CAL FIRE News: T.U.D. Approves Agreement With CAL Fire

Thursday, March 15, 2012

CAL FIRE News: T.U.D. Approves Agreement With CAL Fire

Sonora, CA -- The Tuolumne Utilities District has approved a Memorandum of Understanding with CAL Fire regarding jobs performed by the Baseline Conservation Crews.

The state prisoners in the camps often perform maintenance and assist with projects for T.U.D. The state has decided it wants more of a firm agreement in place with various agencies moving forward because the livelihood of conservation camps is in jeopardy due to ongoing state budget cuts and prisoner realignment programs. In the past, the two agencies had what was described at the meeting as a "gentlemen's agreement," where both sides would help each other out with different projects.

The T.U.D. Board voted 5-0 to reimburse the Baseline Conservation Camp in the form of material goods or supplies equal to the sum of $200 per day, per crew, when they perform work. It also helps fund the CAL Fire Captain that is always onsite with the crews. T.U.D. Board members stated that this is a good deal for the District, and a way to keep expenses low during tough budget times.

Crews have been instrumental in helping T.U.D. over the winter months, notably with storm cleanup. During the summer months, baseline crews typically stay busy helping to suppress wildland fires in the region.
Source: mymotherlode.com - Link

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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

Thursday, March 15, 2012