Ventura County Mourning the loss of Fire Engineer Ryan Osler #CALODD

Ventura County firefighters are mourning the loss of Fire Engineer Ryan Osler who died when a tanker rolled over Wednesday morning.

Fire Engineer Ryan Osler, 38, and another firefighter were working the Canyon Fire near Vandenberg Air Force Base when the crash happened around 6:20 a.m.

The apparatus, which was carrying 2,000 gallons of water, hit a roundabout at State Route 246 at Purisima Road in Lompoc, according to localtelevision station KSBY.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash had a "violent impact" which caused the apparatus to rollover. 

A special investigation team was summoned to the scene to help determine the cause of the crash.

Osler, the passenger, was trapped in the vehicle and later died.

Osler was assigned Station 42 in Moorpark.

He leaves behind a wife, a 12-year-old daughter and a 11-year-old son, according to the Ventura County Star.

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CA-AFV Canyon Fire LODD Ventura County Firefighter Died In Water Tender Rollover Near Lompoc Wednesday Morning. #CanyonFire

Ventura County firefighter died in the line of duty while working on the Canyon Fire near Lompoc at the Vandenberg Air Force Base Wednesday morning.


USFA Update: 

USA Firefighter Fatality Notification

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality: 

Name: Ryan Osler 
Rank: Fire Engineer

Age: 38

Gender: Male

Status: Career

Years of Service: 18

Date of Incident: 09/21/2016

Time of Incident: 0620hrs

Date of Death: 09/21/2016

  

Fire Department: Ventura County Fire Department

Address: 165 Durley Avenue, Camarillo, CA 93010-8586
Fire Department Chief: Mark Lorenzen

Incident Description: Ventura County Fire Engineer Ryan Osler died from injuries sustained in a fire apparatus crash while it was negotiating a traffic circle enroute to the Canyon Fire on Vandenburg Air Force Base. According to media reports, the water tender truck was loaded with 2,000 gallons of water and struck a curb in the roundabout then overturned. Two Firefighters were in the vehicle when it crashed. The passenger (Engineer Osler) was killed, while the driver suffered minor injuries. The fatal incident remains under investigation by authorities.

Incident Location: Highway 246 at Purisima Road in Lompoc, CA

Tribute is being paid to Fire Engineer Ryan Osler at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/

  

To date, 63 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2016.  Year-to-date and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/ff_fatality_reports.html

Ventura County Fire Department LODD CAL OES Water Tender Rollover
Credit: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Lompoc (KEYT)

Fire Engineer Ryan Osler was driving a fire water tender truck that reportedly rolled over near a roundabout on Highway 246 near Purisima Road. Lompoc, CACredit: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Lompoc (KEYT)

The Ventura County Fire Department said in a Twitter tweet that the firefighter died after a vehicle accident.
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With heavy hearts @VCFD Fire Chief announces tragic loss of Fire Engineer Ryan Osler in line of duty vehicle accident. Details to follow.

— Ventura County Fire (@VCFD) September 21, 2016

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The Ventura Copunty fire department said in a Facebook post that the firefighter died after a truck he was in rolled over on Purisima Road. The fire engineer, identified as Ryan Osler, was the passenger in the truck and sustained fatal injuries.
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Ventura County Fire Department

1 hr · 

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the Ventura County Fire Chief announces the tragic loss of Fire Engineer Ryan Osler, who lost his life in a line of duty vehicle accident on the Canyon Fire on Wednesday, September 21, 2016.

A second firefighter was involved in the accident and was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

We welcome your thoughts and prayers for the families of these firefighters. We ask that everyone be respectful of the families at this time. Please be patient as information is released. More details will follow soon.

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Incident reports at 6:20 a.m.: A water tender truck was traveling westbound on State Route 246, approaching a roundabout on Purisima Road. The driver ended up hitting a curb on the roundabout, causing the truck to rollover. The driver was taken to a hospital for minor injuries.

California Highway Patrol officers with the Buellton Station are investigating the crash.


