California Drought Prompts CAL FIRE to Increase Firefighter And Resource Staffing. #CaFire #FireJobs

California Drought Prompts CAL FIRE to Hire Seasonal Firefighters And Increase Resource Staffing.

Drought Prompts CAL FIRE to Increase Statewide Staffing

Expected Prolonged, Elevated Threat of Wildfire Due to Dry Conditions
Sacramento – With unseasonably high temperatures, limited rainfall and moisture levels resembling the state’s peak fire season, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) announced today that it has hired 125 supplemental firefighters in Northern California and extended seasonal firefighting forces in Southern California due to dry winter conditions.
Today’s announcement follows Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s drought State of Emergency earlier this month.

“In order to maintain a sufficient depth of resources to address the prolonged, elevated threat of wildfire due to drought, we have staffed 25 additional fire engines and have retained aerial firefighting assets at five air attack bases that would normally be closed this time of year,”“We have a well exercised mechanism for addressing short term elevations in the threat of wildfire, but these prolonged conditions warrant an even more aggressive action in order for us to be prepared to protect the people, property and natural resources of California.” said Chief Ken Pimlott, director of CAL FIRE.

ONCC Increased Resource & Staffing: In Northern California, CAL FIRE is adding two additional fire engines in each of the 12 northern administrative units plus a third fire engine in the Shasta-Trinity Unit. In addition, the Chico Air Attack Base has been re-opened with two fixed wing aircraft.

The additional firefighters have been assigned to the following areas:
Unit: # of additional firefighters:

Amador-El Dorado Unit: 10
Butte Unit: 12
San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit: 12
Humboldt Unit: 10
Lassen-Modoc: 10
Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit: 5
Mendocino Unit: 10
Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit: 12
Santa Clara Unit: 12
Shasta-Trinity Unit: 10
Siskiyou Unit: 10
Tehama-Glenn Unit: 12

OSCC Increased Resource & Staffing: In Southern California, aircraft and staffing at Hemet (Riverside County), Ramona (San Diego County) Hollister (San Benito County) and Paso Robles (San Luis Obispo County) air attack bases have been kept on allowing for eight air tankers, and four air tactical planes to be immediately available. 

The Governor’s drought State of Emergency directed CAL FIRE to
“hire additional seasonal firefighters to suppress wildfires and take other needed actions to protect public safety during this time of elevated fire risk.”
The increased staffing levels follow a series of actions from the administration to ensure that California is prepared for record dry conditions.

Earlier this week, the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Food and Agriculture released the California Water Action Plan, which will guide state efforts to enhance water supply reliability, restore damaged and destroyed ecosystems and improve the resilience of our infrastructure.

Governor Brown has called on all Californians to reduce their water usage by 20 percent and last week, the Save Our Water campaign announced four new public service announcements that encourage residents to conserve. Last December, the Governor formed a Drought Task Force to review expected water allocations and California’s preparedness for water scarcity. In May 2013, Governor Brown issued an Executive Order to direct state water officials to expedite the review and processing of voluntary transfers of water and water rights.
CAL FIRE is asking everyone to be extra cautious during the heightened fire danger period in order to prevent wildfires. 

One less spark means one less wildfire. For more fire prevention tips
visit www.PreventWildfireCA.org and for evacuation tips visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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Governor Proclaimed State of Emergency and Directed Officials to Hire More Firefighters #CaFire #CaWater, #CaDrought

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. proclaimed a State of Emergency and directed state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare for these drought conditions. 

Governor Brown signs proclamation declaring Drought State of Emergency. From left to right: CAL FIRE Director Chief Ken Pimlott, Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, Secretary Laird, Director Cowin, Chair Marcus and Director Ghilarducci. Photo Credit: Justin Short, Office of the Governor. 

SAN FRANCISCO – With California facing water shortfalls in the driest year in recorded state history, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today proclaimed a State of Emergency and directed state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare for these drought conditions.

“We can’t make it rain, but we can be much better prepared for the terrible consequences that California’s drought now threatens, including dramatically less water for our farms and communities and increased fires in both urban and rural areas,” said Governor Brown. “I’ve declared this emergency and I’m calling all Californians to conserve water in every way possible.”

