Red flag warning remains in effect until 8 pm pdt Sunday

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY. A LONG DURATIONS OF SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...WITH HUMIDITY LEVELS ONLY RECOVERING TO BETWEEN 15 AND 20 PERCENT IN THE FOOTHILLS.

Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING. A COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...VERY WARM TEMPERATURES... AND CRITICAL FUELS WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

Area: VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS-SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA-SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY-LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY-SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY DUE TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LOW HUMIDITY Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS-SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA-SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY-LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY- Update sent at 09:30 PDT on 2008-10-25

RED FLAG WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING DUE TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LOW HUMIDITY Actual/Future/Severe/Possible SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST- Update sent at 09:30 PDT on 2008-10-25

VERY LOW HUMIDITIES OVER THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS Actual/Future/Severe/Possible KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS- Update sent at 05:00 PDT on 2008-10-25

RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES FOR MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR VERY LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE-SAN DIEGO COUNTY INLAND VALLEYS-SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE MOUNTAIN TOP AND FRONT COUNTRY RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE SAN JACINTO RANGER DISTRICT OF THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST-SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE TRABUCO RANGER DISTRICT OF THE CLEVELAND NATIONALFOREST-SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE PALOMAR AND DESCANSO RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST- Update sent at 04:23 PDT on 2008-10-25

Cedar Fire - October 25, 2003 - 280,278 acres

Anniversary - Cedar Fire - October 25, 2003

The Cedar Fire was the largest wildland fire in California history.Fire Siege of 2003 from Space
Photo credit: NASA - Southern California Fires, Oct 26, 2003

Several massive wildfires were raging across southern California over the weekend of October 25, 2003. Whipped by the hot, dry Santa Ana winds that blow toward the coast from interior deserts, at least one fire grew 10,000 acres in just 6 hours. Moving northwest to southeast along the coast, the first cluster of red dots is a combination of the Piru, Verdale, and the Simi Incident Fires; The next cluster-to the east of Los Angeles-is the Grand Prix (west) and Old (east) Fires; To their south is the Roblar 2 Fire; Next is the Paradise Fire; Then the massive Cedar Fire, whose thick smoke is completely overshadowing the coastal city of San Diego; Finally, at the California-Mexico border is the Otay Fire. At least 13 people have lost their lives because of these fires, which officials are reporting were caused by carelessness and arson. Thousands have been evacuated across the region and hundreds of homes have been lost.

The Facts: 13 civilian fatalities, 1 firefighter fatality, 104 firefighter injuries.
2,232 residences, 22 commercial properties and 566 outbuildings destroyed,
53 residences and 10 outbuildings damaged. 148 vehicles destroyed.

The Cedar Fire in the Cleveland National Forest: The wildland fire started in the Cleveland National Forest, 25 miles east of San Diego, when a lost hunter claimed he lit a small signal fire while looking for help.

The U.S.F.S. responded within ten minutes of the initial report of the fire, and soon deployed 10 fire engines, two water tenders, two hand crews and two chief officers. Within 30 minutes, 320 firefighters and six fire chiefs were en route to the fire.

A San Diego County Sheriff's Department helicopter, equipped with a Bambi bucket, en route to the fire and only minutes away, was called off by a National Forest Service fire chief because it was after sunset "cutoff" for firefighting air attack missions.

Initially, At 5:30 in the evening of October 25, it was reported at 20 acres, the winds were moderate and spread of the fire was moderate. But around midnight the Santa Ana winds began to develop out of the North east, soon it was 5,500 acres and and by 3:00 a.m. 62,000 acres(1). and the fire began moving quickly westward, Overnight, the fast-moving fire killed 12 people living in Wildcat Canyon and Eucalyptus Hills, in the northern part of Lakeside, who had little or no warning that the fire was approaching, and destroyed 28 homes on the Barona Indian Reservation.

In only a few hours the Cedar Fire had pushed southwest over 30 miles and had burned over 100,000 acres at an average rate of 5,000 acres per hour and crossed several large highways including Interstate -15. By noon on October 26 the fire was burning hundreds of homes in the Scripps Ranch community of San Diego, and was threatening many others.

