Coroner: Body Found on Farm Is Missing Skydiver
Remains of Russian Tourist Who Took Solo Parachute Jump in September Were Found by So. Calif. Farmer
(AP) Investigators have confirmed that a body found by a Southern California farmer is a Russian skydiver who was last seen jumping from a plane more than two months ago.
Riverside County coroner's officials, in a Saturday news release, identified the man is 50-year-old Vladimir Frolov, a tourist who took a solo jump from a plane on Sept. 25 in Perris.
A farmer plowing his field found the body Tuesday, along with parachutes that had not deployed.
Because Frolov was traveling alone, no one immediately reported him missing.
Authorities found his rental car and passport in the airport parking lot five days later, after a friend in St. Petersburg called the skydiving company.
The coroner didn't give a hometown for Frolov.
Searchers using ATVs, a helicopter, horses and dogs looked for Frolov for several days with no luck.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
USCG: Photo Press Release Regarding Bethel Island Houseboat Fire
Coast Guard responds to houseboat fire
| SAN FRANCISCO – The Coast Guard responded to a pier-side houseboat fire on Bethel Island this morning. At 2:13 a.m., Coast Guard Station Rio Vista responded to the report of a houseboat fire at a pier in Dutch Slough. The Contra Costa County Fire and Sheriff’s Department also responded. Six vessels were involved in the fire, three of which burned to the waterline and two sunk. Contra Costa County Fire Department has extinguished the fires. Coast Guard pollution investigators were dispatched to the scene and discovered a sheen in the water. The Coast Guard is working with the marina owner to contain the pollution. Boom is being deployed to contain any pollution and the marina owner is working to salvage the vessels. |
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| OAKLEY, Calif. – A sheen remains from two sunken houseboats after an early morning fire involving six houseboats at a pier in Oakley, Calif., Friday, Dec. 3, 2010. The Coast Guard Incident Management Division from Sector San Francisco and Station Rio Vista responded to the scene to determine pollution impacts from the sunken vessels. U.S. Coast Guard photo. |
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| OAKLEY, Calif. – Three houseboats lay in wreckage and two sank at the pier after an early morning fire involving six houseboats at a pier in Oakley, Calif., Friday, Dec. 3, 2010. The Coast Guard Incident Management Division from Sector San Francisco and Station Rio Vista responded to the scene to determine pollution impacts from the sunken vessels. U.S. Coast Guard photo. |
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| OAKLEY, Calif. – Three houseboats lay in wreckage and two sank at the pier after an early morning fire involving six houseboats at a pier in Oakley, Calif., Friday, Dec. 3, 2010. The Coast Guard Incident Management Division from Sector San Francisco and Station Rio Vista responded to the scene to determine pollution impacts from the sunken vessels. U.S. Coast Guard photo. |
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Original USCG Source file: Link
LODD's: 16 year-old volunteer Firefighter, Police Commander killed in the Israel Carmel Fire
TEEN VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER
The remains of a 16 year-old teenage volunteer Firefighter who was killed in the Carmel forest fire in Israel were identified this morning (Saturday). Elad Riven, from Haifa, killed on Thursday, was a volunteer with a scout group made of students who work with the regions firefighting service. Riven was in the northern city of Afula when his mother received a phone call to alert Riven to respond to the wildfire. He left and arrived on the scene to assist the Firefighters who were working to evacuate residents of the area.
POLICE COMMANDER
On Friday, the remains of a Police Commander who was killed while on his way to rescue residents were identified. Lior Boker, age 57, was head of police operations for Israel's northern region. Police had gathered a search party for Boker, who was thought to be missing, on Thursday. He apparently was caught in the fire while trying to identify the location of the bus of prison service guard students. As always, our condolences to all affected.
Most of the 42 victims whose lives have been claimed in the devastating wildfire perished on Thursday when a bus brought in to evacuate people got caught in the fire. The bus was carrying members of a Prison Service guards' course who were heading to the Damon jail in order to help evacuate inmates.
