Ventura County Wildfire Threatens 20 California Homes

Wildfire Threatens 20 California Homes

Tuesday January 23, 2007 7:01 AM

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) - Fire driven by Santa Ana winds spread over 30 acres of brush in steep terrain Monday, threatening 20 homes.

Wind was blowing the fire through hills in a southerly direction a short distance south of U.S. 101, said Ventura County fire Capt. Barry Parker. The blaze, burning in the Thousand Oaks area, was 15 percent contained late Monday.

``The fire is being pushed by mild Santa Ana winds. It's staying within its perimeter so that's a good thing,'' Parker said.

More than 200 firefighters were on the lines and two helicopters made water drops over the area of modern homes, many set in cul de sacs amid hills.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

The blaze broke out as ``red flag'' warnings were posted for fire danger due to gusty offshore winds and low humidity levels in Ventura County and parts of neighboring Los Angeles County. Santa Anas blow from the interior of the West toward the coast, pushing back the normal flow of moist air off the Pacific.

The Ventura County Fire Department closed its fire season on Jan. 15, citing forecast weather patterns with reduced potential for major wildland fires. Just last week, a storm blew through, delivering rare snow to the nearby Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu.

The closure of fire season involves changes in work schedules and equipment. The department warned, however, that there is year-round fire danger in Southern California.

Thousand Oaks, with a population of 127,000, is about 40 miles west of downtown Los Angeles.

Earlier this month, a wind-driven brush fire roared through an exclusive beachside area in Malibu, destroying five homes including one belonging to Suzanne Somers and damaging six others. Losses have been estimated at $60 million.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Update from USA Today Ventura County fire

Firefighters gain upper hand on wind-driven wildfire in Southern Calif.

23 Jan 2007 17:14:33 GMT

Firefighters said Tuesday they had gained an upper hand on a brush fire that has burned 30 acres and briefly threatened 20 homes.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters said Tuesday they had gained an upper hand on a brush fire that has burned 30 acres and briefly threatened 20 homes.
The fire was 15% contained early Tuesday, said Ventura County fire dispatcher Vicki Crabtree.

Steep terrain not accessible by fire engines made battling the blaze, which started Monday, a slow go, but winds had calmed down overnight allowing crews to get a handle on the fire.

They continued to douse hot spots, and there was no timetable for when the fire would be 100% contained, Crabtree said.

The blaze broke out in hills as "red flag" warnings were posted for fire danger due to gusty offshore winds and low humidity levels in Ventura County and parts of neighboring Los Angeles County.

Thousand Oaks, with a population of 127,000, is about 40 miles west of downtown Los Angeles.

More than 200 firefighters were on the lines Monday and two helicopters made water drops over an area of modern homes, many set in cul de sacs amid hills, that were briefly threatened by flames.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Two-alarm fire damages historic home

Two-alarm fire damages historic Alameda County home
Bay City News Service

A two-alarm fire at a historic Cherryland District home in unincorporated Alameda County Monday further diminished hopes of ever restoring the old home, which suffered fire damage in a separate blaze on Jan. 1, the Alameda County Fire Department reported.

Monday's fire was the second time this month that the Hayward-area home, which once belonged to the daughter of pioneer Hayward-area farmer William E. Meek, has caught fire, according to Battalion Chief John Walsh.

Firefighters first received reports of the fire, located at 278 Hampton Road, at around 5:33 p.m., according to Walsh. First arriving units discovered heavy smoke coming from the rear of the single-story home, as well as nearly 50-foot flames rising from the roof.

According to Walsh, while firefighters confined flames to the rear of the home and the attic, several holes in the home's floor and sections of unstable roof made it difficult for firefighters.

The causes of both Monday's fire and the Jan. 1 fire remain undetermined, according to Walsh. Monetary assessments of damages for either fire have yet to be determined.

The Fire Department reports that while there was evidence of transients occupying the home, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

No injuries have been reported and the fire threatened no other buildings. The fire was controlled at around 6 p.m.

