CA-BDF-Apache IC - Wildland Fire - 784 acres 25%

Update: Apache Wildland Fire - CA-BDF-Apache IC -
Editor: This fire looks very cold via Geomac-Modis expect very little growth. Seven helicopters and Seven aircraft will be available today to augment the ground forces consisting of 30 hand crews...

Perimeter map of Apache Fire
Credit: USDA Forest Service/Cal Fire news

Apache Fire Update 5 from RRU - Link
May 1, 2008 (7:00 p.m.)
STATUS OF FIRE
Apache Fire
Location: Apache Peak near the Pacific Crest Trail, burning eastward toward West Palm Canyon
Acres Burned:
784
Structures Threatened:
0
Containment:
25%
Structures Destroyed:
0
Fire Started:
4/29/08 (Tues) 4:35 PM
Injuries:
0
Cause:
Human - Smoking
Resources:
Hand Crews: 30
Fixed Wing: 7
Helicopters: 7
Water Tenders: 3
Engines: 10
Total personnel assigned to Apache Fire: 710
Expected Containment: 5/04/2008
Current Fire Situation:
The Apache Fire was reported at 4:35pm on Tuesday, April 29, and is located near Apache Peak by the Pacific Crest Trail in the San Jacinto Wilderness of the San Bernardino National Forest. Thirty hand crews are at the scene of the fire and are continuing to build fire line on the ridges. The crews are experiencing steep terrain, smoke and difficult access. So.Cal. Incident Management Team (Carlton Joseph, Incident Commander) is managing the fire.

Weather Remarks: Friday’s forecast calls for sunny weather with a high of 72 and low of 44 degrees. Relative humidity is predicted at 5%. Winds are expected out of the east in the morning at 5 – 10 mph with 15 mph upslope gusts. Winds of 5 mph are expected in the afternoon.

Trail Closures: There are no evacuations in place. The San Jacinto Wilderness and the San Jacinto State Park are closed until further notice. The Devil’s Slide Trail, the Southridge Trail, the Spitler Peak Trail, the Forbes Ranch Trail, the Cedar Springs Trail, and a section of the Pacific Crest Trail are also closed until further notice.

Agencies Involved: The Apache Fire is being managed by the USFS with assistance from CALFIRE and Riverside County crews, and cooperation with the BLM, BIA, and the Agua Caliente Tribe.
For more information, call the recorded fire information line at 909-383-5688,

GACC News and notes: 0600-5-208 -BDF-5147 APACHE So CAL Type II (Team 1). Fire has burned 784 acres and is 25% percent contained. There has been minimal movement of the fire toward a South, South East direction with smoldering and backing. All crews will spike out and work two consecutive day shifts. Crews will be flown out at the end of shift Saturday 5/3/08 . The incident is operating in the San Jacinto Wilderness and the Santa Rosa / San Jacinto Monument . MIST practices are being utilized.

Camp San Luis Obispo: Large-scale disaster training

Large-scale disaster training at Camp San Luis Obispo

CAMP SAN LUIS OBISPO - Whether it's a natural disaster or terrorist attack, they train for the worst, but hope for the best.

About 250 emergency responders participated in a large-scale drill at Camp San Luis Obispo Thursday. They simulated a train derailment and a building collapse, all to push resources to the limit.

This drill between fire personnel and national guardsmen takes place about once a year. It's an exercise that takes months to plan, but one that emergency responders say is crucial in any kind of disaster.

Several hundred victims and a search for survivor in a building collapse and a train derailment with a possible gas leak. It's what you would call:

"The worst possible case scenario," said Cambria Fire Chief Bob Putney, also the Regional Supervisor for the San Luis Obispo Regional HazMat Team.

Fire personnel and national guardsmen teamed up to plan for a real life situation.

"Every mistake we make, everything we do right is a learning experience," Chief Putney added.

We suited up for a first-hand experience to see what emergency responders go through.

