Riverside County: Murrieta Arsonist pleads guilty

Man pleads guilty to setting Murrieta fire

Peter Lawrence Williamson, 41, of Murrieta, entered his plea before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Dennis McConaghy during a felony settlement conference held prior to a preliminary hearing.

The judge dismissed a second count of arson as part of the plea agreement, under which Williamson faces a maximum year-year prison term when he is sentenced Feb. 19.

Williamson set some grass on fire near Winchester and Scott roads on Oct. 22, at the height of the wildfire season, according to authorities. A motive was never made clear.

Williamson remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail.

Source: My Desert - Link

World News: Report says that a dozen paramedics have been killed in Gaza in the past 2 weeks

War - Courageous paramedics on both sides tend to the injured civilians and pay the ultimate price.

A video report at ABC News - Video Link
says that nearly a dozen paramedics have been killed in Gaza in the past 2 weeks

Update; 12/28/2008 - ASHKELON, Israel—The largest hospital on Israel's southern coast has gone underground. Wary of a missile strike against it from the nearby Gaza Strip, Ashkelon's Barzilai Hospital has moved its most essential departments into an underground bomb shelter.

3 female paramedics save lives in Gaza Three young women tell Ynet about their remarkable army service in Gaza Strip

Only a select few know, but amongst the hundreds of Israeli combat soldiers participating in military operations in the Gaza Strip are three female solders. After long years where girls were prohibited from entering battle zones, it was decided to include female paramedics alongside the males serving on the frontlines.

Female paramedics serving in Gaza Strip

This, however, was under the condition that they would never step foot in enemy territories. The solution is that Zohar, Mor and Bat El never step out of the armored vehicles transporting them into Gaza, not even for a minute.
Source: full story at Israel News - Link

Palestinians claim 12 medics have been killed while tending to the wounded since the fighting began.

The Red Cross group says Israeli Defense Forces ordered one team of medics to leave before they had a chance to check all the damaged houses. The Israeli armysaid that it had not received a complaint from the Red Cross and would not comment.

In another case, a Palestinian ambulance came under Israeli fire Thursday, as its crew tried to recover an injured civilian. The medic was shot twice in the legs, forcing the team to leave the civilian behind.

The ugly score: Two Israeli soldiers were killed today after discovering roadside bombs and booby traps in Gaza homes.

More than 750 Palestinians, 245 of which are children, and 14 Israelis, have been killed in nearly two weeks of fighting between Israel and Hamas.

The violence has prompted the United Nations to suspend its relief efforts in Gaza, citing increased danger to U.N. aid workers in the area. The announcement came today after the United Nations said that the driver of a relief truck was killed after being struck by Israeli tank fire near the Israel-Gaza border.

Esperanza wildfire: Arson trial Jury Selection to Begin

Arsonist Raymond Lee Oyle faces death penalty for five counts of first-degree murder, 38 counts of arson, and being in possession of incendiary devices.

U.S.F.S. Engine 57, joined the battle against the wildfire as it roared up hillsides north of the small community of Twin Pines.

Capt. Mark Allen Loutzenhiser, 43, along with crew members Pablo Cerda, 24, Jason Robert McKay, 27, Jess Edward McLean, 27, and Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, died when the flames swept over a house they were trying to defend.
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Jury Selection to Begin in Trial of Wildfire Suspect

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- The first round of jury selection is slated to begin Monday morning in the trial of a man charged with igniting a deadly 2006 wildfire in Riverside County that claimed the lives of five firefighters.

Raymond Lee Oyler, 38, could face the death penalty if convicted of setting the Esperanza wildfire. Oyler faces five counts of first-degree murder, 38 counts of arson, and being in possession of incendiary devices.

Prosecutors allege that, in addition to the Esperanza blaze, Oyler ignited 22 other fires in central and western Riverside County throughout 2006.

Next week, some 320 prospective jurors are expected to be summoned to Riverside County Superior Court Judge W. Charles Morgan's courtroom. Most will be weeded out through questionnaires concerning their knowledge of the Oyler case, and the rest will be screened by the prosecution and defense until a dozen jurors and at least two alternates are selected.

Last month, Morgan predicted jury selection would wrap up by Jan. 21 or 22, with opening statements on one of those days or a day or two later.

