California News: New Scorpion Species Discovered in Northern California

New Scorpion Species Discovered in Northern California near the confluence of North and Middle Forks of the American River in El Dorado County.

Pseudouroctonus maidu: New Scorpion Species Discovered in California

A team of entomologists has described a new species of scorpion — Pseudouroctonus maidu — from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in northeastern California.The newfound species belongs to the vaejovid scorpion genus Pseudouroctonus.
According to Dr. Warren Savary from the California Academy of Sciences and Dr. Robert Bryson from the University of Washington, it is only the fourth new species of scorpion to be described from California in the past two decades.

The authors named the new species Pseudouroctonus maidu after the Maidu people of northern California, in whose historic lands the species occurs.

It is known only from the type locality near the confluence of North and Middle Forks of the American River in El Dorado County.

“California is home to a remarkable variety of scorpions. However, the more I study them, the more I realize that we’ve only just scratched the surface. A lot of scorpion diversity remains to be described,” Dr. Savary said.

Adult Pseudouroctonus maidu measure between 30 and 40 mm in length. The base color is uniform dark reddish brown. The legs, chelicerae and underside of preabdomen are slightly paler.

Dr. Bryson and Dr. Savary use DNA to help better understand scorpion diversity.

“Scorpions have been around for a long time — over 400 million years — and many are quite similar in general appearance,” Dr. Bryson said.

“We can use DNA sequences to help us piece together how scorpions have evolved and how they are related. Despite looking similar, DNA often reveals that even assumed close relatives can be quite divergent.”

The scientists are working on publishing the descriptions of several other new species of scorpions from California.

“2016 will be an exciting year for scorpion discoveries,” they promised.

Research describing Pseudouroctonus maidu is published online in the journal ZooKeys.

Source: Apr 28, 2016 by Enrico de Lazaro
http://www.sci-news.com/biology/pseudouroctonus-maidu-new-scorpion-species-california-03824.html
Savary W.E. & Bryson Jr. R.W. 2016. Pseudouroctonus maidu, a new species of scorpion from northern California (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae). ZooKeys 584: 49-59; doi: 10.3897/zookeys.584.6026

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CAL FIRE Seeking $90+ Million in Firefighting Costs from Pacific Gas & Electric Company

CAL FIRE Blames PG&E for Butte Fire, Seeks $90 Million

A firefighter looks at an automatic teller machine after the Butte Fire destroyed the Golden Spur mini market north of Murphys, California on September 13, 2015, near san Andreas, California. David McNew / Getty Images

Heather Peterson and Ryan Harris

CAL FIRE says they will seek more than $90 million in firefighting costs from Pacific Gas & Electric Company after their findings show PG & E was at fault for the Butte Fire

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection released a report Thursday detailing the cause of that 2015 deadly fire in Calaveras and Amador counties. They say it was sparked by a tree that came into contact with a power line.
CAL FIRE says the state's largest utility or its contractors had removed two gray pine trees from a stand in January 2015, exposing a weaker, skinnier interior tree. The 44-foot-tall gray pine tree grew taller, seeking the sun, but eventually slumped into a power line, according to the report.

CAL FIRE's Daniel Berlant says utilities have a legal responsibility to make sure no trees or plants come into contact with its lines, which can start wildfires like the Butte Fire.

The fire started September 9 and burned for three weeks. It killed two people and destroyed more than 900 structures, including some 550 homes.

CAL FIRE says the amount they are seeking is believed to be the largest recovery amount ever sought by Cal Fire. The fire caused an estimated $300 million in insured losses and is the seventh-most destructive wildfire in state history.

The agency forwarded the results of its investigation to Calaveras and Amador County prosecutors, which could seek criminal charges against the utility.

Calaveras County supervisors also say the county will pursue all legal avenues and plans to seek hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation from PG & E.

“We are shocked and dismayed by the extent of PG& E’s negligence and will actively seek justice for Calaveras County and its citizens,” said Cliff Edson, Chair of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors. “We will work tirelessly to secure rightful compensation for the County and our residents who are still grieving from the loss of loved ones, their livelihoods, homes, belongings and mementos, and all destroyed and taken from them because of PG&E’s carelessness and negligence.”

