CAL FIRE Command Promotions in coming year

Congratulations:

CAL FIRE Chief Del Walters announced Rick Hutchinson would become Unit Chief for CAL FIRE San Benito–Monterey Unit starting Jan 1, 2010.
Outgoing CAL FIRE Unit Chief George Haines has served the Monterey-San Benito unit most honorably, & he has worked well with local govt!

CAL FIRE Chief Del Walters announced that Doug Wenham would become the Unit Chief for the CAL FIRE Shasta-Trinity Unit starting Jan 1, 2010.

CAL FIRE Chief Del Walters announced today that George Morris would become the Unit Chief for the CAL FIRE Butte Unit starting Jan 1, 2010.

MNF: Reward offered for information regarding thefts

$2,500 Offered for Information on Stolen Government Property

US Forest Service
Mendocino National Forest

Willows, December 9, 2009 - Over the recent Thanksgiving Holiday, between late hours of November 25 and the early morning hours of November 27, several buildings on the Upper Lake Ranger District compound of the Mendocino National Forest, located at 10025 Elk Mountain Road in Upper Lake, California were burglarized and a large amount of government property was stolen and other property was damaged.

Among the items stolen were several laptop computers, a desktop computer, and an assortment of electronic equipment including, cameras and several televisions - including two new flat screens.

Also stolen was a significant amount of wildland firefighting equipment, including several Stihl chainsaws, a motorized water pump, a Bendix-King mobile vehicle radio, two Bendix-King brand hand-held radios, and an assortment of wildland firefighter gear including Petzl brand headlamps, ESS brand fireman goggles, reflective cold-weather blankets, cases of MRE's (military-style meals), a flare gun with .22 caliber blanks and a Miller brand MIG welder. In addition several of the buildings were ransacked and damaged.

The USDA Forest Service is offering a $2,500.00 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person(s) involved in this theft of government property. Anyone with information is asked to contact the U.S. Forest Service, Law Enforcement & Investigations Office at Upper Lake at (707) 275-1420 or contact Detective Steve Brooks at the Lake County Sheriff's Office at (707) 262-4200.

Source: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/news/2009/12-09-reward/

Iron 44: Congress questioning the NTSB investigation

Photo of the Carson helicopter that was carrying 13 people away from the Buckhorn site in Trinity County when it crashed and burst into flames August 5, 2008.
Photo credit: Harry Spurling

WASHINGTON - Members of Congress are questioning the thoroughness of the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the Iron 44 helicopter crash in Northern California.

The NTSB briefed Congressional members on the investigation Wednesday.

In the NTSB's preliminary report, released in September, a footnote revealed that there was missing federal evidence from that firefighting helicopter crash that killed nine men in August of 2008.

Four members of Congress, including Oregon Representative Greg Walden (R), sent a letter to top NTSB officials two weeks ago questioning the investigation. The letter stated that the NTSB's preliminary report downplayed the significance of several pieces of a Fuel Control Unit which disappeared after the crash.

The FCU is part of the fuel delivery system which manages how much fuel the engine is asking for.

After Wednesday's meeting Walden said, "It is essential that this ongoing investigation be conducted thoroughly and professionally so that the families and public know what went wrong and what must be done to make sure it never happens again.

According to the NTSB, six days after the crash, both engines, including their FCUs, were removed from the crash site and transported to Columbia Helicopters, the company that conducted maintenance on the aircraft. There, the NTSB and a team from the Federal Aviation Administration watched Columbia tear down both engines.

The NTSB later asked for the FCUs to be shipped to their offices in Washington D.C. When the NTSB opened the shipment, they say some parts were missing.

A footnote in the NTSB's preliminary report says "upon opening the shipping containers, an inventory of the hardware revealed that the following components from the FCU Number 1 were not present: Metal position adjusting cover, snap retainer ring, spring retainer cap, spring and bellows."

The report also states that a video recording taken by Columbia Helicopters revealed that the missing parts were not there at the time of packaging and therefore not sent to the NTSB.

The FCUs are part of the fuel delivery system, which manages the amount of fuel required by the engine.

The over 500-page long report includes interview transcripts, witness accounts, photographs and diagrams. The documents do not contain the NTSB's final factual report, analysis or all of its findings regarding the crash. That report will come at a later date.

On the evening of August 5, 2008 seven Southern Oregon contract firefighters with Merlin-based Grayback Forestry, an Oregon pilot, and a U.S. Forest Service check pilot were killed when their helicopter crashed in the Siskiyou-Trinity National Forest east of Redding. Four people survived. The helicopter was ferrying firefighters away from a remote site on the front lines of the Iron Complex of wildfires when it crashed.