Osler worked out of Fire Station 42 in Moorpark. The two firefighters in the water tender were providing help in the Canyon Fire, which ignited in a remote canyon near the Vandenberg Air Force Base on Sunday. The #CanyonFire has grown to 19 square miles and is 45 percent contained.

More than 1,000 firefighters are battling the blaze.
Voluntary evacuations were also ordered for about 400 residents in San Miguelito Canyon.

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LODD @VCFD tragic loss of Fire Engineer Ryan Osler in vehicle accident involving #CAOES WT rollover, w/ additl FF injury #CAfire

— CAL FIRE NEWS (@CalFireNews) September 21, 2016

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The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of Ventura County, California, and for six other cities within the county. Together, these areas compose the Ventura County Fire Protection District in the state of California, USA.
 The Ventura County Board of Supervisors is the fire district's board of directors. These five elected supervisors appoint the fire chief, and task him with providing fire protection services for the district.
In addition to the unincorporated areas of Ventura County, the department currently provides the following cities with service: Camarillo, Moorpark, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks.

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LODD: Oregon Firefighter Water Tender Rollover Big Windy Complex News Release

Big Windy Complex - Urgent Press Release

Tuesday, August 6, 2013 – 3:00 p.m.

It is with great sadness that we inform you of a firefighter fatality that occurred this morning at approximately 7:20 a.m. on the Big Windy Complex. The firefighter, 19 year old Jesse Trader, was returning from the evening shift when the water tender he was driving hit the embankment and rolled over on the Bear Camp Road near Soldier Camp. Firefighters in vehicles driving behind Jesse immediately stopped to assist. An advanced life support ambulance arrived on scene within minutes and life flight was quickly launched; however, all efforts to save Jesse were unsuccessful.

The loss of Jesse affects many people in so many ways. From the immediate suffering experienced by Jesse’s family and loved ones, to his close friends and the local communities who know and love him, to the firefighters who were the first responders, as well as the larger firefighting community; we are grieving for our fallen comrade. Please keep Jesse’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

An accident investigation team from Josephine County and cooperating law enforcement agencies arrived on scene shortly after the accident. Josephine County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency for public notifications. All agencies associated with the Big Windy Complex will be assisting and cooperating in all manners possible regarding this tragedy while continuing with the suppression work on the Big Windy Complex.

A press conference is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. today at the Grants Pass Interagency Office at 2164 NE Spalding Avenue in Grants Pass.

Incident: Big Windy Complex Wildfire
Related Information
Big Windy Complex Urgent News Release (PDF 118 kb)
Source: http://wildfirestoday.blogspot.com/2013/08/oregon-firefighter-lodd-big-windy.html

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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LODD: 19 YEAR OLD FIREFIGHTER DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY-APPARATUS CRASH AT WILDLAND FIRE

We regret to advise you that around 0830 yesterday, 19-year-old Jesse Trader was killed Tuesday morning while working the Big Windy Complex Fire about 25 miles northwest of Grants Pass in Josephine County Oregon.

Initial reports are that he lost control of the water tender/tanker vehicle he was driving, down a hill, lost control and went over the edge of a cliff. Rescue medics arrived within minutes but he could not be saved.

Jessie was a contractor FF was operating in the area of the big windy complex fire (one of five major forest fires in the region) was killed in the Line of Duty in a truck crash

Sheriff Gil Gilbertson says Trader was driving a water truck around 7:20 a.m. along Bear Camp Road near Soldier Camp when he lost control and slammed into an embankment. Gibertson estimates he might have been going 30 to 40 mph at the time of the accident. Life Flight got to him right away but it was too late. Trader was coming off his overnight shift.

He was a 2012 graduate of West Albany High School.

The southwestern fires were ignited by lightning late last month. They are burning in some of the state's most difficult mountain terrain, fed by vegetation parched by a widespread drought.