“We hold PG& E management and executives responsible for what happened here,” added Edson. “We want to acknowledge the hard work and assistance of PG& E’s excellent field staff for all their efforts and dedication in response and the recovery in Calaveras County. The working men and women of PG& E have made a difference and we thank them.”

Pacific Gas And Electric Company issued a statement in response:

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the individuals who lost their homes in the Butte fire. We are reviewing CAL FIRE’s report in its entirety. As we’ve said since September 16, we cooperated fully with CAL FIRE in its investigation on the source of the ignition for the Butte fire. We are committed to doing the right thing for our customers and will respond in the normal legal process."

Source: Posted April 28th, 2016 @ 12:03pm by KFBK News - Heather Peterson and Ryan Harris
Read more: http://kfbk.iheart.com/articles/kfbk-news-461777/cal-fire-blames-pge-for-butte-14657086/ixzz479QTaaxU/#ixzz47BzMB6MR

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LACFD Gorman Fire Heavy Brush Northbound Interstate 5 at Gorman Creek

Gorman Fire Los Angeles County Brush Fire

#GormanFire Along Highway 5
Photos; LACounty Fire PIO ‏@LACoFDPIO 

Updates:
4/19/16 15:30 - 60 acres IC reporting 80% contained. Forward progression of the fire has been stopped. 77's area.

Date/Time Started: April 19, 2016 1:09 pm
Administrative Unit: Los Angeles County Fire
County: Los Angeles County
Location: Off northbound Interstate 5 at Gorman Creek
Estimated - Containment: 60 acres from the Los Angeles County Fire Department

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Military Vets Preparing To Deploy On New Fire Mission As Wildland Firefighters

Their military duties are done, but they want to keep serving. Dozens of veterans are preparing to deploy again to fight a very different enemy.

Team Rubicon trains Fifty military veterans to do battle with a new enemy wildfire as Wildland Firefighters


ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. -- It’s a world away from the desert sands of Iraq, but it was still a something of a combat mission on Orcas Island, Monday. Fifty military veterans prepared to do battle with a new enemy: wildfire.

“It's very dangerous, but I think our members are used to that sort of risk,” said Vince Moffitt, a member of Team Rubicon.

Team Rubicon is an international organization of American military veterans who volunteer to serve on disaster and relief missions around the globe. The group is now partnering with the Bureau of Land Management to train firefighters to combat wildfires in Washington and beyond. They’ve trained a total of 500 veterans for duty over the past two years.

“These men and women have seen a lot, and they’re exactly what we need,” said the BLM’s Chuck Russell. “They know how to think fast, act fast and have each other’s backs. We’re honored to have them.”

Last year's record wildfires stretched fire crews dangerously thin across the west. Three firefighters died fighting the flames near Twisp. The addition of these skilled veterans is critical for what will be another unpredictable fire season.

“They're used to chaos,” said Moffitt. “They go out there in very stressful situations, and they handle them very well.”

Among those feeling the call to serve once again is Iraq war vet Jay Pense. He has a very personal call to duty. A close buddy was killed in action by an insurgent sniper in Iraq. This will be Pense's second wildfire season with Team Rubicon. He does it, in part, because he knows his buddy would want him to.

“To be able to impact the people in a positive way is important to me and all of us,” he said.

To learn more about Team Rubicon, visit their website.

Source; http://www.king5.com/news/local/military-veterans-prepare-for-wildfire-season/140783609

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LAFD Major Emergency Recycling Yard Fire Sent Large Column Of Black Smoke Into The Sky

Fire at Calif. Junkyard Sends Black Smoke into Sky

Flames tore through a junkyard in Sun Valley on Sunday, sending a plume of thick black smoke that was visible from nearby cities.

Smoke Seen For Miles At Massive Fire At Sun Valley Car Recycling Yard

MATT HAMILTON ON APR 18, 2016

April 18-- The fire broke out shortly before 4 p.m. in the 9100 block of North Tujunga Avenue, and the blaze was fanned by winds measuring between 5 and 10 mph, said Erik Scott, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

More than 150 firefighters battled the fire, which engulfed at least 15 vehicles in the recycling yard, Scott said. The blaze was knocked down in 2 hours and 16 minutes.

No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Firefighters planned to remain vigilant through the night for possible flare-ups, the Fire Department said.