The Sikorsky S61N helicopter, operated by Carson Helicopters in Grants Pass, crashed during liftoff. According to the documents, witnesses told investigators the aircraft seemed to hover just above the tree line, then came crashing down about 150 feet away, landing on its side, and then burst into flames. They noted the helicopter appeared to be having a very difficult time getting off the ground into a high enough position to travel and didn't appear to be full powered. One witness said he heard an unusual sound during takeoff, which he described as a snapping or grinding sound.

Two charged with misdemeanors in Jesusita Fire

The District Attorney's Office has invested significant time and resources into the review and decision to file charges on the circumstances surrounding the origin of the Jesusita Fire. We recognize the tremendous impact the Fire has had on the community and the community's desire to have answers regarding the origination of the fire. We also recognize that our duty is to ensure justice is done by applying our ethical obligations to the review of the voluminous materials in this case.

The District Attorney's Office has conducted a thorough review of evidence relating to the circumstances surrounding the origination of the Jesusita Fire. The Santa Barbara Sheriffs Department, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the Santa Barbara City Fire Department and Cal-Fire, in addition to all the other public safety agencies that assisted during the emergency are commended for their joint effort in the investigation of the origin of this fire.

The District Attorney's Office, in consultation with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, has examined all possible criminal and civil charges that may apply to the conduct of the two individuals who will be charged in this case. The ethical duty of a prosecutor is to review a case to determine if we have a good faith belief that we can prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury in this community. It has been determined by this Office that we cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt the required mental state for any felony charge that might apply to the circumstances of this case.

The Santa Barbara County Code has enacted the California Fire Code under Chapter 15. The California Fire Code, Chapter 26, Section 2601, provides that for any, "[w]elding, cutting, open torches and other hot work operations and equipment" a permit from the Fire Marshal must first be obtained for work completed in any location specified by him. The evidence indicating the point of origin for the Jesusita fire is designated as a high fire danger area, requiring a hot work permit at all times by the County Fire Marshal. To obtain a hot work permit a person is required to show the Fire Marshal that he/she will take certain precautions to prevent a fire which include, but are not limited to, having fire fighting equipment on scene and having an independent person watch the area for a minimum of thirty minutes after the work is completed to ensure that there are no areas left smoldering.

The investigation and resulting evidence shows that two individuals, Craig William Ilenstine, age 50, and Dana Neil Larsen, age 45, were using cutting instruments, specifically gas powered weed cutters, to trim back brush and limbs surrounding the trail in the area of origin of the fire on the day in question. The same evidence shows that neither person had obtained a hot work permit as required by law and neither person took the requisite precautions of watching or having someone else watch the area where they worked for at least thirty minutes after they finished using their weed cutters, to make sure they did not leave any smoldering areas.

Craig William Ilenstine and Dana Neil Larsen have each been charged with one misdemeanor count of violating Santa Barbara County Code, Chapter 15, Section 15-121, through a violation of California Fire Code, Chapter 26, Section 2601. They were sent a letter to appear in the Santa Barbara Superior Court for their arraignment in January 2010.

The maximum penalty for the charged offense is a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days. Further, if successful in obtaining a conviction in this case, the Office of the District Attorney will ask the court to impose Cull criminal restitution on behalf of the victims of the Jesusita Fire. Further, The California Department of Forestry (Cal-Fire), based on the investigation of this case, will pursue civil cost recovery against these same individuals.

The media is invited to attend a press conference, including the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office and Santa Barbara County Fire officials, commencing at 8:00 a.m., Friday morning, December 11, 2009, at the District Attorney's Office 4111 floor conference room, 1112 Santa Barbara Street., Santa Barbara.

If you have questions, please contact Senior Deputy District Attorney Jerry Lulejian at (805) 346-7540.

DA 12-0026 RELEASE NUMBER December 10, 2009 RELEASE DATE

Related info: California Fire Code: Hot Work Permit -> http://ftp.resource.org/bsc.ca.gov/title24_part09_dice/title24_part09_page0321.pdf

FEMA & FCC Standards for emergency alerts

FEMA And The FCC Announce Adoption Of Standards For Wireless Carriers To Receive And Deliver Emergency Alerts Via Mobile Devices

As part of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), the nation's next generation of emergency alert and warning networks, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today announced the adoption of the design specifications for the development of a gateway interface that will enable wireless carriers to provide its customers with timely and accurate emergency alerts and warnings via their cell phones and other mobile devices.

Bottom line: IPAWS intended to provide emergency mangers and the President of the United States a means to send 90 character text alerts and warnings to the public

More info at: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=50056

Fire Jobs: BLM, BIA, USFS seasonal firefighting and dispatching - 2010 fire season

Want to fight fire?

BLM, BIA, USFS are accepting applications for summer seasonal firefighting and dispatching positions for the 2010 fire season.


