Multi agency Arson investigation - Three big rigs

Three Stolen Big Rigs Destroyed by Arsonist

It takes the work of several agencies to investigate a bizarre fire in Fresno County.

The California Highway Patrol and Cal Fire are looking into a blaze near Easton.

Three big rigs were set on fire near Marks and Lincoln. The trucks were all stolen from a Fresno-based trucking company.

This case is even more unusual because the three trucks were set on fire behind a locked fence.

No word yet on any damage totals but it's expected to run into at least six-figures.

Source: cbs47

LAFD - SAR - Lost Hiker - Topanga State Park area

LAFD ALERT Search and Rescue - *Lost Hiker*
UPDATE: JOY - Hiker located. To be air lifted to Santa Ynez helispot for medical assessment for injuries.

Location: 17400 W. Camino de Yatasto; Near Santa Ynez reservoir (Googgle Map) MAP 630-E1; FS 23;
IA: Reports of lost hiker. Communication to locate via cell phone.
Comms: Ch:7,12

Long Beach Airport : Aircraft accident / fire

A Cessna 152 lost control on take off at the Long Beach Airport and crashed into a parked helicopter, according to the FAA.

Injuries: 1 Minor - The pilot was the only person on board and has been transported to Long Beach Memorial Center to be treated for minor injuries.

The FAA says the Cessna 152 lost control upon take off and crashed into the helicopter and hangar at about 1:30 p.m. on Monday. The Cessna caught fire after the crash.

FAA records show that the aircraft is owned by Temco Sky Network Service Inc.

SFFD: 911 improvements decrease response times

S.F. 911 response is faster

Following a new protocol, San Francisco's 911 Call Center has reduced the time it takes dispatchers to process emergency medical calls and send help.

First responders in the city are showing up late for 1 of every 5 urgent medical calls, according to The Chronicle's analysis of dispatch logs, an improvement over the previous four years, when delays occurred in about 1 of 4 cases.

The call center's progress has been instrumental in reducing the overall response times of the Fire Department's ambulances and fire engines, whose paramedics and emergency medical technicians are most often the first to arrive at medical emergencies.

In November 2007, the center at 1011 Turk St. began instructing its call-takers to immediately dispatch help to callers reporting priority symptoms. A previous policy required dispatchers to spend additional time gathering more information on the patient's symptoms before sending help.

"Every day, we are seeking improvement," said Lisa Hoffmann, who runs the 911 Call Center. "Our staff is doing an incredible job under almost impossible conditions."

Nathan Ballard, press secretary for Mayor Gavin Newsom, said: "When you call 911, you deserve a quick response. We're pleased with the progress we've made."

The improvement follows a Chronicle investigation of dispatch logs for more than 200,000 high-priority medical calls, along with an examination of documents and audio recordings related to the performance of dispatchers and medics in cases involving delayed responses and fatalities.

6 1/2-minute goal

San Francisco's objective is to get professional help to the scene of high-priority medical emergencies within 6 1/2 minutes of receiving a 911 call, 90 percent of the time. That standard, adopted in 2004 by the San Francisco Emergency Medical Services Agency, was less stringent than a five-minute goal for urban areas recommended in 1998 by the EMS Emergency Medical Directors Association of California.

The Chronicle found that at least 439 people died in San Francisco from February 2004 through December 2007 while waiting for a late ambulance or after delayed medical help arrived. While it is impossible to know how many of those people would have survived had medical help arrived earlier, studies show a direct relationship between ambulance delays and the survival rates of patients in need of immediate resuscitation.

From November 2003 through the end of 2007, emergency medical help arrived late 27 percent of the time on the most serious medical calls, termed Echo and Code 3. But during the first 11 months of this year, help arrived late 20 percent of the time.

The 6 1/2-minute goal includes two minutes for dispatch, plus 4 1/2 minutes for the fire engine or ambulance to arrive at the curb.

