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California Fire Siege 2007 an Overview Cover Photos from Top Clockwise: the Santiago Fire Threatens a Development on October 23, 2007
CALIFORNIA FIRE SIEGE 2007 AN OVERVIEW Cover photos from top clockwise: The Santiago Fire threatens a development on October 23, 2007. (Photo credit: Scott Vickers, istockphoto) Image of Harris Fire taken from Ikhana unmanned aircraft on October 24, 2007. (Photo credit: NASA/U.S. Forest Service) A firefighter tries in vain to cool the flames of a wind-whipped blaze. (Photo credit: Dan Elliot) The American Red Cross acted quickly to establish evacuation centers during the siege. (Photo credit: American Red Cross) Opposite Page: Painting of Harris Fire by Kate Dore, based on photo by Wes Schultz. 2 Introductory Statement In October of 2007, a series of large wildfires ignited and burned hundreds of thousands of acres in Southern California. The fires displaced nearly one million residents, destroyed thousands of homes, and sadly took the lives of 10 people. Shortly after the fire siege began, a team was commissioned by CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service and OES to gather data and measure the response from the numerous fire agencies involved. This report is the result of the team’s efforts and is based upon the best available information and all known facts that have been accumulated. In addition to outlining the fire conditions leading up to the 2007 siege, this report presents statistics —including availability of firefighting resources, acreage engaged, and weather conditions—alongside the strategies that were employed by fire commanders to create a complete day-by-day account of the firefighting effort. The ability to protect the lives, property, and natural resources of the residents of California is contingent upon the strength of cooperation and coordination among federal, state and local firefighting agencies. -
2020 Annual Fire Report
Northwest Annual Fire Report 2020 Northwest Interagency Coordination Center Portland, OR Page intentionally left blank TABLE of CONTENTS | NWCC Mission TABLE of CONTENTS TABLE of CONTENTS............................................................................................................... 1 SUMMARY INFORMATION ..................................................................................................... 3 NWCC Mission................................................................................................................................3 NWCC Annual Fire Report General Information ...............................................................................3 NWCC ACCOMPLISHMENTS ................................................................................................... 4 A Review of 2020 ...........................................................................................................................4 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................... 4 NWCC Staff & Organization .................................................................................................................................. 5 Organization: Administration ................................................................................................................................ 5 FIRE SEASON OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................... -
Urban Interface (WUI) Fires
NIST Special Publication 1198 Summary of Workshop on Structure Ignition in Wildland- Urban Interface (WUI) Fires Sponsored by ASTM International E05 Committee Samuel L. Manzello Stephen L. Quarles This publication is available free of charge from: http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1198 NIST Special Publication 1198 Summary of Workshop on Structure Ignition in Wildland- Urban Interface (WUI) Fires Sponsored by ASTM International E05 Committee Samuel L. Manzello Fire Research Division Engineering Laboratory Stephen L. Quarles Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety Richburg, SC This publication is available free of charge from: http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1198 September 2015 U.S. Department of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Secretary National Institute of Standards and Technology Willie May, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. The content of the oral presentations reproduced in this workshop report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent NIST’s perspective. National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 1198 Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 1198, 82 pages (September 2015) CODEN: NSPUE2 This publication is available free of charge from: http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1198 Table of contents 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Workshop Objectives 1 1.2 Program of Workshop 2 1.3 Participant Listing 5 2. -