Salary for these positions ranges from $9.45 to $16.04 per hour depending on experience, normal term of employment June 1 thru mid-September

Applications must be submitted no later than January 19, 2010 to receive first consideration for most positions.

Applications must be submitted using the Office of Personnel Management’s USAJOBS website: www.usajobs.opm.gov.

Photo credit / story: Patrick Cummings/RGJ -A crew of Hotshots pulls back as a section of the Larsen brush fire blows up due to high winds and dry conditions in Coleville on June 5, 2007. The fire was started by lightning on Saturday June 2nd and was contained early until high winds on Tuesday morning spread the fire.

Esperanza Fire report finds no misconduct

WASHINGTON - A three-year federal probe into the actions of firefighters who battled the deadly 2006 Esperanza fire found no evidence of misconduct.

In a report issued today by the U.S. Agriculture Department's Office of Inspector General, investigators concluded that the deaths five U.S. Forest Service firefighters were the result of several factors that combined during the swirling wildfire, which overcame the men of Engine Crew 57 as they fought to save a hillside home.

"In the Esperanza Fire, these included rapid, unexpected fire behavior - propelled by the sudden emergence of fire-related weather phenomena - and the forward location of a (Forest Service) crew," according to a summary of the report sent to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Investigators based their findings on interviews with 23 Forest Service firefighters and officials, who fought the blaze alongside Cal Fire, the state's fire agency. However, only one 14 Cal Fire employees contacted by investigators agreed to be interviewed, investigators said.

The investigation is just the third of its kind and was required by a 2002 law mandating the office investigate deaths of federal firefighters who are killed in burnovers or entrapments.

The two previous investigations led to charges against two fire commanders in the deaths of federal firefighters in Washington State and Idaho.

The law was created after the 2001 Thirtymile Fire in Washington state, which killed four firefighters. U.S. Forest Service supervisor Ellreese N. Daniels was indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and lying to investigators.

After the 2003 Cramer Fire in Idaho, in which two firefighters died, the U.S. attorney's office filed charges against that fire's incident commander, Alan Hackett, who was found to have been negligent in his management of the blaze.

Killed in the fire were Engine 57 Capt. Mark Loutzenhiser, 43, of Idyllwild; Jason McKay, 27, of Apple Valley; Jess McLean, 27, of Beaumont; Pablo Cerda, 23, of Fountain Valley; and Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, of San Jacinto.

Arsonist Raymond Lee Oyler was convicted for setting the fire and is sentenced to die for the crime.

Source: pe.com - article link http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_esperanzaweb.2379179.html

Firefighters ordered to remove Merry christmas sign, Made by firefighters 50 years ago

Bah! Humbug!: Town outlaws Merry Christmas sign Made by firefighters 50 years ago

By Crystal Bozek
cbozek@eagletribune.com

NORTH ANDOVER — First it was the menorah on the town common. Now it's the Merry Christmas sign on the fire station.

The town has put an end to a longtime holiday tradition ordering firefighters to take down their homemade Merry Christmas sign from outside the fire station after people complained. The sign had been up for a week before it was taken down Friday.

Fire Chief William Martineau said the sign was made by firefighters some 50 years ago and was never an issue before.

"I think Christmas is officially a religious holiday. But to all of us, it has always been a holiday for the kids," Martineau said. "It just seems sad."

The sign is now sitting in the basement and there's only one decoration hanging from the station — a Happy New Year sign.

This is the second holiday controversy in two weeks for the town.

Andover Rabbi Asher Bronstein has threatened a lawsuit against North Andover after the selectmen would not let him place a menorah on the town common for all eight days of Hanukkah.

Selectmen voted on Nov. 23 to allow the menorah for one day. They argue that their new town common policy only allows displays to stay up for one day, no matter what they are. That way all groups have equal time and there is no discrimination.

Attorneys for the town and the rabbi are in talks.

Town officials said yesterday that the menorah fight is what caused Merry Christmas to be outlawed at the fire station for the first time in five decades.

"This is political correctness run amok," selectmen's Chairman Tracy Watson said. "It's really an unfortunate turn of events. ... This has become all about religion, and from the start it has had nothing to do with religion. We were enforcing a policy."

Selectmen's phones are ringing off the hook with calls from all sides. The town is divided into people who believe the menorah should get its eight days and those who think the selectmen's policy is fair. Some do not want to see any religious displays on the common, saying even a day is too much.

Watson said she expects taking down the Merry Christmas sign is only going to rile people up more.

"It's going to make a lot of people angry," she said.

Town Manager Mark Rees said the fight over the menorah brought a "heightened sensitivity to these kind of issues."