New Website for Water Tender Photo's

Water Trucks and Water Tenders: Cal Hydro water tender 2004 San Antone fire

Morning Report - Wildland Fire News - NIFC - NICC

National Preparedness Level 1
(On a scale from 1 to 5)

Current hours for the National Fire Information Center are
(MST) 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday
208-387-5050

January 19, 2007

Light wildland fire activity continued the week of January 19 with 152 new fires reported. Four new large fires were reported: one each in Florida, California, Maryland, and Puerto Rico. Five large fires were contained: one each in Florida, California, Maryland, Texas, and Puerto Rico.

Weather Discussion: Southern California is predicted to have cool temperatures, dry conditions, and northeast winds today followed by a break in windy conditions on Saturday. Fire potential will increase late Sunday and continue through mid next week with gusty winds, low humidity, and a warming trend.


Weekly Statistics 1/19/07

• Number of new large fires 4
• States currently reporting large fires:
• Number of active large fires 0
• Acres from active fires 0
• Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires 0
• Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres 0
• Fires contained the week of 1/19/07 5
• Year-to-date large fires contained 6

Year-to-date Statistics

• 2007(1/1/07 - 1/19/07) Fires: 305 Acres: 4,515
  
  
• 2006 (1/1/06 - 1/19/06) Fires: 1,595 Acres: 519,655
  
  
• 2005 (1/1/05 - 1/19/05) Fires: 505 Acres: 1,620
  
  
• 2004 (1/1/04 - 1/19/04) Fires: 481 Acres: 1,775
  
  
• 2003 (1/1/03 - 1/19/03) Fires: 77 Acres: 615
  
  
• 2002 (1/1/02 - 1/19/02) Fires: 386 Acres: 3,023
  
  
• 2001 (1/1/01 - 1/19/01) Fires: 1,231 Acres: 44,334
  
  
• 2000 (1/1/00 - 1/19/00) Fires: 1,058 Acres: 15,074

8-Year Average
2000 - 2007 Fires: 1,123 Acres: 84,344

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center Morning Report

Current Wildland Fires

• California Number of fires: 0 Acres: 0 New fires: 1 Fires contained: 1
  
  
• NEW Diablo (San Luis Obispo Unit, Cal-Fire): The fire was contained at 323 acres.
  
  
• Florida Number of fires: 0 Acres: 0 New fires: 1 Fires contained: 1
  
  
• NEW Holder (Florida Division of Forestry): The fire was contained at 640 acres.
  
  
• Maryland Number of fires: 0 Acres: 0 New fires: 1 Fires contained: 1
  
  
• NEW Thorofare (Maryland State DNR): The fire was contained at 411 acres.
  
  
• Puerto Rico Number of fires: 0 Acres: 0 New fires: 1 Fires contained: 1
  
  
• NEW Pargera Community (Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge, FWS): The fire was contained at 525 acres.
  
  
• Texas Number of fires: 0 Acres: 0 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 1
  
  
• Celebrity Ranch (Texas Forest Service): The fire was contained at 300 acres.

This report will be updated on Fridays while fire activity continues.

For another source of daily national wildland fire information see the National Interagency Coordination Center.

Additional wildland fire-related information is available from the following sites:

http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html

________________________________________________________

National Interagency Coordination Center

Incident Management Situation Report
Friday, January 19, 2006 - 1000 MST
National Preparedness Level 1

National Fire Activity (Weekly Total)
Initial attack activity: Light (152 new fires)
New large fires: 4 (*)
Large fires contained: 5
Uncontained large fires: 0
Area Command Teams:
Type 1 IMTs committed:
Type 2 IMTs committed:
Fire Use Teams:

** Uncontained large fires do not include WFU or confine/contain
incidents. **

The U.S. is mobilizing 67 fire specialists and managers, and two crews to
Australia.