From January through November, the call center's call-takers and dispatchers met the city's goal of sending medical help within two minutes of receiving a 911 medical call about 64 percent of the time. A previous Chronicle analysis found that the call center met the city's two-minute goal only 44 percent of the time from November 2003 through the end of 2007 - making it the weakest link in San Francisco's emergency medical response system.

The 911 Call Center "has a rigorous program for quality assurance," said Hoffmann, adding that specialists listen in on some 911 calls to gauge a call-taker's performance. "Every single employee is monitored every month," she said.

Reasons for delays

Dispatch delays are often unavoidable, Hoffman said, because English is not the primary language of many of San Francisco's 911 callers, and the use of translators can slow the process. Other delays occur because of difficulty identifying a caller's address when a cell phone is used, and because some 911 callers are distraught.

While dispatchers are sending help more quickly, ambulances and fire engines are taking longer to arrive at the scene of high-priority medical calls. From January through November, these first responders failed about 18 percent of the time to meet the city's goal of arriving on scene within 4 1/2 minutes of being dispatched. By contrast, ambulances and fire engines were late 15 percent of the time from November 2003 through 2007.

Assistant Deputy Fire Chief Pete Howes attributed the delays to an increase in calls and adjustments being made by paramedics using new electronic patient charts that demand more time at hospitals than paper records.

Some medics complain there are not enough ambulances on duty, which increases the delays for the first units. Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White disagreed and added: "Particularly with this economy, I don't see us expanding."

For the first 11 months of the year, the city's first responders arrived on the scene of urgent medical calls within seven minutes and 35 seconds 90 percent of the time. That's an improvement from the previous four years, when the city's 90th percentile for the first units on scene was eight minutes.

Service remains the worst in the Ingleside and Excelsior districts and nearby areas, with delays 29 percent of the time. The city's best response times are recorded in the Haight-Ashbury, Cole Valley and nearby neighborhoods, with a delay rate of 14 percent.

Source: SF Gate - Link

Site sought for Cedar fire memorial

By Michele Clock, staff writer

2:00 a.m. January 3, 2009

LAKESIDE — The donations began pouring in almost immediately after the Cedar fire roared through Lakeside's dry hills in October 2003. Everyone liked the idea of a memorial honoring those who were killed, including 12 Lakeside residents.

Five years later, a memorial is not yet in place.

Lakeside Historical Society volunteers spent more than $2,000 to design and build a pair of 2-by-3-foot panels that illustrate the fire's path and pay tribute to firefighters and those who died. But the panels sit at the nonprofit's headquarters, mired by what volunteers describe as a lengthy, emotionally wrenching process of researching and designing the panels, confusion over where they could go and a policy barring them from county parks.

For years the society's plan was to place one of the memorials at Lakeside's centerpiece park, Lindo Lake Park. But the county's Department of Parks and Recreation instituted a policy that allows only flagpoles, benches and drinking fountains to be donated as memorials.

Some society members and residents say they are disappointed.

“It's a shame and it's horrible,” said Arnold Cutler, who works as a dentist in Lakeside and donated money for the memorial. “It certainly isn't going to hurt anybody and will give some solace to people . . . and hopefully prevent further tragedies from happening.”

The society plans to place the other memorial at the society's headquarters in the coming months.

The Cedar fire devastated Lakeside, burning about 300 homes in the area. Residents recall surreal scenes of embers falling from black skies, sirens blaring and emergency evacuations.

“It was mass panic,” Cutler said.

The county's Department of Parks and Recreation gets only a few requests each year for memorials, said Renee Hilton, assistant director of the department. The current policy became official in 2005, although some parks already had their own memorial policies, Hilton said.

Early in the planning process, society volunteers sought a park location because a policy did not yet exist, said Richard White, a past historical society president who led a memorial committee.

“They said they needed to come up with a policy before they could tell us yes or no,” White said. “If they would have said no right up front, that would have been that. But they didn't.”

Society volunteers thought they would have a better chance of approval by including information on the dangers of fires going back to the early 20th century – especially once they learned of the policy. They also thought a more informative approach would help educate the public.

