Backbone Incident: OSHA issues USFS "Serious" and "Willfull" violation notice

The Backbone Incident Heli-Base Accident Background

On July 21, 2009 Thomas Marovich, 20, of Hayward California incurred fatal injuries when he fell while performing routine rappel proficiency skill training at the Backbone fire Helibase in Willow Creek, California.

As reported at California Fire News National Forest Service Firefighter Thomas Marovich, 20, had been taking part in required weekly rappelling training, in which people slide down a rope from a hovering helicopter when he fell about 200 feet to the ground, said Forest Service spokeswoman Robin Cole. FF. Marovich was a second year apprentice firefighter on the Modoc National Forest, she said. He was working with the Chester Helitack Crew from the Lassen National Forest that had been assigned to the Backbone Fire in the Trinity Alps Wilderness.

The training was a routine part of the ongoing battle to contain the Backbone Fire, a Forest Service spokesman said. The training is conducted at least every 14 days, he said. The death is being investigated by a Forest Service accident investigation team and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Now the United States Forest Service(USFS) is in a fight with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration(OSHA) involving the release of the Backbone accident investigation documents.

USFS Charged with "Willful" violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. OSHA accuses the USFS failing to provide requested information about the accident. USFS continues to refuse to release documents related to the incident, and responds in writing that they would continue to not comply with OSHA's request.

USFS Charged with "Serious" violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The serious violations involving the unsafe methods and procedures for the use of the rappel equipment, was an somewhat expected development as problems were identified early after the fact with the securing of specific rappelling equipment.

See the whole document at: Google Document: Link

More information:

Related California News Posts: Fatal Accident During Routine Training at The Backbone Helibase

http://calfire.blogspot.com/search/label/Backbone%20Incident

Earthquake - 3.3 M - Spring Garden, CA

A minor earthquake occurred at 8:47:29 AM (PDT) on Sunday, October 18, 2009.
The magnitude 3.3 event occurred 7 km (4 miles) S of Spring Garden, CA.
The hypocentral depth is 3 km ( 2 miles).

---

Magnitude	3.3 - local magnitude (ML)
Time	Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 8:47:29 AM (PDT) Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 15:47:29 (UTC)
Distance from	Spring Garden, CA - 7 km (4 miles) S (181 degrees) Greenhorn, CA - 8 km (5 miles) SSW (212 degrees) Cromberg, CA - 8 km (5 miles) WSW (252 degrees) Susanville, CA - 65 km (40 miles) SSW (192 degrees) Sacramento, CA - 155 km (96 miles) NNE (22 degrees)
Coordinates	39 deg. 50.7 min. N (39.846N), 120 deg. 47.9 min. W (120.798W)
Depth	3.3 km (2.1 miles)
Location Quality	Fair
Location Quality Parameters	Nst= 39, Nph= 39, Dmin=13 km, Rmss=0.09 sec, Erho=0.2 km, Erzz=2.6 km, Gp=72 degrees
Event ID#	nc71296155
Additional Information	2-degree map Google Earth KML (Requires Google Earth.) Did you feel it? NCSS First Motion Mechanism 1 Waveforms Waveforms for ShakeMap

Earthquake - 3.2 M - Oxnard, CA Port Hueneme, CA

A minor earthquake occurred at 9:53:44 PM (PDT) on Friday, October 16, 2009.
The magnitude 3.2 event occurred 6 km (4 miles) ESE of Oxnard, CA.
The hypocentral depth is 2 km ( 1 mile).

---

Magnitude	3.2 - local magnitude (ML)
Time	Friday, October 16, 2009 at 9:53:44 PM (PDT) Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 4:53:44 (UTC)
Distance from	Oxnard, CA - 6 km (4 miles) ESE (111 degrees) Port Hueneme, CA - 7 km (4 miles) E (80 degrees) El Rio, CA - 8 km (5 miles) SSE (155 degrees) Channel Islands Beach, CA - 10 km (6 miles) E (81 degrees) Los Angeles Civic Center, CA - 81 km (51 miles) W (279 degrees)
Coordinates	34 deg. 10.3 min. N (34.172N), 119 deg. 7.2 min. W (119.120W)
Depth	1.5 km (0.9 miles)
Location Quality	Fair
Location Quality Parameters	Nst=042, Nph=042, Dmin=9 km, Rmss=0.4 sec, Erho=0.8 km, Erzz=0.6 km, Gp=147.6 degrees
Event ID#	ci10482101
Additional Information	2-degree map Google Earth KML (Requires Google Earth.) Did you feel it? Waveforms

Northern California Fire Season Winding Down

Burn ban lifted in numerous CAL FIRE Units, National Forests and Bureau of Land Management lands.