WILDFIRE CAUSE: UNATTENDED CAMPFIRE
Negligence, not arson, appears to have caused the worst forest fire in Israel's history, police said Saturday as firefighters from around the world worked to quell the deadly blaze for a third consecutive day.
Two people were arrested in connection with the fire, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said without providing further details about the suspects. "We're talking negligence at the moment," Rosenfeld said.
Israel Radio, citing unidentified police officials, said the blaze likely was started by a family that failed to extinguish a picnic fire.
The blaze, which broke out Thursday, tore through the hilly pine Carmel Forest that clings to the mountain ridge above the northern city of Haifa, Israel's third-largest city. It also lapped at the edges of small outlying communities.
The remains of a 16 year-old teenage volunteer Firefighter who was killed in the Carmel forest fire in Israel were identified this morning (Saturday). Elad Riven, from Haifa, killed on Thursday, was a volunteer with a scout group made of students who work with the regions firefighting service. Riven was in the northern city of Afula when his mother received a phone call to alert Riven to respond to the wildfire. He left and arrived on the scene to assist the Firefighters who were working to evacuate residents of the area.
POLICE COMMANDER
On Friday, the remains of a Police Commander who was killed while on his way to rescue residents were identified. Lior Boker, age 57, was head of police operations for Israel's northern region. Police had gathered a search party for Boker, who was thought to be missing, on Thursday. He apparently was caught in the fire while trying to identify the location of the bus of prison service guard students. As always, our condolences to all affected.
Most of the 42 victims whose lives have been claimed in the devastating wildfire perished on Thursday when a bus brought in to evacuate people got caught in the fire. The bus was carrying members of a Prison Service guards' course who were heading to the Damon jail in order to help evacuate inmates.
WILDFIRE CAUSE: UNATTENDED CAMPFIRE
Negligence, not arson, appears to have caused the worst forest fire in Israel's history, police said Saturday as firefighters from around the world worked to quell the deadly blaze for a third consecutive day.
Two people were arrested in connection with the fire, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said without providing further details about the suspects. "We're talking negligence at the moment," Rosenfeld said.
Israel Radio, citing unidentified police officials, said the blaze likely was started by a family that failed to extinguish a picnic fire.
The blaze, which broke out Thursday, tore through the hilly pine Carmel Forest that clings to the mountain ridge above the northern city of Haifa, Israel's third-largest city. It also lapped at the edges of small outlying communities.
Israel Wildfires: 5 U.S. MAFF Aircraft departing this week-end
U.S. aircraft to join international effort to fight Israeli fire
Five U.S. Defense Department aircraft will leave for Israel this weekend to help fight a wildfire that has killed at least 41 people and injured 17 others.
They include three C-130 fire-fighting aircraft from the U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard and two C-130s from the U.S. European Command, which will depart Ramstein Air Base in Germany carrying 20 tons of fire retardant, the U.S. Agency for International Development said.
The agency said it has already chartered commercial aircraft to deliver 45 tons of fire retardant and 12,000 liters of foam to suppress the flames.
A team of experts from the U.S. Forest Service's Disaster Assistance Support Program is also heading to Israel, the agency said.
In addition to the United States and Britain, Russia, Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey have also sent aid.
Israeli police said Friday they suspect arson in the wildfire, which has burned more than 7,400 acres in the past three days and is the worst in the nation's history.
View Massive wildfire ravages northern Israel in a larger map
View Northern Israel Fire in a larger map
"We lost all control of the fire," said the Haifa firefighting services spokesman on Thursday. "There aren't enough firefighting resources in Israel in order to put out the fire," he said.
Map: Fires threaten forested area
British Prime Minister David Cameron instructed the Royal Air Force to deploy two helicopters from Cyprus to help put out the fire, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Friday.
Hague expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the thousands who have had to be evacuated because of the blaze.
"This tragedy is all the more sad as it comes as the Jewish community around the world celebrates Hanukkah, a time of hope and joy," Hague said. "The UK will continue to do whatever it can to help."
A police investigative team and a fire expert team have been working to determine the cause of the fire, which started from a single location, said Dudi Cohen, Israeli police commissioner.
