CA-BLM/CDD-Indians - Wildland Fire - 1100 acres

Indians Fire: Made extreme runs with Ice capping yesterday afternoon

Admin unit: BLM Desert District - David Cooper's SCSIIMT ICP at the High Desert Fairgrounds.
Location: Indian Wells Canyon road, west of the Inyo Kern airport in Ridgecrest. About 8 miles Northwest of Inyokern in Indians canyon. Helibase being set up at Inyo Kern Helibase
Note: this start is 5 miles south of Sand 2 fire

Assisting agencies: KCFD crews are responding to this developing fire west of Inyo Kern on BLM land. State and local resources are also responding from the Bodfish Fire.
Resources: Boundary Peak IHC, Crew 7 Rio Bravo Hotshots, Fulton Hotshots, Lake Shasta Hotshots , Palomar Hot Shots assigned to this fire.
Indians Fire Updates:
07-18 1730hrs- H408 mapped fire at 1100 acres, 5 miles of open line. Winds are shifting to diurnal pattern.
07-18 1700hrs- Fire Is under the jurisdiction of BLM Desert District and currently approximately 1000 acres and burning in the wilderness 5 miles west of Hwy 14 and Indian Hills Rd. The management team from the Bodfish fire is being reassigned to this fire tomorrow and will be the information point.
07-18 1600hrs- Kern County Fire Department A strike team of type 4 patrols is responding to the Indians Fire, northwest of Inyokern. P11, P21, P31, P51, P61, Strike team leader is BC Fraley.
BDF ST 6604C 19,15,333,38,51 responding to this incident.
07-18, 11:57 Last report on conditions was the 15-20 acres moderate rate of spread. Aircraft sharing with the Sand 2 incident which about 6 miles north of this incident.
web cam: http://sierrafire.cr.usgs.gov/camHis...lastFrame=true 
Sources: Kern County Fire department face-book - Link 
wildlandfire.com - Link

CA-KRN-Bodfish - Wildland Fire - 90% Contained - 560 acres

Bodfish Fire

Bodfish Fire Incident Information:
Last Updated: July 18, 2010 7:30 pm
Date/Time Started: July 15, 2010 8:30 pm
Administrative Unit: Bodfish Fire Stats Name: Bodfish Fire
Status/Notes: 90% Contained - 560 acres
Personnel: 620 (KCFD, USFS, BLM, and CalFire)
Structures Threatened: 0
Structures Destroyed: 0
Date Started: July 15, 2010 at 8:30 PM
Last Update: July 18, 2010 at 2:30 PM
 Bodfish Fire Press Release (7/18/2010 @ 2:30 PM)

HOOPER HILL, CA - As of this morning, the Bodfish Fire is 90% contained.  After a more accurate mapping of the fire late yesterday, the burned acres remain at 560 acres.  The demobilization process of resources has started this morning and will continue throughout the day and into tomorrow.  Today the fire crews will continue to monitor the burn area for any hot spots and remove all hose lines that were put in during the fire.

Caliente Bodfish Road has opened to traffic.  As a safety reminder to local residents of Havilah and Bodfish, fire crews will remain on the scene today and into tomorrow.  Please drive slow and use caution when driving on Caliente Bodfish Road near the fire location.

Bodfish Fire Map (Incident Map 7/16 @ 6PM)

View Bodfish Fire in a larger map

Bodfish Fire Press Release (Archive)  

Press Release #3 (7/16/2010 at 5:16 PM)
HOOPER HILL, CA - Firefighters from the Kern County Fire Department, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, and Cal Fire continue battling the Bodfish Fire.  The fire began on Thursday July 15th 2010 at approximately 8:30 P.M., along Caliente Bodfish Rd between Bodfish and Havilah in the area of Hooper Hill.