Fire season has ended in North Central California.

TCU - Touloumne Calaveras Unit has lifted the suspension of burning on private lands. The unit includes Tuolumne and Calaveras counties in addition to eastern portions of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.
Burn permits are required:

• Burning is prohibited during high winds.
• Burn pile sizes must be a maximum of four-feet in diameter, all flammable material and vegetation within 10 feet of the outer edge of the pile must be cleared.
• Water supply must be close to the burn site.
  
• The person conducting the burn must also stay there with a shovel handy until the fire is out.
  
• The burning of trash, tires and plastic is prohibited.

Cal Fire officials say to also avoid burning piles of pine needles as they smolder and often spread dense smoke. "Even though the danger of large and damaging wild land fires has diminished, a fire can still escape,” said Mike Noonan, fire chief of the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit. “It is critical that the person conducting the burn keep close watch on the fire at all times.
If the fire gets away, that person can be held liable for the damage and suppression costs.

MNU - Cal Fire's Mendocino Unit has declared that the 2009 burning suspension and fire season will end at 8 a.m. Friday. Cal Fire, in conjunction with the Mendocino County Fire Chief's Association and the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District, also rolls back a countywide suspension for door yard and large pile burning, Cal Fire stated.

BTU - Butte - A ban on residential burning will be lifted at 8 a.m. on Monday, Cal Fire-Butte County officials have announced. Burning is not permitted inside the Chico city limits at any time.
On land that Cal Fire is responsible for there were 245 fires in 2009, compared to 305 fires last year when 38,801 acres were burned. This year, 345 acres burned. The higher fire count last year can be attributed to the unprecedented lightning fires in 2008
Residents in the unincorporated areas of Butte County may burn without a permit until May 1, 2010, when permits will again be required.
Not all days are burn days, however, and residents must call the Butte County Air Quality Management District before burning at 896-2537 to check the status.

Cal Fire will not require burn permits again until May 1, 2010.

U.S. Forest Service

MNF - Mendocino National Forest: As of Wednesday, fire restrictions in Mendocino National Forest were lifted due to rain and lower temperatures. Those with a valid California Campfire Permit can have fires outside of designated campgrounds, including wilderness areas, Mendocino National Forest stated.

YNP - Yosemite National Park - Yosemite National Park announces the end of the fire season, October 16th, 2009.

Yosemite National Park experienced measurable precipitation earlier this week. The rainfall measurement, from park weather stations, varied from 9 inches of rain in the Mariposa Grove, to approximately 8 inches of rain in Wawona, to 5.5 inches of rain in Yosemite Valley. Measurable snow also fell at higher elevations.

Closure of the fire season occurs when there is a season ending precipitation event totaling 2 inches or more. Historically, there is a 90% chance that Yosemite will have a season ending weather event by October 31.

Helicopter 551, Yosemite’s helicopter that is contracted for the fire season, has now left the park. Additionally, seasonal fire personnel are completing their assignments and will soon also be leaving the park.

Forest Service Campfire Requirements:

• Clear flammable material for a minimum of five feet in all directions.
• Have a shovel handy.
• Have a responsible person in attendance.
• Extinguish the campfire with water, stirring the coals and ash, and feeling for heat or warm spots and continue until coals and ash are cold.
• Campfire permits are available free at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management of Cal Fire office.

Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land Management has lifted fire restrictions on lands under jurisdiction of the Ukiah Field Office as well. Campfires can once again be had outside of developed campgrounds. Although fire dangers have decreased, it is still important to be careful with fire anytime, according to BLM fire mitigation speciali

To remain compliant with regulations, only clean, dry vegetative waste such as leaves, pine needles and yard clippings may be burned. Burning should be avoided on windy days, and debris piles should be no larger than four feet in diameter.