The panels, finished this year, include a graphic of the Cedar fire's path, as well as a somber recognition of those who died, and sharp words for the hunter who pleaded guilty to starting it.

In the background are drawings sketched by local students, and in one corner are photos of 14 of the fire's 15 victims, 12 of them from Lakeside.

The work was emotionally challenging, said Gordon Shackelford, a historical society volunteer who researched archives for the project. Discussions about what kind of memorial to build were difficult, he said.

“Those are not such easy decisions, particularly where you have had such a loss of life,” Shackelford said. “This was the biggest disaster Lakeside had ever seen . . . These are not easy things to get through, to get settled on. Not at all.”

Randy Ford, a county district park manager, said he was sensitive to the community's loss but the department had to enforce its policy. He said county parks are “geared toward a more positive recreational experience.”

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said she thought that the historical society's concept was good, but that there may be better places for the memorials.

“Our parks are active parks, places for people to enjoy,” Jacob said. There are “parks that are specifically memorial parks, and that's a different park, with a different purpose.”

Other county parks departments in the state have similar memorial policies.

In Orange County, the parks department lacks a written policy on memorials, but a spokeswoman said they are limited for a similar reason – an overabundance of memorials could detract from the theme or purpose of the park.

In Northern California's Santa Clara County, the Parks and Recreation Department has a policy allowing plaques and monuments under certain circumstances. Officials said they have worked with residents to come up with plans that work for both sides, such as a picnic area in honor of an 18-year-old killed after he fell down a park ravine about five years ago.

Shackelford said the historical society will look for another location to replace Lindo Lake Park.

“Would we have done it any differently? The answer is no,” Shackelford said. “In the end we had to create what we felt is the proper item.”

---

Michele Clock: (619) 593-4964; michele.clock@uniontrib.com

Source: SignonSanDiego.com

From the Lakeside Historical Society website:

Statistics

• Started in the afternoon of October 25, 2003 in the Cedar Creek Falls Area.
• This was the worst fire in California history.
• The fire spread at a rate of 3600 acres per hour in the first 36 hours. At one point, it spread 40,000 acres in one hour.
• 113 injuries
• 15 deaths
• 2,232 homes destroyed
• 53 homes damaged
• 22 commercial properties destroyed
• 566 additional structures destroyed
• Estimated cost of fighting the fire: More than $31 million dollars.
• Cause: Authorities believe it started when a lost hunter set a signal fire that continued to spread.
• 280,278 acres
• Containment Date: 03 Nov 2003
• Control date: 05 Dec 2003

LODD: New Jersey - First Firefighter fatality of 2009

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality: 1 firefighter fatality has been reported to USFA in 2009 as a result of an incident that occurred in 2009
While at the scene of a house fire, Firefighter Gary Stephens was accidentally run over by a fire truck as it backed up to lay hose to a hydrant. He was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Update: per secret list: FATHER & SON OKLAHOMA FIREFIGHTERS CRASH-FATHER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY
2 SEPARATE VEHICLES, HEAD ON INTO EACH OTHER WHILE OPERATING AT A GRASS FIRE
NO SEAT BELTS USED IN EITHER VEHICLE
The Secret List - www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

It is with deep regret that we advise you that a Firefighter (Father) was killed in the Line of Duty, and 2 others were injured yesterday afternoon after being involved in a head-on crash with his FF Son. Some media reports are reporting that both were killed, but we can't confirm that yet.
Firefighter John C. Myers, 61, of Pittsburg (OK) was driving a Wesley FD apparatus at 1520 hours when he crashed with his son, Juston Myers, 31, of Pittsburg. The 2 were involved in fighting the grass fire and collided due to heavy smoke and poor visibility.
John C. Myers, the Firefighter/Father was trapped in the fire apparatus for over 1½ hours and was pronounced dead at the scene. Juston Myers, the Firefighter Son, was driving his pickup truck, suffered trunk and external injuries and was treated at the scene. FF Juston Myers' passenger, FF Clayton Rice, 30, was taken to a nearby hospital with head, leg and arm injuries. Seat belts were not in use in either vehicle. Initial reports are that there was so much smoke clouding the rural roads that the two never saw each other and collided head on. Updates to follow.
As always, our sincere condolences to all affected-especially the Wesley FD and the Myers Family.

