RED FLAG FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
442 AM PDT MON MAR 10 2014

A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE SOUTH THROUGH THE REGION TONIGHT.
STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS ALONG WITH DRIER AIR WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE
FRONT.

LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
442 AM PDT MON MAR 10 2014 /442 AM MST MON MAR 10 2014/

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PDT /10 AM MST/ TO 9 PM
PDT /9 PM MST/ TUESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 101. ..229 AND 466. ..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 10 AM PDT /10 AM MST/ TO 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/ TUESDAY.
THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101 LAKE MEAD
  NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE. IN CALIFORNIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE
  229 LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE
  466 LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE.

* TIMING...GUSTY NORTH WINDS ARE EXPECTED BEHIND A COLD FRONT THAT
  IS FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH THE REGION TONIGHT. WINDS ARE EXPECTED
  TO REALLY INCREASE TUESDAY MORNING IN THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY
  SOUTH OF HOOVER DAM AND CONTINUE INTO TUESDAY EVENING. RELATIVE
  HUMIDITY VALUES WILL DROP BELOW 15 PERCENT LATE TUESDAY MORNING
  AND REMAIN BELOW 15 PERCENT UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING.

* WIND...NORTH WINDS 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 45 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...10-15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
  HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS CAN CREATE CONDITIONS THAT ARE
  FAVORABLE FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS..

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE FIRE
WEATHER OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

---------------------------------------------

CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -  

FIRE WEATHER WATCH GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY OVER MOST OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
955 AM PDT MON MAR 10 2014

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY OVER MOST OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY..

.A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE NEAR OREGON IS EXPECTED TO DROP SOUTH
INTO EASTERN CALIFORNIA BY WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL BRING GUSTY
OFFSHORE FLOW TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...PEAKING ON WEDNESDAY AND
FOCUSING OVER LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES. DURING THE
PEAK...THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 45 MPH
AND GUSTS UP TO AROUND 65 MPH. WHILE HUMIDITIES WILL INCREASE SOME
TUESDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS...THEY WILL GRADUALLY
LOWER TO BELOW 15 PERCENT THROUGH THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY...FIRST
NEAR THE COAST WEDNESDAY MORNING THEN UP THROUGH THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS IN THE AFTERNOON. DESPITE THE INITIALLY HIGHER
HUMIDITIES...THE STRONG WIND POTENTIAL WILL BRING A POTENTIAL FOR
EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR IF A FIRE STARTED.

WHILE NOT PART OF THE WATCH...TUESDAY AND THURSDAY ARE PERIODS OF
HIGH FIRE WEATHER CONCERN...WITH A FEW HOURS OF WIDESPREAD RED
FLAG CONDITIONS EXPECTED.

CAZ246-253-254-110100-
/O.NEW.KLOX.FW.A.0004.140312T1300Z-140313T0100Z/
SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA-
VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST-
955 AM PDT MON MAR 10 2014

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* WINDS...NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE
  EXPECTED LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...BUT
  THERE IS A POTENTIAL OF NORTHEAST WINDS 30 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS
  TO 65 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...25 TO 45 PERCENT WEDNESDAY MORNING LOWERING
  TO 10 TO 15 PERCENT BY LATE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR IS POSSIBLE IF FIRE IGNITION
  OCCURS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS..

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR
FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH. LISTEN FOR
LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
955 AM PDT MON MAR 10 2014

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY OVER MOST OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY..

.A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE NEAR OREGON IS EXPECTED TO DROP SOUTH
INTO EASTERN CALIFORNIA BY WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL BRING GUSTY
OFFSHORE FLOW TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...PEAKING ON WEDNESDAY AND
FOCUSING OVER LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES. DURING THE
PEAK...THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 45 MPH
AND GUSTS UP TO AROUND 65 MPH. WHILE HUMIDITIES WILL INCREASE SOME
TUESDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS...THEY WILL GRADUALLY
LOWER TO BELOW 15 PERCENT THROUGH THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY...FIRST
NEAR THE COAST WEDNESDAY MORNING THEN UP THROUGH THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS IN THE AFTERNOON. DESPITE THE INITIALLY HIGHER
HUMIDITIES...THE STRONG WIND POTENTIAL WILL BRING A POTENTIAL FOR
EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR IF A FIRE STARTED.