The Cedar Fire in the city of San Diego: Fire entered the City at 6:30 in the morning on October 26.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department responded with 50 engine companies,11 brush rigs, 9 truck companies and two airport firefighting rigs. The communites of Scripps Ranch and Tierrasanta were hardest hit by the fire.

By the time containment was declared on October 28th, 28,676 acres within the city had burned. 335 structures were destroyed, 71 others were damaged. The dollar loss in San Diego city was estimated at $204 million.

The Cedar Fire was one of 15 fires throughout Southern California that month, including the Old Fire, which became known as the "2003 Firestorm" and the "Fire Siege of 2003."

------------- The Final CAL FIRE update ------------------

Last updated:	November 5, 2003 at 6 a.m. - FINAL UPDATE
Start Date/Time:	October 25, 2003 at 5:37 p.m.
Administrative Unit:	Cleveland National Fores/CDF San Diego Unit/Cedar Fire
Location:	Southern San Diego County
Acres Burned:	280,278
Containment:	100%
Control:	Estimate for control is November 16, 2003 at 6 p.m
Structures Destroyed:	2,232 residences, 22 commercial properties and 566 outbuildings destroyed. 53 residences and 10 outbuildings damaged. 148 vehicles destroyed.
Evacuations:	All evacuations lifted.
Injuries:	13 civilian fatalities, 1 firefighter fatality, 104 firefighter injuries.
Cause:	Human (Under Investigation)
Cooperating Agencies:	CDF, U.S. Forest Service, Local Government
Total Fire Personnel:	1,478
Costs to date:	$ 27 million
Major Incident Command Team:	#5
Conditions:	One firefighter fatality and three firefighter injuries occurred in the Julian area on 10/29/03. Funds Set Up For Novato Firefighters Community support has been a great moral boost for firefighters!!! .Significant release of excess fire fighting resources is ongoing. This fire is under a unified command USFS and CDF.

------------
Fatalities: Fifteen people, including one firefighter, were killed by the fire. Most deaths occurred during escape

• Galen Blacklidge — 50, Lakeside, teacher, artist – Died October 26, 2003 while trying to escape in her vehicle
• Christy-Anne Seiler-Davis — 42, Alpine - Died October 26, 2003 while in her home on Vista Viejas Road in Alpine
• Gary Edward Downs — 50, Lakeside, small-business owner – Died October 26, 2003 while trying to escape the flames on Wildcat Canyon Road
• John Leonard Pack — 28, Lakeside - Died October 26, 2003 along with his wife Quynh trying to escape the fire on Wildcat Canyon Road
• Quynh Yen Chau Pack — 28, Lakeside - Died October 26, 2003 along with her husband John trying to escape the fire on Wildcat Canyon Road
• Mary Lynne Peace — 54, Lakeside, nurse - Died on October 26, 2003 along with her sister-in-law Robin Sloan near the Barona Indian Reservation
• Steven Rucker — 38, Novato, firefighter, died October 29, 2003 in Julian on firefighting operations
• Stephen Shacklett — 54, Lakeside, construction superintendent - Died October 26, 2003 while trying to escape the fire in his motorhome on Muth Valley road
• James Shohara — 63, Lakeside, correctional officer - Died October 26, 2003 along with his wife and son while trying to escape near San Vicente Reservoir, Lakeside
• Solange Shohara — 43, Lakeside, correctional officer - Died October 26, 2003 along with her husband and stepson while trying to escape near San Vicente Reservoir, Lakeside
• Randy Shohara — 32, Lakeside - Died October 26, 2003 with his stepmother and father trying to escape near San Vicente Reservoir, Lakeside
• Robin Sloan — 45, Lakeside, Walmart employee - Died October 26, 2003 attempting to escape the fire near the Barona Indian Reservation
• Jennifer Sloan — 17, Lakeside, student - Died October 26, 2003 along with her mother Robin while attempting to escape the fire near the Barona Indian Reservation
• Ralph Marshall Westley — 77, Lakeside, retired retail clerk, discovered October 27, 2003 at 1088 Barona Road.
• Unknown found mid-December in the I-15/SR 52 area.