For more Cal Fire information: Cal Fire's web site at www.fire.ca.gov.

Earthquake - 3.5 M - Beaumont, CA

A minor earthquake occurred at 3:03:39 AM (PDT) on Friday, October 16, 2009.
The magnitude 3.5 event occurred 6 km (4 miles) NNE of Beaumont, CA.
The hypocentral depth is 13 km ( 8 miles).

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Magnitude	3.5 - local magnitude (ML)
Time	Friday, October 16, 2009 at 3:03:39 AM (PDT) Friday, October 16, 2009 at 10:03:39 (UTC)
Distance from	Beaumont, CA - 6 km (4 miles) NNE (13 degrees) Banning, CA - 8 km (5 miles) NW (312 degrees) Yucaipa, CA - 10 km (6 miles) SE (126 degrees) Moreno Valley, CA - 25 km (16 miles) ENE (77 degrees) Los Angeles Civic Center, CA - 119 km (74 miles) E (94 degrees)
Coordinates	33 deg. 58.6 min. N (33.977N), 116 deg. 57.5 min. W (116.959W)
Depth	13 km (8.1 miles)
Location Quality	Good
Location Quality Parameters	Nst=143, Nph=143, Dmin=6 km, Rmss=0.31 sec, Erho=0.2 km, Erzz=1 km, Gp=21.6 degrees
Event ID#	ci10481781
Additional Information	2-degree map Google Earth KML (Requires Google Earth.) Did you feel it? ShakeMap shaking intensity maps Waveforms

Earthquake Drill - The Great California Shake-out

STATEWIDE DRILL: A major 7.8 earthquake: 10:15:00 PM (PDT) on 10/15. Loc: Calif. STOP, DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON! http://shakeout.org/

At 10:15 a.m. on October 15, 2009, millions of Californians will participate in the largest earthquake drill ever!

The purpose of the ShakeOut is to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes, and to get prepared at work, school, and home.

Everyone can participate! Use the map and links below to learn how.Participating Stations that will play one of the ShakeOut Drill Broadcasts at 10:15 a.m. on October 15.

All radio and television stations in California are urged to participate by playing one of the audio or video drill broadcasts.

Participating Radio Stations

• KOGO 600 AM (San Diego)


• KCBS 740 AM (San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose)


• KFWB 980 AM (Los Angeles)


• KNX 1070 AM (Los Angeles)


• KWDJ 1360 AM (Ridgecrest)


• KSBR 88.5 FM (Mission Viejo)


• KKDV 92.1 FM (Walnut Creek)


• KZIQ 92.7 FM (Ridgecrest)


• K-FROG 92.9 FM (Temecula)


• K-FROG 95.1 FM (RIverside/San Bernardino)


• KUIC 95.3 FM (Vacaville)


• KOLA 99.9 FM (San Bernardino/RIverside)


• KKIQ 101.7 FM (Livermore)


• K-FROG 103.1 FM (Victor Valley)


• KFRC/KCBS 106.9 FM (San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose)

Participating TV Stations

• KPIX TV 5 (San Francisco)


• KCSB TV 3 (San Bernardino)

http://www.scec.org/core/public/objects/13661.png

Earthquake: 3.7 M Sunol, Fremont area

This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.

A minor earthquake occurred at 8:27:41 PM (PDT) on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.
The magnitude 3.7 event occurred 3 km (2 miles) NNE of Sunol, CA.
The hypocentral depth is 8 km ( 5 miles).

---

Magnitude	3.7 - regional moment magnitude (Mw)
Time	Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 8:27:41 PM (PDT) Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 3:27:41 (UTC)
Distance from	Sunol, CA - 3 km (2 miles) NNE (24 degrees) Pleasanton, CA - 5 km (3 miles) S (172 degrees) Dublin, CA - 10 km (6 miles) SSE (160 degrees) Fremont, CA - 14 km (8 miles) NE (44 degrees) San Jose City Hall, CA - 32 km (20 miles) N (3 degrees)
Coordinates	37 deg. 37.9 min. N (37.631N), 121 deg. 52.5 min. W (121.875W)
Depth	8.1 km (5.0 miles)
Location Quality	Good
Location Quality Parameters	Nst= 84, Nph= 84, Dmin=6 km, Rmss=0.2 sec, Erho=0.2 km, Erzz=0.4 km, Gp=28.8 degrees
Event ID#	nc71299286

