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Cal Fire’s Wildfire Season Preparedness Primer

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Wildfire Awareness Week comes to a close today. Throughout the week Cal Fire held events designed to educate state residents about the dangers of wildfire and resources the state has available to combat wildfire.

Cal Fire points us to Ready For Wildfire, an informational program to educate potential fire victims in the wildland-urban interface.

In the video below Cal Fire reminds homeowners it is their responsibility to take action to prepare their property against approaching fire.  They break it down to three steps, Ready, Set, Go.  Have a look.

Posted by on May 12, 2012 • Filed under: Wildland • Tagged: ,

Detroit Fire Commissioner – Let Some Buildings Burn To The Ground

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I might take the policy a step further. Put the 10,000 abandoned homes designated for demolition on a list and have the fire department identify all the structures on the list that could be burned safely.

From ClickOn Detroit – The Detroit Fire Department could adjust to a looming 15 percent budget cut by allowing some abandoned buildings burn to the ground, according to the city’s top fire official.
Executive Fire Commissioner Donald Austin said his is creating three proposals for Mayor Dave Bing to consider when making deep reductions to the 2012-13 budget, likely to be below this fiscal year’s $183 million. Detroit is going through a state-monitored budget overhaul under a deal reached between Gov. Rick Snyder and city officials, an alternative to a state-appointed emergency manager……..
One of Austin’s proposals would allow vacant buildings to burn if they’re more than 50 percent ablaze — as long as they’re not a risk to inhabited structures and the weather is favorable. Austin said about 40 to 60 percent of the fires in Detroit are in vacant structures.

I might take the policy a step further. Put the list of 10,000 abandoned homes designated for demolition in front of the fire department and allow them to identify all the structures on the list that could be burned safely. According to this Wall Street Journal piece the city is sitting on over $20 million in federal money set aside specifically to deal with demolition. Chief Austin should make a pitch to get some of that money. Burn one house a day with a private demolition crew to come in the following day with a dozer, loader and dumper. Pre-plan, execution and clean up, three days from beginning to end. Surely this would cut into the typical $10,000 costs to demolish a residential dwelling.

Posted by on April 23, 2012 • Filed under: Firefighter Safety & Health, Training, Training & Development

Ads On Fire Engines?

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Baltimore is considering selling ads on fire engines to help cover a $48 million shortfall and to help keep three engine companies active.

My opinion. If the advertiser can promise a percentage of profits gained from the campaign back to the city – designated directly back to the fire department as well as the money from the ads then why not?

Posted by on April 23, 2012 • Filed under: Funding & Staffing

“The Noodle” Should Get The Can. ‘Disabled’ L.A. Firefighter Moonlighting As MMA Fighter

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Last month I posted this account of a disabled retired FDNY firefighter working as an active fire captain in another town. Today LAWeekly.com published news of an L.A. City firefighter allegedly collecting disability for nearly two years who is an active MMA fighter with a record of 12 wins and 2 losses.

–Prosecutors say that laid-up L.A. city firefighter Rafael Davis was caught moonlighting as a mixed martial arts fighter, under the name “The Noodle:” The 35-year-old was arrested at his Lomita home at 9 a.m. this morning on suspicion of insurance fraud, according to a statement from the L.A. County District Attorney’s office. He was hit with four felony counts of insurance fraud, the office says.
Prosecutors contend that the Los Angeles Fire Department employee filed for workers compensation insurance between Dec. 2, 2008, to May 20, 2011, even as he fought in MMA bouts.–

If true Davis gave a black eye to the profession and deserves the full weight of the criminal justice system to bear down on him.

Posted by on April 11, 2012 • Filed under: Firefighter Safety & Health, Funding & Staffing

Brush Fires in New York and New Jersey Force Evacuations

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Suffolk County NY issued an evacuation order this evening.

April 9, 2012
(Ridge, N.Y.) – The following information regarding the brush fire in Ridge is updated as of 5:30 p.m.:
Currently, firefighters from 109 departments in Suffolk County have responded to the scene of the brush fire, and 15 additional departments from Nassau County are en route.
A mandatory evacuation is being sought by the Riverhead Police Department for the area north to Grumman Avenue, east to Edwards Avenue, south to Peconic Avenue, and west to Wading River Manor. The Riverhead Senior Center in Riverhead, has been established as an emergency shelter.

