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Early Season Fires In Idaho

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It is way too early for this.

Lightning has caused nine new fires this weekend in the Emmett and Idaho City Ranger Districts. “Fires this early in the season are primarily due to a combination of factors; the lack of snow pack, the above average temperatures, lack of spring rain and recent thunderstorm activity have contributed to the ignitions.” said Linda Steinhaus Boise National Forest Public Affairs. Firefighters, including smokejumpers from McCall and a helicopter are fighting the fires. The fires are expected to be under control some time Saturday. Continued hot temperatures are predicted for Sunday and Monday. Firefighters and aerial patrols will monitor the fire sites for additional blazes. No structures are threatened, said Steinhaus.

Posted by on May 12, 2013 • Filed under: USFS, Wildland • Tagged:

Good News; Tanker 910 Inks Deal With Feds

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US Forest Service News Release

U.S. Forest Service issues notice of intent to award “Next Generation” airtanker contracts

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2013 — U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced today that the Forest Service has issued a notice of intent to award contracts to five companies to provide a total of seven Next Generation airtankers for wildfire suppression.

“We are moving ahead to modernize our fleet as part of our overall strategy to secure the best, safest airtankers available for fighting wildfires across the country in the years to come,” said Tidwell. “It is critical that we complete the Next Generation airtanker contracting effort as quickly as possible as we face the prospect of another challenging wildfire season with a dwindling legacy airtanker fleet.”

The U.S. Forest Service intends to award exclusive use contracts for Next Generation airtankers to:

Minden Air Corporation; Minden, Nev., for 1 BAe-146
Aero Air, LLC; Hillsboro, Ore., for 2 MD87s
Aero Flite, Inc.; Kingman, Ariz., for 2 Avro RJ85s
Coulson Aircrane (USA), Inc.; Portland, Ore., for 1 C130Q
10 Tanker Air Carrier, LLC; Adelanto, Calif., for 1 DC-10

These companies were selected because their proposals were determined to offer the best value to the government based on a technical evaluation of their airtanker concept, organizational experience and past performance, combined with pricing. The contracts are for a base period of five years with five one-year options (a total of 10 years if all contract options are exercised).

The Forest Service is transitioning to the Next Generation airtankers to replace its aging airtanker fleet. “Legacy” aircraft are those that have been used as part of the Forest Service aviation program for years, and in some cases, decades. All of the Next Generation airtankers are turbine powered, can carry a minimum of 3,000 gallons of retardant and have a cruise speed of at least 300 knots when fully loaded. The companies that are providing them are required to comply with stringent safety requirements in their contracts.

The agency is working to bring all seven Next Generation airtankers into service over the next year. The contracts allow these companies to provide additional Next Generation airtankers in future years, contingent on funding and other circumstances, to reach the total of 18 to 28 recommended in the Large Airtanker Modernization Strategy that the Forest Service submitted to Congress in February 2012……
US Forest Service News Release

Posted by on May 6, 2013 • Filed under: Wildland

Look At California Fires Through Twitter

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Twitter Feed for search term CalFire.

It’s only May 3 but the fire activity resembles mid August.

Posted by on May 3, 2013 • Filed under: California • Tagged: ,

Springs Fire, SoCal Burning Early

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The ‘Springs Fire’ burning near Camarillo and Newbury Park California has consumed 2,000 acres since its start early this morning. Multiple vehicles have burned and fire officials have ordered the evacuation of Cal State Channel Islands which is in the path of advancing flames.
*Newbury Park High School has been evacuated as well.

Springs Fire

Camarillo Weather.
Thursday – Clear. High of 93F. Windy. Winds from the NE at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph shifting to the WNW in the afternoon.

Live video
Twitter Feed
MyFox L.A.
Kern County Fire
L.A. County Fire

Posted by on May 2, 2013 • Filed under: wildfires, Wildland • Tagged: ,

“Hazardous Material” A Firefighter Mystery Novel by Kurt Kamm.

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– Hazardous Material by Kurt Kamm is a great read. Kamm’s mystery novel introduces us to Bucky Dawson, a Los Angeles County Firefighter assigned to the HazMat team. Dawson suffers from a painkiller addiction, invited by a job related injury. His addiction plays a central role in the story.
The plot line takes form as Bucky’s unit is called to assist on a meth bust near his station in the California desert. Players on both sides of the methamphetamine culture dominate the pages.
Kamm’s extensive research in HazMat, fire science, meth production and related chemistry, outlaw motorcycle gangs, desert topography and weather combine to paint a realistic image of the world he writes of.
Bucky Dawson is a departure from other characters central to two of Kamm’s previous works. In “Code Blood” the hero Colt Lewis was a somewhat naive rookie fire paramedic. Greg Kowalski, an L.A. County wildland firefighter in “One Foot In The Black” is also very young and green.
Bucky Dawson is a less sympathetic figure. At 31 he possesses years of life and career experience. As his experience unfolds the reader is allowed to accept the chips fall where they may. His experiences, mistakes and truimphs are his.