Southern Area (PL 1)
New fires: 131
New large fires: 2
Uncontained large fires: 0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCIDENT |ST|UNIT| SIZE | % | EST |TOTAL|CRW|ENG|HELI|STRC| $$$ |Org
NAME | | | |CTN| CTN |PERS | | | |LOSS|C-T-D|Own
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Holder |FL| FLS| 640|100| ---| 9| 0| 0| 0| 0| NR| ST
* Pargera Commu|PR| CBR| 525|100| ---| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| NR|FWS
Celebrity Ranch|TX| TXS| 300|100| ---| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| NR| ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FLS - Florida Division of Forestry
CBR - Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge, FWS
TXS - Texas Forest Service



Eastern Area (PL 1)
New fires: 5
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCIDENT |ST|UNIT| SIZE | % | EST |TOTAL|CRW|ENG|HELI|STRC| $$$ |Org
NAME | | | |CTN| CTN |PERS | | | |LOSS|C-T-D|Own
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Thorofare |MD| MDS| 411|100| ---| 1| 0| 1| 0| 0|0.01K| ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MDS - Maryland State DNR



Southern California Area (PL 3)
New fires: 6
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCIDENT |ST|UNIT| SIZE | % | EST |TOTAL|CRW|ENG|HELI|STRC| $$$ |Org
NAME | | | |CTN| CTN |PERS | | | |LOSS|C-T-D|Own
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Diablo |CA| SLU| 323|100| ---| 334| 13| 21| 0| 1| 1.0M| ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SLU - San Luis Obispo Unit, CDF



Predictive Services Discussion

Southern California will see continued cool temperatures, dry conditions
and northeast winds today, followed by a break in windy conditions on
Saturday. Fire potential will increase again late Sunday and continue
through mid next week with gusty winds, continued low relative humidity
and a warming trend.



Fires and Acres Last Week

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
AREA | BIA | BLM | FWS | NPS | ST/OT | USFS | TOTAL
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northwest |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |FIRES| | | | | 1| 1| 2
California|ACRES| | | | | 1| 3| 4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern |FIRES| | 3| | | | 3| 6
California|ACRES| | 800| | | | 0| 800
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Rockies |ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |FIRES| | 1| | | | | 1
Great Basi|ACRES| | 0| | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Great Basi|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southwest |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rocky |FIRES| | | | | | 7| 7
Mountain |ACRES| | | | | | 388| 388
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |FIRES| | | | | 5| | 5
Area |ACRES| | | | | 303| | 303
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern |FIRES| | | 2| | 128| 1| 131
Area |ACRES| | | 545| | 1214| 3| 1762
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL |FIRES| 0| 4| 2| 0| 134| 12| 152
|ACRES| 0| 800| 545| 0| 1518| 394| 3257
---------------------------------------------------------------------------



Fires and Acres Year to Date

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
AREA | BIA | BLM | FWS | NPS | ST/OT | USFS | TOTAL
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northwest |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |FIRES| | | | | 1| 1| 2
California|ACRES| | | | | 1| 3| 4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern |FIRES| | 3| | | 17| 11| 31
California|ACRES| | 800| | | 239| 6| 1045
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Rockies |ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |FIRES| | 1| | | 1| | 2
Great Basi|ACRES| | 0| | | 0| | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Great Basi|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southwest |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rocky |FIRES| 1| | | | 2| | 3
Mountain |ACRES| 2| | | | 16| | 18
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |FIRES| | | | | 10| | 10
Area |ACRES| | | | | 307| | 307
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern |FIRES| 4| | 3| | 247| 3| 257
Area |ACRES| 149| | 595| | 2393| 4| 3141
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL |FIRES| 5| 4| 3| 0| 278| 15| 305
|ACRES| 151| 800| 595| 0| 2956| 13| 4515
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eight Year Average Fires 1123
Eight Year Average Acres 84344
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** Changes in some agency YTD acres reflect more accurate mapping or
reporting adjustments. ***



Prescribed Fires and Acres Last Week
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
AREA | BIA | BLM | FWS | NPS | ST/OT | USFS | TOTAL
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northwest |FIRES| | 3| 1| | | | 4
|ACRES| | 150| 700| | | | 850
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |FIRES| | 1| | 0| | 9| 10
California|ACRES| | 67| | 1| | 202| 270
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern |FIRES| | | | | | 3| 3
California|ACRES| | | | | | 210| 210
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Rockies |ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |FIRES| | 0| | | | | 0
Great Basi|ACRES| | 20| | | | | 20
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western |FIRES| | 0| | | | | 0
Great Basi|ACRES| | 5| | | | | 5
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southwest |FIRES| | | | | | 4| 4
|ACRES| | | | | | 7| 7
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rocky |FIRES| 1| 5| | | | 2| 8
Mountain |ACRES| 45| 28| | | | 1633| 1706
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Area |ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern |FIRES| | | 2| 2| 12| 20| 36
Area |ACRES| | | 196| 2525| 4374| 18346| 25441
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL |FIRES| 1| 9| 3| 2| 12| 38| 65
|ACRES| 45| 270| 896| 2526| 4374| 20398| 28509
---------------------------------------------------------------------------