View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

Follow updates on Twitter.

Posted by on April 9, 2012 • Filed under: Wildland, wildland fire • Tagged:

Guest Post: Firefighters and Mesothelioma

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Firefighters and Mesothelioma

After some lean years as a volunteer firefighter, Jonathan Smith landed a fulltime job
with the Augusta County Virginia Fire & Rescue last fall. The young firefighters and his
wife Jennifer brought home a new baby daughter Lillian in December. With the fulltime
firefighting job he’d always wanted and a new baby, Smith had high hopes for 2012.

But the young firefighter developed a dry hacking cough that wouldn’t go away, and
flu-like symptoms. He collapsed in February and an x-ray revealed spots on his lungs
that weren’t present when he had a pre-employment medical exam a few months earlier.
Smith, a former Boy Scout, was diagnosed in February with pleural mesothelioma, an
incurable cancer of the lining of the lungs. Smith is now undergoing chemotherapy
treatment to try to slow this aggressive cancer and save his life.

Firefighters are among the workers recognized as having an occupational risk of exposure
to asbestos, which can causes malignant mesothelioma tumors in the lining of the lungs
and abdominal cavity. Firefighters are exposed to smoke, soot, byproducts of combustion
and contaminants from building materials such as asbestos, a mineral fiber used in
insulation and asbestos tiles. Firefighters may inhale airborne asbestos particles in an
older house or building damaged or destroyed by fire if they are not wearing proper
respiratory gear.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Disease Among Firefighters

A known human carcinogen, asbestos was widely used in the construction of many
houses and buildings constructed before the early 1980s.

Many FDNY firefighters who worked at Ground Zero have experienced decreased lung function and respiratory problemssince exposure to asbestos and other toxic dust after the collapse of the World Trade Center.

According to the National Cancer Institute, a firefighter’s risk of developing
mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease depends on how much asbestos an individual is exposed to, the duration of the asbestos exposure and the chemical makeup of the asbestos fibers among other factors. But all forms of asbestos cause cancer.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is working with the United
States Fire Administration on a multi-year health study analyzing cases of cancer
and other diseases among 18,000 current and retired career firefighters. The study
will improve researchers ability to estimate the risk of cancer for firefighters and the
comparative risks to workers in other occupations.

The Stuart Draft Virginia Volunteer Fire Department, where Jonathan Smith served until
recently, held a fundraiser on March 17 to raise money for Smith’s medical treatment.
Scores of community residents attended the fundraiser to help the young firefighter who
was willing to risk his life to help them, according to the The News Leader newspaper of
Staunton, VA.

Firefighters perform their jobs with remarkable courage and bravery in the face of many
dangers. Firefighters shouldn’t have to face the avoidable risk of asbestos exposure.
Firefighters who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or suspect they’ve been
exposed to asbestos on the job should talk to a knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer.

Posted by on March 25, 2012 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged:

Dramatic Rescue By Firefighters With Seabees Help In Santa Barbara

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Examiner.com has the story.

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

Seabees Can Do

Posted by on March 19, 2012 • Filed under: Rescues

California Fire Season Set For An Early Start

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After consecutive benign wildfire seasons California and the western states should see a return to normal or above normal fire activity in 2012. In mid February Cal Fire and local crews responded to a 200 acre fire in oak woodlands in Napa County, north of San Francisco.  Big Sur and Paso Robles on the central coast have already seen active burning.

Kate Novoa on the Big Sur coast posted an image on BigSurKate.com showing impressive flame length from a local fire on February 7. Kimmer in Paso Robles offered this night view of a fire near Lake Nacimiento last week.

A friend in Prather, a community in the central valley foothills at the 1,500 foot level informed me there was very little green on her property. She said the last time it was this brown this early was 2008.

2008 was the tail end of a severe drought in California and dead fuel and fuel loads were high and fuel moisture was at historic low levels. 2010 and 2011 were very wet years and total burned acreage was down. There is no reason to believe we will see a repeat of the 2008 fire season but a dry winter and spring means we’ll experience a longer burning season at the very least.