Name: Gary Stephens
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 57
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 28
Date of Incident: 01/02/2009
Time of Incident: 0200hrs
Date of Death: 01/02/2009

Fire Department: Elizabeth Fire Department
Address: 411 Irvington Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07208-2068
Fire Department Director: Onofrio Vitullo

Incident Description: While at the scene of a house fire, Firefighter Stephens was accidentally run over by a fire truck as it backed up to lay hose to a hydrant. He was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute: To Firefighter Stephens at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 1 firefighter fatality has been reported to USFA in 2009 as a result of an incident that occurred in 2009. USFA does not have a Line-of-Duty-Death (LODD) criterion nor does it make LODD determinations. Please note, running totals of firefighter fatalities used on these initial notices do not necessarily reflect the number of firefighter fatalities used in totals for the(provisional) monthly year-to-date USFA firefighter fatality reports, or year-end (provisional) reports posted online http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm

Firefighter fatalities in USFA reports are summarized by date/year-of-incident. Initial notices posted online (http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/) and distributed via USFA listserve do not represent the final on-duty firefighter fatality determination by USFA for such reports, nor LODD determination made by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (http://www.FireHero.org) for names added each subsequent year to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD, they are the beginning of a research process for each firefighter fatality reported so that such determinations can be made.

Hotshot Wildland Firefighter Job openings

Hotshots Wildfire Season 2009 hiring - Hotshot Wildland Firefighter (Range/Forestry Aid/Technician)

Applications will be accepted from all qualified United States
citizens.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:
* You must be a U.S. Citizen
* Some positions may require a CDL; information will be provided at job offer
* All positions have medical qualification requirements
* You must be 18 years of age or older prior to appointment.
* These positions have no promotion potential.

SALARY RANGE: 10.01 - 15.35 USD Hourly	OPEN PERIOD: Monday, November 10, 2008 to Friday, May 29, 2009
SERIES & GRADE: GS-0455,0462-02/05	POSITION INFORMATION: These are excepted service temporary seasonal positions. The length and actual dates of employment may vary depending on the position.
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 05	DUTY LOCATIONS: multiple duty locations - click here for more info

JOB SUMMARY:

If you like remote and rugged conditions, extended travel and overnight camping, then becoming a Hotshot Wildland Firefighter may be for you. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is looking for temporary employees to work on Hotshot crews. All locations may not be hiring for all grades; check with each location individually to find out the grades they are hiring for.

FIRST CONSIDERATION DATE: The following locations will begin to consider applicants prior to the closing date of the announcement. You must apply on or before the date indicated below to receive first consideration for the location(s) you are interested in. Thereafter, applications may be considered as needed by location; during the open period of the announcement: 12/30/2008 Bakersfield, CA Fairbanks, AK 01/06/2009 Salt Lake City, UT 01/13/2009 Jackson, MS Pocatello, ID 01/20/2009 Carson City, NV Craig, CO Elko, NV Vale, OR 01/27/2009 Susanville, CA For information on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) fire program, please visit their website. A 23% living allowance is added to positions in Alaska. For contacts and information regarding housing availability visit Fire Contacts on the DOI Fire Jobs website and select the state you are interested in. During the application process, you may select up to SEVEN (7) locations from the list of available locations given at the top of this announcement. If you select more than seven locations, you will be removed from consideration. WHO DO I CONTACT IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION? If you have any questions about the application process you can contact the FIRES Help Desk at 1-888-364-6432, or e-mail them at fa_fires@nifc.blm.gov