WHILE NOT PART OF THE WATCH...TUESDAY AND THURSDAY ARE PERIODS OF
HIGH FIRE WEATHER CONCERN...WITH A FEW HOURS OF WIDESPREAD RED
FLAG CONDITIONS EXPECTED.

CAZ240-241-244-245-288-547-110100-
/O.NEW.KLOX.FW.A.0004.140312T1300Z-140313T0100Z/
VENTURA COUNTY COAST-
LOS ANGELES COUNTY COAST INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES-
VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS-
SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY-
955 AM PDT MON MAR 10 2014

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY OVER THE COASTS AND VALLEYS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA
COUNTY..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* WINDS...NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE
  EXPECTED EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...BUT
  THERE IS A POTENTIAL OF NORTHEAST WINDS 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS
  TO 55 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...20 TO 30 PERCENT EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING
  LOWERING TO 10 TO 15 PERCENT BY NOON.

* IMPACTS...EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR IS POSSIBLE IF FIRE IGNITION
  OCCURS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS..

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR
FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH. LISTEN FOR
LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.
---------------------------------------------

CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -  

CA-CFN Gunfire 270 acres 100% Near Pine Valley / Cleveland National Forest (San Diego County)

Gun Fire CA-CNF-599 Pine Valley, San Diego Co.

The Gun Fire started March 8 2014 off Interstate 8 & Sunrise Hwy near Pine Valley (San Diego County).

Update 3-11-14 1300:  270 acres 100%

Update 3-10-14 0800: 125 acres, 60% contained.

Update 3-9-14 0800: 120 acres, 30% contained.

Credit:  ‏@ViejasAlerts 

No structures were threatened, and 200 fire personnel stayed on scene overnight, building fire lines to contain the flames. 

“The access to the area where the fire is burning is really challenging, and some strong gusty winds earlier made it difficult for the fixed-wing aircraft to drop retardant on the fire, so for a while, the retardant drops were shut down,” said Wende Cornelius, the fire information officer for Cleveland National Forest.

Cornelius said the fire was spreading on brush that hasn't been burned for roughly 40 years, and the winds were helping it move faster.

 Three helicopters were ordered to help extinguish the fire, but high winds prevented them from taking off Sunday.

 Officals hope to have it contained by 8 p.m.

Road Closures: According to the California Highway Patrol, officers closed down the interstate I-8 1:40 p.m. Saturday in both directions in the area of Buckman Springs Road and Highway 80. The freeway was reopened around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday.

Forest visitors should be aware of emergency vehicles along Sunrise Highway and Old Highway 80.
Incident Overview

As of 10:30 a.m. Sunday, the so called "Gun Fire" had burned up to 125 acres.

The fire got its name because it sparked near a gun enthusiasts club off of Old Highway 80. The Gun Fire started March 8 2014 off Interstate 8 & Sunrise Hwy near Pine Valley (San Diego County).

Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause:  Firefighters have not reached the point of origin yet, so they have not yet determined a cause.
Date of Origin Saturday March 08th, 2014 approx. 12:30 PMCurrent Situation
Total Personnel 250
Size 125 acres
Percent Contained 30%
Estimated Containment Date Sunday March 09th, 2014 approx. 08:00 PM

Weather: National Weather Service issued for San Diego County's valleys and mountains, which will expire at 5 p.m. Sunday.

• Safety Notes: SDG&E turned off power in the fire's area by request of the U.S. Forestry as a safety concern, which affected the community of Mt. Laguna. Officials said a power pole did burn, but only after the power was cut.

---------------------------------------------

CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -  

Africanized Bees Swarm Two Women and CAL FIRE Firefighters Treated For Injuries

More than 70,000 bees found after Palm Desert bee attack

One woman stung 1,000 times; six others, including five firefighters, also stung

PALM DESERT — Authorities are warning people to be careful when encountering bees in the Coachella Valley after five firefighters and two women, one who suffered as much as 1,000 stings, were hurt Thursday when Africanized bees swarmed inside a Palm Desert gated community.