It is important for rural residents to assess their defensible space before too much longer. Though we are still due for some more rain the die has been cast, we’re dry and the fire season is beginning.

 

Posted by on March 10, 2012 • Filed under: California, Uncategorized, Wildland • Tagged: ,

What Constitutes Retired – Disabled?

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I was okay with this story until it’s revealed at the end of the article he works as a fire captain in his adopted township.

“Cliff Stabner, a 55-year-old city firefighter who retired in 2003 with a three-quarter disability pension of $95,000 annually, has surfaced as a member of the fire rescue team responding to crashes at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. The Post has obtained photos of Stabner wearing an orange jumpsuit and a helmet and standing next to a rescue vehicle at Dover’s “Monster Mile’’ track. Stabner also is a fire captain in his quaint new hometown of Lewes, Del.”

I’m not privy to the details of Stabner’s retirement. I can see how he could crew for a race team, hold a fire extinguisher, man a safety line. If he can function as a fire captain he should not be pulling down a disability pension. Maybe his pension should be redefined.

My disability pension from the state of California specifically states I cannot take a job with a similar job description as my old position, as it should be. If I could carry out the tasks of fire captain and all that goes with the title and responsibility I should still be working.

Posted by on March 4, 2012 • Filed under: Firefighter Safety & Health, Funding & Staffing

D.C. Firefighter Sent Home For Wearing Wrong Jacket

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File this under, W.T.H.?

I don’t pretend to know the subtext of this issue but on the surface this is ridiculous.

“It was about 35 degrees outside. The training school is out of public view, so I was wearing a blue DCFD coat I had in order to stay warm,” he said. “He told me I’d have to remove my coat. I said I had nothing to wear. He told me I’m being insubordinate and sent me home.”
Alvarado said he has tried to get another jacket, but the department isn’t issuing them. Instead, firefighters are being told to wear the coats they use when they are sent out on calls. He said his is filthy with drywall, dust and soot from a recent fire.
“Got toxins, carcinogens, it’s not something you should be wearing. It’s designed to be in structure fires, not to be worn as a winter coat,” Alvarado said.

Story at MyFoxDC.Com.

Posted by on February 27, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership

Texas Wesleyan Journal Presents “Wildfire Law” Symposium

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Posted by on February 16, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Prevention & Education

Prepare Your Defensible Space, Advice From Cal Fire

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Cal Fire offers advice to Californians living in the wildland /urban interface via ReadyForWildfire.org. California’s wildland firefighting force recommends residents prepare a Wildfire Action Plan before the fire season begins.

Video here!

Posted by on February 15, 2012 • Filed under: Cal Fire, California, Fire Prevention & Education, Uncategorized • Tagged: ,

Be-200 Russian Air Tanker May See Stateside Deployment

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Bill Gabbert over at Wildfire Today offers a detailed look at the Be-200 Russian made air tanker. If everything falls into place for the contractor the Be-200 could see action in the USA by Summer 2013.

Gabbert reminds us of recent problems with the P2V fleet which naturally invites alternatives to fill the void. The Be-200 has a payload of 3,000 gallons of water or retardant.

Posted by on February 8, 2012 • Filed under: air attack, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, Wildland

10 Die On Florida Interstate Due To Wildfire/Fog Conditions

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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.

Posted by on January 30, 2012 • Filed under: Mass Casualty Incident, Weather, Wildland

Reno, Carson City Nevada Area Wildfire, 10,000 Evacuated, 50% Contained

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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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Posted by on January 20, 2012 • Filed under: Wildland, wildland fire

California Inmate Firefighter Death Determined As Line Of Duty

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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.

Posted by on January 6, 2012 • Filed under: Line of Duty

Inmate Firefighter Collapses/Dies On Training Hike in Central California

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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.

Posted by on January 4, 2012 • Filed under: Line of Duty, LODD, Training, Wildland

Tennessee Firefighters Let Another Home Burn To The Ground

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South Fulton firefighters did it again. A home in Obion County Tennessee burned to the ground as responding units watched from their fire engines. Readers will recall this same fire department just last year watched as a home burned to the ground as the homeowners pleaded for help. Inside that home were family pets and generations of family heirlooms, all was lost.

This week they did it again reports the Wall Street Journal.