Additional Duty Location vacancy info: few vacancies - Craig, CO few vacancies - Bakersfield, CA few vacancies - Susanville, CA few vacancies - Pocatello, ID few vacancies - Jackson, MS few vacancies - Fairbanks, AK few vacancies - Carson City, NV few vacancies - Elko, NV few vacancies - Vale, OR few vacancies - Salt Lake City, UT Hotshot Wildland Firefighter duty information:

MAJOR DUTIES:

A Hotshot Wildland Firefighter Trainee (Entry Level)(GS-02, Range/Forestry Aid), receives training, performs simple tasks, and serves as a member on a Hotshot crew. This may include suppression, prescribed fires, or wildland fire use for resource benefits. A Hotshot Wildland Firefighter Trainee (GS-03, Range/Forestry Aid) is a member of a Hotshot crew; performs assignments as a firefighter in developing a working knowledge of fire suppression and fuels management techniques, practices, and terminology; may assist trained personnel in more specialized assignments such as backfire and burnout. A Hotshot Wildland Firefighter (GS-04 Range/Forestry Technician) is a skilled firefighter on a Hotshot crew. May be assigned to carry out specialized assignments such as tree falling, backfire, and burnout operations; utilizes a variety of specialized tools, equipment and techniques while actively managing wildfires. A Hotshot Wildland Firefighter (GS-05 Range/Forestry Technician) is a senior wildland firefighter; on a Hotshot crew; gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

To qualify for a GS-02, you must meet at least one of the following: - 3 months of general experience OR - have graduated from high school or the equivalent To qualify for a GS-03, you must meet at least one of the following: - 6 months of general experience; OR - at least one year of education above the high school level, which included at least 6 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: range management; range conservation; agriculture; forestry; wildlife management; engineering; biology; mathematics; other natural or physical sciences; OR - an equivalent combination of education and experience specified above. To qualify for a GS-04, you must meet at least one of the following AND the Selective Factor: - 6 months of general experience AND 6 months of specialized experience; OR - 2 years of education above the high school level which included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 3 semester hours of mathematics is creditable toward this requirement; OR - an equivalent combination of the education and experience specified above. SELECTIVE FACTOR for GS-04: In addition to the basic qualifications, you must have the following for the GS-04: 90 days of wildland fire experience. To qualify for a GS-05, you must meet at least one of the following AND the Selective Factor: - 12 months of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level duties; OR - successful completion of a 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with either 1. a major study in forestry, range management or agriculture; or a subject matter field directly related to the position; OR 2. at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours of mathematics is creditable. The level of the course work must have been equivalent to at least the junior- and senior-year levels of a baccalaureate program; OR - a combination of education and experience that is directly related to the work of this position. SELECTIVE FACTOR for GS-05: In addition to the basic qualifications, you must have the following for the GS-05: FFT1 qualified or have 180 days of wildland fire experience. Wildland Fire Experience is on-the-line wildland firefighting experience gained through containment, control, suppression, or use of wildland fire. This experience can be met by serving in a temporary, seasonal, or equivalent private sector fire position. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. For more information regarding this go to FAQs Question #7 on the DOI FIRES website. GENERAL WORK EXPERIENCE: is considered any type of work that demonstrates the applicants ability to do the work of the position. This does not have to be work in wildland fire. SPECIALIZED WORK EXPERIENCE: This experience is considered on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest or range fire control, prevention or suppression work. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. For more information regarding basic qualifications, general experience and combining education and experience click here. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/TESTING: Please note that all selectees, regardless of grade level, must pass an initial pre-employment physical examination and must be able to pass the work capacity fitness test (Pack Test: Must carry a 45 LB pack for 3 miles within 45 minutes). Failure to meet any of the required medical qualifications will disqualify you for employment. Any condition, which would cause you to be a hazard to yourself or to others, will disqualify you for employment. DRUG TESTING: BLM POSITIONS ARE SUBJECT TO RANDOM DRUG TESTING. If selected for a random drug test, it must be completed prior to beginning work. The drug test will be provided at Government direction and expense. Once hired, employees are also subject to random drug testing during employment.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application will be evaluated by reviewing your on-line resume and your responses to the User Information, Core Questions, and Vacancy Questions, and if applicable your transcripts. ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS MUST BE SUPPORTED IN YOUR RESUME AND WILL BE VERIFIED. IF THEY ARE NOT SUPPORTED IN YOUR RESUME, YOU MAY BE RATED UNQUALIFIED. To preview questions please click here.