Forty of the fatalities were cadets in Israel's prison service who were en route Thursday to help evacuate 500 inmates from Damon prison near Haifa when their bus became engulfed in the fast-moving blaze, the Jerusalem Post reported. Israeli firefighter spokesman Yoram Levy said shifting 29 kph (18 mph) winds made the inferno harder to control as flames neared a neighborhood in Haifa, a major tourist destination on the northern coast.
Built on the slopes of Mount Carmel about 50 miles north of Tel Aviv, Haifa's metropolitan area is also host to historical sites that date to Biblical times.
More than 15,000 people have been evacuated from villages and towns in the area, emergency officials said.
The fire has also threatened a sensitive ecological area near the Hai Bar nature reserve. Known as Mount Carmel's "Little Switzerland," the reserve is home to a wildlife preservation project that seeks to bring back native species mentioned in the Old Testament.
The fire has triggered an outcry in Israel. Though the nation is known for its military might, it has failed to handle the calamity, according to critics.
Relations between Turkey and Israel have been tense since last spring, when Israeli commandos boarded a Turkish ship carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, killing nine people. Netanyahu called Turkey's help a "very blessed step" and promised to show Israel's appreciation.
Five U.S. Defense Department aircraft will leave for Israel this weekend to help fight a wildfire that has killed at least 41 people and injured 17 others.
They include three C-130 fire-fighting aircraft from the U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard and two C-130s from the U.S. European Command, which will depart Ramstein Air Base in Germany carrying 20 tons of fire retardant, the U.S. Agency for International Development said.
The agency said it has already chartered commercial aircraft to deliver 45 tons of fire retardant and 12,000 liters of foam to suppress the flames.
A team of experts from the U.S. Forest Service's Disaster Assistance Support Program is also heading to Israel, the agency said.
In addition to the United States and Britain, Russia, Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey have also sent aid.
Israeli police said Friday they suspect arson in the wildfire, which has burned more than 7,400 acres in the past three days and is the worst in the nation's history.
View Massive wildfire ravages northern Israel in a larger map
View Northern Israel Fire in a larger map
"We lost all control of the fire," said the Haifa firefighting services spokesman on Thursday. "There aren't enough firefighting resources in Israel in order to put out the fire," he said.
Map: Fires threaten forested area
British Prime Minister David Cameron instructed the Royal Air Force to deploy two helicopters from Cyprus to help put out the fire, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Friday.
Hague expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the thousands who have had to be evacuated because of the blaze.
"This tragedy is all the more sad as it comes as the Jewish community around the world celebrates Hanukkah, a time of hope and joy," Hague said. "The UK will continue to do whatever it can to help."
A police investigative team and a fire expert team have been working to determine the cause of the fire, which started from a single location, said Dudi Cohen, Israeli police commissioner.
Forty of the fatalities were cadets in Israel's prison service who were en route Thursday to help evacuate 500 inmates from Damon prison near Haifa when their bus became engulfed in the fast-moving blaze, the Jerusalem Post reported. Israeli firefighter spokesman Yoram Levy said shifting 29 kph (18 mph) winds made the inferno harder to control as flames neared a neighborhood in Haifa, a major tourist destination on the northern coast.
Built on the slopes of Mount Carmel about 50 miles north of Tel Aviv, Haifa's metropolitan area is also host to historical sites that date to Biblical times.
More than 15,000 people have been evacuated from villages and towns in the area, emergency officials said.
The fire has also threatened a sensitive ecological area near the Hai Bar nature reserve. Known as Mount Carmel's "Little Switzerland," the reserve is home to a wildlife preservation project that seeks to bring back native species mentioned in the Old Testament.
The fire has triggered an outcry in Israel. Though the nation is known for its military might, it has failed to handle the calamity, according to critics.
Relations between Turkey and Israel have been tense since last spring, when Israeli commandos boarded a Turkish ship carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, killing nine people. Netanyahu called Turkey's help a "very blessed step" and promised to show Israel's appreciation.