Post-Fire Treatment Effectiveness for Hillslope Stabilization
United States Department of Agriculture Post-Fire Treatment Forest Service Rocky Mountain Effectiveness for Research Station General Technical Hillslope Stabilization Report RMRS-GTR-240 August 2010 Peter R. Robichaud, Louise E. Ashmun, and Bruce D. Sims A SUMMARY OF KNOWLEDGE FROM THE Robichaud, Peter R.; Ashmun, Louise E.; Sims, Bruce D. 2010. Post-fire treatment effectiveness for hill- slope stabilization. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-240. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 62 p. Abstract This synthesis of post-fire treatment effectiveness reviews the past decade of research, monitoring, and product development related to post-fire hillslope emergency stabilization treatments, including erosion barri- ers, mulching, chemical soil treatments, and combinations of these treatments. In the past ten years, erosion barrier treatments (contour-felled logs and straw wattles) have declined in use and are now rarely applied as a post-fire hillslope treatment. In contrast, dry mulch treatments (agricultural straw, wood strands, wood shreds, etc.) have quickly gained acceptance as effective, though somewhat expensive, post-fire hillslope stabilization treatments and are frequently recommended when values-at-risk warrant protection. This change has been motivated by research that shows the proportion of exposed mineral soil (or conversely, the propor- tion of ground cover) to be the primary treatment factor controlling post-fire hillslope erosion. Erosion barrier treatments provide little ground cover and have been shown to be less effective than mulch, especially during short-duration, high intensity rainfall events. In addition, innovative options for producing and applying mulch materials have adapted these materials for use on large burned areas that are inaccessible by road. -
The Rosenbauer Magazine 2021
€ 6,50 The Rosenbauer Magazine 2021 RETHINKING WORK. The fire department is a trailblazer for new collaborative work. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. How machines are getting smarter and how teamwork functions with AI. IN FOCUS: DIGITALIZATION How a fully networked vehicle is revolutionizing the fire service. Which digital technologies will make future assignments easier? And, do we still need a human workforce? 2 | The Rosenbauer Magazine IN BRIEF | 3 editorialDear readers, We are thrilled to introduce to you the new Rosenbauer magazine, ready. The current, fi rst edition of ready is dedicated to digitalization. Increasingly penetrating every corner of our lives, digitalization is gradually but steadily changing our everyday lives. Depend- ing on individual views on the matter, the term is frequently used in conjunction with words like ‘transformation’ or ‘revo- lution'. One thing is certain: the fi re service’s working environ- ment will change forever. The digitalized fi re service will be an organization with greater capabilities and new opportunities. In ready, we cast our gaze to the future of the emergency ser- vices, analyze the eff ects of societal trends on the fi re service, and highlight the relevance of new scientifi c fi ndings for work at fi re departments. Each future edition will focus on a specifi c topic and unpack its eff ects on the emergency services. Our aim is to think outside the box and show diverse perspectives to provide food for thought, provoking wider discussion and awareness within the fi re-service sector. We hope you will enjoy the read! Rethinking work. The simple click of a button reveals all the mission data and a clear overview of the Tiemon Kiesenhofer, Editor in Chief situation – the RT is Group Communication, Rosenbauer International AG revolutionizing day-to- day operations at the fi re department. -
FIRE! the Word Brings to Mind Wildlife Fleeing Can Towns
FIRE! The word brings to mind wildlife fleeing can towns. The public demanded that all fires flames, a house ablaze, or a barren, charred be suppressed. Yet, despite the best of efforts American Indians landscape. Or we might recall the pleasure and the latest technology, fires cannot always used fire to clear of watching logs burning in a fireplace or a be stopped, and scientists now know it is not forests, create roaring campfire. Over time humans have always beneficial to stop them. To suppress viewed fire as both friend and foe. Ancient all fire does not preserve natural landscapes; desirable habitats Greeks, American Indians, and farmers gener it changes them unnaturally. for game animals, ally considered fire a friend and partner. The and recycle nutri- Greeks respected fire as a gift from the gods. Today, government policies reflect both a com ents into