Firefighters responded when the home in Obion County, Tenn., caught fire, but didn’t extinguish it because the fee that the nearby town of South Fulton collects hadn’t been paid. Last year, another home — which also contained three dogs and a cat — in Obion County also burned to the ground for the same reason.
The South Fulton mayor, David Crocker, said the city makes no exceptions. “There’s no way to go to every fire and be able to keep up the manpower, the equipment, and just the funding for the fire department,” he said, according to MSNBC.
Crocker also noted that firefighters will help people in danger, whether they have paid or not.
Nearby Blount County, Tenn., also has a subscription service, but the fire chief says the same situation wouldn’t happen there, according to The Daily Times. Blount County charges a $100 annual fee, but nonsubscribers can pay $2,200 for the first two hours firefighters respond to a scene, and $1,100 for each additional hour.
After last year’s fire, the Obion County commission voted to expand subscription-based service in the county, over the objections of people like fire chief Bob Reavis, who said, “Subscriptions should be left to newspapers and magazines,” Time reported.

My previous post on this subject elicited 84 comments, by far the biggest response in the 8 years I’ve been blogging. I was late to this news but my inbox has been flooded with Tennessee locals beyond furious at this latest news.

If you are so inclined fire away, Firefighter Blog wants all opinions.


(Generic image, not South Fulton)

Posted by on December 7, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Dispatch & Communications, Fire Dispatch, Uncategorized

Charlotte N.C. Station 15, All In a Days Work!

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I received a note from one of the producers of the video below inviting me to post the video and link to story. Here is one of the better “day in a life” videos of life as a firefighter.

Well done CharlotteMagazine.com and well done Charlotte Station 15!

Posted by on November 29, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Dispatch, first responders

Reno Wildfire Destroys 20 Homes, Thousands Evacuated

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Local coverage.

Posted by on November 18, 2011 • Filed under: wildfires, Wildland, wildland fire

Guest Post – Flashovers Are Occurring More Frequently. Know How To Be Prepared!

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Fact: Flashovers Are Occurring More Frequently. Know How To Be Prepared!

By Captain Craig Nielsen, Los Angeles Fire Department

Flashovers kill more firefighters than anything else and what’s worse than that shocking piece of information is that flashovers are happening more frequently than ever before. As a 28-year veteran of the fire service, I’ve been involved in flashover survival trainings since 1998. It’s important to ask the right questions – questions that once answered have the ability to save lives. For example, what is a flashover and why are so many more occurring these days as opposed to in the past? How can firefighters identify them, and what steps can they take to ensure they are safely managing them?

I’ll address the answers to these questions and more in a free “Understanding Flashovers” webinar sponsored by Draeger Safety, on November 10, 2011 at 8 PM EST. Firefighters and chiefs interested in participating in this educational session can register at http://draegerfiresafety.com. We’ll also have a live Q&A so your specific questions can be addressed. For now, I’d like to touch on some of the biggest questions the webinar will explore in more depth.

What is a Flashover?
Walton and Thomas define it as “the transition from a growing fire to a fully developed fire in which all combustible items in the compartment are involved in fire” although a more simple definition is “the stage when contents and gases are heated to their ignition temperatures and flames break out almost all at once.” This is the most dangerous stage of fire development and poses the most risk for firefighters – so knowing what it is and how to spot it is critical to safety.

What Can I Look Out For?
While flashovers have typical signs and symptoms, some of them are difficult to spot. Just knowing what they are can help you act appropriately and safely. Things to watch out the most for are:
Heat build-up. When the fire is low in intensity and spreading slowly, combustibles and flammable gases are heated to the point of ignition.
Look up. You can go into a structure and see from one end to the other, unaware accumulated gas in the ceiling space above may be ready to ignite.
Rollovers. These are often the preemptive sign that a flashover is going to occur and they’re identified when you see flames “rolling” across the ceiling; where heated gas tends to rise. If you witness rollovers, cool down those gases effectively and get out of the building.
Pressurized smoke. If you are observing smoke exiting the exterior of a structure, look for what kind of pressure buildup is associated with that smoke.