BENEFITS:
Temporary employees in the Federal Service are eligible to earn annual and sick leave. Depending on the tour of duty, an employee may be paid Sunday, holiday, and shift differential and/or hazard pay. You are also entitled to paid Federal Holidays.
SELECTIVE SERVICE: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System website. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS: These positions may be subject to a pre-employment background security investigation. If applicable, the appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to satisfy the background check will result in cancellation of offer of employment or may be grounds for termination. For further information on Privacy Act, please refer to the "Legal and Regulatory Guidance" link at the bottom of the screen.

HOW TO APPLY: Please read the ENTIRE vacancy announcement to ensure that you comply with the application procedures. Applications must be received ON-LINE through USAJOBS (link at bottom of screen). On-line applications must be submitted prior to 12:00 AM (Midnight) Eastern Standard Time of the closing date/early consideration date of the announcement. For further instructions on how to apply click here. After you have completed the online application process you may review your current application status at any time, and update your application during the open period of the announcement. Click here for updating application instructions. Failure to provide the required information may negatively affect your qualification determinations. If applying online poses a hardship for you, or you do not have Internet access, contact the FIRES help desk 1-888-364-6432 for an application packet PRIOR to the closing date of the announcement. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: You MUST fax Required Documents prior to the early consideration or close date. College transcripts - If you are qualifying using education above high school, you MUST submit your college transcripts. Veteran Preference Documentation - If you are claiming Veteran Preference, you MUST submit evidence of eligibility. DD-214 MUST show character of service. Failure to submit a DD-214 which shows the character of service and other appropriate supporting documentation, if applicable, will result in NOT granting preference. - 5-point preference - DD-214 which shows character of service, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other proof of entitlement. - 10-point preference - DD-214, SF-15, an official letter dated 1991 or later from the Department of Veteran's Affairs, or other appropriate source. For further information on Veterans Preference, please refer to the "Veteran Information" link at the bottom of the screen. * You only need to fax in documents that apply to you. * DO NOT use the USAJOBS upload feature to attach Required Documents as we can not see those documents. Please follow the faxing instructions by clicking here. * If faxing causes a hardship for you, please contact us at the number below. Failure to submit required documents, if applicable, may result in you not being considered, or not receiving the appropriate preference. You will not be contacted for additional information. If you have questions regarding what is considered appropriate supporting documentation, call the contact at the bottom of the screen. AGENCY CONTACT INFO: FIRES Help Desk Phone: 888-364-6432 Fax: 000-000-0000 Email: fa_fires@nifc.blm.gov Or write: Department of the Interior FIRES Program Office (call toll free number for address information) Boise, ID 83705-5354 Fax: 000-000-0000 WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT: If you are determined to be eligible and qualified; you may be referred to the locations you selected during the application process. You can check your application status by logging into My USAJOBS, and selecting "My Applications", then select the "More Information" link below "Resume Received" in the "Application Status" column to view detailed information regarding your application status. You will only be notified through e-mail when you are referred; no other notifications will be sent.

Send Mail to: Department of the Interior FIRES Program Office (call toll free number for address information) Boise, ID 83705-5354 Fax: 000-000-0000 For questions about this job: FIRES Help Desk Phone: 888-364-6432 Fax: 000-000-0000 Email: fa_fires@nifc.blm.gov

USAJOBS Control Number: 1392599

Source: USA Jobs Link
Related articles: gila-hotshots

Retired Sac Metro Firefighter fatally shot by police

Suicide by cop? The Fair Oaks man fatally shot by police was a 55 year old retired firefighter

LINCOLN, Calif.—Authorities say a retired firefighter who was fatally shot by police in the Northern California city of Lincoln first aimed a pellet rifle at police.