Prescribed Fires and Acres Year to Date
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
AREA | BIA | BLM | FWS | NPS | ST/OT | USFS | TOTAL
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northwest |FIRES| | 6| 1| | | | 7
|ACRES| | 241| 700| | | | 941
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |FIRES| | 2| | 1| | 15| 18
California|ACRES| | 69| | 5| | 747| 821
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern |FIRES| | | | | | 11| 11
California|ACRES| | | | | | 228| 228
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Rockies |ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |FIRES| | 4| | | 3| 3| 10
Great Basi|ACRES| | 49| | | 16| 23| 88
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western |FIRES| | 1| | | | | 1
Great Basi|ACRES| | 25| | | | | 25
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southwest |FIRES| 1| | | | | 8| 9
|ACRES| 30| | | | | 84| 114
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rocky |FIRES| 1| 10| 3| 2| 4| 37| 57
Mountain |ACRES| 45| 97| 13| 24| 15| 4064| 4258
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |FIRES| | | 3| | | 2| 5
Area |ACRES| | | 6| | | 109| 115
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern |FIRES| | | 17| 6| 31| 40| 94
Area |ACRES| | | 12247| 4672| 12468| 28848| 58235
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL |FIRES| 2| 23| 24| 9| 38| 116| 212
|ACRES| 75| 481| 12966| 4701| 12499| 34103| 64825
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** Changes in some agency YTD acres reflect more accurate mapping or
reporting adjustments. ***



WFU Fires and Acres Year to Date
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
AREA | BIA | BLM | FWS | NPS | ST/OT | USFS | TOTAL
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northwest |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
California|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
California|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Rockies |ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Great Basi|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Great Basi|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southwest |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
|ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rocky |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Mountain |ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Area |ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern |FIRES| | | | | | | 0
Area |ACRES| | | | | | | 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL |FIRES| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0
|ACRES| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** Changes in some agency YTD acres reflect more accurate mapping or
reporting adjustments. ***



Resources Status: Committed Resources
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|Area |Crews|Crews|Engs |Engs |Heli |Heli |Airt |Airt |Ovrhd|Ovrhd|
| |Fed |ST/OT|Fed |ST/OT|Fed |ST/OT|Fed |ST/OT|Fed |ST/OT|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|Alaska | | | | | | | | | | |
|Northwest| | | 2| 2| | 1| | | 1| |
|Northern | | | | | | | | | | |
|Southern | | 9| | 28| | | | | | 38|
|Northern | | | | | | | | | | |
|Eastern G| | | | | | | | | | |
|Western G| | | | | | | | | | |
|Southwest| | | | | | | | | | |
|Rocky Mou| | | | | | | | | | |
|Eastern A| | | | 5| | | | | | |
|Southern | | | | | | | | | | 8|
|Total | 0| 9| 2| 35| 0| 1| 0| 0| 1| 46|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

*** National Interagency Coordination Center ***

FIRST RESPONDER TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

• Links for 2007-01-18 [del.icio.us]

  Posted: 19 Jan 2007 12:00 AM CST

  • California Wildfire information - CDF - USFS - BLM
    Clean fact page with the direct government links Federal, State California - CDF - USFS - BLM, Wildfire information, Fire news, California Fire news, California, Fire, news, NIFC, Firescope