At 4:30 PM on Friday July 16th 2010, the fire is approximately 520 acres in size and is currently 35% contained, with 400 personnel on scene. Four water dropping helicopters and four air tankers have been assisting in fighting the fire. More resources have been ordered for the night operations to include 7 Type 1 hand crews. Fire crews are making good progress with constructing fireline and have approximately 3.5 miles to build.

There are no reported injuries.  The cause of the fire was due to lightening strikes as a thunder cell passed through the Kern River Valley on July 15th 2010.


Press Release #2 (7/16/2010 at 7:58 AM)
HOOPER HILL, CA - On Thursday July 15th 2010 at approximately 8:30 P.M., the Kern County Fire Department, Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service responded to a vegetation fire in the area along Caliente Bodfish Rd between Bodfish and Havilah in the area of Hooper Hill. Approximately 150 firefighters fought the fire including assistance from the Bakersfield Fire Department and China Lake Fire Deptartments.

Upon arrival crews were faced with an estimated 80 acres of burning grass and heavy vegetation. Changing winds pushed the fire in all directions and across the roadway. Crews made an initial attack on the fire on the east side of the road.  On the west side crews deployed hoselines to the base of the fire: simultaneously Hand Crews cut line ahead of the fire and burned out the vegetation.

At 7:00 AM the fire is approximately 340 acres with 200 personnel on scene. A further 200 personnel will be arriving throughout the morning. Three water dropping helicopters and four air tankers will assist in fighting the fire. The fire is currently 25% contained.

There are several structures threatened by the fire. There are no reported injuries. The cause of the fire was due to lightening strikes as a thunder cell passed through the Kern River Valley.


Original Press Release (7/15/2010 at 10:55 PM)
Bodfish Fire:  The fire is currently burning on both sides of the Caliente Bodfish Rd near Hooper Hill. There are approximately 100 firefighters from KCFD, US Forest Service and BLM. The fire is at an estimated 100 acres. Plans are currently being made for fighting the fire through the night.

Sources: Kern County fire - Link, CAL FIRE - Link

CA-RRU-Cactus- Wildland Fire - 1,028 ACRES, 100 % contained

Cactus Fire Incident Information:
Last Updated:	July 18, 2010 8:15 am
Date/Time Started:	July 15, 2010 2:59 pm
Administrative Unit:	CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire
County:	Riverside
Location:	Red Mountain Rd and Owl Creek
Acres Burned:
Containment	706 acres - 100% contained
Phone Numbers	(951) 940-6985 (CAL FIRE/ Riverside County Fire Information)