the soil American Indians used fire to clear forests for mitment to public safety and the understanding to improve crops. easier travel, to elude or fight enemies, and to that fire must be returned to its natural role in create habitat attractive to wildlife. European protected natural areas. Park managers still immigrants cleared land with fire. Today farm suppress fires that threaten lives and property. ers use fire to replenish nutrients in the soil to Now they also ignite fires to recreate or restore benefit their crops. a healthy natural environment. Managing fire supports the National Park Service's mission Fire was seen as an enemy around 1900 when to preserve the scenery and wildlife of parks wildfires, often associated with poor land man unimpaired for future generations. -
Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Fire Management Working Papers Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 – Report on fires in the Baltic Region and adjacent countries by Ilkka Vanha-Majamaa March 2006 Forest Resources Development Service Working Paper FM/7/E Forest Resources Division FAO, Rome, Italy Forestry Department Disclaimer The Fire Management Working Papers report on issues addressed in the work programme of FAO. These working papers do not reflect any official position of FAO. Please refer to the FAO website (www.fao.org/forestry) for official information. The purpose of these papers is to provide early information on on-going activities and programmes, and to stimulate discussion. Comments and feedback are welcome. For further information please contact: Mr. Petteri Vuorinen, Forestry Officer (Forest Fire Management) Mr. Peter Holmgren, Chief Forest Resources Development Service Forest Resources Division, Forestry Department FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla I-00100 Rome, Italy e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] or: FAO Publications and Information Coordinator: [email protected] For quotation: FAO (2006). Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 – Report on fires in the Baltic Region and adjacent countries. Fire Management Working Paper 7. www.fao.org/forestry/site/fire-alerts/en © FAO 2006 FOREWORD Fires impact upon livelihoods, ecosystems and landscapes. Despite incomplete and inconsistent data, it is estimated that 350 million hectares burn each year; however, -
Station Fire BAER Revisit – May 10-14, 2010
United States Department of Agriculture Station Fire Forest Service Pacific Southwest BAER Revisit Region September 2009 Angeles National Forest May 10-14, 2010 Big Tujunga Dam Overlook May 11, 2010 Acknowledgements I would like to express thanks to the following groups and individuals for their efforts for planning and holding the Revisit. Thanks to all the Resource Specialists who participated; Jody Noiron - Forest Supervisor; Angeles National Forest Leader- ship Team; Lisa Northrop - Forest Resource and Planning Officer; Marc Stamer - Station Fire Assessment Team Leader (San Bernardino NF); Kevin Cooper - Assistant Station Fire Assessment Team Leader (Los Padres NF); Todd Ellsworth - Revisit Facilitator (Inyo NF); Dr. Sue Cannon, US Geological Survey, Denver, CO; Jess Clark, Remote Sensing Application Center, Salt Lake City, UT; Pete Wohlgemuth, Pacific Southwest Research Station-Riverside, Penny Luehring, National BAER Coordinator, and Gary Chase (Shasta-Trinity NF) for final report formatting and editing. Brent Roath, R5, Regional Soil Scientist/BAER Coordinator June 14, 2010 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. -
The 2007 Southern California Wildfires: Lessons in Complexity
fire The 2007 Southern California Wildfires: Lessons in Complexity s is evidenced year after year, the na- ture of the “fire problem” in south- Jon E. Keeley, Hugh Safford, C.J. Fotheringham, A ern California differs from most of Janet Franklin, and Max Moritz the rest of the United States, both by nature and degree. Nationally, the highest losses in ϳ The 2007 wildfire season in southern California burned over 1,000,000 ac ( 400,000 ha) and property and life caused by wildfire occur in included several megafires. We use the 2007 fires as a case study to draw three major lessons about southern California, but, at the same time, wildfires and wildfire complexity in southern California. First, the great majority of large fires in expansion of housing into these fire-prone southern California occur in the autumn under the influence of Santa Ana windstorms. These fires also wildlands continues at an enormous pace cost the most to contain and cause the most damage to life and property, and the October 2007 fires (Safford 2007). Although modest areas of were no exception because thousands of homes were lost and seven people were killed. Being pushed conifer forest in the southern California by wind gusts over 100 kph, young fuels presented little barrier to their spread as the 2007 fires mountains experience the same negative ef- reburned considerable portions of the area burned in the historic 2003 fire season. Adding to the size fects of long-term fire suppression that are of these fires was the historic 2006–2007 drought that contributed to high dead fuel loads and long evident in other western forests (e.g., high distance spotting. -