A 71-year-old woman suffered major injuries, another woman was also hurt, and the firefighters were treated for minor injuries Thursday after they were attacked along Lucerne Drive inside the Montecito community near Cook Street, which is surrounded by Desert Willow Golf Resort.

A private service called to remove the bees, officials said, believed the insects were Africanized honey bees. There were two hives, estimated to hold anywhere from 65,000 to 75,000 bees.


Officials said the bees were contained and the hives were removed Thursday night.

CAL Fire Battalion Chief Mark Williams told reporters that the severely injured woman suffered 1,000 stings and was rushed to a local hospital where it was determined she was in shock. He added, though, that the woman was expected to recover.

The first attack was reported at 4:40 p.m., according to CAL Fire’s website.

Williams said the severely injured woman was “covered in bees as if she was wearing a bee suit.”

“Three of (the firefighters) were essentially trying to fight the bees while rescuing the woman, and they were putting her into the ambulance to get her away from the scene,” Williams said. All five firefighters were taken to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage to be treated for bee stings to their faces and necks, he added.

A second woman was also stung, officials said, but she was able to drive herself to an area hospital. Her condition was unknown Thursday evening.

The hives were inside a posted metal box containing fiber optic equipment belonging to Verizon, Williams said.

He added that fire dispatchers used the reverse 911 system to warn residents within two miles of the site to stay indoors.

Linda Kent lives next door to the first woman who was stung. She described her as “a strong, healthy woman, it’s not like she’s sick or anything.”

Kent, and other neighbors, stood on the porch of a home about two blocks away from the scene, many were unable to get past the massed fire trucks and ambulances to their homes.

Williams said some residents had noticed bees in the area, but Kent said she only saw “one bee, earlier that morning.”

Her husband, Bruce, was stung once about the same time their neighbor was attacked, but was able to get the stinger out, she said. “He was watering some flowers, that was all he was doing.”

Neighbors who were home at the time said it wasn’t clear who first called 911 when the bees swarmed, but emergency personnel arrived just in time to scoop the woman off the ground and get her into the ambulance.

Bees are attracted to strong scents and vibrations such as those made by lawnmowers, said Robert Duffin, owner of Beesmart Bee Removal in Hemet.

The season for bees begins in early March so there are a lot of swarms this time of year in the valley, Duffin said, adding that people should avoid bees when they spot them. “Bees are very protective.”

Experts also said that Africanized honey bees first arrived in the Coachella Valley in the late 1990s.

In previous incidents of valley bee attacks, Kirk Visscher, professor of entomology at the University of California, Riverside, said any unmanaged colony of bees should be considered to be Africanized bees, and although that may not always be the case, it’s best to take precautions as if they were.

The bee population tends to be larger during the spring, when there are more flowers for the insects to feed on, Visscher said.

In 2012 in Indio, two people suffered more than 180 stings between them after they were swarmed by bees outside a home in the 81-000 block of Francis Avenue.

Multiple stings can send a victim into anaphylactic shock, causing swelling and difficulty breathing, and are fatal to those who are allergic to the venom.

Source: http://www.mydesert.com/article/20140306/NEWS08/303060029/CAL-Fire-Bee-attack-PD-stay-indoors?

Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District

Desert Sun reporter Reza Gostar contributed to this report. 

---------------------------------------------

CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -  

CAL FIRE Cow Mountain Prescribed Burn Destroys Television Broadcast Antennas And Equipment #CaFire

Update: TIA Ukiah - The Television Improvement Association

Recent TV outage: controlled burn damaged our equipment

26-Feb-2014: The TV channel outage affecting PBS, CBS, and NBC was caused by fire damage to our equipment earlier this week. Both digital and analog signals have been knocked off the air. Apparently the Cow Mountain controlled burn was not as controlled as it needed to be, and it destroyed some of the equipment we use to rebroadcast those channels.