In the State of Emergency declaration, Governor Brown directed state officials to assist farmers and communities that are economically impacted by dry conditions and to ensure the state can respond if Californians face drinking water shortages. The Governor also directed state agencies to use less water and hire more firefighters and initiated a greatly expanded water conservation public awareness campaign (details at saveourh2o.org). 

In addition, the proclamation gives state water officials more flexibility to manage supply throughout California under drought conditions.

State water officials say that California’s river and reservoirs are below their record lows. Manual and electronic readings record the snowpack’s statewide water content at about 20 percent of normal average for this time of year.

The Governor’s drought State of Emergency follows a series of actions the administration has taken to ensure that California is prepared for record dry conditions. In May 2013, Governor Brown issued anExecutive Order to direct state water officials to expedite the review and processing of voluntary transfers of water and water rights. In December, the Governor formed a Drought Task Force to review expected water allocations, California’s preparedness for water scarcity and whether conditions merit a drought declaration. Earlier this week, the Governor toured the Central Valley and spoke with growers and others impacted by California’s record dry conditions.

A PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS the State of California is experiencing record dry conditions, with 2014 projected to become the driest year on record; and

WHEREAS the state’s water supplies have dipped to alarming levels, indicated by: snowpack in California’s mountains is approximately 20 percent of the normal average for this date; California’s largest water reservoirs have very low water levels for this time of year; California’s major river systems, including the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, have significantly reduced surface water flows; and groundwater levels throughout the state have dropped significantly; and

WHEREAS dry conditions and lack of precipitation present urgent problems: drinking water supplies are at risk in many California communities; fewer crops can be cultivated and farmers’ long-term investments are put at risk; low-income communities heavily dependent on agricultural employment will suffer heightened unemployment and economic hardship; animals and plants that rely on California’s rivers, including many species in danger of extinction, will be threatened; and the risk of wildfires across the state is greatly increased; and

WHEREAS extremely dry conditions have persisted since 2012 and may continue beyond this year and more regularly into the future, based on scientific projections regarding the impact of climate change on California’s snowpack; and 

WHEREAS the magnitude of the severe drought conditions presents threats beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist in California due to water shortage and drought conditions with which local authority is unable to cope.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the state Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist in the State of California due to current drought conditions. 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 

1.State agencies, led by the Department of Water Resources, will execute a statewide water conservation campaign to make all Californians aware of the drought and encourage personal actions to reduce water usage. This campaign will be built on the existing Save Our Water campaign (www.saveourh20.org) and will coordinate with local water agencies. This campaign will call on Californians to reduce their water usage by 20 percent. 

2.Local urban water suppliers and municipalities are called upon to implement their local water shortage contingency plans immediately in order to avoid or forestall outright restrictions that could become necessary later in the drought season. Local water agencies should also update their legally required urban and agricultural water management plans, which help plan for extended drought conditions. The Department of Water Resources will make the status of these updates publicly available.

3.State agencies, led by the Department of General Services, will immediately implement water use reduction plans for all state facilities. These plans will include immediate water conservation actions, and a moratorium will be placed on new, non-essential landscaping projects at state facilities and on state highways and roads. 

4.The Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) will expedite the processing of water transfers, as called for in Executive Order B-21-13. Voluntary water transfers from one water right holder to another enables water to flow where it is needed most.

5.The Water Board will immediately consider petitions requesting consolidation of the places of use of the State Water Project and Federal Central Valley Project, which would streamline water transfers and exchanges between water users within the areas of these two major water projects. 

6.The Department of Water Resources and the Water Board will accelerate funding for water supply enhancement projects that can break ground this year and will explore if any existing unspent funds can be repurposed to enable near-term water conservation projects.

7.The Water Board will put water right holders throughout the state on notice that they may be directed to cease or reduce water diversions based on water shortages.

8.The Water Board will consider modifying requirements for reservoir releases or diversion limitations, where existing requirements were established to implement a water quality control plan. These changes would enable water to be conserved upstream later in the year to protect cold water pools for salmon and steelhead, maintain water supply, and improve water quality.