The trial could last to the end of March. Morgan has so far denied television stations' requests to film or videotape proceedings.

The judge set a Jan. 16 hearing on defense attorney Mark McDonald's motion to introduce evidence that he says shows a former U.S. Forest Service employee could have been responsible for setting several of the fires his client is charged with igniting.

Michael Karl McNeil, 35, is facing charges related to an alleged arson blaze in Los Angeles County, and was one of the suspects Riverside County sheriff's investigators zeroed in on following the Esperanza fire and before Oyler's Nov. 2 arrest.

The Oct. 26, 2006, Esperanza blaze scorched more than 40,000 acres, destroyed 34 homes and 20 outbuildings, killed livestock and significantly damaged a highway near Cabazon.

A five-man U.S. Forest Service firefighting crew, known as Engine 57, joined the battle against the wildfire as it roared up hillsides north of the small community of Twin Pines.

Capt. Mark Allen Loutzenhiser, 43, along with crew members Pablo Cerda, 24, Jason Robert McKay, 27, Jess Edward McLean, 27, and Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, died when the flames swept over a house they were trying to defend.

During Oyler's preliminary hearing in March 2007, a state crime technician testified that the defendant's DNA was identified on cigarettes left at the scene of two arson fires near Banning in June 2006.

The defendant's second cousin, Jill Frame, testified that a few days before Esperanza, Oyler talked openly about setting a fire near Idyllwild to create a diversion that would allow him to sneak in and free his two pit bull dogs from an animal shelter.

When the defendant was arrested, investigators discovered alleged arson implements in his Ford Taurus, including gas cans, rolls of wadded newspaper and a slingshot with burn marks in the launchpad.

Oyler has served time in county jail and prison, most recently for a 2001 drug-possession conviction.

McDonald argued in November that Oyler could not receive a fair trial in Riverside County because of a "lynch mob atmosphere." However, Morgan denied the attorney's request to move the trial elsewhere, once the prosecution established that only 16 percent of respondents to a survey about the case could recall Oyler's name.

McDonald has characterized the evidence against his client in the Esperanza case as exceptionally weak and said in November he thought Oyler has "a great shot at being acquitted."

The defendant has been held without bail in Riverside County jail since his arrest.

Source: NBC LA article - Link

Earthquake: Costa Rica, Emergency Ham Frequency Declared

Attention All Amateur Radio Operators...

Earthquake Strikes Costa Rica, Emergency Ham Frequency Declared (Jan 9, 2009) -- On Thursday, January 8 at 1921 UTC, an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck the Central American country of Costa Rica. The earthquake, with an epicenter located about 22 miles northeast of San Jose, comes after a series of almost 60 seismic events that have rocked the country since early this week. The Radio Club de Costa Rica (RCCR) -- that country's IARU Member-Society -- is monitoring local repeaters and 7090 kHz. IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications Coordinator Cesar Pio Santos, HR2P, requests that 7090 kHz be kept clear of non-essential traffic due to possible emergency communications dealing with the earthquake.
The ARRL encourages all amateurs to be aware of the emergency operations on this frequency. US amateurs should avoid interfering with Spanish language SSB while using digital modes.

Update: The official count of confirmed deaths grew to 15 Friday afternoon.
Emergency Frequency declared: ARRL - Link

LACFD: honor fallen colleague - Engine re-numbering ceremony

Los Angeles County firefighters to honor fallen colleague today

LACoFD - Engine 9
Credit: http://gallery.me.com/kumelon/100408

The Los Angeles County Fire Department will re- number one of its fire engines today to honor the memory of a firefighter who died in the line of duty 18 years ago.

At a ceremony at Fire Station 16, county fire Chief P. Michael Freeman and newly installed Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas will formally re-number Engine 216 as Engine 9 to honor slain firefighter Jim Howe.

Today's ceremony will include members of Howe's family as well as fire department personnel who worked with him.

Howe drove the fire engine back when it carried Engine Company 9. He suffered fatal injuries Jan. 9, 1991, while fighting an arson fire in a commercial building in Huntington Park. Part of the building collapsed on him, and he died from his injuries a week later at age 47.

Old Engine 9 was redesignated as No. 216 in 1994 when the fire department reconfigured its stations.