We've restored the NBC signal (digital KCRA 3) and also moved its analog transmission to channel 43. For CBS (KPIX 5) and PBS (KQED 9) we've setup a temporary antenna, but the main pre-amplifier was destroyed, and the signals won't be as steady or reliable. Since this equipment is custom made, we expect it to take several weeks before replacements can be made.

Local TV broadcasts down after controlled burn

Equipment on Cow Mountain damaged last week

By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN Ukiah Daily Journal

A non-profit group that provides free television broadcasts for Ukiah residents who don't have cable had equipment damaged last week during controlled burns conducted by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Carl Sassenrath, chairman of the Ukiah Television Improvement Association, said his group has eight antennas on the top of Cow Mountain, where Cal Fire set fires beginning Feb. 24 to burn vegetation and provide training to firefighters.

"The fire basically melted the cables connected to some the antennas," Sassenrath said, explaining that the fire "jumped the fireline and came all the way to the top."

Julie Cooley, spokesperson for Mendocino's Cal Fire Unit, said she was not aware of the antennas being damaged and could not speak to whether the agency would be liable.

Sassenrath said he spoke to a Cal Fire chief who offered to help pay for the damages, and that he planned to contact him again when he repaired all the equipment and knew how much it cost to fix it.

Six channels, which UTIA receives from San Francisco and then rebroadcasts, were knocked off the air last week. Currently, three channels are back on.

On Wednesday, Sassenrath said his group "braved the storm to get NBC back on the air," but CBS is missing and PBS is spotty. He said once the weather is clear for a few days, the group will try and do more repairs.

He said the timing was particularly bad because the group just bought a new $1,200 antenna system so it could broadcast the Olympics "in an excellent quality digital picture."

For more information about UTIA, which depends on donations from the community, visit tiaukiah.org.
 Help keep Ukiah's community television on-the-air. Contribute!

Source: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/news/ci_25294086/local-tv-broadcasts-down-after-controlled-burn

---------------------------------------------

CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -  

RED FLAG WARNING - FIRE WEATHER ZONE 229 LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. #CaFire #CaWX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
933 AM PST FRI MAR 7 2014

 RED FLAG WARNING

 

LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
933 AM PST FRI MAR 7 2014 /1033 AM MST FRI MAR 7 2014/

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PST /8 PM MST/
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 101 - 229 AND 466

* AFFECTED AREA: IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101 LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE. IN CALIFORNIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 229 LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 466 LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE. 

* TIMING: WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE MORNING AND WILL REACH PEAK SPEEDS BY NOON TODAY BEFORE DECREASING EARLY FRIDAY EVENING. RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL DROP BELOW 15 PERCENT LATE THIS MORNING OR EARLY AFTERNOON. 

* WIND: NORTH 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 35 MPH...MAINLY SOUTH OF HOOVER DAM. WINDS OVERALL MAY BE A BIT LIGHTER OVER LAKE MEAD. 

* HUMIDITY: MINIMUM OF 10-15 PERCENT. 

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS CAN CREAT CONDITIONS THAT ARE FAVORABLE FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE FIRE WEATHER OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

--------------------------------------------

CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -  

NATIONAL WILDFIRE COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS DAY #USFire

NATIONAL WILDFIRE COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS DAY

Join communities throughout the U.S. on Saturday, May 3, 2014 as NFPA launches its first National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day! 

Commit a couple of hours, or the entire day, and watch as your actions positively contribute to reducing your community’s wildfire risk. Challenge your friends, your family, relatives, faith-based group or youth organization to develop a project and join others throughout the nation in making big changes. Your efforts will help raise wildfire awareness, promote collaboration and bring neighbors together to work on projects that can help protect homes, neighborhoods and entire communities from future wildfire risk or current post-fire impacts.

NFPA is pleased to announce State Farm®, the largest home insurer in the United States, has provided funding to assist with our Preparedness Day outreach and promotional efforts, in addition to providing monetary awards of $500 to 20 individual projects that will be undertaken during the May 3 event. State Farm has a long history of proactive wildfire safety education to its policyholders in high-risk regions and NFPA is proud to partner with State Farm on this national wildfire safety event!

Watch our webinar

Video: Learn about the Wildfire Community Preparedness    Day and how you can get involved.