9.The Department of Water Resources and the Water Board will take actions necessary to make water immediately available, and, for purposes of carrying out directives 5 and 8, Water Code section 13247 and Division 13 (commencing with section 21000) of the Public Resources Code and regulations adopted pursuant to that Division are suspended on the basis that strict compliance with them will prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the emergency. Department of Water Resources and the Water Board shall maintain on their websites a list of the activities or approvals for which these provisions are suspended.

10. The state’s Drinking Water Program will work with local agencies to identify communities that may run out of drinking water, and will provide technical and financial assistance to help these communities address drinking water shortages. It will also identify emergency interconnections that exist among the state’s public water systems that can help these threatened communities.

11.The Department of Water Resources will evaluate changing groundwater levels, land subsidence, and agricultural land fallowing as the drought persists and will provide a public update by April 30 that identifies groundwater basins with water shortages and details gaps in groundwater monitoring.

12.The Department of Water Resources will work with counties to help ensure that well drillers submit required groundwater well logs for newly constructed and deepened wells in a timely manner and the Office of Emergency Services will work with local authorities to enable early notice of areas experiencing problems with residential groundwater sources.

13.The California Department of Food and Agriculture will launch a one-stop website (www.cdfa.ca.gov/drought) that provides timely updates on the drought and connects farmers to state and federal programs that they can access during the drought. 

14.The Department of Fish and Wildlife will evaluate and manage the changing impacts of drought on threatened and endangered species and species of special concern, and develop contingency plans for state Wildlife Areas and Ecological Reserves to manage reduced water resources in the public interest.

15. The Department of Fish and Wildlife will work with the Fish and Game Commission, using the best available science, to determine whether restricting fishing in certain areas will become necessary and prudent as drought conditions persist.

16.The Department of Water Resources will take necessary actions to protect water quality and water supply in the Delta, including installation of temporary barriers or temporary water supply connections as needed, and will coordinate with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to minimize impacts to affected aquatic species.

17.The Department of Water Resources will refine its seasonal climate forecasting and drought prediction by advancing new methodologies piloted in 2013.

18.The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection will hire additional seasonal firefighters to suppress wildfires and take other needed actions to protect public safety during this time of elevated fire risk. 

19.The state’s Drought Task Force will immediately develop a plan that can be executed as needed to provide emergency food supplies, financial assistance, and unemployment services in communities that suffer high levels of unemployment from the drought. 

20.The Drought Task Force will monitor drought impacts on a daily basis and will advise me of subsequent actions that should be taken if drought conditions worsen. 

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 17th day of January, 2014.
______________________________
EDMUND G. BROWN JR., 
Governor of California
ATTEST:
______________________________
DEBRA BOWEN,
Secretary of State

###
Source: http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18368
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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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USFS Fatal Aviation Accident History - Dec. 2nd. 1980 Tanker 119 (N406WA) #NeverForget #CaFire

Probably the last photo of Tanker 118 (N96449) leaving Hemet Ryan for home in Tucson AZ, Dec. 2nd. 1980.

 Tanker 118 (N96449) leaving Hemet Ryan for home in Tucson AZ, Dec. 2nd. 1980

 Flown by Clyde Alford and Ron Letness to be followed by his partner Ken White and Gary Garrett in Tanker 119 (N406WA) both owned by a new company at the time, Waig Air. 

After clearing the mountain and heading out over the desert, Clyde passed under Ken for some photo ops, his tail didn't clear 119's wing. 

That made seven deaths for that fire season, the Panorama Fire near San Bernardino and the Lakeland Fire near Lake Elsinore claimed five on the ground that year.

Stolen from Facebook Fire Bombers as I await permission https://www.facebook.com/groups/FireBombers/
More information USFS Fatal Aviation Accident History: http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/av_safety/assurance/mishaps/fatal_aviation_accident_history.pdf

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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Red Flag Warning Northern Sierras and Western Mountains #CaFire #CaWX

Fire Weather Watch for Northern Sierras and Western Mountains is now a Red Flag Warning through early Friday.

http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=sto&wwa=red flag warning




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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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CA-FKU- Lake Fire, 106 acres 90% Hughes Mtn. 20 mi. E. of Sanger, Fresno Co #CaFire

Lake Fire CA-FKU-1194, Hughes Mtn. 20 mi. E. of Sanger, Fresno Co
Update: 01/26/2014 0900 106 acres 90% contained anticipate demob of resources after day shift today.
Update 01/25/2014 2000: Moderate rate of spread. (Data as of 1600 hours.)