Rocklin Police Sgt. Forrest Richardson says Gregory Gifford of Fair Oaks robbed a mini-mart early Thursday. The 54-year-old took a candy bar and demanded cash with what appeared to be a pistol, but left without taking any cash.

He says CHP officers spotted Gifford's car about 15 minutes later and pursued him into a dead-end street.

Jill Thompson, a Lincoln city spokeswoman, says officers shot Gregory Gifford of Fair Oaks in self defense around 1:15 Thursday morning after he allegedly jumped from his car holding a pellet gun. She says he had been cornered by police following a chase. He died at the scene.

Thompson says California Highway Patrol and Rocklin police officers pursued Gifford after the CHP suspected his car was involved in a convenience store candy bar robbery.

The names of the officers involved in the chase have not been released. The Rocklin officers have been placed on administrative leave, which authorities say is standard procedure following a fatal shooting.

A Sacramento fire department official says Gifford took early retirement after injuring his back about 15 years ago.

Update:

Widow says slain ex-firefighter had been depressed

The wife of a retired Sacramento County firefighter who was shot and killed by police on New Year's Day in Lincoln said her husband was depressed and missed his former job.

Gregory Gifford was forced into retirement several years ago by a back injury he'd sustained on the job, his wife, Mary Gifford, said Saturday. Not being able to be a firefighter and paramedic was part of the reason for his depression, she said.

"Gregory loved his job," Gifford said. "That was his life."

Gregory Gifford was shot to death early Thursday after allegedly holding up a mini-mart with a handgun, leading authorities on a chase in his Toyota sedan and then leveling what appeared to be a rifle at police and California Highway Patrol officers.

Both of the Fair Oaks man's weapons later proved to be pellet guns, authorities said.

Gifford's daughter Alyse Gifford said her father left a suicide note.

"He was a good man," Mary Gifford said, but was depressed and sick.

Gregory Gifford, 54, worked for the Sacramento County Fire District, now part of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

Mary Gifford said her husband first hurt his back lifting an unresponsive 300-pound man through a window during a medical call. He was injured a second time while he was fighting a grass fire, she said.

About 15 years ago, while assigned to light duty, his office chair broke. After that, doctors said his back injury wasn't going to improve, Mary Gifford said.

Authorities said they spotted Gregory Gifford early Thursday, driving a Toyota sedan that matched the description of a car involved in the robbery in Rocklin. Witnesses told police that a man armed with what looked like a pistol held up the AM/PM Mini-Mart at Stanford Ranch Road and Fairway Drive about 1 a.m.

They told police the man grabbed a candy bar and demanded cash from a clerk. He then fled the store, leaving the money behind, Rocklin police said.

About 15 minutes later, CHP officers spotted the suspect's Toyota sedan in Lincoln. CHP chased the Toyota and were joined by Rocklin police. The brief chase ended on a dead-end street with the man jumping out holding what appeared to be a rifle.

It's not clear which officers fired the shots that killed Gifford or if he opened fire first, Lincoln spokeswoman Jill Thompson.

"That's all part of the investigation," which is ongoing, Thompson said.

Gifford died at the scene.

Source: SacBee - Link

Air Station Los Angeles Starts 2009 with Catalina Island Medevac

SAN PEDRO, Calif. - Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles started the new year off by providing assistance to a 70 year old male reported to be suffering from respiratory ailments on Catalina Island.

Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach’s Command Center located on Terminal Island dispatched an HH-65 rescue helicopter from Air Station Los Angeles after receiving a call to provide a medical evacuation to the mainland for a male located on Catalina Island. Due to the reported condition of the male, the aircrew picked up a paramedic from the Los Angeles County Fire Department prior to departing for Catalina Island.