All emergency responders have to wear hazmat suits. When fully suited up, it can get up to 25 degrees hotter than the outside temperature. Now, add almost 80 pounds of equipment they will have to wear, and it becomes difficult to move.

Difficult, but necessary.

"Practice does make perfect. We've got to be able to come together, no matter what the incident is and make it happen," said Cal Fire spokeswoman Tina Rose.

With possible dangerous chemicals floating in the air, hazmat teams decontaminate not only themselves, but also the victims.

"It could be a train derailment, it could be a building collapse. Right now, we have a series of earthquakes we've been tracking," said Lieutentant Colonel Thor Iljana with the National Guard's CERFP unit. "Really, if you don't prepare beforehand, once the event occurs, it's too late to get ready."

A training that one day could save your life.

The National Guard says the exercise costs about $20,000 of federal money.

Source article: KSBY Story link
Tags: National Guard's CERFP unit, San Luis Obispo Regional HazMat Team, Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) - Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP)

CA-SMD-Santa Anita Fire - Final - 584 acres 100 % percent contained.

Today (May 2, 2008) Unified Command with USFS (Fiorella) and Sierra Madre (Heydorf) will transition back to the local district, under a "Type 3" organization

FINAL UPDATE: Santa Anita Fire (CA-SMD-08-22735) This will be the last report on this incident. - Fire has burned 584 acres and is 100 % percent contained. Incident remains in Unified Command with USFS (Fiorella) and Sierra Madre (Heydorf) continues until 0800 on 5/2/08 . The fire will be transitioning back to the local district on Friday, May 2nd at 0800 under a Type 3 organization. Acreage apportionment: USFS=248 acres and Sierra Madre=346 acres.

Santa Anita Fire progression map

Summary

As of Friday, May 2, 2008, 6:00 a.m. PST, the Santa Anita Fire has burned 584 acres north of Sierra Madre, CA. Approximately 238 acres are on National Forest System land within the Angeles National Forest, and 346 acres are within the corporate boundary of the City of Sierra Madre.

The fire is now 100% contained. Firefighters completed a fire line around the fire yesterday (May 1, 2008), and ensured that 200-foot swath inside that line was cold to the touch.

The Angeles National Forest Fire Information Center is closed.

All evacuated areas, including the Chantry Flat area, have been re-opened without restrictions.

Closure Updates: (9:00 a.m. May 1, 2008):

All Sierra Madre trails are closed.

All trails on National Forest System land are open, as none were impacted by the Santa Anita Fire.

Sierra Madre public and private schools are open.

Santa Anita Canyon Road (Chantry Flat Road), which accesses the Angeles National Forest, is open.

CA-BDF- Apache IC - Wildland Fire - 784 acres 25%

Apache Wildland Fire Update
Editor: This fire looks very cold via Geomac-Modis expect very little growth. Four helicopters and four aircraft will be available today to augment the ground forces consisting of 30 hand crews...

Perimeter map of Apache Fire
Credit: USDA Forest Service/Cal Fire news

Summary:

Incident Commander: Carlton Joseph
The Apache Fire is human caused "smoking" and is burning in the San Jacinto Wilderness on Apache Ridge and is visible from many areas especially at night.

Hand crews accessed the fire and established an anchor point and began building fire line along the ridgetop and the handcrews have spent the night Coyote on the fireline.

Weather: Winds have died down and based on fire weather forecasts, fires projected movement is expected toward the South by South East. Friday's forecast calls for sunny weather with a high of 72 and a low of 44 degrees. Relative humidity is predicted at 5%. Winds are expected out of the east in the morning at 5-10 mph with 15 mph upslope gusts and winds of 5 mph are expected in the afternoon.

Fire behavior: Fire moving into grass and brush, Fire backing into heavier fuels - downed timber and logs.
The Steep terrain have made accessing fire difficult and ground resources have lengthy travel times to access incident.