Our condolences to all-RIP

Related story: 

Water Truck Driver Killed During Oregon Wildfire

Driver was returning truck used at Big Windy fires when crash occurredPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The death of a 19-year-old water truck driver outside a rural Oregon wildfire came just months after he joined a community college firefighter training program and readied for his first fire season.

Jesse Trader had a baseball scholarship to Western Oregon University but chose to enroll at Chemeketa Community College for its fire protection program instead, his mother said Tuesday.

"This is what Jesse wanted to do with his life," said Gigi Trader, of Albany.

Jesse Trader was killed when his water truck overturned on a rural road's embankment early Tuesday morning outside the Big Windy complex of fires in southwest Oregon. Trader was taken from the scene by an air ambulance, but emergency responders were unable to revive him.

He was the sole occupant of the truck.

Gov. John Kitzhaber said in a prepared statement that Oregon owes Trader a debt.

"Even at such a young age, he was already contributing mightily to his community," Kitzhaber said, "and we owe him our gratitude for his commitment to helping protect his fellow citizens."

Trader's mother said his faith, and hers, helped her cope with the reality of his death just hours after getting a call from law enforcement.

"He was always willing to share his faith with others, he never got in any trouble," Gigi Trader said. "He was somebody who was going to be very successful."

Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson said it was unclear from the crash site why the truck left the road and overturned. "He was coming down the hill," Gilbertson said. "(The truck) was heading down to get a relief driver."

Trader was the second crew member killed this wildfire season in Oregon, and the 29th nationally.

On Aug. 1, 58-year-old John Hammack was killed in Central Oregon when the tree he was cutting fell on him.

The southwestern fires were ignited by lightning late last month. They are burning in some of the state's most difficult mountain terrain, fed by vegetation parched by a widespread drought.

The Big Windy's three fires are burning northwest of Grants Pass. More than 1,100 personnel were assigned to it as of Tuesday morning, and the fire area is estimated at more than 14 square miles, or more than 9,100 acres.

Fire officials hope to have containment lines around it next month but some say it could grow much larger and burn until fall rains and snow put it out.

"We're going to live with these fires until October 15th or later," Dan Thorpe, forester in charge of the state Department of Forestry's southwest district who has seen 41 fire seasons, said in an interview published Tuesday in the Medford Mail Tribune (http://bit.ly/12Y3I1Q ).

The fire is in the Siskiyous, a range that's part of the Klamath Mountains straddling southwest Oregon and Northern California.

There are six major wildfires in Oregon as of Tuesday. One of the southwestern fires, named Brimstone, is now considered 100 percent contained. The rest of the southwestern fires are burning on nearly 60,000 acres, or more than 93 square miles, and have drawn more than 5,600 people to fight them.

The sixth fire, in Central Oregon, has about 450 people working on the fire and is burning on about 500 acres.

Associated Press writer Tim Fought contributed to this report.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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Best Practices for Water Tender Operations (Water Tanker Back East Till They Catch Up) #CaFire

 Frequent training and review of safety concerns is a must to ensure safe operation of fire tankers

North Tree Fire Water tender After Rollover Accident Leaving California Wildfire

Use of fire service Water Tenders (also called water tankers back east)  is on the rise due to growing urban sprawl. More people are building houses in the wildland/urban interface and in areas that we once thought of as farmland—areas that don’t have the benefit of a fixed water supply system. But these properties still require high fire flows.

One of the only effective methods we have to get water to these locations is to haul it in using tankers and to establish a water tender shuttle operation using drop tanks or a nurse tanker operation, where the water is pumped into or connected directly to the first-arriving units.

Although we once only considered water tenders a rural apparatus, many of America’s fastest growing cities—like Charlotte, Phoenix and Fort Worth—are including them in their operations due to growth and annexation into areas without hydrants. But this increased use is cause for concern. Compared with other apparatus, tankers are associated with a disproportionately high number of accidents and firefighter deaths. In fact, as early as 2003, the U.S. Fire Administration recognized this threat, and responded with a report, “Safe Operation of Fire Tankers,” which remains a valuable resource today.