SOURCE: MCCLATCHY
Copyright 2016 - Los Angeles Times

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Lawsuit Against Modesto Firefighter Clowns For Child Injuries No Laughing Matter

Modesto firefighter clowns promote fire prevention.
Photo credit: Modesto Local 1289

Suit Against Calif. Firefighter Clowns No Laughing Matter

April 14--Modesto is facing potential legal trouble after one of its firefighters reportedly tripped and fell on a third-grader and broke her arm during a Fire Department safety event called the Clown Program, in which firefighters dress up as clowns and superheroes as they teach schoolchildren such basics as when to call 911 and how to get out of a burning house.

The incident happened Oct. 8 at Sonoma Elementary School, according to a claim filed this month against Modesto by the San Francisco-based law office of Tanya Gomerman. The firm represents third-grader Camila Gomez and her family.

The claim states firefighter Rod Riley and fire engineer Tommy Dick were playing with a ball against a wall as students watched. "Rod Riley was attempting to catch the ball and tripped over this group of students, causing him to fall on top of Camila Gomez," the claim states.

Camila sustained fractures in her right arm that required extensive medical treatment, including two surgeries, according to the claim. "Miss Gomez continues to have pain in her arm, has two large scars, and continues to suffer from emotional distress over the traumatic incident," Gomerman said in an email.

The claim seeks at least $25,000 from the city for the girl's injuries.

Fire Chief Sean Slamon said Riley was not in costume because he was the DJ for the program, while Dick was dressed as a clown. Firefighters use music to reinforce the safety lessons they teach the children, who are kindergartners to third-graders.

Slamon declined to comment about the incident because of the claim but in an email said he once had been a clown in the safety program and it was among the most rewarding experiences in his career. He said the Clown Program educates more than 5,000 children each year.

"This is the best and most effective public education program we deliver," he said in the email. "The firefighters that are involved ... dedicate a tremendous amount of time and effort every year to develop, prepare for, and present these safety programs. ... I have no doubt this program has saved lives and prevented injuries."

Gomerman also filed a claim against Modesto City Schools seeking at least $25,000 and alleging Sonoma Elementary staff failed to provide adequate supervision during the event.

Source; Kevin Valine, Copyright 2016 - The Modesto Bee

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Seasonal Federal Firefighters Hiring Reform Bill Corrected

Congress Intervenes to Fix Hiring Regs Written by ‘Entrenched Bureaucrats’ at OPM

A “no-brainer” hiring reform bill President Obama signed into law last year after receiving unanimous support in Congress was intended to be a non-controversial and painless way to ease hiring at certain agencies. Only one thing stood in its way: the Office of Personnel Management.

Firefighters are among the temporary workers the law could benefit. Kari Greer/U.S. Forest Service file photo

 The bill was created to give land management employees on temporary appointments the ability to apply for permanent positions while taking advantage of their service time. The measure was created to fix a perceived inequity that led to seasonal workers -- such as federal firefighters -- returning to their same jobs year after year at the same pay level without the opportunities for career advancement enjoyed by the rest of the federal workforce.

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act was written to give temporary employees access to apply for jobs previously available only as promotions for permanent workers at the hiring agency. Much to the chagrin of the lawmakers who wrote the bill and the union that backed it, OPM took a narrow interpretation in issuing regulations on the law. The human resources agency said the bill would only give temporary workers a leg up in applying to positions at their current agency, rather than across federal government.

The National Federation of Federal Employees has for months lobbied OPM and Congress to widen that rule, saying it undermined the true intent of the original legislation.

“In direct opposition to congressional intent, entrenched bureaucrats at OPM are keeping in place the very barriers to meaningful career advancement the [land management law] was enacted to break down,” NFFE President William Dougan said in a statement, after writing a letter to Obama asking him to intervene.

Dougan said in that letter that OPM had demonstrated a “flagrant disregard for the will of Congress” and was using logic typically reserved for Dr. Seuss books.

On Thursday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee advanced a correction to its original bill to clarify that seasonal land management employees should be able to apply to internal job listings across government.

“Unfortunately, OPM issued regulations with a narrow reading going against clear congressional intent,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., author of both the original measure and its fix. That intent, he said “has been thwarted.”

Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz echoed Connolly’s comments.