SAR: Lost hiker found on Mt. Tallac Trail

A search for a 70-year-old hiker in the Fallen Leaf Lake area near Lake Tahoe occasioned a morning call out of all El Dorado County Search and Rescue teams, but this search had a happy ending.

At 8:30 a.m. this morning, all SAR ground, canine, off-highway vehicle and management teams were called out to search for the male hiker who had become separated from his hiking companion on the Mt. Tallac trail the previous day. Horse teams were not called out because of the slippery granite terrain.

South Lake Tahoe fire personnel and Tahoe SAR searched for the man Thursday night but found no signs of the hiker. Groundcrews and helicopter crews continued the search on Friday.

By 10:30 a.m. on Friday, the missing hiker had been located by Forest Service Wilderness teams. He was alive and required medical attention for altitude sickness and dehydration. As medical teams rushed to provide services, the search was called off.
Source: Tahoedailytribune.com Link

Red Flag Arson Suspect Arrested

Arson suspect arrested for two vegetation fires

In the midst of Red Flag fire weather, with fire departments and residents in Southern California on edge, Peter Lawrence Williamson, 40-year-old resident of Murrieta was arrested yesterday for Arson.

Two vegetation fires occurred in the area of Winchester Rd and Scott Rd at 1:00 am on October 22, 2008. A witness reported suspicious activity in the area and contacted the Riverside County Sherriff's Department (RSO). An on duty RSO deputy located and detained Williamson until CAL FIRE investigators arrived. Williamson was arrested and taken to the Southwest Detention Center and booked on two counts of arson to the wildland.

The cooperation of a vigilant citizen, local law enforcement and fire officials made this arrest possible. Arson is a very dangerous crime that can destroy and damage lives and property. An individual who intentionally starts a fire is trying to do harm. The arrest of Williamson is critical to the safety of the public. Anyone with additional information regarding these fires or suspicious activity in the area please contact CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Tim Williams at 951-940-6960.

Already over 1.3 million acres have burned this year in California. Red Flag conditions can drastically increase the chance of a wildfire. Residents should be vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons in or around their communities. If you witness someone suspicious, make note of his or her physical description, and his or her vehicle description, including the license plate number. Report the information to your fire or law enforcement agency.

Further Information: Julie Hutchinson, RRU Fire Captain 951 940 6985

CA-RRU- Canyon - Vegetation Fire - 35 acres 100%

- CAL FIRE and Riverside County firefighters are on scene vegetation fire 1 acre, with a potential for 200-500 acres.
Initial Report: 3:26 PM Vegetation Fire Brush and Grass , Lambs Canyon Rd and Beaumont Avenue, Beaumont(TB 720 E4)
Fire Location: Fire is burning South and East toward Jackrabbit Trail in the Badlands. (Access to the fire is off of West 4th street adjacent to the Chicken Ranch.) Meet Oak Valley Rd and I 10
Incident Number: CARRU-93272
Date Reported: 10/24/2008
Cause: Equipment Use
Resources Assigned: Engines-16, Helicopters-1, Air Attack-1, Firefighters-147, Air Tankers-5, Overhead Personnel-1, Fire Crews-6, Water Tenders-2, Bulldozers-2, CHP, Beaumont PD, CAL FIRE/Riverside, Riverside County Fire Dept
Problems: Fire is burning South and East toward Jackrabbit Trail in the Badlands. (Access to the fire is off of West 4th street adjacent to the Chicken Ranch.) Meet Oak Valley Rd and I 10
UPDATE 10/24/2008 3:55 p.m.: Fire is burning at 20 acres.
UPDATE 1609: Fire is currently 50-100 acres, no structure threat. 88 degrees, winds-E @ 8, RH of 4%, from Beaumont RAWS.
UPDATE 5:29 p.m.: Fire was contained at 1701.
UPDATE 7:23 p.m.: The fire was contained to 38 acres. Crews will remain on the line through the night mopping up hot spots. The cause of the fire was determined to be equipment use. An individual was salvaging a vehicle and using some equipment that sparked the fire. Fire investigators are looking for anyone with information on the fire and would like to speak with individuals that were driving a late model blue Chevy or GMC pickup truck in the area. People with information are asked to call 1-800-633-2836. Information will be updated on the website as it becomes available.
Riverside County Fire Department.