With this in mind, it’s never a bad time to review tanker driving operations. Following are a few recommended best practices that can be used for training purposes or when reviewing standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to water tender use and operations.

Use Experienced Drivers

Relegating the water tenders duties to one of your least-experienced driver/operators is an accident waiting to happen. You wouldn’t assign them to drive your newest engine or the aerial ladder, so why would you let them drive the tanker? Most tankers are oversized and very heavy, with high centers of gravity, making them difficult to operate—so use the best driver/operators for the job.

Stations that house water tenders should provide additional training to those members assigned tanker-driving duties. Training should include the dangers associated with tanker operations and a review of tanker SOPs.

Slow Down

Because of their size and weight, water tenders don’t handle or drive like other apparatus. Speed is considered one of the leading causes of tanker-related accidents. Being watchful of your speed is especially important when operating in areas where roads are narrow or have soft shoulders. Remember: Posted speeds on curves are applicable to passenger vehicles during ideal weather conditions, not for a tanker carrying 3,000 gallons of water.

Determine the Appropriate Response Mode

A clearly written SOP should cover the conditions that warrant when a water tender should respond to an incident in an emergency mode. Tankers often serve in more of a support role by supplying water to initial-arriving companies. Before each tanker response, ask yourself whether the tanker needs to respond with lights and sirens to make a difference in the operation.

The incident commander should make every effort to request tankers to support the operation as early as possible, so that tankers can have ample time to arrive on scene before water supplies become critical to the operation’s success.

Limit Off-Road Use

Use caution when taking water tenders off-road to support wildland fire suppression or other activities. The weight of the unit and its high center of gravity on uneven terrain increase the risk of mishaps. Also be aware of soft ground and parking lots during hot weather where the apparatus may become stuck due to its weight.

Prepare for Poor Roadways

Roads in rural or recently annexed areas may not be as good as those in the more developed parts of your response area. These roads may be in poor repair, with large potholes, tall crowns and soft or non-existent shoulders. They can even be unpaved. Use caution and drive appropriately for the conditions.

Beware of Bridges

In areas where water tenders must operate, preplan routes to avoid bridges that won’t support the weight of the tanker. The rated capacity of load-zone bridges should be clearly marked and followed.

Don’t Overcorrect

One of the leading causes of water tender related accidents is due to the driver overcorrecting after allowing the right-side tires to drop off the road. Overcorrecting the wheel to get the unit back up on the roadway may cause the truck to go into oncoming traffic or to roll because of the weight and high center of gravity. If the rear wheels leave the road, reduce speed and slowly bring the water tender back onto the roadway; resist jerking the wheel to help correct the vehicle’s direction.

Wear Seatbelts

Nationwide, water tenders have been involved in a high number of rollovers. The DOT says that nearly 80% of all fatalities in truck rollover accidents involved the ejection of an unbelted occupant. Follow your state laws and department SOPs on seatbelt use; better yet, just wear your seatbelt at all times.

Drive Safe

Fire service water tenders are an important part of many departments’ operations. Recognizing the dangers and unique operating characteristics of these large and heavy apparatus is the first step toward their safe operation. Take time to review the USFA guide, “Safe Operation of Fire Tankers”—and hit the road safely!

Article modified from this source: http://www.firefighternation.com/article/vehicle-operation-and-apparatus/best-practices-tankertender-operationshttp://www.firefighternation.com/article/vehicle-operation-and-apparatus/best-practices-tankertender-operations.

http://wildfirestoday.blogspot.com/2013/07/best-practices-for-water-tender.html

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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Coffee Break Training: Rollover Prevention Training for Fire Service Water Tenders - Cargo Tank Driver Rollover Prevention #Video #CaFire

 National Tank Truck Carriers Provide Rollover Prevention Training for Fire Service

Training video available to fire service to prevent rollovers during emergency response

Video by US Department of Transportation and the National Tank Truck Carriers, inc. Our purpose is to provide you with an awareness tool and training aid to reduce rollovers. This training video covers 4 approaches to helping reduce cargo tank rollovers by raising awareness. This video brought to you by National Tank Truck Carriers, www.tanktruck.org.
This Video Appears in: National Tank Truck Carriers Provide Rollover Prevention Training for Fire Service

DENVER, (PRNewswire-USNewswire) - On November 11, 2012, Firefighter Mark Haudenschild II, 26, was killed when the water tanker he was driving overturned while he was responding to a brush fire near Fort Wayne, Indiana. He left a wife and two young children.