Why Are So Many Flashovers Occurring?
The increasing occurrence of flashovers has been covered at great length in print, online and broadcast media and it certainly deserves the attention. Here are some reasons for the uptick of flashovers:
Better turnout gear. Firefighters are putting themselves in harm’s way unknowingly because firefighters are often reliant on the protective capabilities of their gear.
Better insulation: Homes are better insulated which is great for the heating bill, but not so great for firefighters. Thermal feedback is occurring more rapidly.
Combustible items: Plastics and synthetics create a lot more BTUs. Know what you’re going into and look for signs outside of the building that can offer clues for what you’ll encounter inside.

With flashover occurrences increasing, knowing more about this phenomenon is crucial for all chiefs and firefighters, to avoid injury or death. Don’t forget to join me on November 10 for more information.

About the Author
Craig Nielsen, a 28-year veteran of the fire services, is a Captain with the Los Angeles Fire Dept. He has served as a Live Fire Training Officer, Driver Training Instructor, Career Guidance Counselor & Instructor of Record. Nielsen has been assigned to the most active fire station in the country for over two years, with 20+ responses per day. He is a California state-certified Fire Instructor and Fire Officer, and Emergency Medical Technician. He has been a Dräger Swede Survival instructor since 1998.

Posted by on November 3, 2011 • Filed under: Firefighter Safety & Health, training-fire-rescue-topics

Fire Truck Ticketed Outside Pittsburgh City Hall

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While firefighters were inside getting flu shots — Are you kidding me? Pittsburgh’s Mayor Ravenstahl is not happy about it.

Firefighters tell KDKA’s Marty Griffin that City Council President Darlene Harris asked one truck to move and the police officer followed with her ticket book. The council president says she had nothing to do with it.

“It’s really silly,” Ravenstahl said. “And when I was first briefed on it, I didn’t believe that it happened. I couldn’t believe that somebody would actually ticket a fire truck especially when we’re encouraging them to get a flu shot and stay healthy.”

Darlene ‘darlin’, you will not be reelected next time around. And the female meter maid, parking cop, traffic cop wannabe. You need to reasses your priorities. Some things are just wrong and you crossed the line here lady!

Posted by on October 29, 2011 • Filed under: Command & Leadership

Code Blood, A Good vs Evil Novel by Kurt Kamm

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Code Blood by Kurt Kamm took me by surprise. I intended to speed read the book to catch the high points but once I got a couple of chapters in I slowed down and enjoyed every new chapter of this true thriller. The book is built around two main characters, Colt, a firefighter/paramedic from Wyoming and a psychopathic albino blood fetishist goth freak named Markus. This is a classic good vs evil plot but you have to read the story to see who prevails.

Kamm sets the theme with the introduction of Colt responding to a vehicle accident. The complex relationship between Colt and the accident victim drive the story. Kamm takes us into the seedy underworld of Los Angeles but the story is centered around the serene campus of the University of California Los Angeles which Kamm calls “CU”. Ultimately the story plays out on the “CU” campus in the middle of the night. Other characters of note we meet along the way include a crooked Russian mortician, a female Chinese researcher and the girlfriend of Markus. All are woven expertly into the story. Kamm brings all the pieces together nicely at the end.
I recommend Code Blood to adult readers. Not for children.

Buy Code Blood by Kurt Kamm now onAmazon.com

Posted by on October 29, 2011 • Filed under: book reviews

NFFF Memorial Weekend Video

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Highlight video of NFFF Memorial weekend.

More videos and links at STATer911.

I am sorry I live so far away from the Memorial.

Posted by on October 17, 2011 • Filed under: Line of Duty, LODD

Books to Review

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One of the greatest benefits of running this blog is the occasional opportunity to review novels based on the fire service or characters working in the field. Two books in the queue are Cemetery Bird by Bridget Bufford and Code Blood by Kurt Kamm. Kamm’s Code Blood follows up on his critically acclaimed books Red Flag Warning and One Foot In The Black. Kurt Kamm is becoming the Joseph Wambaugh of fire service novels.

Cemetery Bird is the story of a USFS firefighter who suffers an injury on the job and returns to civilian life to care for an autistic nephew.

I look forward to digging into these books and will offer my reviews ASAP.

Posted by on October 6, 2011 • Filed under: book reviews, Uncategorized