“This is, I think, a misread by OPM,” Chaffetz said. “These are people fighting fires. They're hired as seasonal workers, my goodness, and they can't even apply for a job? It really is quite amazing and ridiculous.”

For now, the law affects about 10,000 employees at the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Indian Affairs Bureau and Reclamation Bureau. The impact of the ultimate congressional and regulatory interpretation of the law could be far more reaching.

Original leaders on the bill have said that land management agencies should serve as a test case, and eventually temporary employees across government should be entitled to easier career advancement. Already, Republican lawmakers have mimicked the legislation to apply it to the Defense Department.

Temporary seasonal employees can work at most six months per year. They do not receive the same benefits as their permanent counterparts. Permanent seasonal employees -- who also only work part of the year but are placed on furlough status rather than being let go completely when their work is not required -- receive all the same (albeit pro-rated) benefits as regular, full-time workers.

Source: http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2016/04/congress-intervenes-fix-hiring-regulations-authored-entrenched-bureaucrats-opm/127497/

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LAFD Showcased Six New LAX Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Vehicles Tuesday

Los Angeles Fire Department officials showcased six new Aircraft Rescue Firefighting vehicles on Tuesday that recently have been placed into service at Los Angeles International Airport.

The vehicles will respond to “all manner of aircraft emergencies and incidents on the airfield,’’ according to fire department officials.

They replace four aging fire trucks, which will be re-deployed to Van Nuys and Ontario airports.

See the whole story here 

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2016 LAX Air Exercise Drill Includes Explosions And New Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Rigs

More than 500 stage LAX airplane-accident drill

A controlled explosion signals the start of the 2016 LAX Air Exercise (AirEx), a full-scale simulation designed to test Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX’s) readiness to respond to an aircraft accident on the airfield

Explosions sent smoke into the air and blood-soaked passengers were scattered on the tarmac Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport on, but the drama wasn’t real.

The bustle of activity was part of the 2016 LAX Air Exercise, a two-hour, unrehearsed drill designed to test the ability of hundreds of emergency-response personnel to react to a disaster on the airfield.

The scenario simulated an aircraft landing at LAX and striking a vehicle on the ground. Organizers set off actual explosions on the tarmac to simulate the crash, and about 150 volunteers posed as victims, many with bloody makeup and props simulating broken limbs or other injuries.

“Exercises like the one we’re holding here today affirm the LAFD’s commitment to train like our lives depend on it, because they do,” Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas said. “And the lives of thousands of people — both Angelenos and members of the traveling public — also depend on it.”

Taking part in the drill were more than 500 personnel, including representatives from Los Angeles World Airports, the city Police and Fire departments, city Emergency Management Department, American Red Cross, county coroner’s office, FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection and the cities of El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.

The exercise is mandated by the FAA and must be conducted at least once every three years “to evaluate the operational capability of readiness of LAX’s emergency response and management system.”

Featured in the exercise were six new Aircraft Rescue Firefighting vehicles that were recently acquired at a cost of $5.7 million. The vehicles replaced four older ones that have been redeployed to Van Nuys and Ontario airports.

Original Article: http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20160413/more-than-500-stage-lax-airplane-accident-drill

Photo Credit: http://photos.dailybreeze.com/2016/04/photos-full-scale-disaster-drill-at-lax/#2• VIDEO: LAFD Capt. Bill Wick shows us around the new firefighting vehicles at LAX

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NANG: Nevada Air Guard 152nd Airlift Wing Receives MAFFS Wildland Firefighting Mission

NGB: Nevada Air Guard unit receives MAFFS wildland firefighting mission

A 152nd Airlift Wing C-130 flies over the Sierra mountain range near Lake Tahoe.

 RENO - The 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada National Guard, is set to begin the process of outfitting its C-130 aircraft with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) equipment for large-scale wildland firefighting missions around the nation, the National Guard Bureau announced this week.

The development of the MAFFS mission in Reno brings large-scale wildland firefighting capabilities to a Guard unit located in the largest national forest in the lower 48 states - the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest - prone to massive fires in recent years. 

"The 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada National Guard is the best choice to fulfill the MAFFS mission due to their aircrew experience and geographic area response capability," the bureau said in a statement this week. 