California Wildfire information - CDF - USFS - BLM

Previous Major California Wildfire Information

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 California Wildfires

1. Bar Complex
   
2. Boulder Complex
3. Canyon Fire
4. Day Fire
5. Emerald Fire
   
6. Esperanza Fire
   
7. Goodale Fire
   
8. Happy Camp Complex
9. Horse Fire
   
10. Hunter Fire
    
11. Kingsley Complex
12. Millard Complex
13. Mt. Pinos Complex
    
14. Orleans Complex
15. Pedro Fire
16. Perkins Fire
17. Pinnacles Fire
18. Plunge Fire
19. Quail Fire
20. Sage Fire
21. San Rafael Complex
    
22. Sawtooth Complex
23. Sheckell Fire
24. Sierra Fire
25. Uncles Complex
26. Westside Fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 California Wildfires

1. 36 Fire
2. Blaisdell Fire
3. Border 50 Fire
4. Harding Fire
5. Manton Fire
6. Paradise Fire
7. Soboba Fire
8. San Timoteo Fire
9. Thurman Fire
10. Topanga Fire
11. Volcan Fire
12. Woodhouse Fire
13. Yorba Linda Fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 California Wildfires

1. Cachuma Fire
2. Bear Fire
3. Calaveras Complex
4. Cerritos Fire
5. Eagle Fire
6. Foothill/Crown Fire
7. French Fire
8. Gaviota Fire
9. Geysers Fire
10. Hunt Fire
11. Mataguay Fire
12. Old Hwy Fire
13. Oregon Fire
14. Pattison Fire
15. Pine Fire
16. Power Fire
17. Rumsey Fire
18. Sims Fire
19. Stevens Fire
20. Straylor Fire
    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003 California Wildfires

1. Cedar Fire
2. Grand Prix Fire
3. Happy Fire
4. Mine Fire
5. Mountain Fire
6. Old Fire
7. Otay Fire
8. Paradise2 Fire
9. Piru Fire
10. Roblar II Fire
11. Simi Fire
12. Verdale Fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Wildfire Information sources:

Firescope California fires
Active Fire Map
CDF Major Incidents
Detected Hot Spot Map
InciWeb (USFS)
So. Ca. GAC Intel. Report
Wild Fire Information (NIFC)

Australian Wildfires Burn Out of Control - OT

Firefighters battled to contain a wildfire Wednesday that razed several homes in southern Australia amid soaring temperatures and warnings that the worst was yet to come.

Two fires in southern Victoria state late Tuesday destroyed one house west of the state capital, Melbourne, and three in the state's northeast, where a massive blaze has blackened more than 27,000 hectares (66,717 acres) over the past two days, according to the Victoria Country Fire Authority.

Authorities earlier reported that eight houses had burned down, but revised that figure after firefighters were able to enter the charred areas and inspect the damage.

Meanwhile, firefighters were struggling to contain the northeast blaze - which knocked out a main electricity circuit on Tuesday, plunging some 200,000 homes and businesses into darkness and affecting hundreds of traffic signals and suburban train services. Several people were caught in elevators when power went out in some buildings and had to be rescued.

The power was restored early Wednesday, but Victoria's Premier Steve Bracks urged residents to conserve electricity as temperatures were set to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) this week.

"This is the worst bush fire conditions we have ever had in Victoria's history because it is going to go on and it is going to get worse," Bracks told reporters Wednesday. "We have never encountered this in Victoria before."

Officials also evacuated tourists and residents of a resort community in the Snowy Mountains of neighboring New South Wales state on Wednesday, where firefighters and six water-bombing aircraft were struggling to contain a blaze, the Rural Fire Service said.

Over 10,000 square kilometers (3,861 square miles) of Victorian forest and ranch land has been destroyed since the start of the southern hemisphere summer, when soaring temperatures and gusty winds often combine to spur the sometimes deadly blazes.

Nine people died in fires on South Australia state's Eyre Peninsula in January 2005. Eight of them died in their cars as they tried to flee the approaching blaze. In January 2003, more than 500 houses were destroyed and four people killed when a huge fire tore through the national capital of Canberra.

Fire Nearly Ruins Alameda Home

Oakland Tribune
January 16, 2007

California - The three-alarm fire drew roughly 40 firefighters from Alameda and Oakland to the 2000 block of Clinton Avenue. Hundreds of neighbors, many of them off work for Martin Luther King Day, lined up to watch from nearby streets and sidewalks.
Alameda Fire Department Captain Daren Olson said one person sustained minor injuries and was taken to Alameda Hospital, just down the block on Clinton Avenue.