Previous posting: http://calfire.blogspot.com/2010/12/israel-40-students-dead-as-huge.html
Source article: Link
Friday, December 3, 2010
#RRU: More Volunteers Staffing Stations and Station closures #CaFire
CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins is proposing closing stations in El Cerrito, Blythe and Oasis and converting three more to volunteer staffing only.
Chief John Hawkins said "We must make the best choice of bad alternatives," Chief John Hawkins said by telephone Thursday. "We are at that point now."
To help save more than $4.3 million a year, Riverside County's fire chief is proposing closing stations in El Cerrito, Blythe and Oasis and converting three more to volunteer staffing only.
Cal Fire management in Sacramento has agreed to provide the county about $2.2 million in administrative savings this year. Half of that will be passed on to contract cities, leaving the county department with a $4.9 million budget gap to fill.
Last month, supervisors approved the criteria, such as proximity to other stations, which Hawkins and his staff used to make the current closure recommendations.
"The goal is not to short any community but to try to close the budget gap," Hawkins said.
But he said developing the recommendations wasn't easy and acknowledged sleepless nights over the issue. "This is very difficult," he said.
Chief John Hawkins proposal to the board totals $4.38 million in savings for fiscal 2010-11 and would affect more than 65 employees - from rank-and-file firefighters to captains.
The recommendations - including reducing staff at six other stations - go before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday and are aimed at helping overcome a $6 million shortfall in the department's budget.
Some of the recommendations:
- Close station 15 at 20320 Temescal Canyon Road in the unincorporated community of El Cerrito. Instead, the county would contract with the Corona Fire Department for service to the community.
- Shutter station 43 in downtown Blythe and upgrade stations in nearby Ripley and Blythe Airport to serve the area. The change would leave eight firefighters on duty each day instead of nine.
- Close station 42 in rural Oasis and shift staff to station 40 in Mecca.
- Cal Fire management in Sacramento has agreed to help the county by shifting state-funded engines to county stations, allowing reductions in county-paid staff. The moves would take place in the communities of Goodmeadow, Glenoaks, Cherry Valley and Sage.
- Convert station 51 in El Cariso off the Ortega Highway near Lake Elsinore from career staff to the county's new reserve volunteer program.
- The county would do the same for station 63 in Poppet Flats near Banning and station 77 at Lake Riverside near rural Aguanga in southwest Riverside County.
Reserve Program
Supervisors on Tuesday will take up the final adoption of two ordinances creating the new reserve program, something that remains controversial among many of the county's 500 volunteer firefighters.
Under the program, the Fire Department will absorb the county's volunteers into a reserve force similar to Sheriff's Department reserve deputies.
RRU - CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire engines are state assets that could be called away to battle a wildfire in another part of the state.
In a letter to County Executive Officer Bill Luna, Hawkins said there is "no simple answer to the gap between public safety expectations and funds available to deliver those services."
"Of course, if times were not as dire as they are and if revenues were matching cost expenditures, we would never bring forward these suggested reductions," Hawkins added in his letter.
He said he hopes that when the economy recovers, the department can restore any cut services.
"Our entire plan is based on continuing to deliver service to the public without complaining about required budget reductions," Hawkins wrote.
Story derived from article at pe.com Link
OCFA: Firefighters and Management Agree to Contract Concessions
FIREFIGHTER AND FIRE MANAGEMENT LABOR CONTRACT AMENDMENTS
Irvine, CA – At a special meeting last night, the Orange County Fire Authority Board of Directors voted to approve amendments to the labor contracts of the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association (Local 3631) and the Chief Officers Association. The two labor groups opened their existing contracts and agreed to several concessions.
Firefighters and fire management will begin sharing the cost of their retirements by,ultimately, contributing nine percent of their pay for the benefit. The two labor groups also agreed to a new tier of lower retirement benefits for new employees.