Red Flag for very low humidities over the Kern County mountains

A VERY DRY AIRMASS HAS SETTLED OVER THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AT MANY LOCATIONS WILL BE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS THROUGH FRIDAY WITH LITTLE OVERNIGHT RECOVERY. ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PDT FRIDAY FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS FOR VERY LOW HUMIDITIES... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS FOR VERY LOW HUMIDITIES...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PDT FRIDAY. A VERY DRY AIRMASS WILL LINGER OVER THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS THROUGH FRIDAY. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AT MANY LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN AT OR BELOW 10 PERCENT FOR SEVERAL HOURS...AND OVERNIGHT RECOVERIES WILL BE POOR AT BEST.

Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

Area: KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-

Affected Counties or parts of: Tuolumne, Tulare, Mariposa, Merced, Kings, Kern, Fresno, Madera

Sent: 2008-10-22T20:21:20-07:00
From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA

News: DHS SCBA FUBAR = SCAPPEC

California Judge Voids $30 Million Fire Equipment Contract

Ruling in a lawsuit brought by an Arcadia company, a judge has voided a $30 million contract the county awarded to a fire equipment distributor.

The order by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant potentially leaves local fire departments on the hook for millions of dollars of equipment they've already purchased.

County officials awarded the contract to L.N. Curtis and sons to provide breathing apparatus - masks and air tanks for breathing in smoky conditions - for county and municipal firefighters.

The goal was to outfit every fire department in the county with the same type of breathing apparatus. The actual funding for the contract came from the federal Department of Homeland Security.

However, rival equipment maker Allstar Fire Equipment Inc. sued the city and county of Los Angeles, claiming the selection process used to award the contract was improperly handled.

The judge agreed.

"Curtis was neither the lowest bidder nor the highest rated in the performance evaluation," Chalfant wrote in his ruling. "The award to Curtis was defective, and the bidding process was compromised."

The judge's order requires the county to either restart the bidding process or re-evaluate all the bids properly.

But many fire departments, including Pasadena's and Monrovia's, have already purchased the equipment from L.N. Curtis, expecting to be reimbursed by grant funds. L.N. Curtis distributes equipment manufactured by Santa Ana-based Sperian Protection.

The city and county of Los Angeles contended that payment was already underway - nearly $7 million worth of Sperian equipment has already been shipped to local fire agencies. Federal grant money could be put at risk if the contract was voided, the two entities argued.

Chalfant, however, was not swayed.

"Respondents and Curtis all knew the contract was being challenged, and proceeded at their own risk," he wrote. "Respondents cannot rely on their own failures, and their efforts to perform a contract that they knew was being challenged, simply because their grant money was at risk."

Elizabeth Friedman, an attorney with the County Counsel's office, said L.A. County is "reviewing judge Chalfant's decision and considering its options."

She declined to comment further.

Officials from the Los Angeles Firefighter Unions, in an Oct. 13 letter to Jim Hone, president of the Los Angeles-Area Fire Chief's Association, also criticized the decision to move forward with the purchase of Sperian equipment. The association helped secure funding for the contract.

Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune - Link

Update: 1200hrs - The following news release was sent in by Sperian
-------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Bill Sokol, Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing, Sperian Protection Americas, 401 757 2108, bsokol@sperianprotection.com
Paul Streicker, Streicker & Company Inc. (agency), 401 435 0200, advertise@streicker.com

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA FIRE DEPARTMENTS MAY LOSE FEDERAL GRANTS FOR SCBAs

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 23 —A California Superior Court judge has set aside a contract for 4,200 self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units and related equipment, potentially endangering $9.5 million in federal grants for needed firefighting equipment in southern California.

