Kentucky Firefighters charged with Arson

Two emergency firefighters with the division of forestry are charged with setting forest fires in Eastern Kentucky

Christopher C. Little, 30, an emergency firefighter with the Kentucky Division of Forestry arrested Friday morning in Pike County, and is accused of setting fires in the Hellier community.

James Yeager, 20, an emergency firefighter with the Kentucky Division of Forestry arrested Thursday, is charged with starting fires in Knox County.

This comes as rangers work overtime to put out several arson fires in the region.

WYMT'S Michel Mason spoke with a psychologist about what makes someone want to start a fire.

In the last week, forest fire season in Eastern Kentucky has heated up. Most of the fires are started on purpose.

"Fire is a very powerful thing. The problem is it very easily gets out of control," said Dr. Brad Adkins, a Clinical Psychologist.

Dr. Adkins says some of those behind the fires are in it for the rush. But psychologically, Dr. Adkins says there is a great difference between pyromania and arson.

"Arson is engaged in usually for financial or monetary gain. Pyromania is a different animal all together," added Dr. Adkins.

He says it's rare to see firefighters setting fires themselves, but it does happen.

"Watching people scramble to put the fires out or even being involved with putting out the fire yourself that you have set is another hallmark of pyromania," said Dr. Adkins.

It's something that may have put two emergency firefighters with the division of forestry out of work.

"It's unfortunate that these two individuals that were found to be forest arsonists would give the rest of them a bad name," said Lynn Branner, Information Officer for the Kentucky Division of Forestry.

James Yeager, 20, is charged with starting fires in Knox County. In Pike County, state police arrested Christopher Little, 30.

Both men no longer work for the division of forestry.

Riverside County Supervisors Approve Funding for Firefighter Memorial

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors agreed today to use $15,000 in county funds to support construction of a memorial near Lake Elsinore to honor California wildland firefighting personnel who have lost their lives on the fire lines.

Supervisors Bob Buster, Marion Ashley and Roy Wilson allocated $5,000 apiece in community improvement designation funds -- of which each supervisor receives an allotted amount each year to use at his or her discretion -- to benefit the "California Wildland Firefighter Memorial.''

About $150,000 is needed to finish the tribute, which will include a statue and plaques bearing the names of firefighters, dozer operators, pilots and others who have perished battling brushfires up and down the state.

"This will be a fine monument to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice,'' Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins told the board. "It's very important to our area.''

He said California Wildland Firefighter Memorial Inc., the group working on the project, has raised roughly $25,000, though the county's contribution brings the total closer to $50,000.

The memorial site is located at 32353 Ortega Highway, which runs between Riverside and Orange counties. A portion of the state route in 1998 was dedicated as the "California Wildland Memorial Highway.''

According to Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Cheri Patterson, only a small part of the memorial itself has been built.

"There's a little bit of cement, a retaining wall and a dirt area,'' Patterson said. "They have a great vision for it ... They want to put the plaques on the wall, and there's talk about erecting essentially a statue.''

The location's significance goes back to August 1959, when a car fire touched off a blaze along the highway that quickly spread to surrounding hills, killing seven firefighters who were trying to contain it, according to Hawkins.


Story Source: The Desert Sun

Arson arrest: Kenneth Powell, 25 El Dorado Hills

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection arrested Kenneth Powell, 25 an El Dorado Hills man on seven counts of arson last week. Powell is suspected in seven seperate recent incidents, According to Chris Anthony, CalFire spokesman, there were seven fires set between the evening of Saturday, Oct. 18 and the morning of Sunday, Oct. 19.

“Six were wild land fires,” Anthony said. “One was a dumpster fire.”

Last Monday Mr. Powell, was arrested in El Dorado Hills where he was a long-time resident. CAL FIRE peace officers and El Dorado County District Attorney's Office investigators executed the Oct. 27 arrest warrant, booking Powell at El Dorado County Jail, where he's currently being detained.

“I commend the efforts of the joint investigation team working diligently on the case,” said CalFire Unit Chief Bill Holmes.

“There is a lot of tedious, time-consuming work that goes into these investigations,” said Holmes. “It’s worth the effort, though, when we can stop arson fires from occurring. Californian lives and property are already at significant risk from wildfire without these intentional fires adding to the threat.”