“I am very proud of the Chief and his team, our firefighters, and my colleagues for coming together to resolve the long-term budget deficits facing our agency,” said Neil Blais, OCFA Board Chair. “Balancing operational cuts, reserves and these concessions restores the OCFA’s financial health without reducing emergency services to our residents.” The amendments are projected to reduce OCFA expenses by $27 million over the next four years and eliminates the projected $14 million operating deficit for FY 2011/12 had the concessions not been given by the two labor groups.
“This is another in a long series of give-backs in recent years from OC Firefighters that maintains Orange County emergency services with no new taxes,” said Joe Kerr, President of Orange County Professional Firefighters Association. “It exemplifies our ongoing commitment to fiscal prudence and the financial well-being of the Orange County Fire Authority.”
In addition to the concessions, Local 3631 and the Chief Officers Association are sharing risks with the OCFA by agreeing to an affordability formula where possible future cost-of-living adjustments are only triggered by OCFA’s financial stability. These contract amendments, along with previous salary concessions by unrepresented management, and other prudent cost cutting measures drastically reduces the projected amount of reserves that will be needed to balance the budget in upcoming years.
For more information, call (714) 573-6200 or go to www.ocfa.org
Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion at (714) 315-8814 krisconcepcion@ocfa.org
Irvine, CA – At a special meeting last night, the Orange County Fire Authority Board of Directors voted to approve amendments to the labor contracts of the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association (Local 3631) and the Chief Officers Association. The two labor groups opened their existing contracts and agreed to several concessions.
Firefighters and fire management will begin sharing the cost of their retirements by,ultimately, contributing nine percent of their pay for the benefit. The two labor groups also agreed to a new tier of lower retirement benefits for new employees.
“I am very proud of the Chief and his team, our firefighters, and my colleagues for coming together to resolve the long-term budget deficits facing our agency,” said Neil Blais, OCFA Board Chair. “Balancing operational cuts, reserves and these concessions restores the OCFA’s financial health without reducing emergency services to our residents.” The amendments are projected to reduce OCFA expenses by $27 million over the next four years and eliminates the projected $14 million operating deficit for FY 2011/12 had the concessions not been given by the two labor groups.
“This is another in a long series of give-backs in recent years from OC Firefighters that maintains Orange County emergency services with no new taxes,” said Joe Kerr, President of Orange County Professional Firefighters Association. “It exemplifies our ongoing commitment to fiscal prudence and the financial well-being of the Orange County Fire Authority.”
In addition to the concessions, Local 3631 and the Chief Officers Association are sharing risks with the OCFA by agreeing to an affordability formula where possible future cost-of-living adjustments are only triggered by OCFA’s financial stability. These contract amendments, along with previous salary concessions by unrepresented management, and other prudent cost cutting measures drastically reduces the projected amount of reserves that will be needed to balance the budget in upcoming years.
For more information, call (714) 573-6200 or go to www.ocfa.org
Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion at (714) 315-8814 krisconcepcion@ocfa.org
Bethel Island: Five Boats destroyed by Fire, Two rescued from water
Two people pulled from water as five boats catch fire near Bethel Island.
OAKLEY -- An early morning fire on a boat moored near Bethel Island destroyed five boats and required the rescue of two people from the water.
Firefighters responded around 2 a.m. to the fire call in the water near Dutch Slough Road, East Contra Costa Fire Chief Hugh Henderson said. Those first on the scene found three boats engulfed in flames and two others starting to smolder.
The fire was controlled in about two hours, Henderson said. The fire department used four engines, a water tanker and a fire boat to put out the blaze.
About 30 minutes after the call, the haze and smoke going downwind prompted some boaters on other vessels to jump into the water, Henderson said. Two people were rescued from the water by the Coast Guard and the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.
No one was seriously injured by the fire.
The cause of the fire and the estimated value of the damage are under investigation, Henderson said.
Source article: Link
OAKLEY -- An early morning fire on a boat moored near Bethel Island destroyed five boats and required the rescue of two people from the water.
The fire was controlled in about two hours, Henderson said. The fire department used four engines, a water tanker and a fire boat to put out the blaze.
About 30 minutes after the call, the haze and smoke going downwind prompted some boaters on other vessels to jump into the water, Henderson said. Two people were rescued from the water by the Coast Guard and the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.
No one was seriously injured by the fire.
The cause of the fire and the estimated value of the damage are under investigation, Henderson said.
Source article: Link
Cal Fire phasing out Volunteer Firefighters/ Is CALFIRE too big for britches?
Some Area Volunteer Firefighters Face Phase Out
Board Of Supervisors Approves Plans Which Give It More Oversight
RIVERSIDE -- The Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday tentatively approved two ordinances that will phase out the county's volunteer firefighting brigade and fold it into a reserve force with stricter standards.
The California Department of Forestry -- Cal Fire -- sought the ordinances out of concern that volunteer units were too often operating independently of full-time crews, creating confusion and potentially exposing the county to liability.
The county has contracted with Cal Fire for public safety services since 1946. More than 350 volunteer firefighters work in unincorporated communities and cities throughout the county, donating their time to battle wildfires and respond to other emergencies, according to the Riverside County Volunteer Firefighters' Association.
Cal Fire proposed a ``Reserve Volunteer Firefighter Program'' over the summer and drafted two ordinances -- 903 and 904 -- that immediately drew criticism from the volunteer association.
The first ordinance empowers the board to decide whether volunteer fire companies are needed and, if so, which ones. If an existing unit is found to be unnecessary, it would be phased out in six months.
No new volunteer units would be formed without the board's express consent. The second measure formally establishes a reserve firefighter program, similar to Orange County's.
Under the new framework, volunteers will be required to undergo background checks, routine medical exams and standardized training. ``Given the increased level of service provided by the fire department, the need for volunteer fire companies has been substantially diminished,'' Cal Fire stated in an introduction to the ordinances.
``In addition, it has become highly problematic that over 60 volunteer fire companies are operating outside the organizational structure of the fire department.''
In September, Tim Young, vice chairman of the volunteer association, called the dissolution plan ``fiscally irresponsible,'' arguing that volunteers supplemented active-duty personnel, received similar training, bought and maintained most of their own equipment and deferred to Cal Fire at emergencies.
The volunteer firefighting cadre has been in existence since before the county's formation in 1893. At a Nov. 9 hearing, the supervisors all expressed appreciation for the volunteers but agreed with Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins that to ensure uniformity, a reserve program was necessary.
``The end product before us ... is a good compromise to make sure we have well-trained, certified folks who we can take comfort will not be hurt performing critical needs for all of us,'' said Supervisor John Benoit, a former volunteer fireman. Supervisor Jeff Stone called the change ``a contentious but necessary transition.'' ``I want to see the volunteer service grow, not diminish,'' Stone said.
Hawkins said many of the volunteer units would be absorbed into the reserve program.
The board is expected to formally approve each ordinance over the next month.
Board Of Supervisors Approves Plans Which Give It More Oversight
RIVERSIDE -- The Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday tentatively approved two ordinances that will phase out the county's volunteer firefighting brigade and fold it into a reserve force with stricter standards.
The California Department of Forestry -- Cal Fire -- sought the ordinances out of concern that volunteer units were too often operating independently of full-time crews, creating confusion and potentially exposing the county to liability.
The county has contracted with Cal Fire for public safety services since 1946. More than 350 volunteer firefighters work in unincorporated communities and cities throughout the county, donating their time to battle wildfires and respond to other emergencies, according to the Riverside County Volunteer Firefighters' Association.
Cal Fire proposed a ``Reserve Volunteer Firefighter Program'' over the summer and drafted two ordinances -- 903 and 904 -- that immediately drew criticism from the volunteer association.
The first ordinance empowers the board to decide whether volunteer fire companies are needed and, if so, which ones. If an existing unit is found to be unnecessary, it would be phased out in six months.
No new volunteer units would be formed without the board's express consent. The second measure formally establishes a reserve firefighter program, similar to Orange County's.
Under the new framework, volunteers will be required to undergo background checks, routine medical exams and standardized training. ``Given the increased level of service provided by the fire department, the need for volunteer fire companies has been substantially diminished,'' Cal Fire stated in an introduction to the ordinances.
``In addition, it has become highly problematic that over 60 volunteer fire companies are operating outside the organizational structure of the fire department.''
In September, Tim Young, vice chairman of the volunteer association, called the dissolution plan ``fiscally irresponsible,'' arguing that volunteers supplemented active-duty personnel, received similar training, bought and maintained most of their own equipment and deferred to Cal Fire at emergencies.
The volunteer firefighting cadre has been in existence since before the county's formation in 1893. At a Nov. 9 hearing, the supervisors all expressed appreciation for the volunteers but agreed with Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins that to ensure uniformity, a reserve program was necessary.
``The end product before us ... is a good compromise to make sure we have well-trained, certified folks who we can take comfort will not be hurt performing critical needs for all of us,'' said Supervisor John Benoit, a former volunteer fireman. Supervisor Jeff Stone called the change ``a contentious but necessary transition.'' ``I want to see the volunteer service grow, not diminish,'' Stone said.
Hawkins said many of the volunteer units would be absorbed into the reserve program.
The board is expected to formally approve each ordinance over the next month.
The fight is still on to save some of the forces. One firefighter set up a website. Click here to see it.
Source article: KESQ link
Christmas Light safety tips
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| Looks like a Home fire waiting to happen Photo Credit: http://sweetchicken.stlouisblogs.org/ugly-christmas-lights.jpg |
Christmas lights are beautiful and much safer than candles, but all that electricity can cause problems if not used properly. Christmas lights can get hot enough to burn or ignite other decorations. The cords can fray, leading to a short. Decorating with lights often requires the use of a ladder, and improper use could lead to an injury. Practice ladder safety when you are putting up Christmas lights.
When you put up Christmas lights this season - or holiday lights during any season - be sure to follow these Christmas light safety tips.
- Choose Christmas lights that have been tested and deemed safe by a reputable testing laboratory, the best are UL or ETL. Christmas lights listed as safe by these laboratories will note that on the packaging.
- Try to use the cooler-burning "mini" Christmas lights as opposed to the traditional larger bulbs. The older style burns much hotter.
- Only use Christmas lights that have fuses in the plugs.
- Inspect each set of Christmas lights - old or new - for damage. Return or throw out any set with cracked or broken sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
- Replace burned out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same wattage.
- Never hang Christmas lights on a metal tree. The tree can become charged with electricity and shock someone. The tree can also short out the Christmas lights and cause a fire.
- Want Christmas lights outdoors? Use outdoor Christmas lights. The packaging will note whether the lights can be used indoors, outdoors, or both.
- All outdoor electrical decorations should be plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). You can buy portable units for outdoor use, or you can have them permanently installed by an electrician.
- Use extension cords properly. Outdoor cords can be used inside or outside. Do not overload extension cords - they can get hot enough to burn.
- Stay away from powerlines or feeder lines (these go from the pole to the house).
- Secure outside Christmas lights with insulated holders (never use tacks or nails) or run strings of lights through hooks.
- When you leave or go to bed at night, turn off your Christmas lights.
- Never pull on a string of Christmas lights, it stresses the cords and can lead to fraying. Store Christmas lights loosely wrapped for the same reason.
Cal Fire CZU: Open Burn season begins
Cal Fire officials have announced that open burn season began Wednesday and will continue through April 30.
However, open burning is allowed only on "burn days" designated by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. Call 800-225-2876 to verify burn days. Cal Fire officials also recommend checking with the local fire department to see if a permit is required in a particular area.
Burn regulations are as follows:
Yard trimmings and brush from one or two homes may be burned; Burning of garbage, tires, construction material, plastic, tar paper or poison oak is prohibited, as is burning in an incinerator; Burn piles must be no larger than 4 feet in diameter; areas within 10 feet must be free of all flammable material and vegetation; A competent adult with a garden hose and shovel must supervise the fire until it is extinguished.Those who fail to follow the rules could be cited and could be responsible for all fire suppression costs, Cal Fire said.
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