LTBMU: Lake Tahoe Prescribed Fire Project Angora area

 South Lake Tahoe, Prescribed Fire Information Nov. 17, 2011
Prescribed fire operations resume in the Angora area

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. --U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews are scheduled to begin prescribed fire operations in the Angora area today, November 17, 2011. Fuels reduction crews are expected to conduct operations on a total of approximately 40 acres near Mule Deer Circle. Operations may continue through the week.

Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from this prescribed fire project area. Smoke may be visible on Lake Tahoe Blvd. The Forest Service strives to minimize the impacts of smoke on local communities. Smoke-sensitive residents should consider staying indoors and keeping doors, windows and outside vents closed.

 To directly receive prescribed fire updates, send an email to pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us. Forest Service staff will post road signs around areas affected by prescribed fire, and update the local fire information line at (530) 543-2600, #6. Other federal, state and local fire management agencies may also be conducting prescribed fire work during this period.

Pile-burning operations are an important part of fuels reduction to reduce the risk of severe wildfire in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

 For more information: visit our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/RxFireOps
 To learn more about the efforts to reduce high-intensity wildfire risks in the Tahoe Basin, read the Lake Tahoe Basin Multi-Jurisdictional Fuel Reduction Plan found at http://fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_045864.pdf.
 Take a few moments to visit an excellent web site and learn about Prescribed Fire vs. Wildfire at: http://www.smokeybear.com/prescribed-fires.asp.



U.S. Forest Service
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU)

Lisa Herron
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Forest Service
Lake Tahoe Basin Mgt Unit
35 College Drive
South Lake Tahoe CA 96150
(530) 543-2815

California Fire News 2011 

Sonoma County fire captain pleads guilty to embezzlement

 Calif. fire captain pleads guilty to embezzlement
Michael Bechtold stole money that other firefighters had paid to Rancho Adobe Firefighters Association for hockey tickets, Disneyland, divorce

PENNGROVE, Calif. — A captain with the Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District in Sonoma County has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $63,000 from the firefighters union and using the money for San Jose Sharks season tickets, a trip to Disneyland and a divorce attorney, authorities said Tuesday.

Michael Bechtold, 39, of Rohnert Park stole money that other firefighters had paid to the Rancho Adobe Firefighters Association, where he was treasurer, said Deputy District Attorney Amy Ariyoshi.

Bechtold's downfall began when association board members asked him for financial reports. Bechtold delayed providing them and began to miss several regularly scheduled association meetings, said sheriff's Sgt. Michael Raasch.

When Bechtold finally supplied a report, "it became obvious that the report had been tampered with," Raasch said.

Authorities determined that Bechtold had forged and cashed several association checks, Raasch said. He spent the money on housing, the Sharks season tickets, a trip to Disneyland and to pay a divorce attorney and child support, authorities said.

At a hearing Monday, Superior Court Judge Ken Gnoss also found Bechtold guilty of a probation violation stemming from a 2009 misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

Bechtold faces up to three years in jail, Ariyoshi said. California Fire News 2011 

LODD: Long Beach Fire Engineer Darren Rockett

 Long Beach Firefighters Local 372 is saddened to announce the death of one of their own in the line of duty.

LBFD Engineer Darren Rockett succumbed this past week to job-related illness a few days before his 48th birthday. Brother Rockett was a 14-year veteran of Long Beach Fire, having been appointed in September of 1997.

During his career, Brother Rockett earned numerous commendations for his performance as a firefighter as well as his work with at-risk youth. One of those many commendations included citation as Long Beach Firefighter of the Year in 2005.

He is survived by his wife Jeanne and four daughters. 

Memorial Services

A memorial service for Darren Rockett will be held next Friday in Los Alamitos. Details below:

DATE:  Friday, November 18, 2011

TIME:  11:00am (Apparatus procession to precede the service)

WHERE: Cottonwood Church, 4505 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos

Honor Guards, Apparatus

All Honor Guards are invited to participate. Please contact Firefighter Joe Jackson at (562) 714-4512

Any Apparatus or Personnel wishing to participate please confirm by calling: Andy Aguirre at (310 422)-9468 or Jim Underwood at (562) 833-5145

Darren Rockett Memorial Hotline: (562) 570-2520

California Fire News 2011 

Injured CAL FIRE Firefighter Condition Still Serious

Update: Copperopolis, CA...Two days after a structure fire sent a firefighter to the hospital, the injured CAL FIRE Captain remains in serious condition at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. 

Fire Captain Sue Arrouzet, 45 of Tracy, has been with CAL FIRE for 22 years and is currently assigned to the CAL FIRE Copperopolis Fire Station. Captain Arrouzet remains in good spirits surrounded by family and co-workers and will likely be transferred to a San Francisco hospital for recovery....
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Copperopolis, CA...A Cal Fire captain injured Friday night fighting a fire at a two-story residence on Glen Side Court in Copperopolis was identified Monday as Sue Arrouzet, of Tracy.

