industry is doing all it can to keep the disease from establishing in some of the susceptible plants grown and shipped from Oregon.

"There is always the possibility that the disease will spread naturally up the coast and inland and despite our best efforts there is no magic bullet," says Osterbauer.

"But without everyone's efforts the past few years and our current plans to keep it from artificially spreading, there would be a much larger area of concern."

Oregon officials hope the expanded quarantine will help at least buy some time for scientists to come up with a new and better plan to deal with P. ramorum and sudden oak death.

Source: Curry County reporter

For more information, contact Dan Hilburn at (503) 986-4663.

SAR: Shasta County - Missing 93-year-old male

Update:

SAR: Update - 93-year-old Redding man found safe


Sheriff’s team searcing for missing man

The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office has deployed a search and rescue team to look for a missing 93-year-old man in the Centerville area west of Redding.

A sheriff’s spokesman said the man has Alzheimer’s disease and went missing sometime late Wednesday night. Rescue teams have been out searching since about 11 p.m.

Glenn County officials planning central dispatch center

WILLOWS -- In a whopping step forward, Glenn County revved the engine Tuesday, propelling forward plans to centralize emergency dispatching and building a dispatch center.

In explaining an item on Tuesday's Willows City Council consent agenda, Glenn County Administrative Officer David Shoemaker said the county hopes to write federal legislators asking them to place the county's central dispatching project in an appropriations bill next year.

The Willows action was a resolution to show the city's support in the effort to get federal funding. Shoemaker said similar resolutions will be heard by Orland City Council, possibly Feb. 4, and Glenn County Board of Supervisors Feb. 5. Fire chiefs are also being asked to indicate their support.

Willows City Manager Steve Holsinger explained to the council Tuesday night that the resolution is an opportunity to procure millions of dollars for equipment and other needs to put central dispatch in place.

Holsinger said there would be no financial impact on the city at this time.

The council unanimously approved the resolution.

Tuesday's approval is one indication that support for centralizing dispatch has grown from just talk to serious action.

"We have the commitment. Everybody wants a central dispatch ..." Shoemaker said.

Two years ago, officials representing fire districts, city and county governments and law enforcement agencies formed a committee looking for ways to change the decades-old, fragmented system currently used.

Talks evolved into a formal study funded by a state grant and now a request for federal help to make the change a reality.

Currently, fires, accidents and medical emergencies are routed to the 14 city and rural-district firefighters through three sources: the Willows Fire Department, Cal Fire in Red Bluff and the Corning Fire Department.

Sheriff Larry Jones took steps to centralize dispatching through his office in 2006, including getting new equipment to dispatch the fire services. The Sheriff's Office currently provides emergency backup if needed. Progress toward becoming the sole dispatch center stalled for lack of funds to hire dispatchers.

The money Shoemaker said the county hopes to get from Washington D.C. would go toward constructing a building and buying communications equipment and possibly land.

Once the cities, supervisors and fire chiefs sign on, the next step is to send the letter to Rep. Wally Herger (R-Chico), and Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) by the end of February, when projects are normally submitted.

He said the dispatching center will be the only project requested.

"They don't want to see a long list," Shoemaker said. "This is the project we feel strongest about."

The actual cost of the project hasn't been determined, but the county is looking at dispatch centers recently built in Southern California for an estimate of costs. Shoemaker said the committee is trying to figure out what a building, land and other costs would be, along with identifying a local governing entity to agree to match funds.

"We're not just putting a hand out," he said.

Shoemaker said if a new dispatching center is built, it would probably be in the south end of the county, which would allow it to also be used as an Emergency Operations Center. Although the Sheriff's Office will likely become the sole dispatch provider, Shoemaker didn't know whether a new center would be adjacent to the Sheriff's Office or a separate entity.

Shoemaker said he thinks it's a very important project that has a good chance of being approved, and added the amount the project will require is probably "insignificant" for the amount of money Congress normally appropriates.

"I'm optimistic," Shoemaker said. "It has a lot of potential."

Source: ChicoEr

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****REMINDER**** Every fire has the ability to be catastrophic. The wildland fire management environment has profoundly changed. Growing numbers of communities, across the nation, are experiencing longer fire seasons; more frequent, bigger, and more severe, fires are a real threat. Be careful with all campfires and equipment.

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