Resources: 710 personnel on fire - 30 handcrews, 10 engines, 3 water tenders, 7 helicopters and 7 fixed wing aircraft, working the fire in very steep terrain. Crews will work up to 36 hours and spike camp on the mountain.

Planned actions: Crews and Aircraft going direct on Fire, protection of structures as required. Full containment predicted for May 4, 2008.

Evacuations: There are no evacuations in place.

Park and trail Closures: The Palm Springs Tramway remains open.
The San Jacinto Wilderness and Mt. San Jacinto State Park are closed until further notice. The Devil's Slide, Spitler Peak, Southridge, Fobes Ranch, and Cedar Springs trails and a section of the Pacific Crest Trail are closed until further notice.

Agencies Involved: The Apache Fire is being managed by the USFS with assistance from CALFIRE and Riverside County crews, and cooperation with the BLM, BIA, and the Agua Caliente Tribe.

Perimeter of Apache Fire
Credit: USDA Forest Service

Annual Ishi Fire Crew Exercises, largest in the state

Annual Ishi Fire Crew Preparedness Exercise

PAYNES CREEK - Inmate fire crews from throughout northern California converged at a sight east of Red Bluff on Tuesday for a week-long "hands on" practice in preparation for the upcoming fire season.

Thursday the public has been invited to attend the event as hundreds of firefighters are put through their paces.

The Annual Ishi Fire Crew Exercises, the largest in the state, will provide an opportunity for 47 fire crews to be evaluated on the physical conditioning, firefighting knowledge and their ability to perform safely.

Though the exercise was scheduled to start on Tuesday, preparation began well before that date.

It is vital that crew members acclimate themselves for the warmer weather ahead to reduce the heat-related injuries which can occur in the fire environment. Under competitive pressure, the fire crews will hike into the incident site, construct fire lines, and deploy fire shelters under simulated emergency conditions.

CalFire, in conjunction with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation operates 35 conservation campus throughout California. In addition, CalFire jointly operates other camps with the California Youth Authority.

Together, this partnership of state agencies, inmates and wards provides a force of more than 2,700 trained firefighters, for all types of emergency incident mitigation and resource conservation projects.

For 20 years, the Annual Fire Crew Preparedness Exercise has been an important part of preparing for fireseason in northern California. It is an outstanding opportunity to put the year's training to the test and to gear up, both physically and mentally, for the ensuing fire season.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch from a CalFire mobile kitchen unit will be served to participants, special guests, media and other observers.

Information is available by calling Ishi Conservation Camp, 527-2352, or the CalFire Fire Prevention office at 528-5124.

RED FLAG WARNINGS - Riverside, Imperial, Inyo, San Bernardino Counties

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RED FLAGS: HEADS UP - RED FLAG WARNINGS IN RIVERSIDE, IMPERIAL, INYO, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES

NORTHERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS APPROACHING 40 MPH WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER INTO THIS AFTERNOON. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE ALREADY IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. THESE CONDITIONS WILL BE CONDUCIVE TO RAPID FIRE GROWTH. THE STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECREASING THIS AFTERNOON. POOR OVERNIGHT RH RECOVERY IS EXPECTED.
STAY SAFE!
Instruction:
PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS AND FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS... LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

Affected Counties or parts of: Riverside, Imperial, Inyo, San Bernardino

CAL FIRE employee arrested in India released on bond

INDIA- CAL FIRE employee and mother arrested in India on Arms charges have been released on bail.

After a couple of bullets that had fallen into a umbrella after a hiking trip were found in their luggage India charges the two tourist's like terrorists, They went through security at LA, Taipei and New Delhi at least twice previously undetected seems they have embarrassed a few security folks....

The mother, Monica Bond, is a former nurse, and daughter Heather Bond works for Cal Fire on the Central Coast.

57-year-old Monica Bond and her daughter, 37-year-old Heather Bond, were arrested earlier this month after airport officials found bullets and a ammunition clip in their luggage.

The amunition and clip belonged with a gun carried on hiking trips in California and had mistakenly fallen into the umbrella which was packed into luggage.

According to India's "The Statesman" newspaper a judge released the two women, but told them not to leave the country until the case is resolved.

They face charges under the Indian Arms Act, which carries a sentence of three to seven years.

The Statesman article:
Court grants bail to US nationals
Section: North Bengal & Sikkim Date:May 01,2008
Statesman News Service SILIGURI, April 30: The American mother-daughter duo arrested from the Bagdogra airport on 14 April for carrying live cartridges in their registered baggage has been released on bail. Granting them conditional bail this afternoon,

Court grants bail to US nationals

Statesman News Service
SILIGURI, April 30: The American mother-daughter duo arrested from the Bagdogra airport on 14 April for carrying live cartridges in their registered baggage has been released on bail.
Granting them conditional bail this afternoon, the Siliguri Additional Sessions Judge (First Court), Mr Justice Pinaki Ranjan Jha has asked the two women US nationals not to leave India till the case was disposed off and also to appear before the investigating officer (IO) after every 15-days.
The court has further ordered that the American women would not get back their passports and visas till the case was resolved and asked the IO to keep the same in his custody.
The American mother-daughter duo, Mrs Monica Bond (57) and Miss Heather Bond (37), hailing from Santa Barbara in California, were booked under Section 25 (i) (A) and 35 of the Arms Act 1959.

Previous article: CAL FIRE employee arrested in India

Riverside County Fire Department Engine crash

Two people were hurt after a man crashed into a Riverside County Fire Department fire engine in Wildomar on Tuesday. The incident occured at around 6:30 pm at the intersection of Gruwell and Palomar Streets, about a half mile from the Wildomar Riverside County Fire Department Station.

According to people in the area at the time of the accident, the fire engine was making a right hand turn onto southbound Palomar Street from Gruwell on a green light. The man in the car was coming the opposite direction (westbound) on Gruwell when he accellerated and smashed his Ford Thunderbird head-on into the fire engine. A CHP officer at the scene said the act was done intentionally.

According to Battalion Chief Jerry Hendershot with the Riverside County Fire Department / Cal Fire, the operator of the fire engine was transported to Inland Valley Hospital with back pain. His injuries were described as minor. The driver of the car was also transported to a local hospital and his condition was unknown. Witnesses said the man appeared to be unconscious after the crash. Hendershot said the fire engine was not responding to a call at the time and did not have it's lights and siren on.

The California Highway Patrol responded to conduct an investigation, but called the Sheriff's Department after the man made statements that the crash was done intentionally. The Sheriff's Department is considering the act as an assault. It is unclear whether the man was attempting to harm himself or the fire fighters.

CA-BDF-Apache - San Jacinto Wilderness - 700+ acres 5%

Apache Wildland Fire Update
Todays Summary:
The Apache Fire is burning in the San Jacinto Wilderness on Apache Ridge and is visible from many areas especially at night.
Hand crews accessed the fire and established an anchor point and began building fire line along the ridgetop and the handcrews have spent the night Coyote on the fire and more crews will hike, fly to fire this morning.
Winds have died down and based on fire weather forecasts, fires projected movement is expected toward the South by South East.
Medium ROS, 15 mph winds, smoke, heavy downed timber, moving into brush.
The Steep terrain have made accessing fire difficult and ground resources have lengthy travel times to access incident.

640 personnel on fire, Resources assigned include 28 handcrews, working the fire in very steep terrain today. Aircraft should fly due to favorable weather and light winds.