Incident Name: Cactus (CONTAINED)		Incident Number: CARRU-62442
Date Reported: 07/15/2010		Time Reported: 2:59 PM
Incident Type: Vegetation Fire
Incident Location: Red Mountain Rd X Owl Creek(TB 902C1)			City: Sage
Size/Type of Fuel/etc.: Heavy Brush		Cause: Lightning
Loss: $0	(STR): $0	(Contents): $0	Vehicle(s): $0
Save: $0	(STR): $0	(Contents): $0	Cost to Date: $0
Injuries:
Fatalities: 0	Critical: 0	Moderate: 0	Minor: 0	Non-Injury: 0
Transported Ground AMB: 0		Air AMB: 0
Containment Time: 07/18/2010 0700		Control Time:
Resources Assigned
Engines: 3		Breathing Supp.: 0		Helicopters: 0
Truck Co: 0		Squad: 0		Air Attack: 0
Firefighters: 60		RVC Medics: 0		Air Tankers: 0
Overhead Personnel: 1		AMB's: 0		Fire Crews: 6
Haz. Mat: No Co. Health: No County OES: No Fire Prev.: No Water Tenders: 0
Electrical Co: No Gas Co: No Water Co: No Bulldozers: 0
Red Cross: Yes	Chaplain: No	Displaced Persons: No	Adult: 0	Child: 0
Misc. Equip:	Sheriff's Office: No	CHP: No	Office:
Cooperating Agencies: American Red Cross , CAL FIRE/Riverside, CAL FIRE/San Bernardino, Riverside County Fire Dept, Riverside County OES, USFS – Angeles National Forest, USFS – San Bernardino
Supplemental
Comments:	Update 7/18/2010 - 08:00 - Fire was declared 100% contained at 7:00 a.m. this morning. Full control expected 07/19/2010 by 8:00 p.m. Final size - 706 acres. 3 engines and 6 fire crews assigned today. Next update will be at 08:00 7/19/2010 unless significant activity on this incident occurs.. Update 7/17/2010 10:00 p.m. - No change in status or acreage. UPDATE 7/17/2010 07:44 a.m. - The Cactus fire is now 50% contained. The mapped acreage remains at 647. Fire crews will concentrate on improving the S/W area of the fire and continue to overhaul and improve line construction around the fire. UPDATE 7/16/2010 5:30 p.m. - The Cactus fire remains at 30% containment. The mapped updated size is 647 acres. This will be the final posting for this operational period unless significant events dictate otherwise. The next update will be posted tomorrow, 7/17/2010 at 08:00 a.m. UPDATE 7/16/2010 7:30 A.M. - Fire is now 490 acres and 30% contained. Air and ground firefighting resources assigned today. Minimal fire activity. Updates will continue to be posted as information becomes available. Evacuation orders were lifted at 10:00 p.m. last night (7/15). The evacuation center is closed. UPDATE 8:30 p.m. 350 acres, 10% contained. Mandatory evacuations off or Cactus Valley and R3, Limb Road and Old Ranch Road. Residents will not be allowed back into the area until further notice. Evacuation Center is located at Hemet High School, Stetson Ave. X Stanford Ave in Hemet. UPDATE 1855 250 Acres UPDATE 1741 100 acres UPDATE 1514 75 acres heavy fuel, moderate rate of spread. CAL FIRE and Riverside County Firefighters are responding to multiple fires, in the Sage, Anza and Pinyon area. The Cactus Fire was reported via an air tanker enroute to a fire in San Diego County. Photo Courtesy of DeeAnn Bradley
Problems:
Evacuations: No		Evacuation Comments:
Information Center: 951 940 6985		OR:
Prepared By: Jody Hagemann		Prepared Date/Time: 07/18/2010 0805

Sources: CAL FIRE current incidents- Link, Riverside County - link

LACoFD, LAFD, LAPD, HAZ-MAT - RAIL TANKER FULL OF POT

Hazardous Material Incident at Eastman Avenue X Union Pacific Avenue in the Hobart area, LACoFD's jurisdiction results in recovery of 78 packages of what the LAPD previously referred to as marijuana which was safely removed from a tanker style railcar.

Los Angeles Fire Department PRESS RELEASE:

On Monday, July 12th, 2010 at 3:45 AM, 7 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 7 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 LAPD Haz-Mat Team, 1 LACoFD Haz-Mat Team, LA County Sheriffs, Union Pacific Security and various other law enforcement agencies under the direction of Battalion Chief Patrick Butler responded to a Hazardous Material Incident at Eastman Avenue X Union Pacific Avenue in the Hobart area, LACoFD's jurisdiction.

A total of 68 Los Angeles Firefighters were gradually requested to assist our friends at Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The lengthy incident involved a confined space, that of a 60' long by 10' wide, train-tanker with possible hazardous materials (Haz-Mat) inside.

Firefighters made entry into the 30,000 gallon tanker wearing full Haz-Mat suits and began removing packages that were covered in an oil type substance. Two Firefighters experienced increased heart rate and dizziness after making entry, both were evaluated medically at USC hospital as a precaution, but were expected to be released back-to-duty the same day.

Just before 10:00 AM, an unknown object, similar to the size and shape of a coffee can, was found inside. Due to the suspicious nature of this item, the Fire Department Haz-Mat removal operation was halted. LAPD Bomb Squad took over the scene and, as a safety measure, carefully detonated the object at approximately 5:00 PM. The Fire Department was then able to safely resume entry.

