Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Former Yarnell Hill Fire Chief Peter Andersen Interview 'The state didn't listen to me' 'Too little To Late' 'They Let It Burn'

Former Yarnell chief: 'The state didn't listen to me'

Peter Andersen, who resigned in 2011, said it was crucial to attack the steadily expanding fire at dawn, before prevailing winds picked up

Former Yarnell Hill Fire Chief Peter Andersen Interview Oct. 8, 2013
Peter Andersen describes the Arizona Forestry Division's response to the Yarnell Hill Fire that killed 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots on June 30, 2013.

PRESCOTT, Ariz. — Former Yarnell Fire Chief Peter Andersen sat under a tree in his front yard having his morning coffee on Sunday, June 30, when the Granite Mountain Hotshots drove past his Glen Ilah home.

"At 8:03, [their] two buggies went by," Andersen says. "Right after they went by, the leaves started to blow. I shook my head. [The state] didn't listen to me."

Andersen, who resigned as Yarnell chief in 2011 after 12 years of service, was aggravated because he had warned an Arizona Forestry Division fire manager the night before that it was crucial to attack the steadily expanding fire in the hills above Yarnell at dawn, before prevailing southwesterly winds picked up about 8 in the morning.

Full story Phoenix New Times: Yarnell Hill Fire Investigation Ignored Major Mistakes by the State

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CFN - California Fire News 2013

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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.

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CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Former Yarnell Hill Fire Chief Peter Andersen Interview 'The state didn't listen to me' 'Too little To Late' 'They Let It Burn'

Former Yarnell chief: 'The state didn't listen to me'

Peter Andersen, who resigned in 2011, said it was crucial to attack the steadily expanding fire at dawn, before prevailing winds picked up

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How fires get their names

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