The 152nd will become one of four units nationwide with C-130 aircraft outfitted with MAFFS. The 152nd has worked its airlift mission with C-130s since 1996. 

"The High Rollers of the 152nd Airlift Wing are more than capable of executing this mission," Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said. "This is good for the unit, the state, recently fire-ravaged western regions and the nation."

Since 1974, MAFFS - a fire retardant delivery system inserted into C-130 aircraft - has been a joint effort between the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense. The U.S. Forest Service owns MAFFS equipment and supplies retardant for firefighting. The Department of Defense provides C-130 aircraft, flight crews, and maintenance and support personnel to fly missions. MAFFS delivers surge capability that can be used to boost wildfire suppression efforts. The equipment can discharge up to 3,000 gallons - 28,000 pounds - of retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long and 60 feet wide. Once discharged, it can be refilled and airborne in less than 20 minutes. 

"Nevada is in a perfect location to service the vast majority of Western states due to its central location," Nevada National Guard Adjutant General Brig. Gen. William Burks said. "This is huge for the High Rollers and shows that all of their hard work throughout the entire organization pays benefits in the long run." 

The 152nd is scheduled to begin the transition with U.S. Forest Service MAFFS training on May 1 at Channel Islands, Calif. The transition is expected to take three to five fire seasons as the unit trains and prepares for the mission, the bureau said. 

A planned conversion of an existing MAFFS unit, the 145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard from the C-130 to the C-17, prompted the bureau to evaluate existing C-130 Air National Guard units for a suitable replacement for the MAFFS mission.

All National Guard C-130 units were considered, the bureau said.
The other units involved in the mission are: the 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard; the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard and the 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserves. 

"This is a critical and challenging mission we've wanted for many yearsnow," said Col. Karl Stark, the commander of the 152nd Airlift Wing. "We are more than capable and ready for the responsibility this mission brings."

Story by Tech. Sgt. Emerson Marcus

Source: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/194934/ngb-nevada-air-guard-unit-receives-maffs-wildland-firefighting-mission#.Vw8DhzArKHt
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El Dorado County #KingFire 'Selfie' Arsonist Sentenced To 20 Years And $60 Million In Restitution

'Selfie' arsonist gets 20yrs & $60mn fine for starting California wildfire

The King Fire burned 12 homes, 68 other structures and more than 150 square miles of land in the north-central Sierra Nevada mountains. It took 300 firefighters and personnel about a month to control.

A man who filmed himself in front of what turned out to be a month-long wildfire in California received a $60 million fine and a 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to arson.

Wayne Allen Huntsman and the fire he started

"I plead guilty because I did it," Wayne Allen Huntsman told the court Friday with three counts of felony arson brought against him for what became known as the “King Fire” in September 2014.

Although initially Huntsman denied the charges, he told the court he was remorseful for what he had done, breaking down in tears a number of times during his court appearance.

"I have cried many nights for the victims and their losses,” the 39-year-old said.

"He's probably the most remorseful client I've ever represented and I hope the community understands that," said Huntsman's Chief Public Defender Teri Monterosso.

As well as spending 20 years in prison, he has also been ordered to pay a largely symbolic amount of $60 million in restitution to those affected by the fire.

It is unlikely he will deliver on that element of his sentence, since ex-offenders have trouble finding jobs, let alone ones that pay more than $1 million a year.

OJ Simpson, for instance, has only paid a fraction of the $33.5 million he owes from the 1997 civil case for the murder of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman.

Police released video-of-a-video footage of Huntsman standing in front of the fires the day he started them, which they obtained from a “good Samaritan” who gave the arsonist a lift away from the flames.

Statement from @CALFIRE_CHIEF on the guilty plea of the 2014 #KingFire arsonist. https://t.co/s5hdBMb6Ps pic.twitter.com/GpRyWjebQP

— CAL FIRE PIO Berlant (@CALFIRE_PIO) April 9, 2016

The court was also shown evidence of 911 calls Huntsman made reporting the fire as well as CCTV footage of him buying alcohol on the day of the fire.

Nearly 100,000 acres in the north-central Sierra Nevada mountains were burned during the blaze, which started on September 13, 2014, along the King of the Mountain Road in rural El Dorado County.