The joint investigation was conducted by CAL FIRE, the El Dorado Hills Fire Department and the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office.

News: 800+ CCC worked California wildfires

Largest Dispatch of Fire Crews in CCC History

The California Conservation Corps sent more than 800 corpsmembers, the largest number in the program's 32-year history, to wildfires throughout the state in 2008. At least one CCC was dispatched to a fire somewhere in California every single day from June 9 to October 26, when the last corpsmembers were demobilized.

Most of the CCC crews assisted with logistical support to CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service at the fire camps. In addition, the Redding Center’s Type II crew, Shasta 21, provided initial attack and mop-up work throughout the state.

Gov. Schwarzenegger met corpsmembers on his visits to various fire camps throughout the summer and praised their efforts. CCC crews worked 12-to-16-hour days while assigned to a fire, for stints up to 21 days.

The CCC, as one of the state’s premier emergency response agencies, is already gearing up for potential winter storms and flooding. Training in floodfighting techniques for more than 100 corpsmembers has been set for November 14 in Sacramento.

Read it all and more at the HardCorps Blog

Road closure: Live Fire Training burns close road

Location: Burr Street between Indio Boulevard and Avenue 43, City of Indio will be closed through Friday.
When: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. all week.
Why: For firefighter live fire training.
Who: Firefighters from CalFire-Riverside County, Cathedral City and Palm Springs.
Note: Access to Burr Street will be limited to public safety vehicles according to CalFire-Riverside County officials.
The structures utilized in the drills are owned by the city of Indio, according to CalFire.

Cal Fire RRU News release: LINK

Release Date: 10/31/2008 Release Time: 6:13 PM
Contact: (951) 940-6985

Subject: Road Closures Planned for CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department Training

CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department personnel will be holding a training exercise from Sunday November 2 until Friday November 7, 2008 between the hours of 7 AM until 5 PM that will require the closure of Burr Street between Indio Boulevard and Avenue 43 in the city of Indio.
Access to Burr Street between Indio Boulevard and Avenue 43 will be limited to emergency vehicles only. The exercise will include simulated rescues, firefighter entrapments and escapes, and rapid intervention drills using live fire inside several structures owned by the city. Fire Departments from the cities of Cathedral City and Palm Springs will also be participating in this exercise.
CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department personnel appreciate the public's patience and understanding during the planned training exercises. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Northern California fire season closes

A season that started with a flash and a bang went out with a wet wimper....
Officially Monday at 08:00hrs marks the end of Northern California Fire Season 2008 for Cal Fire-Butte County, Shasta/Trinity Unit, Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit and Tehama/Glenn Unit.
Northern California lightning siege: The 2008 California fire season started early on June 20, as a severe thunderstorm system moved through a bone dry northern and central California resulting in over 6,000 total lightning strikes in more than 26 counties.
Over two thousand wildland fires were ignited due to this storm and due to the overwhelming situation some fires were not staffed for days and even weeks as officials figured out priorities.
As firefighting resources began arriving in the North state and combined with aggressive firefighting efforts from CAL FIRE, USFS, and private fire contractors, Fire command officials strategically tackled the suppression of these incidents.
Over 25,000 firefighting personnel from across the state, nation and world responded to the Northern California lightning siege.

CAL FIRE Summary of wildland lightning fires by County

Butte: The Butte Lightning Complex burned 59,440 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.
Humboldt: The Humboldt Complex burned 1,325 acres and is now 100% contained.
Lake: The Walker Fire burned 14,500 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.
Lassen, Modoc: The Corral Fire burned 12,434 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here
Mariposa: The Oliver Fire burned 2,789 acres and now 100% contained.Click Here for more information.
Mendocino: The Mendocino Lightning Complex burned 53,300 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.
Napa & Solano: The Wild Fire burned 4,089 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.
Santa Clara: The Whitehurst and Hummingbird Fires burned a combined 994 acres and are both now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.
Shasta & Trinity: The Shasta and Trinity Lightning burned 86,500 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.

The Preparedness Level for Northern California today is 1. The MACS Mode for Northern California is 1. Widespread rainfall has been siginicant enough to reduce fire danger in much of Northern California.
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Burning of vegetative waste may resume without permits in most unincorporated areas of the counties until May 1, when permits will again be required and specific burning hours established.