Enter the contest

Want to get involved? Have a project idea? Here’s how to enter the NFPA/State Farm neighborhood project contest:

1. There are two ways to visit the NFPA/State Farm Wildfire Preparedness Day Neighborhood Project Award Promotion contest app powered by SnapApp:
   • Enter through the website 
   • Enter through the contest tab on NFPA’s Firewise Facebook page
2. From either location, you may post your neighborhood’s planned activity (or activities). Include your name and potential participants, your contact information, city and state, and how you will use the project funding on Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. The deadline to post your project idea is March, 19, 2014.
3. Encourage your friends, family, colleagues and neighbors to vote for your project idea through the contest app on the website or NFPA’s Firewise Facebook page. Vote for your favorite project between now and March 19, 2014.
4. Votes will be considered in NFPA’s final determination of the winning project ideas. The top 20 project ideas will receive $500 each to be used to fund their May 3, 2014 project.

Not sure what projects are right for your neighborhood? Check out our project ideas list (PDF, 26 KB) and safety tips and safety gear guidelines. (PDF, 192 KB)

Read the complete rules and guidelines for the NFPA/State Farm Wildfire Preparedness Day Neighborhood Project Award Contest.

We have the resources you need to get started

What are you waiting for? Do something GREAT – be a local champion, and get started today. We have a handful of great resources for you to use. Check out our flyers, postcards and other materials to help bring your family, friends and neighbors together.

Put your project on the map

We know you are as excited about Preparedness Day as we are! So, demonstrate your commitment to wildfire preparedness by adding your May 3 project to the nationwide event map. It’s easy to do and in less than two minutes you’ll be able to proudly share your community’s project. Join others throughout the nation making their communities a safer place. 

NFPA, Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) and State Farm are pleased to support the 2014 Wildfire Community Preparedness Day campaign, but have not assessed or evaluated any of the community projects, activities or initiatives. Recognition of any kind in no way implies endorsement or approval of a project, its safety or effectiveness, and the supporters disclaim all liability in connection with any such project, activity or initiative.

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -  

FEMA: Emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety #USFire

Approximately 25 percent of on-duty firefighter fatalities occur each year while responding to or returning from incidents, with the majority of fatalities resulting from vehicle crashes. Vehicle collision is the second leading cause of firefighter fatalities.

We are committed to reducing firefighter fatalities and injuries by helping to create a safer operational environment for emergency responders. The resources below contain best practices and recommendations for safer emergency vehicle and roadway incident response.

Our latest report: Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative (2014)

A study of public safety emergency vehicle and roadway operations

Since the release of our publication “Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative (2004),” we have worked with many fire service organizations and the law enforcement community to increase emergency responder safety in this area. Our latest study report, “Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative (2014),” consolidates the results of this work and provides best practices and recommendations for safer emergency vehicle and roadway incident response.

Topics covered include:

• Common crash causes and crash prevention.
• The impact of vehicle design and maintenance on safety.
• Internal and external factors for improving response-related safety.
• Regulating emergency vehicle response and roadway scene safety.
• Roadway incident scene safety.

Download "Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative (2014)" PDF, 7.5 Mb | EPUB, 2 Mb

Project sponsors: U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice, International Fire Service Training Association, U.S. Fire Administration

Emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety resources

Educational programs

• “Emergency Vehicle Safe Operations for Volunteer and Small Combination Emergency Service Organizations” (PDF, 436 Kb). Includes a best practices self-assessment, example standard operating procedures, and behavioral motivation techniques to enhance emergency vehicle safety.
• “Guide to Model Policies and Procedures for Emergency Vehicle Safety”. Aimed at reducing the impact of vehicle-related incidents on the fire service and the communities they protect. It provides information for developing policies required that support the safe operation of emergency vehicles, as well as privately-owned vehicles.
• “Improving Apparatus Response and Roadway Operations Safety in the Career Fire Service”. Includes topics such as seal belt use, intersection safety, roadway operations on crowded interstates, and driver training.