RED FLAG WARNINGS AND WATCHES - GUSTS TO 70 MPH

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 4 PM PST SUNDAY DUE TO VERY STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY.

HUMIDITY LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO FALL TO CRITICAL LEVELS BY THIS AFTERNOON AND REMAIN AT OR BELOW CRITICAL LEVELS THROUGH THE WEEKEND. WIDESPREAD SINGLE DIGIT RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY AT LEAST.

HIGH WIND WARNING AREAS: THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES... AS WELL AS THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY

DISCUSSION: HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE WILL BUILD OVER THE GREAT BASIN ON FRIDAY... AND INCREASE OFFSHORE FLOW OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS FLOW WILL RESULT IN STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES... AS WELL AS THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY. WIND GUSTS COULD PEAK TO AROUND 70 MPH OVER THE WINDIEST AREAS... ESPECIALLY THROUGH AND BELOW FAVORED PASSES AND CANYONS. VALLEY AND COASTAL AREAS WILL LIKELY NEED WIND ADVISORIES AS WELL. THESE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY AFTERNOON. ... HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON... AREAS OF NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS BETWEEN 25 AND 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 70 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO FORM BY NOON ON FRIDAY...THEN CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE THROUGH PASSES AND CANYONS...ESPECIALLY SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING.

A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH... OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER MAY OCCUR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 4 PM PST SUNDAY DUE TO VERY STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed VENTURA COUNTY COASTS- Update sent at 08:30 PST on 2009-01-09

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT F Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed LOS ANGELES COUNTY COASTS INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES- Update sent at 08:30 PST on 2009-01-09

RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST SUNDAY DUE TO VERY STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS- Alert sent at 08:30 PST on 2009-01-09

RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST SUNDAY DUE TO VERY STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY- Alert sent at 08:30 PST on 2009-01-09

RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST SUNDAY DUE TO VERY STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed SANTA CLARITA VALLEY- Alert sent at 08:30 PST on 2009-01-09

RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST SUNDAY DUE TO VERY STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA- Alert sent at 08:30 PST on 2009-01-09

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR VENTURA COUNTY AND PORTIONS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY THROUGH 4 PM PST SUNDAY DUE TO VERY STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST- Alert sent at 08:30 PST on 2009-01-09

Earthquake: 4.1 M Greater Los Angeles area

Magnitude 4.5 - GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA
2009 January 09 03:49:46 UTC

Earthquake Details

Magnitude	4.5
Date-Time	Friday, January 09, 2009 at 03:49:46 UTC Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 07:49:46 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	34.107°N, 117.304°W
Depth	14.1 km (8.8 miles)
Region	GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA
Distances	3 km (2 miles) SSW (202°) from San Bernardino, CA 5 km (3 miles) NNE (19°) from Colton, CA 7 km (4 miles) E (94°) from Rialto, CA 87 km (54 miles) E (86°) from Los Angeles Civic Center, CA
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 0.2 km (0.1 miles); depth +/- 0.4 km (0.2 miles)
Parameters	Nph=132, Dmin=2 km, Rmss=0.28 sec, Gp= 18°, M-type=moment magnitude (Mw), Version=S
Source	California Integrated Seismic Net: USGS Caltech CGS UCB UCSD UNR
Event ID	ci10370141

NIOSH News: LODD Prevention report released

LODD Prevention - Leading Recommendations for Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities, 1998–2005

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released “Leading Recommendations for Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities, 1998–2005,” that summarizes the most frequent recommendations from the first eight years of the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Pro­gram (FFFIPP).

It was compiled to help Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies protect personnel, their foremost critical infrastructure, by developing, up­dating, and implementing effective policies, programs, and training to prevent Line-of Duty Deaths (LODD).

The report synthesizes 1,286 individual recommendations from the 335 FFFIPP investigations conducted through 2005.

The investigations, which involved 372 LODDs, encompassed circumstances such as car­diovascular-related deaths, motor vehicle accidents, structure fires, diving incidents, and electrocutions in career, volunteer, and combi­nation departments in both urban and rural settings throughout the United States.