Due to the nature of the incident and surrounding circumstances, LAPD will continue to take the lead role and provide any additional information. All LAFD Firefighters were released just before 9:00 PM. A total of 78 packages of what the LAPD previously referred to as marijuana was safely removed.

Station Fire: Lead CDF air attack officer contradicts Forest Service report

At 8:07 a.m., thick smoke blankets the sky as fire crews try try to contain the flames. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Aerial expert's report on L.A. County's biggest wildfire flies in the face of official review

As Capt. Perri Hall watched helplessly, a blaze that had appeared containable erupted into the devastating Station fire. A report by Hall, obtained by The Times, contradicts key assertions by the U.S. Forest Service about its response to last summer's disaster.

By Paul Pringle Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Just after first light, a tactical observation plane took off from its old military base in Hemet for an urgent mission above the cathedral peaks of the Angeles National Forest.

The two-man crew had been deployed to direct an air assault on the few acres of brush still burning on Day 2 of last summer's Station fire, which had been nearly contained the evening before.

As the crew prepared for the arrival of three or more air tankers, conditions appeared good for knocking the blaze down once and for all. Winds were calm, and the sun had yet to rise above the pine-crowned mountaintops to heat the thick carpet of chaparral where the fire had flared overnight.Capt. Perri Hall, a veteran air attack officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, who was over the blaze minutes before 7 a.m. on Aug. 27, radioed the U.S. Forest Service with the intention of bringing in the tankers, a lead plane and helicopters.

There was no answer.

"I made several attempts to contact someone on the ground … with no luck," Hall recounts in a report. "I then attempted to make contact with [the Angeles National Forest] on the command frequencies."


The minutes were passing.

"I finally was able to make contact … and ask for the lead plane to be started ASAP," he says. "They advise the lead plane would not be available until 0900 hours.

"I then ask to start any air tankers they had and again I was told nothing available until 0900-0930 hours. "I then ask if there were any heli-tankers available and if so get them started. Again I was told nothing available until 0930 hours.

"I gave them a quick report on conditions of 3-4 acres [burning] … with potential of a major fire."

That potential began turning into reality about an hour later. The fire jumped a critical defense line along Angeles Crest Highway and raced through the dried-out scrub and trees, becoming the biggest conflagration in Los Angeles County history. Two county firefighters were killed.

Hall's account of Day 2, a copy of which was obtained by The Times, contradicts key assertions by the Forest Service about its response to the fire. Hall wrote the 1,000-word report soon after the mission, out of frustration and anger at the Forest Service's failure to unleash a more aggressive aerial attack, according to people with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The captain's narrative challenges a leading conclusion of the Forest Service's official review of the fire: that an earlier aerial assault on Day 2 would have been ineffective because rough terrain would have prevented ground crews from finishing the job. Hall makes no mention of terrain problems, and it was his responsibility to determine whether the landscape was an impediment to aerial drops.

Despite Hall's expertise and bird's-eye perspective, the Forest Service review team never interviewed him, officials said. His plane had been assigned to the fire at the Forest Service's request.

Former Forest Service officials say Hall's account is crucial to any assessment of the firefight because it was his job to determine when and where aircraft should be used.

In the report, Hall describes how he planned to hit the flames quickly:

"I tried again to contact someone on the ground and [a Forest Service battalion chief] responded back to me. I ask if he had any crews on the fire below the road (eastside of highway) and advised him that if I can get some aircraft I was going to go to work direct as possible on it."

But he could not get the aircraft and watched helplessly as the blaze that had appeared so containable erupted into a disaster:

"As the sun came up from behind the ridge to the east the down canyon wind began to increase and started pushing this new fire parallel to the highway. It began to burn freely on both the north and south end."