Studies and reports

Operations

• “Best Practices for Emergency Vehicle and Roadway Operations Safety”. Serves as a basic guide for all firefighters and law enforcement officers to improve their level of safety at work. It discusses training, policy development, education and technology to enhance emergency vehicle and roadway safety operations.
• “Developing Traffic Control Assistant Training Programs” (PDF, 1.7 Mb). Provides information and guidelines for the training and use of volunteers in fire or police department traffic control units to protect responders and the public at vehicle crashes, fires, or at special events in the community.
• “Safe Operation of Fire Tankers” (PDF, 2.1 Mb). Examines the various causal factors identified as problematic for tankers and their drivers. Tankers account for the largest number of firefighter crash deaths of all types of fire department vehicles.
• “Traffic Incident Management Systems” (PDF, 5 Mb). Describes the latest technologies, training, and operational practices for effective traffic incident management.

Vehicle and responder visibility

• “Effects of Warning Lamp Color and Intensity on Driver Vision” (PDF, 1.8 Mb | Flash Presentation). Colors and intensities of warning lamps that influence both positive and negative effects of such lamps in daytime and nighttime conditions are examined.
• “Effects of Warning Lamps on Pedestrian Visibility and Driver Behavior” (PDF, 1 Mb). A nighttime study of emergency warning lighting examining colors, intensity, and flash patterns of warning lamps. The resulting desirable (visible) and undesirable (glare) effects are shown.
• “Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity Study” (PDF, 2.2 Mb.) Examines the use of retroreflective striping and chevrons, high-visibility paint, built-in passive light, and other reflectors for law enforcement patrol vehicles, fire apparatus, motorcycles, and ambulances and other EMS vehicles. Best practices in emergency vehicle conspicuity, including cutting edge international efforts, are reviewed.
• “Inferences about Emergency Vehicle Warning Lighting Systems from Crash Data” (PDF, 15 Kb). Examines motorist disorientation caused by emergency warning lighting and lighting effects on normal, impaired, and drowsy drivers (also known as the "moth effect").
• “Seeing and Stopping Distances” (PDF, 72 Kb). Demonstrates that detection distances for pedestrians and emergency responders operating on the roadway at night wearing typical clothing are very short, while detection distances when wearing retroreflective markings are very good.

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -  

Yosemite National Park Prescribed Fire Hetch Hetchy O’Shaughnessy Dam Area

Prescribed Fire Scheduled in Yosemite National Park

Burn Scheduled for Hetch Hetchy Area

Yosemite National Park is planning a prescribed fire in the Hetch Hetchy area, near the O’Shaughnessy Dam.  The fire is planned for mid to late March and will include a total of 57 acres.  Ignition and active burning will take approximately one to two days and a few additional days to patrol and monitor until the end of the burn.

Due to recent precipitation in the area in the last several weeks, including the unsettled weather forecast for the next several days, fire managers will monitor the area and ignite the planned prescribed burn when prescription parameters are at optimum levels.

This year, March is the ideal timeframe for prescribed fire due to minimal snowpack and rain.  Typically, fuels and vegetation would be too wet to burn this time of the year.  However, the current drought makes this March an ideal burning season.  Additionally, the burn area is surrounded by the Hetch Hetchy Road and previously burned areas that were affected by the Rim Fire.

The primary objective of the prescribed fire is to treat vegetation and fuels around the buildings and other infrastructure of the O’Shaughnessy Dam.  The burn unit is located near the Hetch Hetchy Road and will protect infrastructure at Hetch Hetchy from potential wildfires.  Additionally, this prescribed fire is designed to reduce surface and “ladder fuels” that allow ground fire to leap to the tree canopy and cause crown fires.  Once treated and maintained, this unit will offer a “fuel break” for firefighters to safely protect structures at the O’Shaughnessy Dam.

Since 1930, multiple lightning ignitions have been suppressed in the area, indicating that wildfire does present risk to the developments at Hetch Hetchy.  The area surrounding the unit previously burned with low to moderate intensity during the 2013 Rim Fire and multiple lightning fires have been managed nearby for resource objectives in recent years. 