After the initial launch, the aircrew had to turn back to the Air Station due to low clouds and dense fog. On the second attempt, the aircrew made it to the island and landed at Catalina Airport in Avalon.

Once on the ground at Catalina Airport the paramedic met with the island medical staff to receive the patient. The aircrew was then able to depart Catalina Island and transported the patient to Torrance Memorial Medical Center without further incident.

In 2008 Air Station Los Angeles performed more the two dozen medical evacuations.

Source: Coast Guard news - Link

2008 A big year in California Wildland Firefighting

California had a record setting wildfire year with over 1.7 Billion dollars spent fighting wildland fires.

1.4 million acres of land in California burned, Almost 25% of all the land burned by wildfire's in the nation. All told, an area nearly three times the size of Orange County burned throughout the state. More than 2,300 structures were destroyed.

Wildfire suppression cost's soar: Almost 2 Billion Dollars spent to fight California wild fires...

The State California spent over $1 billion dollars.
The United States Forest Service spent half of it's firefighting budget in California, approximately $700 million of the U.S. Forest Service's firefighting a $1.4 billion wildland firefighting budget in fiscal 2008 was spent on California wildfires.

Satellite map of California wildland fires June 25th 2008
Northern California Lightning Siege - Much of the California acreage burned in early summer, During the Northern California Lightning Siege when an unprecedented dry-lightning storm started more than 2,000 wildfires from Monterey County to the Oregon border. Some more remote fires burned unstaffed for days due to wildland firefighting resources being overwhelmed.
The facts: The Lightning Series fires started between June 20, 2008, and July 24th, 2008
creating 2,093 Fires, scorching 1,032,722 acres, causing 3 Fatalities, with a total of 158 residences, 1 commercial building and 139 outbuildings destroyed.

The big Lightning Complex fires:

Shasta-Trinity Lightning Complex - 86,500 acres
Butte Lightning Complex - 59,440 acres
Mendocino Lightning Complex - 54,817 acres
Panther - Klamath Theater Wildland Fire - 53,149 acres, Siskiyou/ Blue 2 Complex-klamath Theater Wildland Fire - 88,069 acres, Bear Wallow Complex - Klamath Theater Wildland Fire - 50,820 acres

The late fall Southern California Fires: The Marek, Sesnon and Sayre fires burned across the brushy hills of Los Angeles County, destroying hundreds of homes. In Orange and Riverside counties, the 30,000-acre Freeway Complex blaze destroyed nearly 200 residences. And out on the Santa Barbra coast the Tea fireburned through upscale Montecito neighborhoods.

The Big Los Padres Forest Fires: As noted over at Firefighter Blog (Link) the California wildland fire season began with a small roadside blaze in Big Sur on April 17 and ends with a small roadside blaze in Big Sur on December 21.
The largest fires of the season were centered on central coast. The Indians Fire and the monstrous Basin Complex haunted the coast throughout the summer months.

Firefighting policy changes coming: Stay and defend
Long championed by California Fire News and the normal policy in Australia "Stay and Defend or flee early" is becoming a option seriously considered in California. In conjuction with the new vegetation clearance requirements and fire-resistant building material construction codes.
Changing the mandatory evacuation mindset - Rather than evacuating, homeowners are trained to protect their residences from the shower of embers that are typically more of a threat during a wildfire than encroaching flames, able bodied homeowners would be encouraged to stay and defend their homes and property from wildland fires and if necessary seek refuge in a structure as the flame front passes, then emerging to fight small spot fires and extinguish glowing embers which are the cause of most structure losses.
A massive education and training program would be needed to deploy this strategy successfully.

Federal Wildfire suppression thought box changes: The Forest Service is starting to embrace a strategy that it hopes will help contain costs. Rather than aggressively attacking every front of a fire, it allows managers to pull back in remote areas while focusing on more critical points. But that approach is unlikely to see much use in the developed areas of California due to the large amount of wildland urban interface.