Hall writes that a single water-dropping helicopter arrived around 8:15 a.m. — other records indicate it reached the blaze about 25 minutes earlier — but it was far from enough:

"The fire began a good run up a ridge perpendicular to the highway. This run resulted in the fire jumping the highway to the west, into an entirely new drainage south of the original fire from the day before."

The delay in the tanker deployment — one of the Forest Service's own commanders had requested three of the heavy ships about six hours before their scheduled 7 a.m. arrival — has been a central issue in government inquiries into the fire. One, a hearing of local House members convened by Rep. Adam Schiff (D- Burbank), is set for Aug. 10.

Cal Fire spokeswoman Julie Hutchinson referred questions about Hall's account to the Forest Service because it was in charge of the operation that day. A Forest Service spokesman in Washington, D.C., said he relayed questions to local officials for his agency, who did not respond.

The efforts of Hall and others to get aircraft to the fire are also chronicled on recordings of radio communications that the Forest Service provided to The Times under the Freedom of Information Act.

On one recording, a Forest Service officer is heard calling at 3:10 a.m. for confirmation of a request made more than two hours earlier for three tankers and other aircraft to be over the blaze at 7 a.m. He is told that the order had been placed and that the Forest Service is "going to see at morning time if we can get [the aircraft] reassigned from the Morris" fire burning nearby.

At 6:49 a.m., on another recording, an officer asking about the lead plane is informed that it would "hold along with the tankers for now."

The Forest Service has blamed the tardy arrival of the tankers on the need for pilots to rest and a lack of available relief planes. But The Times has reported that according to federal records and state officials, the Forest Service failed to fill the order for tankers that its commander placed shortly before 1 a.m. on Day 2, even though Cal Fire had several of the planes available.

Former Forest Service officials say Hall's account and the recordings seem to confirm that a separate order for the Station fire tankers was never filled and that the agency had instead opted to wait for planes that had been used the day before on the Morris blaze. Those tankers did not begin taking off until after 8:40 a.m.

"The problem wasn't the lack of resources," said former Angeles National Forest Fire Chief Don Feser. "The problem was the lack of will to acquire the resources.... I don't see any real sense of urgency."

Meanwhile, as Hall's narrative continues, he pleads in vain for more planes and other support:

"I made three requests for the DC-10 (Tanker 910) … and all three were denied. I made two requests for a [helicopter coordinator to help manage the attack] with no fill."

The captain relates that when he landed for refueling, he walked into a dispatch center to press his case: "I told them again of the [fire's] potential and the need for more air tankers.

"When we returned to the fire that afternoon, it had doubled in size and was pushing 500-600 acres."

In the coming weeks, it would consume more than 160,000 acres.

SAR News: Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue Saves injured canine

Rescue Team Saves Dog

Jim Bunner
Story Created: Jul 4, 2010 at 2:47 PM PDT
Story Updated: Jul 5, 2010 at 9:27 AM PDT 

Montecito - The Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue team came to the aid of yet another individual. But this time that "individual" was a dog that needed help.

An 80-pound Shepherd mix, named Val, was playing just below Tangerine Falls in the Cold Springs West Fork Canyon above Montecito when she slipped on the wet sandstone and fell about 20 feet.

The dog injured her back legs and was unable to walk. Her owners attempted to carry her back to their car at the trailhead located about 1.5 miles away on Mountain Drive, but only managed to get her back up to the trail above the creek. As nightfall came Saturday, the couple did not have any lights or the ability to carry Val down the steep creek trail, so they called 9-1-1 for help.

Members of Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue, along with a Santa Barbara County Animal Control officer, responded around 8:00 p.m. After hiking up a stretcher and technical rope rescue equipment, SBCSAR members secured Val into a stretcher and began to lower her down the steep creek using ropes to belay her rescue.

At approximately 1:00am Sunday morning, Val was loaded into her owner's car for the drive to a nearby emergency animal clinic for treatment.