Arrouzet, 45, of Tracy, was “in good spirits” Monday, said Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant.

She was being treated at Modesto’s Doctor’s Medical Center and was set to be transferred to a Bay Area hospital, Cal Fire officials said.

Two other firefighters, from Cal Fire and the Copperopolis Fire Protection District, sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene, Berlant said.

The Serious Accident Review Team is reviewing the incident, he said.

The fire was reported about 10:30 p.m. Friday by the residents, who made it outside uninjured, Berlant said.

Cal Fire assisted Copperopolis Fire Protection District.

The house was substantially damaged. A partial structural collapse caused the firefighter injuries, Berlant said.

The fire’s cause is still under investigation, Berlant said.

Arrouzet is a 22-year Cal Fire employee and was assigned to Cal Fire’s Copperopolis Fire Station.

California Fire News 2011 

LAFD captain investigated over vacation pay

Vacation, overtime, bonus pay boosted Capt. Eric Vasquez's wages by about $77,000 more than base salary of $108,000, according to payroll

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles city fire captain has been placed on leave for allegedly falsifying his timecard after auditors found he was paid $50,000 in vacation time last year, the equivalent of nearly 23 weeks of pay, city documents obtained by the Daily News show.

Vacation, overtime and bonus pay boosted Capt. Eric Vasquez's wages by about $77,000 more than his base salary of $108,000, according to payroll information obtained under the California Public Records Act.

The alleged discrepancies by Vasquez - a 17-year LAFD veteran whose duties involved supervising time sheet data entry, including his own - were discovered last month by the City Controller's Office when the department submitted payroll data electronically for the first time.

Until October, the LAFD was the only city agency still handling time sheets manually - a risk that the Controller's Office had flagged in an audit in February.

Vasquez was placed on administrative leave and his computer and other documentation were confiscated. City officials could not immediately say if he was continuing to receive his salary while on leave.

Efforts to contact Vasquez for comment were unsuccessful.

United Firefighters of Los Angeles City President Jeff Dapper said he could not comment on the case because it involved an ongoing investigation.

This is the latest case of city employees facing scrutiny for possible timecard abuse.

Earlier this year, six workers in the Department of Building and Safety were fired after an investigation into falsifying timecards. There was also an inquiry of timecard issues in the Department of Animal Services.

LAFD officials said they could not comment on Vasquez's vacation pay because it is a personnel issue that is still under investigation.

Vasquez had been working in the In-Service Training Division at the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center where he was in charge of timekeeping for the section and manually entered the information for vacation pay.

Vasquez, like other fire captains, has a base salary of $108,451.

But, with the added overtime and vacation, his pay in 2010 was $185,645. In 2009, it was $168,494.

Records show that Vasquez charged the city for 919 hours of vacation in 2010 - or the equivalent of nearly 23 weeks, for pay of $50,501.

From January to September of this year, Vasquez was paid for 459 hours of vacation, for $25,223.

Under the city's contract with the union representing firefighters, Vasquez would earn 24 days of vacation a year and could accrue a maximum of 48 days - or 9.6 weeks.

The LAFD issued a statement that the problems were turned up as the city reviewed its new payroll system, and the matter is now being investigated by the department's new Professional Standards Division.

"The Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles City Controller's Office have been working collaboratively over the past three years to implement a new payroll system for the LAFD," the statement said.

"During the process of reconciling and validating each LAFD member's vacation balance, the City Controller's Office and the LAFD discovered an inconsistency in a member's vacation timekeeping where the member exceeded the accrued allowance."

Since the new payroll system was installed, Controller Wendy Greuel said it has shown extra vacation time paid to about 50 other employees in the Fire Department, but none nearly as high as the amounts recorded by Vazquez.

Some may have been accidental or related to the new system and none were in excess of a few days.

"This is why we have been pushing so hard for an automated system," Greuel said. "Some of the problems were systemic. This one caused us to initiate a review and ask the department to look at it."

Fire Chief Brian Cummings said he could not comment about an ongoing investigation.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was advised of the ongoing investigation by the Professional Standards Division.

"The mayor is aware of the ongoing investigation," spokesman Peter Sanders said.

"The mayor developed the PSD to uncover and investigate cases like this because he believes our Fire Department needs to uphold the highest standards of integrity."

Source: firerescue1.com - Link

California Fire News 2011 

LAFD Captain arrested for attempting to purchase heroin

A sting operation by the LAPD resulted in the arrest of a Los Angeles City fire captain.

Authorities say Los Angeles City fire captain Mike Phillipsed was arrested on suspicion of attempting to purchase heroin.