Only clean, dry vegetative waste, including branches and yard clippings should be burned, to minimize the impact of smoke on neighborhoods. Burn piles should be attended at all times.

Residents also must call the local Air Quality Management District each morning to determine if a burn day has been declared.

New faces aspire to BL fire board

The Election Day battle for three Ben Lomond fire board seats is being waged in the long shadow of June’s failed $10 million bond measure to rebuild the town’s fire station.

The Election Day battle for three Ben Lomond fire board seats is being waged in the long shadow of June’s failed $10 million bond measure to rebuild the town’s fire station.

Measure S garnered 60 percent of the vote but needed a two-thirds majority to pass. Opponents had argued that the station could be remodeled for less. The 1940s-era building is too small to garage modern fire engines and needs seismic upgrading.

Incumbent Matt Schelegle and four challengers see the search for a less costly alternative as the fire protection district’s top issue.

“It will be the No. 1 priority, and it’s basically a money issue,” said Schelegle, a Union City firefighter who was named to a board vacancy in January in the midst of the Measure S campaign.

Incumbents Mary Clark and Roger Lee are not seeking re-election.

Challengers are Mike Ayers, a fire battalion chief in Tiburon and former Ben Lomond volunteer firefighter; Biff Beltz, a Fremont fire captain who serves as a volunteer fire captain in Ben Lomond and was on the board from 2000 to 2005; Lisa Hill, co-owner of Jeff Hill & Sons excavation contractors; and Ed Wilke, a manager in the semiconductor industry.

The current board is forming a committee of community members to advise it about the firehouse issue, and Schelegle favors that approach.

“I want the community involved in the decision,” he said.

Schelegle also envisions equipment purchases to be an issue in the near future, including possible replacement of a fire engine and buying other equipment that can be “put to use for years to come.”

Ayers and Hill are running as a slate.

“I am able to bring sound leadership and fiscal responsibility to the board and in doing so mend the disconnect that now exists,” Ayers said.

He supports a community-based solution to the firehouse issue and sound budgeting in “very unstable economic times.”

He has also proposed development of a “standards of coverage” study, which matches community expectations with district resources to determine the appropriate levels of service for different kinds of calls “rather than a ‘one size fits all’ prescriptive formula.”

Beltz said the fire station issue has questions “that are going to have to be settled in some way” and agreed that a $10 million bond was too large. He pointed out that Fremont has rebuilt three fire stations, upgraded seven and built a training center for $51 million.

Hill said Measure S failed because “the board was not listening to the community and decided to move forward with a plan that was fiscally irresponsible.” She said she and Ayers would “provide honest and dedicated leadership” as board members.

Wilke faulted the board for failing to provide detailed answers to “basic questions” about the fire bond, including cost estimates for alternatives and repayment schedules.

He said a retrofit instead of a rebuild would be “the most cost-effective method” of fixing the firehouse. He said San Mateo retrofitted a station about the same age as Ben Lomond’s for $2.4 million.

Source: http://pressbanner.com/content/view/2013/42/ - Written by Chuck Anderson | Press Banner
Friday, 31 October 2008

Responding Fire engine rear ends vehicle

Vasco Road blocked after crash

By Roman Gokhman
Contra Costa Times article - LINK

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY — The California Highway Patrol has issued a traffic alert on Vasco Road after three separate crashes and collisions blocked lanes in both directions three miles north of the Alameda-Contra Costa county line.

The first crash occurred at 9:15 p.m. on a blind corner of the road, CHP Officer Scott Yox said. A vehicle swerved off the road and the driver suffered moderate injuries.
Alcohol is believed to be involved in that crash, Yox said.

Another vehicle stopped to help and it was struck by a third vehicle. Someone from one of those two vehicles left their car and was struck by a fourth vehicle. Finally, a responding fire truck rear-ended the fourth vehicle, Yox said.

The driver in the original crash was taken by helicopter to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. No one else was seriously hurt.

Vasco Road was expected to be closed in both directions until about 11 p.m.

P-3 Orion Air tanker pilot retires

Wildland firefighting Air tanker pilot Bill Waldman retires

Retiring pilot Bill Waldman landed his P-3 Orion for the last time at Chico Municipal Airport today and was greeted by the traditional water cannon plane washing from one of the airport's fire apparatus.

Air Tanker pilot Bill Waldman American hero, enjoy your retirement.