Olson did not have information about the nature of the injuries and could not say for certain whether a man who apparently owns the home was the one who received medical attention.

The cause of the fire remained unclear, Olson said.

"I have no idea," he said. "That's still under investigation at this time."

Witnesses reported seeing flames shoot up 10 to 15 feet above the roofline.

"This thing was cooking," said Patrick Bennett, 27, of Alameda.

Bennett said he and a friend were riding their bicycles nearby and followed one of the fire trucks to the scene.

As they watched firefighters attack the flames, some in the crowd snapped pictures with their digital cameras or cell phones. One woman sipped a bottle of beer. Smoke was visible from miles away.

Some people said they heard explosions after the fire started.

Melissa Bass, a hospital staffer in the X-ray department, said she was eating her lunch inside her car parked near the home, when she saw a man flee.

"I saw the guy running out of the house," Bass said. "By that time it was already in flames."

She said that about 10 minutes after she saw the fire, she heard a "boom."

"It wasn't that loud," she said. "It was just one big boom. ... You could probably hear it at the end of the block."

Carol Gerdes, who lives next door, identified the owner of the home as Darrell Hall.

She said she called 9-1-1 after seeing smoke and fire, then turned on her hose to help stop the flames from spreading.

Hall was outside the house, she said. The Fire Department said the home was unoccupied by the time they arrived.

"He was just not able to talk, period," Gerdes said of her neighbor, whom she's known for more than five years. "That's it."

Fire crews had the flames mostly contained after about an hour.

Officials did not have an estimate of how much damage was caused to the one-story home.

Olson said a rear portion was almost destroyed. The roof was ripped apart, windows broken and a garage door was beaten down to put the fire out.

"The interior is gutted," Olson said.

He said some areas inside had not actually burned, but were largely damaged by smoke or debris.

Written by Oakland Tribune

Man's Cell Phone Apparently Sets Him Ablaze

Vallejo - A cell phone apparently ignited in a man's pocket and started a fire that burned his hotel room and caused severe burns over half his body, fire department officials said. Luis Picaso, 59, was in stable condition Monday with second- and third-degree burns to his upper body, back, right arm and right leg, Vallejo Fire Department assistant chief Kurt Henke said.

Vallejo Fire Department spokesman Bill Tweedy said Monday that Saturday's incident involving a man who was seriously burned after his cell phone caught fire and ignited his clothing is not that unusual.

"There have been a couple other cases in California in the past few years," Tweedy said. "It's no different than any other fires involving mechanical or electrical items," Tweedy said.

A 16-year-old girl suffered second-degree burns when her cell phone in her back pocket caught fire, the Ontario, Calif., Fire Department reported in June 2004.

An incident in May 2004 in New Paltz, N.Y., lent credibility to the suspicion that a cell phone could ignite a fire at a gas pump. A 21-year-old student was filling up at the pump when his phone rang. When he answered it a large flash occurred at the nozzle and started a fire.

Thousands of counterfeit LG-branded cell phone batteries were recalled in June 2004 because they could overheat and pose a fire hazard, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The 59-year-old resident of The Travelers Hotel on Georgia Street in Vallejo suffered second- and third-degree burns on half his body Saturday night when his cell phone caught fire and ignited his clothing and the plastic chair he was sitting in, the Vallejo Fire Department reported. A sprinkler confined the fire to the immediate area and firefighters found Luis Picaso on the floor of the bathroom.

Tweedy said Monday Picaso is in stable condition at the UC Davis Medical Center.

Written by Associated Press

2006 National Wildland Fire Totals - Record year

The Wildland Acres Burned Graph plots the acres burned and compares the years from 2000 to 2006, starting in May and ending in October of each year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY OF 2006 FIRE ACTIVITY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

Wildland Fire Activity 2006 Fire Season:

Year-to-Date Wildland Acres Burned - 9,506,129
Number of Wildland Fires - 89,524

7 Year Average Wildland acres Burned - 6,051,169
Number of Wildland Fires - 72,006