Ruling on a petition filed by Allstar Fire Equipment, a distributor for Scott Health and Safety Equipment, and by Mine Safety Appliances (MSA), the court set a hearing date to discuss the terms of the judgment for November 17, just days before a November 28 deadline requiring area fire departments to take delivery of the SCBAs or risk losing their grant funding. Smaller departments with older equipment that rely heavily on federal funding will be particularly hard hit.

The suit was filed against Los Angeles County, the city of Los Angeles, and L.N. Curtis & Sons, a distributor for Sperian Fire SCBAs. Both Los Angeles County and the city of Los Angeles are members of SCAPPEC, the Southern California Area Personal Protective Equipment Consortium, a consortium formed by 32 area fire departments to jointly purchase state-of-the-art, interchangeable equipment.

A number of manufacturers and distributors competed for the SCAPPEC award, which is believed to be the largest municipal fire service SCBA bid in US history. Allstar and SCBA manufacturer MSA lost the SCAPPEC contract competition in July to competing distributor L.N. Curtis & Sons, whose Sperian Warrior® SCBA and other related SCBA items were judged by the evaluation committee to be superior to the Scott and MSA equipment.

“Over 7,000 of some 9,000 SCAPPEC firefighters use Sperian SCBAs every day with an outstanding safety and performance record,” said Bill Sokol, a Sperian vice president. “In fact, Los Angeles County and the city of Los Angeles have used our SCBAs for more than three decades. This suit is about SCAPPEC’s bid process, not about the product or our distributor.”

“In raising technicalities about the bid process,” he added, “Allstar and MSA have put profits ahead of protection, and the result may well be that some firefighters won’t get the critical lifesaving equipment they want and need.”

Sperian is not a party to the suit, which was filed against Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, and Sperian distributor L.N. Curtis & Sons. These parties are considering an appeal of the court decision.

CA-BDU-San Antonio - Wildland fire - 115 acres 100%

San Antonio IC - Wildland fire - Inland Empire - Upland/Rancho Cucamonga area

Photo credit: Reader Todd Stout

FINAL UPDATE: 10-24 0700hrs - San Antonio Fire - 100% contained - 115 acres
County: San Bernardino County
Start Date/Time: October 23, 2008 at 2:04 p.m.

UPDATE: 1610hrs - IC calling this 200 acres; 30% contained; Forward fire spread has been stopped at this point; Releasing some resources from ANF including Water Tender, and Engines, acreage 50% on BDU and 50% on BDF; no structures and no power lines currently threatened; we have good access to 40% of the fire; all resources actively engaged; we're looking at doing some releases within the next hour. ST9181g, ST9170g still inbound.

UPDATE: 16:00hrs - Southern perimeter looking good/secure; no threat to the power lines at this time.

News and Notes: 1530 - San Antonio (CA-BDU-11827) 250+ acres, 0% contained. Fire started around 1415 hrs. north of San Antonio Heights (Upland area) near the San Bernardino County/San Bernardino National Forest boundary east of Cucamonga Canyon and is spreading north and west into the National Forest in grass and light brush.
UPDATE: 15:15hrs - Fire is on the ridge, lower third of the slope, eastern portion of San Antonio Canyon Wash; Potential with these winds is several thousand; structure protection minimal at this time, Tanker 719 returned to SB Base with mechanical problems.
UPDATE: 14:30hrs - PM Not immediate threat to Angelus National Forest; burning towards SB National Forest;

Location: San Antonio Heights area; 2465 San Antonio Avenue; Cross 24th 572A3; Campus / Euclid Ave, Mountains - Upland/Rancho Cucamonga area.
IC: Batt. 34 on scene.
Resources:Full wildland response enroute BDU, ANF, BDF, SBC enroute.

