This is hard to understand. The Florida Highway Patrol had closed the road earlier in the evening because of a combination of fog and smoke from a wildfire that had been burning for days. The smallish fire had burned a total of 65 acres by Sunday morning. According to numerous news accounts motorists piled one by one into the blinding mix of fog and smoke directly into other trucks and cars.
Why was the Interstate open? Where were the escorts or pilot vehicles? In 2008 a similar crash with numerous fatalities occurred on Interstate 4, just south of the Sunday crash site due to smoke from a wildfire.
I’m baffled how this wildfire was allowed to burn for days or weeks. Even allowing this may be bog material there is no reason a roadside fire with associated smoke drift should be allowed to burn unabated. I know for fact in California the fire would have been cold as soon as possible, no question. Additionally in California there is close communication between state fire officials and California Highway Patrol officials. Fire and CHP will never open a roadway until conditions are considered safe.
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AP via CBS News RENO, Nev. – Wind gusts of up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control Thursday as it burned several homes, threatened dozens more and forced about 10,000 people to evacuate their neighborhoods.
Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said more than 230 firefighters were battling the blaze, which had grown to nearly 5 square miles within hours.
Updated reports indicate 26 occupied dwellings have been destroyed. Reno, like much of the west has not seen precipitation for almost six weeks. In my area of central California the foothills are bone dry and dusty. It’s surprising Reno is the only area in the west stricken by fire.
Here is an image of the advancing storm system. Full containment should be expected in the next 24 hours if this system delivers expected precipitation totals.
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Inmate Firefighter Crisanto Leo Lionell’s death Wednesday has been determined to be a Line of Duty Death by the U.S. Fire Administration. USFA’s narrative reads as follows;
Inmate Firefighter Lionell was participating in a training exercise at Camp San Luis when he lost consciousness from a cause still to be determined. Emergency crews treated and then transported Lionell to a local hospital where he passed away. Incident Location: California National Guard’s Camp San Luis.
This designation was entirely appropriate. Firefighter Lionell made a commitment to train and be a part of the State of California’s wildland firefighting force. As such he understood the dangers and accepted the potential consequences of his decision. He geared up with good intentions and paid the ultimate price. Condolences to the Lionell family.
Update: Firefighter inmate identified. According to SanLuisObispo.com his name is Crisanto Leo Lionell, age 54.
San Luis Obispo.com An inmate firefighter assigned to Cuesta Fire Camp, located at the California Men’s Colony, died while taking part in a County/Cal Fire training program at Camp San Luis Obispo.Cal Fire Capt. Jane Schmitz said the inmate collapsed while hiking on the military base shortly after 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.
According to Schmitz, the inmate was transported to a local hospital, were he was pronounced dead at 4:42p.m.The California Department of Corrections is reviewing the incident.
Condolences to the family of the inmate. Cal Fire maintains 44 adult inmate fire camps and two juvenile justice camps utilizing the the skills of trained Department of Corrections inmates and California Juvenile Justice System wards of the state. The program is comprised of over 3,500 inmate firefighters fielding nearly 200 fire crews manning fire lines throughout the state putting life and limb in danger fighting wildland fires. Some go on to become professional firefighters after they serve their time.