"Well, it is a public building and Merry Christmas certainly is a Christian reference," Rees said. "A public building should not be displaying things specific to a particular religion."

Rees said he hopes to work with the Fire Department to put up a more appropriate sign.

"Maybe a more generic 'Happy Holidays,'" he said. "Something more inclusive."

The town has wreaths with red bows hanging on poles throughout downtown and has decorated the trees in the town common with white lights every year. Those are allowed because they are called secular decorations.

Attorney Robert Meltzer of Framingham, who represents Bronstein on the menorah issue, said it was unfortunate that the sign was taken down from the fire station.

"I'm sorry they felt the need to do that," Meltzer said. "I don't like to see those things intertwined. ... It has not been part of any of our conversations with the town."

Meltzer said he is trying to work with North Andover town counsel to resolve the menorah issue without a lawsuit. North Andover selectmen meet in executive session Friday to discuss what to do — whether to take on the rabbi or make concessions.

"We haven't made any decisions yet," Watson said.

Source: Article link http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_335011205.html

Kern County Fire Department is accepting applications for Seasonal Firefighters for 2010 Fire Season.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County Fire Department is accepting applications for Seasonal Firefighters for the 2010 Fire Season. The department is planning to staff up to six wildland firefighting handcrews in the mountainous areas of the county with the first crew starting in February.

Staggered hiring will continue until May when all crews will be in place and available for fire response.

When the crews are not on fires, they are actively involved in various brush removal projects around the county which include constructing roadside firebreaks, firebreaks around mountain communities and assisting homeowners with brush disposal on organized “chipper days”.

The position is very physically demanding as crew members are often required to work in steep, mountainous, rocky terrain with ambient temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees.

Appointments for these extra-help positions will not exceed nine months in duration.

Interested individuals must complete an on-line application with the Kern County Employment Department.

Seasonal Fire Supervisor	15.14/Hr		Apply Online
Seasonal Firefighter I	10.82/Hr		Apply Online
Seasonal Firefighter II	12.14/Hr		Apply Online
Seasonal Firefighter III	13.58/Hr		Apply Online

All new applicants must complete this application.

If you have any questions, please contact the Fire Crew Coordinator at (661) 391-7079.
More information:

USFS Considers Night Flying to Attack Wildfires

Firefighting Helicopter drops water in a canyon on the Jesusita fire

The U.S. Forest Service is considering allowing its helicopters to attack wildfires at night, a practice the agency has long discouraged because of risks to pilots, a senior official said Monday.

The change would be a major shift for an agency with more than 10,000 firefighters that manages 200 million acres of public land.

Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management Director Tom Harbour said the current policy was being reviewed.

"We are in the process ... of one more time taking a look at night-flying operations. But we will have to make sure that those operations, before we change our policy, are worth the benefits," Harbour told The Associated Press.

"Night flying is a risky operation," he added.

Last week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors pushed for broader use of night flying after a wildfire in Angeles National Forest last summer burned more than 250 square miles, destroyed 89 homes and led to the deaths of two firefighters.

Harbour said the Forest Service experimented with night flying against wildfires in the 1970s and early 1980s but abandoned it after a helicopter collision.

The Forest Service has been criticized by some local officials for the way it managed the blaze in Angeles National Forest, which became the largest fire in Los Angeles County history.

The county Fire Department concluded in a report that experienced county helicopter pilots could have made water drops on the first night of the fire - although it conceded that it was not known if that would have made a difference.

In addition, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich has said the Forest Service erred by not calling in more aircraft to drop water and fire retardant in the early hours of the blaze.

The Forest Service can allow pilots from local agencies to fly on its land at night in some cases, Harbour said. But a federal review this month found the Angeles Forest wildfire raged out of control because it jumped into inaccessible terrain, not because the Forest Service failed to deploy enough firefighters and aircraft.

Harbour said there were scant cases where aircraft alone extinguish fires, since embers, brush and grasses on the forest floor can continue to burn even after a water or retardant drop.

"We've got to get boots on the ground to be effective. And there were places on that (Los Angeles County) fire ... where we simply couldn't get boots on the ground" because of the steep slopes, he said.

"It's a red herring to keep talking about helicopters and air tankers," Harbour said, referring to the same blaze.

"Aircraft serve a useful purpose in assisting the folks on the ground. ... Firefighters on the ground put out fire," he said.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman said he supported the federal review. He believes pilots qualified to fly at night should be able to do so, if the possible gain outweighs risks - regardless of whether they are from local or U.S. agencies.

County pilots can fly at night on Forest Service land, but only when structures are threatened and within a two-mile wide zone along the park boundary.

Source: (AP) cbsnews.com- Article link
Photo credit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2009/may/07/natural-disasters-usa?picture=347092478