He was a volunteer with the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department serving his community.

Over the past several years, too many firefighters have been killed or injured in water tanker/ tender rollovers while responding to emergencies.

National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) has produced a new version of the Cargo Tank Rollover Prevention Video it developed with the U.S. Department of Transportation to help educate water tanker drivers on the special characteristics of tank truck vehicles and the actions they can take to avoid rollovers.

"While this DVD was originally developed for commercial tank truck drivers, the principles of tank truck vehicle dynamics, road challenges, and safe driving practices  it presents are equally applicable  to water tankers  used in emergency response," said Jim Shaeffer, president of McKenzie Tank Lines, Tallahassee FL,  and Chairman of National Tank Truck Carriers, Inc.

"I know we will use this DVD in our outreach to firefighters and LEPCs (Local Emergency Planning Councils) in the areas in which we operate.  It is especially appropriate that we introduce this material at our Annual Safety Conference in Denver. Safety is the core mission of NTTC."

Fire Department water tanker rollovers are not a new phenomenon. The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report on Firefighter Deaths from Tanker Truck Rollovers in 2001.  That report said there had been 62 deaths from water tanker rollovers from 1977-1999. The report did not include the injuries.

The ability to track media and other reports on such crashes today shows that they continue to be a real issue of concern. Firefighters continue to be killed and injured in these usually preventable crashes.

The original 20-minute video was produced by the U.S. Department of Transportation with input from National Tank Truck Carriers in 2010 following increased industry and government concerns about the number of tank truck rollovers. It focuses on: Tank truck vehicle design;cargo/load factors; highway factors; and driver factors.

The video features real tank truck drivers who share their experiences, different types of tank truck equipment and detailed graphics, and various highway challenges.

The video has been translated into French, Spanish and Japanese.

The video was based in part on information developed in 2007 in a detailed cargo tank rollover report prepared for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) by Battelle. Among information in that report was that over 75 percent of rollovers are caused by a driver's action or inaction, the majority of rollovers are single vehicle crashes that occur on straight dry roadways (not exit ramps as is often thought,) and that about one-quarter of tanker rollovers involve straight trucks where the tank sits on the truck body.

"I am delighted that we can help extend the very important safety message of the Cargo Tank Rollover Prevention Video to the fire service," said Tim Butters, Deputy Administrator of the USDOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and former chief fire officer with the Fairfax City (Virginia) Fire Department.

"We continue to see vehicle rollovers involving fire department apparatus, particularly tenders/tankers used for transporting large volumes of water.  Understanding how to safely operate these vehicles will help reduce rollover accidents.  Vehicle accidents continue to be one of the leading causes of firefighter injuries and fatalities.  I will strongly encourage my colleagues in the fire and emergency response service to include this training video in their emergency vehicle driver/operator safety training and driver refresher programs.  Emergency responder's provide a critical public safety service to their communities, and we want to return home safely."

"We have been pleased with the response to the original video and hope that this version directed to the fire community will become a tool for training drivers who perform such a valuable service to us all," said Dan Furth, National Tank Truck Carriers president.  "The DVD is free for downloading from our website www.tanktruck.org and we encourage everyone to help spread this safety outreach to anyone who can benefit from it. Many of our NTTC members already work with fire departments in their operating areas and we know that this information will help in the training they provide."

A free copy of the DVD can be obtained for review and reproduction by contacting NTTC at 703/838-1960, by email to nttcstaff@tanktruck.org, or by mail to NTTC, 950 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington VA 22203. If large amounts of copies are desired, we can put people in touch with our video company for obtaining copies. None of this material is copyright protected.