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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LAFD's Oldest Living Firefighter Turns 100 Years Old! #CaFire #LAFD

GRANADA HILLS - Local Firefighters held a warm celebration at Fire Station 87 for the oldest surviving retiree of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) on January 24, 2014.

Jack Rein reminisced as he sat on a 1927 Moreland antique pump and shared LAFD history with firefighters and the public.

He was born in New York in 1914 and moved to the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles as a young boy, then attended Lincoln High School and eventually UCLA. During the Depression he worked various jobs and married his beautiful bride Sally in 1937 and had two sons. He went on to pursue a career with the LAFD in 1940. He then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and served overseas in the China/Burma/India Theater as a fireman and was discharged in 1945.

Mr. Rein returned to the LAFD and worked until retiring in 1970. He proudly worked at the following assignments: E-20; E-6; E-11; E-35; T-20; E-64; E-67; E-34; E-18; E-26, E-94; E-71; T-92; E-43. He promoted to Captain and was number one on the 1963 captain's list.

One of the more notable incidents he recalls were dodging pot shots during the 1965 Watts riots for several days and fighting the massive Bel Air fire in 1961.  

"It’s an honor to be with you here today Jack. An honor to celebrate your service to the Los Angeles community as a firefighter for 30 years and your service to your country during the 2nd World War. Happy 100th birthday!" - Dave Wagner, Editor: The Firemen's Grapevine

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman 

 

"Serving with Courage, Integrity and Pride"

Public Service Officer

Emergency Public Information (EPI) Center
Los Angeles Fire Department
500 East Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

213.576.8938
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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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CA-SBFD Suspicious Fire Destroys Business in Strip Mall #CaFire

San Bernardino City Fire,Suspicious Fire Destroys Business in Strip Mall Posted: 23 Jan 2014 04:25 PM PST  Contact:                     Engineer Mike Arvizo  - PIO                                                                                                         Contact Number:      (909) 289-6679                        Date:                          January 23, 2014                    Location:                    2715 W. Foothill Blvd Time of the call:      0518 hours.   First unit on scene 0522 hours First Unit on the scene:       ME229 Number of Units:                  10 Engines, 2 Trucks, 2 BC’s Number of Firefighters:      41 Injuries:                                 None                                      Fatalities:                   None Property Loss/Damage:        Undetermined                      Contents Loss:            Unknown Property Saved:                    Undetermined Additional information:       First arriving unit encountered one unit of a multi-unit strip mall heavily involved in fire. Multiple alarms were dispatched when the nearby fire station crew saw heavy flames from the structure as they pulled out of the station. Flames threatened to spread to the rest of the businesses in the multi-unit L shaped strip mall. Aggressive firefighting tactics helped extinguish the involved unit and save the rest of the businesses in the strip mall.  The unit just to the west of the affected unit suffered water and smoke damage during the firefight. The cause of the fire is suspicious in nature and is currently under investigation by SBFD arson investigators working in conjunction with the ATF and SBPD detectives. SBFD personnel have responded to 17 working structure fires in 22 days. ***END**

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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RED FLAG WARNING - High Fire Danger Mountains Of Southern California Due To Gusty Winds #CaFire #CaWX #LAWind

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOUNTAINS CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS
IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

National Weather Service Messages Follow: 

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
1101 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014

UPDATE TO INCLUDE INTERIOR SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTIES

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES FOR
GUSTY EAST WINDS AND MODERATELY LOW HUMIDITY..

...RED FLAG WARNING IF EFFECT TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
THE MOUNTAINS AND INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS
OBISPO COUNTY AS WELL AS THE SANTA CLARITA AND VENTURA COUNTY
VALLEYS FOR GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY..

.AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA THROUGH FRIDAY...WHILE A SURFACE HIGH BUILDS INTO THE
GREAT BASIN. AS A RESULT...GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS WILL BE ON THE
INCREASE OVER THE REGION THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...THEN SLOWLY
WEAKEN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THERE WILL BE A HIGH DEGREE OF
UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHICH AREAS WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY THE WINDS.
MEANWHILE DUE TO THE UNCOMMON PATTERN. MEANWHILE...THE AIRMASS
WILL COOL AND MOISTEN SOME...WHICH WILL LEAD TO SOME IMPROVEMENT
IN HUMIDITIES. WITH HISTORICALLY DRY VEGETATION HOWEVER...AND
HUMIDITIES MOSTLY STAYING BELOW 25 PERCENT...RED FLAG WARNINGS
HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR MOST MOUNTAINS AND SELECT VALLEYS. THE LOS
ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON AND
THE OFFSHORE WINDS INCREASE...THEN OTHER AREAS WILL BEGIN TONIGHT
AND LAST INTO FRIDAY EVENING AS THE WIND WEAKEN STARTING FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.

CAZ253-254-240315-
/O.CON.KLOX.FW.W.0003.140123T2300Z-140125T0400Z/
VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST-
1101 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
PST FRIDAY FOR GUSTY EAST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A
RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS AND MODERATELY LOW
HUMIDITIES...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
PST FRIDAY.

* WINDS...AREAS OF NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40
  MPH TODAY...BECOMING EAST TO SOUTHEAST 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS
  TO 50 MPH TONIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH FRIDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUMS 10 TO 20 PERCENT TODAY...15 TO 25
  PERCENT ON FRIDAY. OVERNIGHT RECOVERIES 20 TO 35 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...MODERATELY LOW
  HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY FUELS WILL POTENTIALLY BRING CRITICAL
  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS..

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS
IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
1101 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014

UPDATE TO INCLUDE INTERIOR SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTIES

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES FOR
GUSTY EAST WINDS AND MODERATELY LOW HUMIDITY..

...RED FLAG WARNING IF EFFECT TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
THE MOUNTAINS AND INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS
OBISPO COUNTY AS WELL AS THE SANTA CLARITA AND VENTURA COUNTY
VALLEYS FOR GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY..

.AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA THROUGH FRIDAY...WHILE A SURFACE HIGH BUILDS INTO THE
GREAT BASIN. AS A RESULT...GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS WILL BE ON THE
INCREASE OVER THE REGION THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...THEN SLOWLY
WEAKEN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THERE WILL BE A HIGH DEGREE OF
UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHICH AREAS WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY THE WINDS.
MEANWHILE DUE TO THE UNCOMMON PATTERN. MEANWHILE...THE AIRMASS
WILL COOL AND MOISTEN SOME...WHICH WILL LEAD TO SOME IMPROVEMENT
IN HUMIDITIES. WITH HISTORICALLY DRY VEGETATION HOWEVER...AND
HUMIDITIES MOSTLY STAYING BELOW 25 PERCENT...RED FLAG WARNINGS
HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR MOST MOUNTAINS AND SELECT VALLEYS. THE LOS
ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON AND
THE OFFSHORE WINDS INCREASE...THEN OTHER AREAS WILL BEGIN TONIGHT
AND LAST INTO FRIDAY EVENING AS THE WIND WEAKEN STARTING FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.

CAZ251-240315-
/O.EXA.KLOX.FW.W.0003.140124T0800Z-140125T0400Z/
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-
1101 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 PM PST
FRIDAY FOR GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE SANTA
BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A
RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 PM PST FRIDAY. THE FIRE
WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* WINDS...AREAS OF SOUTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50
  MPH TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. STRONGEST WINDS FRIDAY MORNING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUMS 10 TO 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...MODERATELY LOW
  HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY FUELS WILL POTENTIALLY BRING CRITICAL
  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS..

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS
IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
1101 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014

UPDATE TO INCLUDE INTERIOR SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTIES

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES FOR
GUSTY EAST WINDS AND MODERATELY LOW HUMIDITY..

...RED FLAG WARNING IF EFFECT TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
THE MOUNTAINS AND INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS
OBISPO COUNTY AS WELL AS THE SANTA CLARITA AND VENTURA COUNTY
VALLEYS FOR GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY..

.AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA THROUGH FRIDAY...WHILE A SURFACE HIGH BUILDS INTO THE
GREAT BASIN. AS A RESULT...GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS WILL BE ON THE
INCREASE OVER THE REGION THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...THEN SLOWLY
WEAKEN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THERE WILL BE A HIGH DEGREE OF
UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHICH AREAS WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY THE WINDS.
MEANWHILE DUE TO THE UNCOMMON PATTERN. MEANWHILE...THE AIRMASS
WILL COOL AND MOISTEN SOME...WHICH WILL LEAD TO SOME IMPROVEMENT
IN HUMIDITIES. WITH HISTORICALLY DRY VEGETATION HOWEVER...AND
HUMIDITIES MOSTLY STAYING BELOW 25 PERCENT...RED FLAG WARNINGS
HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR MOST MOUNTAINS AND SELECT VALLEYS. THE LOS
ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON AND
THE OFFSHORE WINDS INCREASE...THEN OTHER AREAS WILL BEGIN TONIGHT
AND LAST INTO FRIDAY EVENING AS THE WIND WEAKEN STARTING FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.

CAZ244-245-288-240315-
/O.CON.KLOX.FW.W.0003.140124T1200Z-140125T0400Z/
VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS-
SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-
1101 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 8 PM PST FRIDAY FOR
GUSTY EAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE SANTA CLARITA AND VENTURA
COUNTY VALLEYS..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A
RED FLAG WARNING FOR FOR GUSTY EAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 8 PM PST FRIDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* WINDS...EAST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH TONIGHT
  THROUGH FRIDAY. STRONGEST WINDS FRIDAY MORNING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM 12 TO 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...MODERATELY LOW
  HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY FUELS WILL POTENTIALLY BRING CRITICAL
  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS..

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS
IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
1101 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014

UPDATE TO INCLUDE INTERIOR SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTIES

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES FOR
GUSTY EAST WINDS AND MODERATELY LOW HUMIDITY..

...RED FLAG WARNING IF EFFECT TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
THE MOUNTAINS AND INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS
OBISPO COUNTY AS WELL AS THE SANTA CLARITA AND VENTURA COUNTY
VALLEYS FOR GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY..

.AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA THROUGH FRIDAY...WHILE A SURFACE HIGH BUILDS INTO THE
GREAT BASIN. AS A RESULT...GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS WILL BE ON THE
INCREASE OVER THE REGION THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...THEN SLOWLY
WEAKEN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THERE WILL BE A HIGH DEGREE OF
UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHICH AREAS WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY THE WINDS.
MEANWHILE DUE TO THE UNCOMMON PATTERN. MEANWHILE...THE AIRMASS
WILL COOL AND MOISTEN SOME...WHICH WILL LEAD TO SOME IMPROVEMENT
IN HUMIDITIES. WITH HISTORICALLY DRY VEGETATION HOWEVER...AND
HUMIDITIES MOSTLY STAYING BELOW 25 PERCENT...RED FLAG WARNINGS
HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR MOST MOUNTAINS AND SELECT VALLEYS. THE LOS
ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON AND
THE OFFSHORE WINDS INCREASE...THEN OTHER AREAS WILL BEGIN TONIGHT
AND LAST INTO FRIDAY EVENING AS THE WIND WEAKEN STARTING FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.

CAZ252-240315-
/O.CON.KLOX.FW.W.0003.140124T0800Z-140125T0400Z/
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
1101 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 PM PST
FRIDAY FOR GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE SANTA
BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A
RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 PM PST FRIDAY. THE FIRE
WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* WINDS...AREAS OF SOUTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50
  MPH TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. STRONGEST WINDS FRIDAY MORNING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUMS 10 TO 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...MODERATELY LOW
  HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY FUELS WILL POTENTIALLY BRING CRITICAL
  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS..

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS
IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
1101 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014

UPDATE TO INCLUDE INTERIOR SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTIES

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES FOR
GUSTY EAST WINDS AND MODERATELY LOW HUMIDITY..