The recommendations were developed by NIOSH investigators using existing fire service standards, guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and other rel­evant resources. NIOSH personnel reviewed records, such as police, medical, and victims’ work/train­ing records, as well as departmental procedures, and examined the incident site and equipment used, including personal protective equipment.

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) notes that for each of the ten recommendation categories that follow, the report presents an overview of the category, category recommendations, a case example of a fatality investigation report summary, ESS department self-assessment questions, and key resources.

· Medical screening

· Fitness and wellness

· Standard operating procedures and guidelines (SOPs)

· Communications

· Incident command

· Motor vehicle

· Personal protective equipment

· Strategies and tactics

· Rapid intervention team

· Staffing

The report (56 pp., 828.89 KB) is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-100/pdfs/2009-100.pdf.

Colorado: Boulder wildfire - Olde Stage Fire - 3,008 acres 100% contained

Olde Stage Fire - Final Update: A crew from the Boulder County Sheriff's office was monitoring the scorched hillsides north of Boulder for smoldering remnants of a fire that forced the evacuation of hundreds this week.

An eight-person crew was to be on hand Saturday and Sunday while a deputy patrolled the fire's perimeter. Stumps and other areas were still smoldering Friday, a day after firefighters were able to stop the flames that swept through the area Wednesday afternoon.

With the smoke cleared and officials better able to map the area, estimates now are that the fire burned 3,008 acres, more than double the amount first estimated. Officials also say the fire destroyed one home, not two. Deputies initially counted an abandoned turkey coop and support building as a home and outbuilding.

Wind driven fire
More than a two hundred firefighters spent the night battling a stubborn, wind-driven wildland fire that triggered the evacuations of more than 1300 homes as it scorched grasslands near Denver. Two homes were destroyed.

Boulder wildfire should be contained today

Evacuations: 70 percent of affected Boulder County residents have been allowed to return to their homes.
1,300 homes were evacuated and two were destroyed. The evacuation order for 70 percent of those homes was lifted this morning in an area east of U.S. Highway 36. The order remains in effect west of the highway.

FEMA boss "Brownie" Evacuated - Among the evacuated was horse trader and vilified ex-Federal Emergency Management Agency head Michael Brown.
Nicknamed "Brownie" Brown was lauded by President Bush for doing a "heckuva job" in the botched rescue and recovery during Hurricane Katrina which took the lives of 1,836 people and caused more than $81 billion in damage.
Brown resigned in disgrace.

Closures: North Foothills Highway (US Hwy 36) has been closed between Broadway (the north Boulder City limits) and Hygiene Road, two miles south of Lyons.Boulder Reservoir is closed.

IA: Olde Stage Fire IC - Wildland Fire - 45 th Street/Neva Road, west of Niwot : gusty winds are pushing the fire east.
Sizeup: 3,700-acre fire zone, about 1,400 acres have actually burned. The blaze is 30 percent contained, but authorities hope for full containment this afternoon.
Two homes totally destroyed and out-buildings have been lost.
Weather: The National Weather Service forecast winds of 20 mph in the area with gusts up to 40 mph through Thursday afternoon.
Injuries: Two firefighters and a police officer sustained minor injuries.
Cause: The fire, believed to have started when winds knocked down a power line, has burned 2.8 square miles in Boulder County, about 25 miles northwest of Denver.

Heroic effort: "The effort to suppress this wildfire once the winds died down last night was exhausting and downright heroic," "As long as the wind doesn't come up today, I'm very confident we've about got this thing licked." - Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle

Source: Colorado: Boulder County wildfire today - 1,400 acres 30% contained

Fire sites: Intermountain Fire-Rescue Department

Intermountain Fire-Rescue Department updates website - http://www.intermountainfire.org/) with new photos and information posted!
Shown are some interesting dip tank and water supply operations from 2007 Harris, Witch Fires in Southern California.

Intermountain Fire department Portable Dip Tank Operations
- Witch Wildland Fire -
Portable Dip Tank Operations
Credit: www.intermountainfire.org - image

Intermountain Fire department Water Tender- Witch Wildland Fire
Portable Dip Tank Operations
Credit: www.intermountainfire.org - image

Note: Images are labeled Harris Fire on Inter-mountain Fire website, but file naming convention shows witch fire?