North state update: over 1200 acres burning in NOPS

HIA-0221Mill Creek #4 IC: Current Situation
Size 1,109 acres
Percent Contained 10%
Estimated Containment Date Saturday October 17th, 2009 approx 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved: Old growth timber, timber plantations
Fire Behavior: Moderate. Lateral spread to the west due to strong east winds, The fire has crossed Hopkins Creek to the North, (and burned onto the SRF Orleans R.D.
Terrain: High difficulty. Very steep terrain and downhill line construction is making progress going in to hopkins Creek slow. The use of helicopters is keeping the fire in check.
Significant Events Continue line construction on the west; hold existing lines
IC: Type 3 Fire, Unified Command with Kent Swartslander (Six River National Forest), and Gary Risling (Hoopa Tribe) as Joint Commanders. A team has not been committed.
Total Personnel 495
Ground: Numerous Type 3 Strike teams & Crews, many hotshots.
Aircraft: Heavy tankers and helicoptersworked fire all day.
Structure/resource threats: No houses or other improvements threatened now, and cultural Advisors are assigned to protect cultural sites.
Inciweb: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1911/


HUU- Wilson IC #1, 2: Total of 2 fires (Wilson 1&2) 150 acres, 40% contained. 5 Miles North of Klamath, East of Hwy 101

Wilson #1 in the Wilson Creek Drainage, SRA. Started 10/9/09 at 2300 hours
• - 20 acres of heavy timber in steep terrain
• Moderate rate of spread
• No Threats.

Wilson #2 - Wilson Creek Drainage, SRA Started 10/9/09 at 2300 hours
• 125 acres of heavy timber in steep terrain
• Moderate rate of spread
• No Threats

Related post: North state update: over 800 acres burning in NOPS

North state update: over 800 acres burning in NOPS

HIA-0221Mill Creek #4 IC: Approximately 685 + acres, still only 25% contained.
IC: Type 3 Fire, Unified Command with USFS and HIA. Tom Annand (USFS) and Greg Moon (HIA) are the IC's.
Behavior/Fuels/Terrain: Very heavy fuels, diffucult access, The fire has crossed Hopkins Creek to the North, (and burned onto the SRF Orleans R.D. ).which is something no one wanted to happen.
Ground: Numerous Type 3 Strike teams & Crews, many hotshots.
Aircraft: Heavy tankers and helicoptersworked fire all day.
Structure/resource threats: No houses or other improvements threatened now, and cultural Advisors are assigned to protect cultural sites.

HUU- Wilson IC #1: 5 Miles North of Klamath, East of Hwy 101 in the Wilson Creek Drainage, SRA. Started 10/9/09 at 2300 hours
• 20 acres of heavy timber in steep terrain
• Moderate rate of spread
• Temp 57, RH 29%, Wind ESE at 9 with gusts to 29
• No Threats.

HUU- Wilson IC #2: 5 Miles North of Klamath, East of Hwy 101 in the Wilson Creek Drainage SRA Started 10/9/09 at 2300 hours
• 125 acres of heavy timber in steep terrain
• Moderate rate of spread
• Temp 57, RH 29%, Wind ESE at 9 with gusts to 29
• No Threats

HUU- TALL:
Redwood National Park
National Park Service
Started 10/10/09 at 0400 hours

• 3 acres of heavy timber, hose lay around fire
• Slow rate of spread
• Temp 51, RH 50%, Wind N at 1 with gusts to 7
• No Threats

Handy list: CAL FIRE Radio Frequencies & Nets by ICS ID

CAL FIRE ICS - Radio - by Name and Use

California CAL FIRE - Command Nets
(3-7 use Tone 103.5 for RX)
CDF Command #1 - 151.355 - Statewide
CDF Command #2 - 151.265 - Statewide
CDF Command #3 - 151.340 - Southern California
CDF Command #4 - 151.400 - Central Coast and
Lower San Juaquin Valley
CDF Command #5 - 151.370 - Lower Sierra/Alpine
CDF Command #6 - 151.250 - North Bay - Wine
Country
CDF Command #7 - 151.460 - Upper Sierra -
Sacramento Valley
CDF Command #8 - 151.445 - North Coast
CDF Command #9 - 151.175 - North Sacramento
Valley
CDF Command #10 - 151.190 - Northeast