...RED FLAG WARNING IF EFFECT TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
THE MOUNTAINS AND INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS
OBISPO COUNTY AS WELL AS THE SANTA CLARITA AND VENTURA COUNTY
VALLEYS FOR GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY..

.AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA THROUGH FRIDAY...WHILE A SURFACE HIGH BUILDS INTO THE
GREAT BASIN. AS A RESULT...GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS WILL BE ON THE
INCREASE OVER THE REGION THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...THEN SLOWLY
WEAKEN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THERE WILL BE A HIGH DEGREE OF
UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHICH AREAS WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY THE WINDS.
MEANWHILE DUE TO THE UNCOMMON PATTERN. MEANWHILE...THE AIRMASS
WILL COOL AND MOISTEN SOME...WHICH WILL LEAD TO SOME IMPROVEMENT
IN HUMIDITIES. WITH HISTORICALLY DRY VEGETATION HOWEVER...AND
HUMIDITIES MOSTLY STAYING BELOW 25 PERCENT...RED FLAG WARNINGS
HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR MOST MOUNTAINS AND SELECT VALLEYS. THE LOS
ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON AND
THE OFFSHORE WINDS INCREASE...THEN OTHER AREAS WILL BEGIN TONIGHT
AND LAST INTO FRIDAY EVENING AS THE WIND WEAKEN STARTING FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.

CAZ237-238-240315-
/O.EXA.KLOX.FW.W.0003.140124T1200Z-140125T0400Z/
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-CUYAMA VALLEY-
1101 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 8 PM PST FRIDAY FOR
GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE EASTERN SAN LUIS
OBISPO INTERIOR AND CUYAMA VALLEYS..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A
RED FLAG WARNING FOR FOR GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW
HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 8 PM PST FRIDAY.

* WINDS...SOUTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH
  TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. STRONGEST WINDS FRIDAY MORNING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUMS 8 TO 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...MODERATELY LOW
  HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY FUELS WILL POTENTIALLY BRING CRITICAL
  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS..

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS
IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

---------------------------------------------

CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -  

LTBMU Luther Pass South Lake Tahoe Prescribed Fire Information #CaFire #NvFire

 

U.S. Forest Service

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU)

Date Sent:  Jan. 23, 2014

Prescribed fire activity continues on Luther Pass

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews resumed prescribed fire operations today, January 23, 2014, off of Highway 89 S near South Lake Tahoe.  Crews are burning piles in the Luther Pass campground and will continue operations through Friday, January 24, 2014, weather and conditions permitting. 

All prescribed fire projects are conducted in accordance with an approved prescribed fire burn plan.  Burn plans describe specific conditions under which operations are conducted including the weather, number of personnel, opportunities to minimize smoke impacts, and available burn days.  This information is used to decide when and where to burn.

Smoke from prescribed fire may continue for several days after the initial ignition.  Smoke that settles in low lying areas in the morning usually lifts out of the area during normal daytime heating.  All prescribed fires are monitored regularly for burning and smoke dispersal and action is taken to mitigate concerns as they arise.  The Forest Service makes every effort to conduct prescribed fire operations during weather patterns that carry smoke away from communities. 

Last summer’s wildfires serve as a reminder of the importance of fuels reduction and that smoke produced during a prescribed fire is less intense and of shorter duration than that of a wildfire.  For more information on prescribed fire and smoke management tips, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/RxFireOps.

Forest Service staff post road signs around the areas affected by the prescribed fire, send email notifications, and update the local fire information line at 530-543-2600, #6.  To receive prescribed fire notifications, send an email to pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us.

To learn more about the efforts to reduce wildfire risks in the Tahoe Basin read the Lake Tahoe Basin Multi-jurisdictional Fuel Reduction Plan found at http://fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_045864.pdf.

Visit an excellent web site and learn about Prescribed Fire vs. Wildfire at: http://www.smokeybear.com/prescribed-fires.asp. 

Source:

Lisa Herron

Public Affairs Specialist

U.S. Forest Service

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

35 College Drive

South Lake Tahoe CA 96150

(530) 543-2815

laherron@fs.fed.us

---------------------------------------------

CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -