VacavilleFire: Drew Kostal, Vacaville Firefighter of the Year

Passion for job still burns for Vacaville Firefighter of the Year

Drew Kostal has been honored as the Vacaville Firefighter of the year.
Photo Credit:  (Rick Roach / The Reporter)

It may not have been love at first ride-along but for Vacaville Firefighter Drew Kostal, once his passion for firefighting was lit, nothing could quench the flame.

Kostal, who has spent the last 11 years with the Vacaville Fire Department, went on a ride-along with a Bay Area fire department as a freshman in high school, but at the time said it didn't stick.

"It was interesting but I wasn't totally engaged in it," he said. "I wasn't really sure that that's what I wanted to do then, I was enjoying high school and having fun."

He was still unsure about what the future held in store for him until after graduation. However, several years later, while taking an introductory firefighting class in college, he knew he had found his calling.

"I had a good instructor and learned a lot about what was expected and everything the job entailed and went after it," he said.

Kostal said he was drawn to the promise of brotherhood and the satisfaction of giving back to and helping the community and those in need of what the fire service affords.

The first in his family to pursue a firefighting career, Kostal received his associates degree in fire science from Chabot College in Hayward and worked as a volunteered with the Alameda County Fire Department and was later hired as a courier and a hydrant inspector.

Now, five months into his reign as the Vacaville Fire Department's Firefighter of the Year, it appears that his calling has paid off.

Kostal was awarded the honor by a jury of his peers at the department's annual awards ceremony in January -- something he said came as a complete surprise.

"It's an honor and, you know, all the members work as hard or harder than I do so I was very surprised that I was selected to get it," he said. "Everybody comes to work and does their job and does it to the best of their ability."

He joined the Vacaville Fire Department in March 2001 and hasn't looked back.

"The biggest thing," Kostal said, "is that you never know what's coming. ... You go to different scenes, you see different things, you get to talk to different people and there's a variety. I couldn't handle coming to work and sitting behind a desk and clicking a keyboard. It doesn't work for me or my personality, I want to be engaged and do things, I want to be active."

That mix, Kostal said, along with the people that he works with, is what makes his job rewarding.

"I have no desire to do anything else," he said. "I've got another 20 years to go and then I'll be done. But I think variety is the key."

In addition to his typical duties, Kostal is a swift water rescue technician on the swift water rescue team and a member of the department's honor/color guard, as well as serving as the union representative dealing with labor and personnel issues.

"The thing is, we have a good relationship with our chief and all of that, so we're able to work things out pretty easily," he said. "It's just basically to kind of combine our heads with the battalion chief or the division chief, whoever's making the rules to make sure that all of the policies are followed."

Kostal also developed an interest in Solano County's Hazmat Team. Six weeks and 240 training hours later, Kostal was certified as a hazmat specialist, and, along with other firefighters from across the county, assists in incidents involving the spill or release of hazardous materials.

Although Kostal said there isn't a high volume of hazmat-related calls, "the ones that we do have can be really significant, so the training is imperative and having a team together that knows what they're doing is very important."

The son of a construction worker and nurse, firefighting has taught Kostal that "any experience that you have in life can be applied to the job," whether you are building, serving in a restaurant or working as a courier.

In addition to work, Kostal has his hands full raising his two children, 6-year-old Taylor and 4-year-old Blake, along with his wife, Jennifer.

At the end of the day, it is the camaraderie with his fellow firefighters coupled with the ability to somehow help make someone's bad day a little easier that drive Kostal to succeed.

"You are helping people and it's cool, so we get that benefit and we get that joy out of knowing that we did our best to make someone's situation better," he said.

Source: The Reporter - Article Link

YNP SAR: Yosemite National Park - Search for missing Hawthorne man

George Penca Missing SAR Poster

 The Search: Rescuers resumed their search Monday for a Hawthorne man who failed to return from a day hike in Yosemite National Park, a YNP spokeswoman said. Resources: A dozen helicopters, 74 ground teams and six search dogs.
Victim: George Penca, 30, who was last seen Friday at the top of Yosemite Falls, where he was hiking with his church group.
The group of 20 hikers separated for the trip down the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail and assumed Penca had gone ahead, said park spokeswoman Kari Cobb.
Penca was reported lost about 9 p.m. Friday.
The hikers were part of a larger group of 50 to 80 park visitors from the church, some of whom have stayed behind awaiting Penca's return, she said. The name of the church and its location were not immediately available.
There is reason for optimism: The 3 1/2-mile trail with an elevation of 3,000 feet is visible from Yosemite Village and has water at the top. Weather conditions over the weekend, with overnight temperatures in the upper 40s, were fairly mild, Cobb added.
"All the conditions are favorable," she said.
Search-and-rescue teams from Mono, Mariposa, Fresno and Marin counties are helping with the search, she added.

CA-FKU-CANYON - Wildland Fire - 133 acres - 70% contained

Current Conditions: When firefighters arrived the fire was burning in densed annual grass at the end of Porter north of Hwy 180. The fire was burning in an area that was difficult to access by fire engines, however once an access point was made Bulldozers and hand crews assisted with battling the fire.

Firefighters will continue their mop up efforts today into tonight. They expect to have full control of the fire Tuesday morning. Porter North of Highway 180 will be closed for the reminder of today.
  Date/Time Started: June 19, 2011 8:15 pm

Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Fresno-Kings Unit

County: Fresno County

Location: Hwy 180 and Porter west of Squaw Valley, 8 miles east of Sangor
Threats: No structures are immediatley threatned. Two Southern California Edison 220 KV transmission lines were threatened early in the incident;
Injuries: 0
Cause: Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies: National Park Service, Fresno County Fire, US Forest Service, CDCR, CHP & Southern California Edison
Resources: 
Personnel: 224 (196 CAL FIRE)
Engines: 18 (15 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews: 9 (8 CAL FIRE)
Dozers: 1 CAL FIRE
Water tenders: 2

CA-KRN-Antelope - Wildland Fire - 5,196 acres - 20% contained

Antelope Fire Location and Perimeter Map

The fire is burning in the McDonald / Acticline Oil Field and is moving to the west and has now burned into San Luis Obispo County along the Temblor Range. Smoke may be visible along I-5. CAL FIRE Incident Command Team 10 is enroute.   

CA-KRN-Antelope Wildland Fire Perimeter Map

CA-KRN-Antelope - Wildland Fire Map - 5,196 acres - 20% contained

Update: 7-19 0630hrs- 5,196 acres - 20% contained
Update: 7-19 2030hrs- 4700 acres (Per Kern County F.D. Facebook page)
Update: 7-19 1630hrs- 3000 acres with 10% containment.
Update: 7-19 1430hrs- IC is now reporting 2000 acres
Update: 7-19 1400hrs- 1300 acres.
Update: 7-19 1300hrs- 800 and 1000 acres now
Update: 7-19 Noon- 600 acs; Per IC -Requesting 2 ST Crews, Add. Dozer, Immediate Need to the Fire. Fire is Spotting.
Update: 7-19 1100- AA-490 reports 350 acs, light fuels, Rapid ROS, IC Requesting a 2nd Alarm, ATs, Add. Helos. Theres been a wind shift and the fire is now making a run at some Structures there in the Area.
Name: Antelope Fire
County: Kern County / San Luis Obispo County Location: 12 miles south west of the community of Lost Hills (Kern County). Access is off of Highway 46 at Antelope road. Then 7 miles south.
Administrative Unit: Kern County Fire Department / CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo Unit
Date Started: June 19, 2011 10:15 am
Last update: June 20, 2011 9:20 am
Air Resources:
AA-490, AA-500
ATs - 74, 75, 76, 81
Helos - 408, 523, 527
Ground Resources:
Dozers - Kern Dozer 1, 5
Engines - 3 Kern Engines, 7 Kern Patrols, 2 BLM Engines, 1 BLM Patrol
Crews - 2 Kern Crews, BLM Crew 5
WTs - Kern WT 51, BLM WT 3191
Online Scanner: http://www.radioreference.com/apps/a...wp&feedId=6577
Communications: Local - 153,785
Command - Kern 3 - 155.625
Tac - VFire 23 - 154.295
Air - 151.310
A/G - 151.220
Command-
155.625 Kern 3 & 151.325 SLU Local
Tactical-
154.265 VFire 22 Branch 2
154.295 VFire 23 Branch 1 Division A
168.050 NIFC Tac 1 Branch 1 Division B
168.200 NIFC Tac 2 Branch 1 Division C
Air Tactics
151.310 air Tactical
151.220 Air to Ground
131.475 Victor Net- Helo Coordination

Young CAL FIRE Firefighter laid to rest after tragic accident

Friends and family remember Los Banos Firefighter

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A North Valley firefighter who died following a tragic crash was laid to rest Saturday. Andrew Maloney was riding his motorcycle in Los Banos when investigators say he was hit by a drunk driver. Nearly 500 people attended Saturday's morning's service, including many people who worked with Andrew during the eleven years he served as a firefighter.

The sound of bagpipes rang out as Andrew Maloney's fellow firefighters carried his casket into the O'banion Auditorium Saturday. Inside, pictures of the 29-year-old sat alongside a pair of badges, and his Cal Fire uniform.

Firefighting was just one of several passions Andrew had, something his only brother, Matthew spoke fondly of. "Andrew's path in life has led him to many places few of us will ever see, whether it was deep underwater high upon the water, or in the landscape of a burning fire."

Andrew started his firefighting career in Los Banos back in 2000. Most recently, he worked for Cal Fire in Hornitos. But, his promising life was cut short this past Sunday when he died from injuries he received in a crash days earlier.

The California Highway Patrol says Andrew was riding his motorcycle on Highway 165 near Pioneer Road in Los Banos when 24-year-old Amie Chick made a left turn right in front of him. She was arrested and booked for suspicion of driving under the influence.

"All these fatality accidents we go to are tragic, this one is just as tragic. it's just hit a little too close to home for us," Captain Mark Simmons said.

Andrew's death has been just as difficult for Ryan Payton. She and Andrew dated for three years during their time together at Los Banos High School. "Part of me has died. Part of my childhood is gone. I'll just never forget all of the beautiful things we shared."

And neither will so many others, who say the way Andrew lived his life will stay with them, even after his death. "It's a tremendous loss, not only to the public, but to the county and to the nation," Mark Perez said.

Following Saturday morning's service, family and friends attended a private burial at the Los Banos Cemetery.
Source article: ABC - Link

Fremont WRT deploy into SF Bay to rescue CAL TRANS employees

Fremont Fire Water Rescue Copyright 2011 from Tim Walton on Vimeo.

 June 15, 2011 at approx 3pm, Fremont Firefighters deployed their WRT (water rescue team ) into the rough waters of San Francisco Bay, south of the Dumbarton Bridge to rescue two Caltrans bridge workers adrift in their service boat.
Menlo Park Fire Dept and The U.S. Coast guard was also on scene with their water rescue resources. The workers lost engine power and were helplessly adrift near the abandoned Rail Road trestle south of the Dumbarton Bridge.
Fremont Fire launched their Boat 58 with 3 personnel on board and took the disabled craft in tow. Afternoon winds generated white caps and swamped the workers boat.
No one was injured or went into the water unintentionally.
Fremont Fire Department has a FULL TIME WRT and is available to all area agencies upon request.

California Budget May Sideline Inmate Wildland Firefighters.

Officials Try To Save California Inmate Firefighting Program From Budget Cuts

Inmates make up nearly half of California's wildland firefighters $31 million in budget cuts have eliminated 730 seasonal state firefighters, leaving 2,400.

DON THOMPSON, AP
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — State officials in California are concerned that a move to save money and reduce the state's prison population will have major consequences during firefighting season, jeopardizing a program that puts 4,300 state prison inmates on the front lines of wildland blazes each year.

The inmate crews provide a vital work force in a state where wildfires burn hundreds of homes and tens of thousands of acres in a typical year and have become even more important as budget cuts have reduced the number of seasonal firefighters employed by the state.

It's the largest such program in the nation, with inmates making up nearly half of California's wildland firefighters. But it's endangered by Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to shift responsibility for tens of thousands of lower-level offenders from state prisons to county jails to save the state money and to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld a lower court in ordering California to reduce overcrowding in its prison system.

Brown's plan targets lower-level offenders, the same inmates who generally qualify for the prisoner fire camps.

Officials say the program will not be affected this fire season because the inmate shift has not yet been funded. They are hoping county sheriffs will send inmates to the camps in future years, but say that's uncertain.

"It's a tough issue," said Oscar Hidalgo, a spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. "We're doing everything we can to maintain it, either through the counties or even looking very closely at eligibility for those inmates and if we can somehow retain those inmates in fighting fires."

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the program is even more important because $31 million in budget cuts have eliminated 730 seasonal state firefighters, leaving 2,400.

That means there will be three firefighters on each of the department's fire engines during the peak fire season, down from four, said spokesman Daniel Berlant. The department will keep its 3,300 full-time firefighters despite the budget cuts.

The department's full-time and seasonal firefighters operate fire engines, bulldozers, helicopters and airplanes. But it is the inmate crews that do the dirty, exhausting work of cutting and scraping fire lines with hand tools.

"They go on the front line on the fires. Their job is to go around the perimeter of a fire and clear brush, so we put a doughnut ring around the fire so there's nothing left to burn," Berlant said. "They really are the backbone of firefighting."

Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming are among states that use inmates to fight fires.

But California's inmate firefighter program is larger than many states' entire prison populations, said Alison Lawrence, a policy specialist with the National Conference of State Legislatures.

From the first permanent firefighting camp in 1946, California's program has expanded to 39 state-operated camps and another five run by Los Angeles County. Two of the state's camps are staffed by female inmates and two by juvenile offenders.

Most inmates earn $1.45 a day when they are in training or doing community work projects. They earn $1 an hour when they are called out to fight fires. Many also qualify for two days' credit toward earlier release for each day they spend in the camps.

There are no recidivism studies on fire camp graduates, but Correctional Capt. Rae Stewart, who coordinates the program, said most benefit from the self-discipline, teamwork and vocational training.

"I'm a little older, but you see a lot of kids come in here, they've never worked before," said 53-year-old David Leach, who has spent the last 2 1/2 years as an inmate firefighter based northeast of Redding in Shasta County. "They come in here and develop a good work ethic."

Leach is due to be paroled next month to Los Angeles County and already has a job waiting with a tree service company, building on skills he learned as a firefighter.

Chris Anderson, 38, earned an associate of arts degree and several water treatment licenses during his 4 1/2 years in a firefighting camp, licenses he expects will win him a job when he gets parole in 70 days.

"Behind the walls, it's a lot more stringent, there's a lot more politics," said Anderson, of Red Bluff. "These are guys who are just trying to go home and improve their lives."

The corrections department allowed the inmates to speak with The Associated Press on the condition that they not be asked about their crimes.

In an average year, the inmate firefighters perform three million hours of emergency work and five million hours of community service in total.

The camps cost the corrections department about $47 million annually, Stewart said, but save an estimated $80 million annually for the work they provide, compared to a non-inmate earning $10 an hour.

Berlant said the program costs his agency another $77 million annually, but saves millions of dollars compared to what it would cost to hire professional firefighters at $12 to $14.55 an hour.

Corrections Secretary Matthew Cate said this spring that he hopes county sheriffs continue to send inmates to the fire camps under the law Brown signed in April. Brown sought the realignment to help cut the state's budget deficit and remove up to 40,000 inmates over three years from the nation's largest state prison system, now 162,000 inmates.

The law would give counties responsibility for adult offenders convicted of non-serious, nonviolent and non-sexual offenses. It also is the administration's primary answer to the U.S. Supreme Court's order last month that California reduce its prison population by 33,000 inmates within two years to improve the medical treatment for prisoners.

County sheriffs will have to find places to put all those inmates, Cate said, and under Brown's proposal would have the money to continue sending them to fire camps.

Each of California's 58 sheriffs could respond differently to the influx of inmates, potentially leaving the fire camps short-handed, said Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin, president of the state sheriffs' association.

"It gets into those unintended consequences of realignment," Pazin said.

State Sen. Doug La Malfa, R-Willows, fears the state could lower its standards for inmate firefighters in an attempt to maintain the program if sheriffs decide not to send many of the lower-level offenders they will inherit back to the camps.

Corrections officials said nine inmates walked away from fire camps last year, which is typical for an unfenced facility.

Source: AP - LINK Published Wednesday, June 15, 2011

CAL FIRE : Firefighter dies from motorcycle accident injuries in DUI crash

Los Banos firefighter dies after DUI crash

Other driver was under the influence and talking on cell phone, CHP says

Firefighter Andrew Maloney died in a Modesto hospital Sunday from injuries he suffered in a car crash after a woman, who investigators say was on her cell phone and under the influence of marijuana and alcohol, collided with him.

The Accident: Maloney, 29, was driving his 2011 Suzuki motorcycle southbound on Highway 165 near Pioneer Road just after 9 p.m. June 9 when 24-year-old Amie Chick, driving the opposite direction in a 2012 Jeep, made a left turn in front of Maloney, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Maloney, who was off duty at the time, couldn't avoid the crash, according to the CHP.

Chick didn't suffer any injuries and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the CHP.

Andrew Maloney

Memorial Service:  11 a.m. Saturday in the O'Banion Auditorium at 403 F St. in Los Banos.

Maloney started his career in 2000 as a paid-call volunteer firefighter for the Merced County Fire Department in Los Banos, according to Mark Simmons, a captain for Cal Fire.
During the summer of 2001, Maloney worked as a firefighter for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to Simmons. He became a firefighter with Cal Fire in 2003 and stayed in that position until his death.
With Cal Fire, Maloney worked at the Los Banos, Santa Nella and, most recently, Hornitos stations. He was also involved in fire safety education programs for the public.
In his free time, Maloney enjoyed the outdoors, Simmons said. He was a scuba diver and hiked both the Appalachian and Pacific Coast trails.
An account has been set up at Chase Bank to assist the family with expenses. Anyone who wants to contribute can visit any Chase branch and make a donation in care of Andrew Maloney.

Source Article: Merced Star - Link

-------------------------------
The accident:

Los Banos man critically injured in vehicle collision

A 30-year-old Los Banos man was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, Thursday night, after he was critically injured in an accident involving a woman who was driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, Los Banos Police said.
Andrew Maloney was traveling south on Highway 165 approaching Pioneer Road on his 2011 Suzuki motorcycle. Amie Chick, a 24-year-old woman from Santa Nella, was traveling northbound on Highway 165 approaching the same intersection, police said.
Chick attempted to make a left turn in front of Maloney. Maloney was unable to slow down and struck the right side of Chick’s 2012 Jeep. The impact inflicted major injuries to Maloney, police said.

Chick

Chick was talking on her cell phone at the time of the accident. At the scene of the accident, Chick was also showing signs of intoxication, police said. She was arrested on suspicion of DUI and later found to be under the influence of alcohol and cannabis, police said.

Source: Link

California Budget May Sideline Inmate Wildland Firefighters.

Officials Try To Save California Inmate Firefighting Program From Budget Cuts

Inmates make up nearly half of California's wildland firefighters $31 million in budget cuts have eliminated 730 seasonal state firefighters, leaving 2,400.

DON THOMPSON, AP
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — State officials in California are concerned that a move to save money and reduce the state's prison population will have major consequences during firefighting season, jeopardizing a program that puts 4,300 state prison inmates on the front lines of wildland blazes each year.

The inmate crews provide a vital work force in a state where wildfires burn hundreds of homes and tens of thousands of acres in a typical year and have become even more important as budget cuts have reduced the number of seasonal firefighters employed by the state.

It's the largest such program in the nation, with inmates making up nearly half of California's wildland firefighters. But it's endangered by Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to shift responsibility for tens of thousands of lower-level offenders from state prisons to county jails to save the state money and to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld a lower court in ordering California to reduce overcrowding in its prison system.

Brown's plan targets lower-level offenders, the same inmates who generally qualify for the prisoner fire camps.

Officials say the program will not be affected this fire season because the inmate shift has not yet been funded. They are hoping county sheriffs will send inmates to the camps in future years, but say that's uncertain.

"It's a tough issue," said Oscar Hidalgo, a spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. "We're doing everything we can to maintain it, either through the counties or even looking very closely at eligibility for those inmates and if we can somehow retain those inmates in fighting fires."

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the program is even more important because $31 million in budget cuts have eliminated 730 seasonal state firefighters, leaving 2,400.

That means there will be three firefighters on each of the department's fire engines during the peak fire season, down from four, said spokesman Daniel Berlant. The department will keep its 3,300 full-time firefighters despite the budget cuts.

The department's full-time and seasonal firefighters operate fire engines, bulldozers, helicopters and airplanes. But it is the inmate crews that do the dirty, exhausting work of cutting and scraping fire lines with hand tools.

"They go on the front line on the fires. Their job is to go around the perimeter of a fire and clear brush, so we put a doughnut ring around the fire so there's nothing left to burn," Berlant said. "They really are the backbone of firefighting."

Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming are among states that use inmates to fight fires.

But California's inmate firefighter program is larger than many states' entire prison populations, said Alison Lawrence, a policy specialist with the National Conference of State Legislatures.

From the first permanent firefighting camp in 1946, California's program has expanded to 39 state-operated camps and another five run by Los Angeles County. Two of the state's camps are staffed by female inmates and two by juvenile offenders.

Most inmates earn $1.45 a day when they are in training or doing community work projects. They earn $1 an hour when they are called out to fight fires. Many also qualify for two days' credit toward earlier release for each day they spend in the camps.

There are no recidivism studies on fire camp graduates, but Correctional Capt. Rae Stewart, who coordinates the program, said most benefit from the self-discipline, teamwork and vocational training.

"I'm a little older, but you see a lot of kids come in here, they've never worked before," said 53-year-old David Leach, who has spent the last 2 1/2 years as an inmate firefighter based northeast of Redding in Shasta County. "They come in here and develop a good work ethic."

Leach is due to be paroled next month to Los Angeles County and already has a job waiting with a tree service company, building on skills he learned as a firefighter.

Chris Anderson, 38, earned an associate of arts degree and several water treatment licenses during his 4 1/2 years in a firefighting camp, licenses he expects will win him a job when he gets parole in 70 days.

"Behind the walls, it's a lot more stringent, there's a lot more politics," said Anderson, of Red Bluff. "These are guys who are just trying to go home and improve their lives."

The corrections department allowed the inmates to speak with The Associated Press on the condition that they not be asked about their crimes.

In an average year, the inmate firefighters perform three million hours of emergency work and five million hours of community service in total.

The camps cost the corrections department about $47 million annually, Stewart said, but save an estimated $80 million annually for the work they provide, compared to a non-inmate earning $10 an hour.

Berlant said the program costs his agency another $77 million annually, but saves millions of dollars compared to what it would cost to hire professional firefighters at $12 to $14.55 an hour.

Corrections Secretary Matthew Cate said this spring that he hopes county sheriffs continue to send inmates to the fire camps under the law Brown signed in April. Brown sought the realignment to help cut the state's budget deficit and remove up to 40,000 inmates over three years from the nation's largest state prison system, now 162,000 inmates.

The law would give counties responsibility for adult offenders convicted of non-serious, nonviolent and non-sexual offenses. It also is the administration's primary answer to the U.S. Supreme Court's order last month that California reduce its prison population by 33,000 inmates within two years to improve the medical treatment for prisoners.

County sheriffs will have to find places to put all those inmates, Cate said, and under Brown's proposal would have the money to continue sending them to fire camps.

Each of California's 58 sheriffs could respond differently to the influx of inmates, potentially leaving the fire camps short-handed, said Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin, president of the state sheriffs' association.

"It gets into those unintended consequences of realignment," Pazin said.

State Sen. Doug La Malfa, R-Willows, fears the state could lower its standards for inmate firefighters in an attempt to maintain the program if sheriffs decide not to send many of the lower-level offenders they will inherit back to the camps.

Corrections officials said nine inmates walked away from fire camps last year, which is typical for an unfenced facility.

Source: AP - LINK Published Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Arizona: AZ-ASF-Wallow - Wildland Fire - 469,407acres, 20% contained.

Wallow Fire is now the largest wildfire in Arizona's history
32 Homes destroyed, thousands remained threatened. 


Wallow Fire Update
Firefighters have achieved 20% containment of the 469,407-acre Wallow Fire. While the Wallow Fire is now the largest wildfire in Arizona's history, significant progress has been made towards containment.

Fire Operations: Firefighters continued with patrol, structure protection, containment line improvement and mop-up across the fire.
Firefighters are coordinating with local fire departments to remove hazards in preparation for eventual reentry by evacuees. Containment lines around South Fork and Nutrioso are being strengthened. Mop up, patrol and hazard tree removal continues in Alpine, Nutrioso, Tal Wi Wi, Greer and South Fork areas. Burnout is proceeding east of Alpine, bringing fire south along a dozer line from FR 220 to US 180.
Crews are continuing construction of the 9 - 10 miles of indirect line on the 33 Trail between McBride Canyon and Hwy 19l. Areas south of Black River on the San Carlos Apache Reservation are still holding. 
Air Quality: Smoke was visible from a strategic firing operation near Luna Lake. Burnout is one tool firefighters use to help slow the spread or change the direction of a fire. Burning vegetation under the right conditions allows firefighters to better control both the intensity and the movement of the fire. When the fire reaches the treated area it typically slows its spread. As weather permits, crews will ignite unburned fuels in this area to bring fire down toward US 180. Helicopters dropped water on the fire in the Blue River area in the southeast flank. Tonight will be mostly clear with areas of smoke, and a low around 46. Northwest winds will be 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Burned area response: The Forest Service and Department of the Interior Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Teams will be initiating assessments of the Wallow Fire burned area to evaluate post-fire conditions and determine if emergency stabilization treatments are warranted. The two BAER teams will coordinate their assessments and work with the Tribes and other agencies to address potential flood threats that cross jurisdictions.

Wallow Fire progression / perimeter map

-------------------------
Public Safety
The communities of Greer, Nutrioso and Alpine remain evacuated due to continued active fire behavior in unburned islands within and around these communities. Hazardous burned-out trees, unstable slopes and rockfall, as well as burned out power poles are being evaluated and mitigated.
Arizona Fish and Game has a Wildlife Emergency Hotline to report injured wildlife (632) 236-7242.
Community Meetings Tomorrow and Thursday
· Luna Community Center, Luna New Mexico 7:00 P.M. (NM) 6:00 (AZ) Wednesday, June 15
· Burdette Hall in San Carlos, AZ, 10 A.M. Thursday, June 16
Current Evacuations
· Evacuations remain in effect in Sunrise, Greer, Blue River, Alpine, Nutrioso, and White Mtn. Acres.

Evacuee Information
· An evacuee meeting will be held at 10 AM Wednesday at Blue Ridge H.S. in Pinetop/Lakeside.
· Evacuees whose Post Office is closed due to fire activity may pick up their mail at the Eagar Post Office
· The evacuation center is located at Blue Ridge High School, 1200 W. White Mtn. Blvd., Pinetop/Lakeside. The phone number for the Red Cross operated evacuation center is (602) 336-6660.
· Residents with livestock or animals that need care should contact the Apache County Sheriff's Office (928) 337-4321 or the Greenlee County Sheriff's Office (928) 865-4149.

Pre-Evacuation Alert 

A pre-evacuation alert continues in Apache County for Greens Peak, Hidden Meadows Lodge and surrounding areas.

· A pre-evacuation alert by the Catron County Sheriff's Office continues for Luna, New Mexico.

Residents in the communities affected by this fire are asked to remain prepared to evacuate.

Road Closures according to Arizona Department of Transportation: http://www.azdot.gov
· US 191 is closed between Alpine and north of Clifton (milepost 176-253).
· SR 261 (mileposts 395-413) and SR 273 (mileposts 378-394), the main access roads to Big Lake and Crescent Lake in the White Mountains, are closed.
· SR 373 that connects the town of Greer with SR 260 west of Eagar is closed (mileposts 386-391).
· US 180 is closed between SR 260 junction near Eagar and New Mexico state line (mileposts 403-433).
· In southern Arizona, SR 366 is closed at milepost 118 leading up to Mount Graham (milepost 143) near Safford after the U.S. Forest Service determined the risk of wildfire is too extreme to allow access.
· Partial area closures are in effect for the eastside of the Fort Apache Reservation.
Road Openings:
· SR 260 reopened today. Motorists are asked to drive carefully as heavy fire traffic may be present.
Closures and Restrictions
Apache - Sitgreaves National Forest The Apache portion of the Forest is closed to all public entry. For the Sitgreaves portion of the National Forest, a temporary emergency closure order is in effect. For further information call the Arizona fire restrictions hotline (877) 864-6985 or www.publiclands.org/firenews/AZ.php.
Gila National Forest: A closure is in effect for the western portion of the Forest in the Quemado, Reserve and Glenwood Ranger Districts. See http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila or call (575) 388-8201, TTY (575) 388-8497.
White Mountain Apache Reservation: Fire restrictions remain in effect.
Public Information
The public may call the following numbers for area specific fire information:
· Spanish language fire information (877)-632-6678
Springerville, Eagar, Greer, Alpine (928) 333-3412 from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. or
· (702) 308-3238, (702) 308-3357, (702) 308-8227 from 8 A.M. to 8.P.M.
(877)701-8201 or (928) 205-9884
Luna and Reserve, NM (575) 533-6928Areas south and west of the fire including San Carlos and Fort Apache tribal lands:Information is available at:
Website Info: www.inciweb.org Twitter: www.twitter.com/AS NF
Flickr (photos): www.flickr.com/apachesitgreavesnf

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Update: Burnout Operation Underway Near Luna Lake

Firefighters are burning vegetation between Wallow fire and the fireline north of road 180 in the Luna Lake fire camp area. This burnout will strengthen and connect containment lines in zones 1 and 2.
As long as the current favorable weather conditions continue, the crews will ignite unburned fuels in the Luna Lake area and bring fire down toward road 180.
Protection plans are in place for Luna Lake firecamp. If needed, for personal safety related to smoke or fire suppression actions, personnel may temporarily leave the fire camp.
Residents in the area around Alpine, Luna Lake and Luna may see more smoke than usual from this operation.
For more information about the Wallow Fire in the Luna area, please call 575-533-6928
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Fire Facts:

Location: Apache, Navajo, Graham, and Greenlee
Injuries to Date: 7
Counties, San Carlos and Fort Apache Reservations, Arizona; Catron County, New Mexico;
Total Personnel: 4,734
Includes 24 hotshot crews; 77 hand crews
Date Started: 05/29/2011
Cause: Human - under investigation
Residences: 2,714 threatened; 32 destroyed;
5 damaged
Size: 469,407 acres total
Commercial Property: 473 threatened; 4 destroyed
Percent Contained: 20%
Resources: 20 Helicopters, 5 Air Tankers available; 333 Engines; 73 Water Tenders; 20 Dozers
Outbuildings: 1,216 threatened; 36 destroyed;
1 damaged;
Vehicles: 1 destroyed.
Fire Update

 Basic Information:

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	Sunday May 29th, 2011 approx. 01:30 PM
Location	Eastern AZ near Alpine, Nutrioso, and Springerville
Incident Commander	Area Commander Jim Loach

Current Situation

Total Personnel	4,656
Size	478,452 acres
Percent Contained	20%
Fuels Involved	10 Timber (litter and understory)
Fire Behavior	Active backing fire with isolated interior torching and short uphill runs where topography and winds align.
Significant Events	Continue burnout NE of Luna Lake to secure east flank. Burned-out interior islands south of Eagar.

Outlook

Planned Actions	North Zone - Continue burnout NE of Luna Lake. Continue securing communities already impacted by fire. Maintain perimeter control by mopping-up. Continue hazard tree falling around communities and vital access roads. Begin fire suppression repair efforts. East Zone - Structure protection, continue to strengthen and secure lines, prep lines for burnout, scout line locations to meet control objectives. West Zone - Continued firing with IHCs and aerial ignitions operations on Divisions Z, Y and KK to the indirect line.
Growth Potential	high
Terrain Difficulty	high
Remarks	IHC crews remain a critical resources for Southwest Area Command. Type 2 IMT has been ordered to replace Reinarz IMT1 which is timing out on 6/18. Acres burned by ownership are as follows: USFS - 437,395 ac. State of Arizona - 4,233 ac. Private - 6,352 ac. Ft. Apache Indian Reservation - 13,011 ac. San Carlos Indian Reservation - 8,416

Current Weather

Wind Conditions	5-16 G25 mph SW
Temperature	76-87 degrees
Humidity	6-8%

 Media Information:
Media briefings will be conducted at the Round Valley Primary School in Eagar at 10 A.M. and 9 P.M.Media should call the following numbers to coordinate interviews:
· Springerville, Eagar, Greer, Alpine Media # (480) 331-9554.
· Luna and Reserve, New Mexico (east side of fire) Media #: (575) 533-6928
· Southwest (San Carlos and White Mountain Apache Reservation) Media #: (602) 803-4270

Related Incident Links

• Fire Data in Google Earth
• Wildfires Today
• Webcam: Springerville, Round Valley Hs
• Webcam: Sunrise Ski Resort
• Webcam: Greer
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Southwest Area Coordination Center
• National Weather Service Fire Weather
• Az Emergency Info Network
• Nm Fire Info
• Az Fire Restrictions
• Smoke Map (meso West)
• Fire Photos on Flickr (a-S Nat'l Forest)
• NOAA Smoke and Hazard Maps
• Twitter (as_nf)
• Az 511 Travel Conditions
• Nasa Earth Observatory: Wallow Fire Images
• Viewing The Wallow Fire in Google Earth
• Wildfire Smoke & Your Health
• Arizona Firewise
• Twitpic (as_nf)