National Tank Truck Carriers, Inc. is the tradeassociation of the tank truck industry. Web Site: www.tanktruck.org

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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Fresno: Four Vehicle Injury Accident Leaves Mountain Valley Fire Department Water Tender 65 Upside down #CaFire

Emergency crews are on the scene of a four car accident in Southeast Fresno. One of the vehicles involved includes a Mountain Valley Fire Department Water Tender 65 

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A multi-car accident involving a fire truck sent two people to the hospital and injured a firefighter late Friday afternoon.

Action News Reporter Rick Montanez was first on scene right after the accident happened and took this picture of the overturned fire truck.

A fire truck from the Mountain Valley Fire Department was responding to a fire call eastbound on Jensen.

Investigators say the driver of a red BMW was northbound on Peach Avenue and drove in front of the fire truck when the crash occurred. The fire truck overturned and hit another SUV.

A passenger in the SUV and the driver of the BMW were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. One of the firefighters in the truck was also hurt.

Mountain Valley Fire Department Water Tender 65 Before Accident

Water Tender 65

• Mountain Valley Fire Department
• Year Built: 2005
• Manufacturer: Kenworth
• Color:  White
• H2O Capacity in Gallons: 1950

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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CA-RRU-Thomas 28 acres, 100% - RV Fire into vegetation

Incident Name: Thomas (CONTROLLED)

Incident Number: CARRU-7015

Date Reported: 01/19/2013

Time Reported: 2:33 PM

Incident Type: Vegetation Fire

Incident Location: Thomas Rd 3 Miles East of Humphreys Ln

City: Aguanga

Cause:

Loss: $0

Save: $0

Injuries:

Fatalities: 0

Critical: 0

Moderate: 0

Minor: 0

Non-Injury: 0

Transported Ground Ambulance(s): 0

Air Ambulance(s): 0

Containment Time: 01/19/2013 1721

Control Time: 01/20/2013 1800

Resources Assigned

Engines: 17

Helicopter(s): 2

Truck Co: 0

Fire Fighters: 180

RVC Medic(s): 0

Air Tankers: 0

Overhead Personnel: 1

Ambulance(s): 0

Fire Crew(s): 8

Specialized Equipment: Medic Squad

County OES: No

Fire Prev.: No

Water Tenders: 2

Utilities: Yes

Bulldozers: 2

Red Cross: No

Displaced Persons: No

Adult(s): 0

Child: 0

Cooperating Agencies: Anza Co Op Electric, CAL FIRE/Riverside, CAL FIRE/San Diego, California Highway Patrol – Border, Murrieta Fire Protection District, Riverside County Fire Department, San Diego CAL FIRE, San Diego County Fire Authority

Current Situation:

Final: Fire declared controlled at 6:00 p.m. 01/. Incident terminated. Update 1/20/2013 7:30 a.m.: Day assignment today will be one Battalion Chief, four engines, one fire crew and one water tender. Day assignment will continue mop-up and improve containment lines. Update 5:35 p.m.: Fire contained to 28 acres. Ground resources will be committed through the night with a day assignment planned for Sunday. No injuries and no structural damage reported. Update 4:25 p.m.: Fire is now approximately 15 acres. Incident Commander augmenting resources on scene with additional fire crews and water tenders. San Diego County Fire Authority is also assisting with one water-dropping copter. Powerlines are down. CAL FIRE/Riverside County Firefighters are on scene of a fire involving an RV and vegetation. The first arriving engine company reported an RV fully involved with approximately 5 acres of vegetation burning in medium to heavy fuels and wind-driven (westerly wind). Murrieta Fire Protection District and CAL FIRE San Diego also assisting. Updates will be posted as information becomes available.

Evacuations: No

Evacuation Comments:

Prepared By: Jody Hagemann

Prepared Date/Time: 01/20/2013 2227

CFN - California Fire News 2012 

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