Phillipsed was arrested around noon Wednesday near Avenue 61 and Figueroa Street during a sting operation. The sting was conducted by the LAPD's narcotics unit.

 According to the Los Angeles Times, LAPD Lt. Andy Neiman said Thursday that Phillipsed was "apprehended while attempting to purchase seven balloons of simulated heroin from undercover officers."

Phillipsed was booked on suspicion of intent to possess heroin and was held on $10,000 bail.

Los Angeles fire officials did not comment on the specifics of the arrest but issued a statement:

"The Los Angeles Fire Department has recently learned that a member of the department was arrested on Wednesday November 9th 2011 in the Northeast section of Los Angeles for a narcotics violation," the statement said.

"The matter is currently under investigation by the LAPD. The Los Angeles Fire Department's professional standards division has been notified and will be conducting an investigation concurrent with any criminal investigation."

California Fire News 2011

LBFD News: Death of Fire Engineer Darren Rockett

 Passing of Fire Engineer Darren Rockett

By Steve Yamamoto | November 9, 2011

It is with great sadness that the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) announces the death of active duty Fire Engineer Darren Rockett.  Engineer Rockett was born on November 10^th 1963.  He graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1981 and attended Santa Ana College where he studied Fire Technology.  He married his wife Jeanne on July 27^th, 1989 and together they have been raising their family in Long Beach since 1992. 

Engineer Rockett, a 14 year veteran of the LBFD was appointed to the department on September 22, 1997.  He served as a Firefighter at Station 10 and 11, promoted  to  Fire Engineer on June 6^th, 2002  and  then served  at  Fire   

Stations 11-C and 18-C.  At the time of his death, Fire Engineer Darren Rockett was assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau where his chief responsibility was a life safety inspector for all high-rise buildings in the City of Long Beach. During his career at the LBFD where Engineer Rockett was recognized for his leadership of the LBFD Rescue Youth Program and he had a positive influence on the lives of dozens of at-risk teenagers.

Engineer Rockett was awarded nine LBFD Commendations, two LBFD Unit Citations, two Los Angeles County Unit Citations, and one Los Angeles County Meritorious Award.  He was named LBFD Firefighter of the year in 2005.

Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr. appointed Darren as a Deacon at the Antioch Church of Long Beach.  Engineer Rockett had a passion for serving in his Church where he influenced people with his warmth, sincerity, and his love of Jesus. 

Engineer Rockett succumbed to a work related injury at Los Alamitos Medical Center on November 6^th, 2011.  His mother Sydney Harston preceded him in death.  His wife Jeanne, his daughters Tiffany, Alyse, Sydney, Daryn, and his father Victor Rockett survive him.

Darren Rockett was loved and admired by his fellow Firefighters, family, and friends. 

A Memorial Service is scheduled for November 18^th, 2011 with a location to be determined.

 Source: LBFD News and Views - http://firechannel.org/blog/?p=3285

California Fire News 2011 

Jerry Brown appointees help approve higher rural fire fee

A state board restocked with Gov. Jerry Brown appointees approved a $150 fire fee Wednesday on rural homeowners this fiscal year, continuing a drive by the Democratic governor to raise $50 million from those residents.

Most property owners will receive a $35 discount for living in a fire district; an estimated 90 percent of structures qualify for that savings. But their remaining fee, $115, will still be significantly higher than what rural property owners would have paid under a plan the state Board of Forestry and Fire Protection passed in August.

An estimated 800,000 structures in rural areas, including homes and office buildings, will be subject to the fee. The state is responsible for wildfire prevention and protection in those areas, and the governor said this summer that suburban growth on formerly rural lands had driven up costs for the state.

After his efforts to pass a higher fee were stymied by the Legislature, Brown appointed four new members to the nine-person board in late October, all Democrats. One new appointee, Susan Britting, a Coloma biology consultant, advocated for immediate action on the higher fee and ultimately made the motion that passed on a 6-2 vote.

The governor's appointments adviser, Nettie Sabelhaus, and his natural resources secretary, John Laird, were on hand for the final vote.

Brown and Democratic lawmakers authorized a maximum $150 fee as part of the June budget agreement. But the fire board in August approved a smaller $90 fee that contained as much as $65 in credits that could have reduced the fee to as low as $25 for some property owners. The least a property owner would pay under the new plan is $115.

After the board's action in August fell well short of what Brown had expected, the governor pushed for a new bill in the final days of legislative session that would have imposed a $175 fee. But Democrats who represent rural areas joined Republicans in opposing Brown's new bill.

Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/11/jerry-brown-fire-board-examines-higher-fee-on-rural-residents.html#ixzz1dJyZBul8

California Fire News 2011 

NFFA: UPDATE ON THE PASSING OF HAL BRUNO - Rest In Peace Hal.

STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION ABOUT DEATH OFHAL BRUNO, CHAIRMAN EMERITUS It is with deep sadness that the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation announces that Chairman Emeritus, Hal Bruno, died last evening, Tuesday, November 8, 2011. He was 83. For more than 60 years, Hal Bruno served as an active member of the fire service community, giving selflessly as a dedicated volunteer firefighter, advocate, commentator and leader. He is renowned for his commitment to fire safety initiatives and his compassion for the members of the fire service and their families. Bruno was appointed chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in 1999, a distinction he held until his retirement in 2008. Under Hal's leadership the NFFF expanded services and resources for the survivors, including workshops, conferences and scholarships. He guided and supported the Foundation in developing safety initiatives for firefighters and advancing safety practices that will help to reduce the number of line of duty deaths and injuries.  Here is a video of Hal talking about the NFFF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM4i85RVUtU On Capitol Hill and at the White House, Bruno was admired and respected for his integrity and ability to work with Democrats and Republicans alike to address important issues impacting our nation's firefighters and rescue personnel. He was a staunch advocate for passing the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act which provides federal death benefits to the families of firefighters who die in the line of duty from heart attack or stroke. A native of Chicago, Bruno enjoyed an illustrious 60-year career in journalism, retiring in 1999 from ABC News where he was Political Director and host of the weekly talk show, Hal Bruno's Washington. He frequently appeared on debate panels and served as moderator of the vice-presidential debate in, among others, the 1992 campaign. He covered every national election since 1960, most recently as the senior political analyst for Politics.com and as a guest commentator on CNN and other television programs. He was one of the first journalists on the scene of the tragic Our Lady of the Angels elementary school fire in Chicago on December 1, 1958 in which 92 students and 3 nuns died. His report that the fire spread so quickly because of the open stairwell lead to significant changes in fire safety and building standards and codes. HERE IS HIS ACCOUNT OF THAT FIRE: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4760/is_200812/ai_n32311141/  Mr. Bruno received numerous awards and recognition from the fire service for his dedication and commitment. In October of 2011 he was awarded the National Fire & Emergency Services Hall of Legends, Legacies and Leaders Award. The Congressional Fire Services Institute's Board of Directors selected him as the recipient of the 2008 CFSI / Motorola Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award and in 1999 he received the "President's Award" from the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He was named "Fire Service Person of the Year" by the Congressional Fire Services Institute in 1995 and in 2009 he received the Fire Buff of the Year Award from the International Fire Buff Associates. He is also a 2008 inductee of the Washington, D.C., Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists Hall of Fame. Bruno was a reporter, Chicago Bureau Chief, News Editor and Chief Political Correspondent for Newsweek magazine where he covered such matters as the civil rights movement, the 1968 Democratic National Convention and Watergate. He got his start at the DeKalb (Ill.) Daily Chronicle, moved to the City News Bureau of Chicago - where he covered the fire and police beat - and was also with the Chicago American newspaper. Bruno was a war correspondent who covered the 1956 Suez crisis, the Cuban revolution and the Chinese-Indian war. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois, served as an Army intelligence officer during the Korean War and was a Fulbright Scholar to India. Hal is survived by his loving wife Meg, his sister Barbara and his sons Harold and Daniel, and their wives, Brenda and Susan and four grandchildren. Rest In Peace Hal. Source: The Secret List 11-9-11 / 0730 Hours www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

California Fire News 2011 

LTBMU: Prescribed fire South and West Shores of Lake Tahoe

Prescribed fire operations resume on the South and West Shores of Lake Tahoe

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews are scheduled to resume prescribed fire operations on Kingsbury Grade near South Shore and on the West Shore near the Tahoe Heights area today, Wednesday, November 09, 2011, weather permitting.  Both project areas are small, approximately two acres.  Operations may continue through the week.

Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from these prescribed fire project areas.  Smoke may be visible on Highway 207 on Kingsbury Grade and on Highway 89 on the West Shore.  The Forest Service strives to minimize the impacts of smoke on local communities.  Smoke-sensitive residents should consider staying indoors and keeping doors, windows and outside vents closed.  To directly receive prescribed fire updates, send an email topa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us. Forest Service staff will post road signs around areas affected by prescribed fire, and update the local fire information line at (530) 543-2600, #6.  Other federal, state and local fire management agencies may also be conducting prescribed fire work during this period.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/ltbmu.

  To learn more about the efforts to reduce catastrophic wildfire risks in the Tahoe Basin read the Lake Tahoe Basin Multi-jurisdictional Fuel Reduction Plan found at http://fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_045864.pdf.

Take a few moments to visit an excellent web site and learn about Prescribed Fire vs. Wildfire at:http://www.smokeybear.com/prescribed-fires.asp. 

California Fire News 2011