A smoke management plan has been submitted to the Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and a burn permit will be issued.  Only localized smoke impacts to the Hetch Hetchy Road and O’Shaughnessy are anticipated.  The exact date of the burn will be determined in collaboration with the APCDs to find optimal weather to disperse smoke away from populated areas.  At the discretion of the APCDs, smoke monitors may be deployed in smoke sensitive communities to monitor air quality.  Mariposa and San Joaquin County APCDs have been notified of the burn as well.

The Hetch Hetchy Road will remain open during the burn; however traffic control will be necessary during roadside operations.   Visitors to the area are urged to drive with caution as firefighters, fire equipment, smoke and debris may be present on the roadway.  The Hetch Hetchy campground will close for one to two days during the operation.  However, the Hodgdon Meadow Campground, which is on a first-come, first-served basis, will remain open during the burn.

Fire crews from Yosemite National Park, other national parks, and the U.S. Forest Service, will be present during all burn activity.

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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#LAFD Swift Water River Rescue two men and two dogs #LARiver 2/28 #CaFire #CaSAR

CYPRESS PARK – Los Angeles Firefighters rescued two men and two dogs stranded in the LA River as a storm hammered Southern California Friday morning, February 28, 2014.

At 9:10 AM a man called 9-1-1 stating he saw two people in the LA River holding on to a tree. Firefighters arrived to the 1500 block of San Fernando Road in Cypress Park where they found two adult males, 48 & 49 years old, along with two pit bull dogs stranded. They were holding onto a fallen tree in waist deep cold water that was moving approximately 15 mph. The men appeared to be homeless and live in the area of the rescue site.
Two LAFD helicopters responded, one with hoist capabilities and another for observation, however due to power-lines over the rescue site a hoist operation proved too dangerous. A specialized team of technical swift water rescue firefighters then entered the river, rapidly set up a technical rescue operation with rope systems, and provided the victims life vests and helmets. Multiple other rescue sites were strategically prepared in the event the victims floated downstream. In an effort to assist in the rescue, the victims held tight to their large aggressive dogs while firefighters saved them. The men and dogs were then placed into an inflatable rescue boat and safely brought ashore at approximately 10:15 AM. Once extracted to safety, both patients were medically evaluated by Firefighter Paramedics that were standing by. The men declined transport to the hospital. Dispatched Units: E44 E17 E14 RA14 T21 E25 E202 T2 DC1 SW44 HR56 SW86 EM1 BC1 E10 E3 BC731 UR88 H2 H4 UR88 BC2 RA1 RA56 E201 T1 RH114 E203 T3.

INDUSTRIAL EASTSIDE - Then at 1:03 PM the LAFD performed another rescue at the LA River. An adult male entered the LA River near 6th Street, for unknown reasons, and dangerously floated downstream until he was able to latch on to the slippery east concrete wall near the Olympic Street bridge. Exhausted, and barely able to move, he waited. Skilled firefighters rushed in, used rope systems and lowered themselves down the steep wall and carried him to safety. He was rapidly treated and transported to a local hospital. Dispatched Units: E17 E14 E9 T9 RA9 T21 E25 DC1 SW44 HR56 SW86 EM1 BC1 E10 E3 SC1 H2 H4 BC11 RH114 E202 T2 E4 E203 T3.

RESEDA - Finally at 2:13 PM local police notified the LAFD of a male in the LA River near Wilbur Avenue. After floating downstream, the 45 year-old man was able to grasp hold of metal rungs on the vertical walls and climb out. He was evaluated by Firefighter Paramedics and transported to a local hospital. Dispatched Units: E88 T88 E288 SW88 DC3 RA88 T73 E273 E100 E239 E39 T39 E109 H0C H0E SW86 HR56 EM10 BC10 E102 UR88 E293 T93 H4 H5 E83 BC14 BC731 SC1

Thanks to all the skilled firefighters involved and due to their continual training, these incidents had a successful outcomes.

The LAFD wishes to remind citizens that when rainstorms impact the Los Angeles area, flood control channels, rivers, and arroyos can quickly fill with fast-moving water, creating a potentially life-threatening situation to anyone who gets caught or swept away. Please stay away from these dangerous areas.

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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