California CAL FIRE - Tactical Nets
CDF Tac #1 - 151.145 - not normally used
CDF Tac #2 - 151.160 - used by MEU, NEU, SCU,
SNU
CDF Tac #3 - 151.175 - used by HUU, LMU, MEU,
CZU, TGU
CDF Tac #4 - 151.190 - used by SKU, TGU
CDF Tac #5 - 151.250 - used by BTU, LNU, NEU,
SNU
CDF Tac #6 - 151.325 - used by MEU, CZU, SCU,
SNU
CDF Tac #7 - 151.340 - used by HUU, SKU
CDF Tac #8 - 151.370 - used by SKU
CDF Tac #9 - 151.385 - used by BTU, NEU, SCU,
SHU, SKU
CDF Tac #10 - 151.400 - used by HUU, LMU,
CZU, SCU, SKU, SNU
CDF Tac #11 - 151.445 - used by BTU, MEU,
SHU, SKU
CDF Tac #12 - 151.460 - used by BTU, SHU, SKU
CDF Tac #13 - 151.475
CDF Tac #14 - 159.225
CDF Tac #15 - 159.270
CDF Tac #16 - 159.285
CDF Tac #17 - 159.315
CDF Tac #18 - 159.345
CDF Tac #20 - 159.375
CDF Tac #21 - 159.390
CDF Tac #22 - 159.405
CDF Tac #23 - 159.450

California CAL FIRE - Local Nets
1100 - MEU - Mendocino
"Howard Forest" 151.385
1200 - HUU - Humboldt-Del Norte
"Fortuna" 151.250
1400 - LNU - Lake-Napa-Sonoma
"St. Helena" 151.340(east) 151.460
(west)
1500 - MRN - Marin
(Contract County, Mutual Aid Net)
"Woodacre" 151.040
1600 - SCU - Santa Clara
"Morgan Hill" 151.445
1700 - CZU - San Mateo-Santa Cruz
"Felton" 151.370
2100 - BTU - Butte
"Oroville" 151.400
2200 - LMU - Lassen-Modoc
"Susanville" 151.250
2300 - NEU - Nevada-Yuba-Placer
"Grass Valley" 151.325(west) 154.130
(east)
2400 - SHU - Shasta-Trinity
"Redding" 151.160
2500 - TGU - Tehama-Glenn
"Red Bluff" 151.370
2600 - SKU - Siskiyou
"Yreka" 151.325
2700 - AEU - Amador-El Dorado
"El Camino" 151.190
3100 - RRU - Riverside
"Perris" 151.385(west) 151.175
(command) 151.130(east)
3300 - MVU - San Diego
"Monte Vista" 151.190
3400 - SLU - San Luis Obispo
"San Luis" 151.325(command),
154.385(dispatch)
3500 - BDU - San Bernardino
"San Bernardino" 151.445(net1)
151.325(net2) 151.250(net3)
4100 - TUU - Tulare
"Visalia" 151.190
4200 - MMU - Madera-Mariposa-Merced
"Mariposa" 151.460
4300 - FKU - Fresno-Kings
"Fresno" 151.385(west), 151.160(east)
4400 - TCU - Tuolumne-Calaveras
"San Andreas" 151.175
4600 - BEU - San Benito-Monterey
"Monterey" 151.250

California CAL FIRE - Air Tactical Nets
Air Tactics 4 - 151.280 (originally called "blue net")
Air Tactics 5 - 151.295 (originally called "green net")
Air Tactics 6 - 151.310 (originally called "yellow
net")
Air Tactics 21 - 151.2725 (narrowband)
Air Tactics 22 - 151.2875 (narrowband)
Air to Ground - 151.220 (originally called "red net")
CDF Chief Net
Coast Cascade Chief Net - 31.180
Sierra South Chief Net - 33.800