It wasn’t until October 13, 2014, that the 300 firefighters and personnel were able to bring the fire under control, with more than 100 buildings damaged during the period including 12 homes and thousands of locals displaced.

Huntsman had a number of previous convictions including possession of stolen property, grand theft, and assault with a deadly weapon.

In an unrelated, but shocking crime, Huntsman's sister Tami Joy was arrested in December for her role in the death of two children in California.

Source: https://www.rt.com/usa/339038-selfie-california-wildfire-guilty/

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Bakersfield Fire Department Receives World Trade Center Girder For Public Memorial

World Trade Center girder arrives in Bakersfield

WTC Girder At Bakersfield Fire Department

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A piece of history rolled through Bakersfield on Wednesday morning, after the Bakersfield Fire Department received a 22-foot long structural steel girder from the World Trade Center.

The national artifact is one of many sent throughout the country for 9/11 memorials.

Fire department spokesman Anthony Galagaza said his department's request was approved because of where the memorial will be placed, in between a fire department and police substation.

"What it will do is bring the history of what happened on that tragic day to Bakersfield," said Galagaza.

Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., the piece was escorted through town by Bakersfield firefighters, Bakersfield police, the California Highway Patrol, Hall Ambulance and the Bakersfield Freedom Riders.

The girder was taken through Chester Avenue from Highway 58, to the fire department headquarters in downtown Bakersfield at 2101 H St.

Mike Edgar, a local truck driver who took the 12 day trip from Bakersfield to New York and back to pick up the artifact, said it was something he will remember forever.

"I had tears coming out of my eyes going down the freeway," said Edgar. "Makes you proud to be an American."

This coming Sept. 11, the memorial will be on display between the BPD substation and Fire Station No. 15 at 1315 Buena Vista Road.

A six-and-a-half-ton steel girder from the World Trade Center made its way into downtown Bakersfield Wednesday and is scheduled to be part of a 9-11 memorial.

The piece made its way on a flatbed truck from Highway 58 north on Chester Avenue, and then to Bakersfield Fire Department headquarters at 2101 H St.

Firefighters traveled to New York last month to retrieve the girder. They were accompanied by New York City firefighters as they accepted the girder from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The piece was then transported across the country, arriving Wednesday morning.

Firefighters propose placing it at a memorial centered between Bakersfield Fire Department Station 15 and the Bakersfield Police Department substation at 1315 Buena Vista Road.

Article: http://www.bakersfield.com/news/2016/04/06/world-trade-center-girder-arrives-in-bakersfield.html
Photo Credit: Henery A. Barrios / The Californian

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#AlertSoCal Network Detection of Wildfire Ignition and Development #HPWREN #CAfire

Views from the AlertSoCal cameras on Lyons Peak (left) and Volcan Mountain (right) in San Diego County.

New Technology Helps Monitor Fire Hazards in Southern California

AlertSoCal network aids first responders in the detection of wildfire ignition and development

A new technology can give firefighters the upper hand in the battle against wildfires. A network of mountaintop cameras operated by researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, offers a new opportunity for early detection of fire hazards in some of the most remote locations in Southern California, and within the wildland-urban interface.

The AlertSoCal system, developed in collaboration with the Scripps-based High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network (HPWREN) and the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, expands Southern California’s state-of-the-art earthquake and weather monitoring system to better detect fires in real time before they spread. The HPWREN network currently includes more than 64 fixed mountaintop cameras positioned in 16 remote locations across San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial counties to support public safety operations. New AlertSoCal 4K high-definition pan, tilt and, zoom cameras will augment the existing HPWREN cameras.

“This technology brings us one step closer to providing public safety officials with an integrated hazards network to revolutionize how we detect and fight wildfire and other natural hazards in the United States,” said Scripps research geophysicist Frank Vernon, the lead researcher of the HPWREN network.

AlertSoCal provides firefighters and the public with a virtual fire lookout tower equipped with real-time and on-demand time-lapse imagery up to 12 hours in the past to spot the first signs of fire ignition. The unprecedented view in these remote regions and within the wildland-urban interface can aid fire crews with critical information on fire evolution in its early stages to support safer operations, and more timely evacuations of residents from harm’s way.