Video screenshots from KHSLTV-khsl.com/

Alert: SIGNIFICANT RAIN EVENT UNDERWAY

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT: SIGNIFICANT RAIN EVENT UNDERWAY FOR CALIFORNIA

Warning: A severe storm has impacted California bringing significant rain to wildland fire burn areas.
The threat of mudslides and debris flows remains high in recently burned areas.

Description: LOW PRESSURE OFF THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST IS PUSHING RAIN BANDS ONTO THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST BY DAWN SATURDAY WITH A VIGOROUS COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO PASS THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THE ATMOSPHERE TURNS UNSTABLE WITH THE COLD-FRONTAL PASSAGE AND A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AT THAT TIME AND CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE ACROSS THE AREA BEGINNING IN THE MORNING IN THE NORTH BAY AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CENTRAL COAST. LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN WILL ACCOMPANY ANY THUNDERSTORMS. HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE PONDING ON ROADWAYS...CREATING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. AS OF 8:00 AM SATURDAY MORNING... RUNNING AND LARGER 24 HOUR RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS HAVE BEEN 2.80 INCHES AT VENADO AND 1.35 INCHES AT HAWKEYE. IN THE COASTAL NORTH BAY OLEMA REPORTED 1.04 INCHES. IN THE NORTH BAY INTERIOR RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE NEAR ONE-THIRD OF AN INCH. AROUND SAN FRANCISCO BAY AND PENINSULA COAST LARGER AMOUNTS ARE NEAR ONE-QUARTER OF AN INCH. IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS BEN LOMOND HAS RECEIVE ABOUT ONE INCH WITH THE LOS GATOS AREA RECEIVING ABOUT ONE-HALF AN INCH OF RAIN.

Instructions: FLASH FLOOD WATCH - CONCERN REMAINS HIGH FOR THE THREAT OF MUDSLIDES DUE TO HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED ON CALIFORNIA BURN AREAS.
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.
BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED AND THEN PERSIST INTO SUNDAY MORNING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER FAVORITE NEWS SOURCES FOR UPDATED INFORMATION REGARDING THIS EVENT.

FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE FOR RECENT BURN AREAS IN SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA TODAY Actual/Future/Severe/Possible NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA Alert sent at 08:35 PDT on 2008-11-01

SIGNIFICANT RAIN EVENT UNDERWAY FOR NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA Actual/Future/Unknown/Possible SAN FRANCISCO-COASTAL NORTH BAY... INCLUDING POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE-NORTH BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS-NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS-SAN FRANCISCO BAY SHORELINE-SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA COAST-EAST BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS-EAST BAY HILLS AND DIABLO RANGE-SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS-SANTA CLARA VALLEY... INCLUDING SAN JOSE-SOUTHERN SALINAS VALLEY... ARROYO SECO... AND LAKE SAN ANTONIO-SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS AND LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-MOUNTAINS OF SAN BENITO AND INTERIOR MONTEREY COUNTY INCLUDINGPINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT-NORTHERN SALINAS VALLEY... HOLLISTER VALLEY... AND CARMEL VALLEY-NORTHERN MONTEREY BAY-SOUTHERN MONTEREY BAY AND BIG SUR COAST- Alert sent at 07:59 PDT on 2008-11-01

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING Actual/Future/Severe/Possible COASTAL NORTH BAY... INCLUDING POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE-NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS-EAST BAY HILLS AND DIABLO RANGE-SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS- Alert sent at 07:46 PDT on 2008-11-01

COLD AND WINTRY WEATHER EXPECTED OVER THE HIGH ELEVATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA Actual/Future/Severe/Possible SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- Update sent at 06:04 PDT on 2008-11-01

COLD AND WINTRY WEATHER RETURNING TO THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS OF THE SIERRA Actual/Future/Severe/Possible WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK-WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF... CHESTER... QUINCY... BLUE CANYON Update sent at 05:50 PDT on 2008-11-01

FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BURN AREAS FOR POSSIBLE DEBRIS FLOW Actual/Future/Severe/Possible NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA Update sent at 05:21 PDT on 2008-11-01

FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR THE TELEGRAPH FIRE BURN AREA IN MARIPOSA COUNTY Actual/Future/Severe/Possible NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA Update sent at 05:07 PDT on 2008-11-01