Search team member and dog handler, Juanita Smith, said that while team members normally use their training and equipment for people that get hurt or lost, they are willing to help rescue animals.

"Many of us have dogs as part of our family, so to see another dog injured is something we take very personally and therefore are happy to help where we can," said Smith.

Authorities remind those taking dogs with them on hikes to make sure their dog is in good condition and to bring along plenty of additional water. Also, plan your hike to match the capabilities of your dog.

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue is an all volunteer public service rescue team under the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department. For further information about the team go to www.sbcsar.org or contact the team's PIO, Nelson Trichler at 805-698-0752.

Source: http://www.keyt.com/news/local/97773879.html

Sacramento: 4 Firefighters injured in house explosion

GAS EXPLOSION INJURES 4 FIREFIGHTERS IN SACRAMENTOCALIFORNIA

0947 hours SCFD received a call from a neighbor about a possible gas leak at a vacant dwelling.

0951 hours a chief officer and a engine company arrive.

0954 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. was called to investigate.

0956 House exploded into a ball of fire splintering the roof upward beyond the trees.

From The Sacramento Bee'

Explosion rocks Oak Park neighborhood this morning, four firefighters injured

By Bobby Caina Calvan and Ryan Lillis
bcalvan@sacbee.com

A fiery explosion rocked Oak Park this morning, sending four firefighters to the hospital and jolting nerves and houses throughout the neighborhood.
The four firefighters were in fair condition at UC Davis Medical Center with burns to their faces and extremities, said acting Sacramento fire chief Lloyd Ogan. One was released from the hospital today.
Rescue workers do not think anyone else was in the house when it exploded, but a search dog was on scene to double check, Ogan said.
The explosion occurred in a vacant home on the 3800 block of 25th Avenue near Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Fire officials were called to the neighborhood at 9:47 a.m. when dispatch received a call from a neighbor about a possible gas leak. Officials also received reports of someone possibly inside the home.
Firefighters turned off the gas and electricity to the house. When they forced their way through the home's front door at 9:56 a.m., it exploded, Ogan said.
What caused the blast isn't yet clear. Fire investigators and a crew from Pacific Gas & Electric this afternoon picked at the debris to determine the cause of the explosion.
A PG&E spokesman said he knew of no prior reports of trouble at the Oak Park house, which has been vacant for months and was up for rent. Neighbors reported smelling fumes emanating from the property on the Fourth of July, but some dismissed the odors as the lingering whiff from holiday fireworks. The company's first word of a possible gas leak was a call from the fire department Monday morning, just minutes before the explosion, said PG&E spokesman J.D. Guidi.
Ogan said the fireball's "ignition source should have been eliminated" when the gas and electric were shut off. "Who knows what sparked it?" he said, adding it was unlikely the firefighters forcing their way through the front door would be the sole source of the blaze.
The explosion buckled the house's roof and blew out a side wall.
John Jelks, a neighbor, was standing at his mailbox when the fire crews arrived. "I saw pieces of wood fly as high up as the trees," he said.
That's when he bolted away from the explosion.
Some neighbors reported the smell of natural gas overnight.
Many dismissed it as fumes from holiday fireworks, neighbors said.
Dave Peterson, another neighbor, said "It was a big old gas ball coming out of the window."
When the house exploded, Brittany Acosta, who lives down the street, said she thought it was fireworks, but that it was too loud.
Aurora Alvarado, who lives in the 5100 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard, said she didn't know what hit her neighborhood. "Even the house shook," she said.

Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2010/07/explosion-rocks.html#ixzz0ssjfXXcH

CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Map Public Hearing on 7/24/07

Notice of Public Hearing CAL FIRE hosts public hearing on proposed
Orange County (Unincorporated) fire hazard map
July 24, 2007
5:00 p.m.
1 Fire Authority Road
Irvine, CA

(IRVINE)—CAL FIRE (formerly known as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) will introduce a proposed update to the fire hazard severity zone map for state responsibility area lands in Orange County at a public hearing on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 5 p.m. The hearing will be held at Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) headquarters, 1 Fire Authority Road (Jamboree and Tustin Ranch Road), in Irvine, CA.
“Record low rainfall, along with various other weather related factors, have created tinder dry brush throughout Southern California, including Orange County, and has set the stage for a very bad brush fire season,” said OCFA Fire Chief Chip Prather. “One important way to keep homes safe is through flame and ember-resistant construction materials.”
California law requires CAL FIRE to produce maps identifying areas with moderate, high or very high fire hazard severity. The maps are used to determine legal requirements such as building construction standards. The maps were last updated in the late 1980s. It is necessary to update these maps to ensure accuracy and to incorporate improved fire science and mapping techniques.
The July 24 hearing will include an overview of the process used to develop the map. A large format version of the map will be on display at the hearing and on the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov. The public will have the opportunity to submit a public comment on the map at the hearing and by mail or e-mail following the hearing. CAL FIRE will review and respond to all public comments before the maps are adopted or revised by the CAL FIRE Director.
Comprehensive information on the map update process is available at www.fire.ca.gov/fireprone. The website includes an interactive map that allows users to find the proposed hazard rating for a specific address.
For more information: contact OCFA Public Information Officer Captain Stephen J. Miller at (714) 573-6201 or via e-mail at stephenjmiller@ocfa.org.
pdf version: Link

Wildland Firefighter Foundation fund raiser & golf tournament

Tommy Lane Benefit Golf Tournament

A fundraising golf tournament is being held on July 24th to raise funds to help Tommy Lane, a Fire Dozer Operator on the Stanislaus National Forest, who has been diagnosed with cancer. Tommy has accumulated many co-payments and insurance deductibles and keeping up with his medical bills has been a real challenge. Friends of Tommy have started an account at Wells Fargo Bank to help with medical bills. Please consider attending the golf tournament, or donate to help support Tommy by going into any Wells Fargo Bank and donating directly to Account #995-734-0244.

For more information about the golf tournament: download the PDF or visit this link

More Info:  WFF- Wildland Firefighter Foundation

Orange County Fire Authority to put Wildland Handcrew into service

Irvine, CA – The Orange County Fire Authority’s (OCFA) Wildland Handcrew to started it’s fire academy
today, July 2nd. OCFA Crew 1 will be operationally ready to respond starting Friday, July 16th.

“Having a Wildland Firefighting Crew here in Orange County enhances the OCFA’s wildland firefighting capabilities”, “OCFA Crew 1 will increase our ability to keep
wildfires small.” says Fire Captain/Superintendant John Lamb.

OCFA Crew 1 will provide firefighting resources seven days a week and Crew 1 will consist of 22 OCFA firefighters dedicated to preventing and battling wildfires.

Crew 1 will be housed at OCFA Camp 18, located in Trabuco Canyon. Many firefighters come to the crew with wildland experience. Some of the members consist of the previous OCFA handcrew and some other have US Forest Service and CALFIRE experience. OCFA Crew 1 will not only be used to fight wildfires, but also to improve fire breaks in Orange County wildland areas and for fuels mitigation. OCFA Crew 1 is scheduled to be in service from July 16th to December 2nd.
Contact: Captain Greg McKeown, PIO (714) 573-6201 or gregmckeown@ocfa.org
.pdf version:  http://www.ocfa.org/_uploads/pdf/pr_handcrew.pdf
-------------------------------------------
Note: OCFA has been without a part-time hand crew since the end of the 2008 fire season. The part-time hand crew credited with keeping the 2008 Freeway Complex fire from racing through Anaheim Hills and Orange Park Acres was disbanded shortly after that blaze, and a plan to upgrade it with a round-the-clock crew was temporarily shelved for more than a year because of hard economic times.