The web-based technology is designed to help incident command centers quickly pinpoint the initial source location of a wildfire in regions that are difficult to physically reach. AlertSoCal operates in critical fire-prone regions, including Toro Peak, the highest peak in the Santa Rosa Mountains located in Riverside County, and Lyons Peak in southern San Diego County.

The online hazard alert system is also accessible to the general public, who can use it to view weather conditions at these often-inaccessible locations of Southern California, and which provides an opportunity to crowd-source early fire detection through public participation. AlertSoCal is a complement to the AlertTahoe and Nevada Bureau of Land Management fire camera systems run by the Nevada Seismological Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno.

“We’ve been operating AlertTahoe for two years, and it’s a proven success,” said Graham Kent, director of the Nevada Seismological Laboratory and a geophysicist at the University of Nevada, Reno. “It’s exciting to work with Scripps to bring this technology to critical fire-prone areas of Southern California.”

The Scripps-based HPWREN communications infrastructure is the backbone of the Alert network, and is part of a multi-hazard system also used for real-time observations of earthquakes and extreme weather. The network provides high-speed networking capabilities to support research, education, and public safety efforts, and in collaboration with UCSD’s San Diego Supercomputer Center and California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology that supports a high-bandwidth wireless data network in hard-to-reach areas in the remote Southern California back country of San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial counties.

“The real-time imagery and on-demand, time-lapse capability is the 21st century’s version of crowd-source fire-tower observers,” said Kent, who is also Nevada State seismologist.

The AlertSoCal system is a partnership among UC San Diego, the County of San Diego, and San Diego Gas & Electric to transmit real-time information to incident command centers and fire stations for enhanced readiness. The network also benefits the university through research and education opportunities.

“Working with partners to provide this technology to the community is vitally important as extreme drought conditions, warmer weather, and more frequent Santa Ana wind events have all contributed to increased wildfire activity and longer fire seasons each year in Southern California,” said Vernon.

The County of San Diego has worked with HPWREN on other public safety initiatives, including the Next Generation Incident Command System to identify and map wildfires, the Operational Downlink Informational Network, and the Advanced Situational Awareness for Public Safety Network, known as ASAPnet.
Source: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/new-technology-helps-monitor-fire-hazards-southern-california

Media Contact: 

Mario Aguilera

  |  Phone: 858-534-3624  |  Email: scrippsnews@ucsd.edu

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National 911 Office Text-to-911 When Silent Texts Save Lives #NG911

Text-to-911 technology offers a new way to reach help 

Car accidents and fires are obvious situations that may require a call to 911. For the most part, doing so does not increase risk for the caller. However, in cases of domestic abuse or abduction, calling 911 can put the victim in grave danger. In these situations, new technology that allows people to silently text to 911 can be life-saving.

The National 911 Office is driving the planning and adoption of the text-to-911 service to make communicating with emergency services more dynamic. This begins the process of increasing accessibility and a push for public safety answering points (PSAP) to begin Next Generation 911 (NG911) implementation. Text-to-911 is an interim step between current systems used in PSAPs and NG911 implementation. While there is a national push to upgrade, it is a lengthy and expensive process that will initially limit the availability of the service.

• Many PSAPs have been upgraded to Phase II technology, but there are still several areas of the country with only basic or enhanced 911. Image courtesy of NENA: The 9-1-1 Association. http://nena.ddti.net/

Silent texts save lives

The prevalence of cellular phones is a catalyst for developing text-to-911 technology. According to the Pew Research Center, 90 percent of Americans currently own a cell phone. Of those cell phone owners, nearly 80 percent use the device for texting. The driving mission of NG911 is to allow telecommunicators to keep up with technology being used by the public.

There are several examples of how text-to-911 has already proven crucial for those unable to call 911. In Indiana, a woman was able to text information and receive help while her boyfriend was holding her against her will. She dialed 911 from her cell phone and left the line open as her initial plea for help. Once the man left the room, however, she was able to send and respond to text messages from the telecommunicator to provide more in-depth information for responding emergency personnel.

In another incident, texts allowed Indiana State Troopers to rescue a woman trapped in a moving car by two men. Held against her will in a vehicle traveling to St. Louis, the woman sent texts that relayed her location until officers were able to pull the vehicle over.

In both cases, audible communication through a phone call would have alerted the men to the women’s actions and made it more difficult for authorities to intervene with a happy outcome.