Planned actions: Crews and Aircraft going direct on Fire, protection of structures as required.
Evacuations: There are no evacuations in place.
Park and trail Closures: The San Jacinto Wilderness and Mt. San Jacinto State Park are closed until further notice. The Devil's Slide, Spitler Peak, Southridge, Fobes Ranch, and Cedar Springs trails and a section of the Pacific Crest Trail are closed until further notice.
Full containment predicted for May 7, 2008.
Agencies Involved: The Apache Fire is being managed by the USFS with assistance from CALFIRE and Riverside County crews, and cooperation with the BLM, BIA, and the Agua Caliente Tribe.

Picture of Apache fire as a small stump spot fire near Apache Peak
Now fire exceeds 700 acres
Credit: Bobby Wisnouckas, a PCT hiker, who was first to discover the fire. Possibly hiker Steffie in picture?

Picture of Apache fire - Hiking away after discovery
Credit: Bobby Wisnouckas, a PCT hiker, who was first to discover the fire.

Bobby Wisnouckas and fellow hiker, Steffie, tried to shovel sand on the fire, but the winds were too strong at that altitude and the fire quickly moved to the grass and then to the logs downhill from the stump

Tuesday afternoon, April 29 Apache Fire is reported by Two Pacific Crest trail hikers as a burning stump and is now about 700 Acres.

IA: Reported Tuesday afternoon, April 29 Apache Fire is reported by Two Pacific Crest trail hikers as a burning stump and is now more than 700 Acres.
Current sizeup: 700+ Acres - 5% containment - Potential for 3000 acres
Location: San Jacinto Wilderness, San Bernardino National Forest in Riverside County -Apache Peak 7000 feet on the eastern most ridge of mountains over looking the desert.
IC: Apache IC - So CAL Type II (Team 1) IC Joseph - Carlton Joseph
Resources: 640 personnel on fire, Resources assigned include 28 handcrews, 2 helicopter, 2 helitankers, and 4 fixed wing aircraft.
Air resources: 3 T1 helos, 4 T2 helos, 1 T3 high performance helo, 4 T1 ATs
Ground resources: 28 T1 crews, 1 T1 engine, 2 STs of T3 engines
Resource orders: Order for Types 1, 2 and 3 copters; 1 & 2 Hand Crews and four Heavy Air Tankers have been placed for today.
Planned actions: Due to steep roadless terrain, Hand crews hiked in to access the fire and established an anchor point and began building fire line along the ridgetop and some handcrews have spent the night on the fire and more crews will hike, fly to fire this morning. Crews and Aircraft going direct on Fire, protection of structures as required.
Fuels: Light to Heavy brush, steep road less terrain.
Fire is being wind-driven, with ridge top winds in the area measuring approximately 35 mph.
Fire behavior: Fire behavior is wind driven in the morning hours and moderating in the afternoon..
GACC-South Ops 5-1 o700hrs: CA BDF-005147

CA-BDF-5147 APACHE So CAL Type II (Team 1) IC Joseph assumed command at 0600 hours this morning. The fire has consumed 700 acres and is 5 % Percent contained. Steep inaccessible terrain with snag hazards limits night time operations. High winds over fire have been observed. Ground resources have lengthy travel times to access incident. This incident fire behavior is wind driven in the morning hours and moderating in the afternoon. Based on fire weather forecasts, fires projected movement is expected toward the South / South East. Threats remain to Cultural Sites; Painted Rock in the West Fork of Painted Canyon structures in Zen Center and Bonita Vista Rapid.

Gas Cost Spike Has Firefighters Changing Response

Gas Cost Spike Has Firefighters Changing Response
Big Fire Trucks Won't Roll On Every Call

(AP) VISTA - Spiking fuel costs will soon change firefighter responses in the San Diego County community of Vista, where huge fire trucks will stop rolling on every emergency call.

A new "priority dispatch system" will determine if those big engines are needed on calls. Fire Chief Gary Fisher says dispatchers at the North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority are now being trained.

Currently, firefighter and paramedics crews respond to all emergency 911 medical-aid calls. The priority system has dispatchers asking 911 callers a series of questions to determine the amount of emergency personnel needed.