3 strike teams requested, bb

Air Ops: Full aircraft order - Helitanker 247, H305, H531, H534, helitanker 719, 720 - per South Ops; Lead Bravo 5 inbound;
Initial Sizeup:1-2 acres rapid rate of spread, currently SRA burning onto BDF/ANF north end of Upland/Rancho Cucamonga area, medium fuels
ArrivingInitial units report 50 to 100 acres rapid ROS burning uphill. Fire is heading into San Bernardino National Forest (BDF).

Comms: CALFIRE Command Net CDF Command 1, Tone 1., SBNF Forest net.vegetation fire Tac on CDF Tac 5, 151.250; Command 1 for command net -151.4450, Air Attack -118.9500
Streaming Video: www.CBS2.com -streaming live.
abclocal.go.com/kabc/live - streaming live.

Red Flags: Critical fire weather - Southern California

Red flag warnings of critical fire weather throughout Southern California.
Event: Fire: RED FLAG WARNING
Levels: Immediate - Severe - Observed
Expires: 15:00 PDT on 2008-10-23
From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
Headline: RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON DUE TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
Description: A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON. HUMIDITY VALUES OF 5 TO 10 PERCENT ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. IN ADDITION... LIGHT OFFSHORE BREEZES AND NEAR RECORD TEMPERATURES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Instructions: A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING. A COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... VERY WARM TEMPERATURES...AND CRITICAL FUELS WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON DUE TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed VENTURA COUNTY COASTS- Update sent at 10:02 PDT on 2008-10-23

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT SATURDAY DUE TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY- Update sent at 10:02 PDT on 2008-10-23

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT SATURDAY DUE TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed SANTA CLARITA VALLEY- Update sent at 10:02 PDT on 2008-10-23

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT SATURDAY DUE TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS-LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY- Update sent at 10:02 PDT on 2008-10-23

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT SATURDAY DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS THIS MORNING AND AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA- Update sent at 10:02 PDT on 2008-10-23

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT SATURDAY DUE TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST- Update sent at 10:02 PDT on 2008-10-23

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT SATURDAY DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS THIS MORNING AND AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST- Update sent at 10:01 PDT on 2008-10-23

RED FLAG WARNINGS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS THIS MORNING AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING Actual/Future/Severe/Possible LOS ANGELES COUNTY COASTS INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES- Cancel sent at 10:01 PDT on 2008-10-23

CA-LAC-Sepulveda - WUI Fire - 150 acres 100%

Vegetation Fire Southbound I-405 near Getty Center Dr, Brentwood Hills

Final Update: 0830hrs - A wildfire in the Sepulveda Pass that began at 12:51 this morning has been extinguished. The fire consumed 100 acres of grass and brush. No structures were damaged and there were no injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation, After-action reports can be found at: http://lafd.org/blog
Update: 0820hrs - KNOCKDOWN; It took the combined efforts of more than 400 FF's just 7 hrs and 25 min to extinguish all visible flame; No injuries; No structures; Cause under investigation. - LAFD Alerts - Source: http://lafd.org/alert
Update: 0800hrs - Sepulveda Pass Fire - The 405 has reopened, 100 acres and was 10% contained.

Location: Southbound I-405 at Getty Center, in Sepulveda Pass, near the 405 Freeway and Getty Center Drive. TG-MAP 591-G6; FS 19;
Time of alarm: 00:51
Sizeup: Fire is wind-driven, moving southwest towards homes on remote Bundy
Dr and Mount St Mary College in Brentwood Hills. Winds approx 15-20
mph fueled by heavy brush. 4 acres south of 405; Structure protection ongoing in the hills of Brentwood.
Closures: 405 Offramps closed at Skirball Center Drive and Getty Center Drive. Sepulveda Boulevard remained closed between Sunset and Valley Vista boulevards.
Comms: LAFD Ch:9,12,13 - LAFD / LACoFD | 860.4375 | 860.7625
Resources: More than 500 firefighters were battling the 100-acre blaze, and in a rare move officials decided to do night flights of water-dropping helicopters. Numerous Strike teams inbound.
Evacuations: No evacuations ordered, but evacuation centers opened.