“Hazardous Material” is available on Amazon.

Posted by on April 30, 2013 • Filed under: book reviews, Uncategorized

California Fire Season 2013 – It’s On

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2013 is shaping up to be an especially active and dangerous fire season in California and the west. Wildland firefighters and rural landowners in California should be ready now.

Articles;
AP via Yahoo
Tribune, SLO

Cal Fire is not fully staffed with seasonal firefighters until June. Federal fire crews are typically fully staffed by mid June.

Posted by on April 27, 2013 • Filed under: Wildland • Tagged:

Pittsburgh Firefighters Sue Mack Trucks Inc Over Loud Sirens

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This is just sad.

PITTSBURGH (AP) Four Pittsburgh firefighters are suing seven companies that manufacture fire trucks or sirens, claiming they’ve lost hearing due to the blaring sirens.

The firefighters range in age from 38 to 62 and joined the city’s fire bureau between 1975 and 2000.

They’re claiming that Mack Trucks Inc., Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC and five other firms “knew or should have known the products … were inherently dangerous, defective and hazardous to human hearing.”

The men claim they’ve suffered irreversible hearing loss “due to exposure to the intense noise.”

The firefighters are seeking unspecified monetary damages and are not suing the city.

Posted by on April 23, 2013 • Filed under: Uncategorized

Coast Products Rapid Response Knife and LED Flashlight

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A representative from Coast Products asked me if I would review their Rapid Response Knife (version 3.0) and HP14 LED Flashlight. I said affirmative.
I am no knife expert but I know a good knife when it’s in my hand. It took a few tries to get the flip opener to loosen up but once I got the hang of it the knife opened smoothly with one flip of the thumb. The textured handle allows a firm grip. The unit has a built on belt clip which is a nice touch. It’s compact, intuitively engineered and built for duty.

For an extended review this Youtube video offers what an expert knife reviewer has to say about the Rapid Response 3.0 from Coast.

Coast’s HP14 LED Flashlight is a winner. I like the textured stock, the weight and trim. It appears durable and many testimonials posted on the link above indicate it is unbreakable, as advertised. As well as use on the job I could see having one of these bedside and one in the go bag.
What I especially like about the HP14 is the slide focus that allows to you to refine or intensify the beam. The variable dim to bright option via the on/off button is a further bonus. I love this flashlight. A heavy duty sheath (with belt loop) came with the unit I reviewed. I am thrilled to own my HP14, I don’t know how else to say it.

Find Coast Products on Facebook.

Rapid Response 3.0

Coast Products HP14 LED Flashlight

Posted by on January 8, 2013 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged:

Highland Park Michigan Firefighter, “A Year On My Lid” (Video)

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Highland Park firefighter Scott Ziegler pieced together this montage of video taken from his helmet cam over a one year period.
Scott —
“I put together a bunch of clips from some of the better helmet cam footage I got this year while fighting fires in Highland Park. I had to replace several lens’s and a couple mounts throughout the year, so the camera was not always on my helmet. I used a contour ROAM. other then the lens being easily scratch I would have to say it held up great for what it went through.
We love doing our job in Highland Park. And we do it often. Our aggressive attack might seem odd to some since most of these are “vacant” homes. But we are here to put fires out and the best way to do that is from the inside. Stay safe brothers…stay low”

Published on Dec 31, 2012 –

Posted by on January 4, 2013 • Filed under: firefighters, firefighting, first responders, Videos

Four Firefighters Shot, Two Killed In Webster New York

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Police in Rochester and Webster New York are stating the fire fighters were ambushed in a planned attack. Lt. Mike Chiapperini and Firefighter Tomasz Kaczowka of the Webster Fire Department are confirmed deceased. Firefighters Theodore Scardino and Joseph Hofsetter were injured by the shooter. Two firefighters arrived on scene in an engine, two were volunteers who arrived in private vehicles. The killer is dead. Four homes were burned as well as numerous vehicles. Early reports are the shooter is a parolee who spent 17 years in prison.

Webster, New York’s motto is “Where life is worth living” is a town of 37,000 on the shore of Lake Ontario in Western New York.

Webster Fire Department

ABC 13 Rochester New York.

Twitter

Posted by on December 24, 2012 • Filed under: Line of Duty, LODD