Friday, October 26, 2012

Never Forget: Esperanza Fire LODDs six years later

6 years today since the deadly Esperanza Fire in Riverside County tragically took the lives of 5 firefighters.

Capt. Mark Loutzenhiser, Fire Engine Operator Jess "Gus" McLean, Assistant Fire Engine Operator Jason McKay and Firefighter Daniel Hoover/Najera, perished in the blaze defending a partially built home in the early morning hours of Oct. 26, 2006 in Cabazon, Calif. Firefighter Pablo Cerda succumbed to his injuries five days later at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

The Esperanza Fire was a wind-driven, arson-caused wildfire that was started in a river wash near Cabazon, California, west of Palm Springs, California. By Sunday, October 29, 2006, it had burned over 61 square miles (160 km²) and was 85% contained. On Monday, October 30, 2006, at 6:00 PM PST, the fire was declared fully contained.

Five firefighters were killed defending a vacant house locally known as the "Octagon" that was ultimately destroyed by the fire: Jason McKay, Jess McLean, Daniel Najera, Mark Loutzenhiser, and Pablo Cerda.

In June 2009, Raymond Lee Oyler was sentenced to death for starting the fire.

Santa Ana winds carried smoke as far away as San Diego, and a CAL FIRE report states that the winds ultimately led to the deaths of the firefighters.

With Santa Ana winds again blowing in Southern California, take time to pay tribute by helping us prevent another tragic fire.

Video: Photo1productions

Esperanza Fire The Esperanza Fire in Riverside County October 26th 2006

Full Esperanza Accident Report

U.S. Forest Service Accident Review Board Action Plan (22K PDF)

Esperanza Accident Report	Size
Full Accident Report	(3.8M PDF)
Title, Table of Contents	(209K PDF)
Executive Summary	(28K PDF)
Narrative	(42K PDF)
Maps	(2.1M PDF)
Photographs	(671K PDF)
Timeline	(32K PDF)
Investigation Process Summary	(30K PDF)
Human Findings	(25K PDF)
Causal Factors and Contributing Factors	(17K PDF)
Appendix 1 – Fire Behavior Analysis Summary	(225K PDF)
Appendix 2 – Fire Operations Analysis Summary	(33K PDF)
Appendix 3 – LCES Analysis Summary	(30K PDF)
Appendix 4 – Standards for Fire Operations Analysis Summary	(30K PDF)
Appendix 5 – Compliance Analysis Summary	(19K PDF)
Appendix 6 – Fire Weather Analysis Summary	(224K PDF)
Appendix 7 – Human Factors Analysis Checklist Summary	(62K PDF)
Appendix 8 – Personal Protective Equipment Analysis Summary	(16K PDF)
Appendix 9 – Equipment Engine 57 Analysis Summary	(179K PDF)
Appendix 10 – Video Documentation Listing	(14K PDF)
Appendix 11 – Glossary and Acronyms	(16K PDF)

CFN - California Fire News 2012

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Friday, October 26, 2012

Never Forget: Esperanza Fire LODDs six years later

6 years today since the deadly Esperanza Fire in Riverside County tragically took the lives of 5 firefighters.

Esperanza Fire The Esperanza Fire in Riverside County October 26th 2006

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