Although text-to-911 is not available in all locations, people still attempt to reach 911 via text message. Prior to implementing text-to-911 in late 2015, for example, a PSAP in Marion County, Indiana, received roughly 400 texts per month to which they could not respond. Even though the Marion County PSAP is now accepting text-to-911, other PSAPs in suburban areas in the county do not yet have the capability to receive texts. Until adoption is complete, people in situations like the ones above will risk escalation trying to get help.

Four stages of 911 technology create differences in information dispatchers receive.

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Four stages of 911 technology create differences in information dispatchers receive

Text-to-911 is an interim step of the upgrade process to NG911 implementation. There are four different stages of 911 technology currently in use in the United States: basic, enhanced, wireless phases I and II, and Next Generation.

With basic 911, your call is routed to a corresponding 10-digit phone number in your coverage area. Most of us are familiar with Enhanced 911—dial 911 from a landline to automatically share your telephone number, registered address, and possibly your name on a computer screen in your local PSAP.

Wireless phases I and II deal with what is transmitted to a PSAP when 911 is contacted from a wireless device. In Phase I, wireless carriers are required to provide PSAPs with the telephone number calling 911 and the cell site transmitting the call, typically a cell tower in the caller’s general vicinity. Wireless Phase II is the requirement for carriers to provide a range area of latitude and longitude for the caller dialing 911.

Finally, Next Generation 911 is an internet protocol-based system which will allow information to be transmitted to the PSAP from any device. The map included in this article, which was generated by the NENA: The 9-1-1 Association, illustrates the technology being used across the United States as of March, 2014.

Source: http://www.envisagenow.com/text-to-911-technology-offers-a-new-way-to-reach-help/

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NY Medical Examiner Who Oversaw Office on 9/11 Dies at 79

NY Medical Examiner Who Oversaw Office on 9/11 Dies at 79

  Credit: City of New York

Dr. Charles Hirsch, who oversaw the city medical examiner's office for more than two decades and whose staff helped identify the remains of Sept. 11 victims, has died. He was 79.

Hirsch, who led the medical examiner's office from 1989 until his retirement in 2013, died Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The cause of his death was not released.

Hirsch rushed to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, and was hit by falling debris as one of the twin towers collapsed. He and several aides worked to create a temporary morgue at the lower Manhattan site. He oversaw the medical examiner's office as pathologists worked for years to identify the remains of the more than 2,000 victims.

De Blasio, a Democrat, said that after Sept. 11 Hirsch and his team "worked tirelessly, beginning the city's now decades-long effort to identify the victims."

"The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducts a solemn and essential role after so many of our city's tragedies, and we are indebted to Dr. Hirsch for his decades of service at the helm of this agency," de Blasio said in a statement.

Hirsch's successor, Dr. Barbara Sampson, said he was "a steady presence and guide during some of the darkest hours."

"He will be remembered for his exquisite blend of professionalism and compassion, while his legacy lives in the generations of medical examiners, including myself, that he trained in New York City," she said.

Hirsch came under scrutiny in 2007 after concluding that retired police detective James Zadroga, who died of lung disease, wasn't sickened by inhaling toxic ground zero dust, as a colleague in New Jersey had ruled. Hirsch's finding meant that Zadroga's name couldn't be added to the Sept. 11 victims' list.

Hirsch believed Zadroga, who died in 2006, got the lung disease that killed him by injecting ground-up pills into his bloodstream, leaving traces of the pills in the lung tissue.

But a third medical examiner later found glass fragments in Zadroga's lungs and declared he died of "dust inhaled at ground zero."

The mayor at the time, Michael Bloomberg, said Zadroga was "not a hero," a statement he later retracted. In 2008, the mayor and the police commissioner added Zadroga's name to the Wall of Heroes at police headquarters.

Federal legislation that provides health monitoring and financial aid to sick Sept. 11 workers was later named the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act.

De Blasio also credits Hirsch with turning the medical examiner's office into "a national leader in forensic pathology."

When Hirsch retired, the city named the Charles S. Hirsch Center for Forensic Sciences, believed to be the largest public DNA crime laboratory in the nation, in his honor.

Source: http://www.startribune.com/ny-medical-examiner-who-oversaw-office-on-9-11-dies-at-79/375099451/

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