Cal Fire: Creek Fire Now the Largest Single Wildfire in California History
Cal Fire: Creek Fire now the largest single wildfire in California history By Joe Jacquez Visalia Times-Delta, Wednesday, September 23, 2020 The Creek Fire is now the largest single, non-complex wildfire in California history, according to an update from Cal Fire. The fire has burned 286,519 acres as of Monday night and is 32 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. The Creek Fire, which began Sept. 4, is located in Big Creek, Huntington Lake, Shaver Lake, Mammoth Pool and San Joaquin River Canyon. Creek Fire damage realized There were approximately 82 Madera County structures destroyed in the blaze. Six of those structures were homes, according to Commander Bill Ward. There are still more damage assessments to be made as evacuation orders are lifted and converted to warnings. Madera County sheriff's deputies notified the residents whose homes were lost in the fire. The Fresno County side of the fire sustained significantly more damage, according to Truax. "We are working with (Fresno County) to come up with away to get that information out," Incident Commander Nick Truax said. California wildfires:Firefighters battle more than 25 major blazes, Bobcat Fire grows Of the 4,900 structures under assessment, 30% have been validated using Fresno and Madera counties assessor records. Related: 'It's just too dangerous': Firefighters make slow progress assessing Creek Fire damage So far, damage inspection teams have counted more than 300 destroyed structures and 32 damaged structures. "These are the areas we can safely get to," Truax said. "There are a lot of areas that trees have fallen across the roads. -
Synthesis of Knowledge of Extreme Fire Behavior: Volume I for Fire Managers
United States Department of Agriculture Synthesis of Knowledge of Forest Service Pacific Northwest Extreme Fire Behavior: Research Station General Technical Volume I for Fire Managers Report PNW-GTR-854 November 2011 Paul A. Werth, Brian E. Potter, Craig B. Clements, Mark A. Finney, Scott L. Goodrick, Martin E. Alexander, Miguel G. Cruz, Jason A. Forthofer, and Sara S. McAllister A SUMMARY OF KNOWLEDGE FROM THE The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the principle of multiple use management of the Nation’s forest resources for sustained yields of wood, water, forage, wildlife, and recreation. Through forestry research, cooperation with the States and private forest owners, and management of the national forests and national grasslands, it strives—as directed by Congress—to provide increasingly greater service to a growing Nation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). -
Geologic Hazards
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Assessment FINAL Specialist Report – GEOLOGIC HAZARDS Thomas Fire –Los Padres N.F. December, 2017 Jonathan Yonni Schwartz – Geomorphologist/geologist, Los Padres NF Introduction The Thomas Fire started on December 4, 2017, near the Thomas Aquinas College (east end of Sulphur Mountain), Ventura County, California. The fire is still burning and as of December 13, 2017, is estimated to have burned 237,500 acres and is 25% contained. Since the fire is still active, the BAER Team analysis is separated into two phases. This report/analysis covers a very small area of the fire above the community of Ojai, California and is considered phase 1 (of 2). Under phase 1 of this BAER assessment, 40,271 acres are being analyzed (within the fire parameter) out of which 22,971 acres are on National Forest Service Lands. The remaining 17,300 acres are divided between County, City and private lands. Out of a total of 40,271 acres that were analyzed, 99 acres were determined to have burned at a high soil burn severity, 19,243 acres at moderate soil burn severity, 12,044 acres at low soil burn severity and 8,885 acres were unburned. All of the above acres including the unburned acres are within the fire parameter. This report describes and assesses the increase in risk from geologic hazards within the Thomas Fire burned area. When evaluating Geologic Hazards, the focus of the “Geology” function on a BAER Team is on identifying the geologic conditions and geomorphic processes that have helped shape and alter the watersheds and landscapes, and assessing the impacts from the fire on those conditions and processes which will affect downstream values at risk.