February 6, 2019 the Honorable Richard Bloom Chair, Assembly
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Ferguson Fire Wreaks Havoc on Valley
Ferguson Fire wreaks havoc on Valley air By Calley Cederlof Visalia Delta-Times, Wednesday, July 18, 2018 Central Valley residents woke to ashes on their cars Wednesday morning. It's a sign the smoke from the Ferguson Fire, burning near Yosemite National Park, has made its way into Tulare County. The high-pressure system over the West has kept smoke bottled up, limiting the use of firefighting aircraft and endangering people with health conditions. “Use common sense," Mariposa County officials said. "If it looks smoky outside it’s probably not a good time to go for a run. And it’s probably not a good time for your children to play outdoors." The blaze, which has grown to more than 17,000 acres, is being fed in large part by thousands of dead trees that were killed by a drought that has gripped California for several years. Due to the fire, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued a health cautionary for Tulare, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera and Fresno counties. Tulare County's air quality went from moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups within a day. Like Yosemite visitors, travelers to Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks should also take precautions. On Wednesday, the air quality forecast was worse for the nearby national parks than in the Valley floor, according to air quality officials. “Our air quality isn’t any better,” said Sintia Kawasaki-Yee, spokeswoman for Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. “Even if you can’t see it.” Air quality is tested through sensors placed at Lodgepole Campground every day at the parks. -
Risk Management Committee Safety Gram 2018
SAFETY GRAM 2018 Fatalities, Entrapments and Accident Summary for 2018 (http://www.nwcg.gov/committees/risk-management-committee/resources) The following data indicates the fatalities, entrapments, burnovers and fire shelter deployments during calendar year 2018. The information was collected by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center and verified by the NWCG Risk Management Committee. Fatalities Incident Name Agency/Entity Number # Date Type of Jurisdiction Activity of Personnel of Shelters Fatalities Injuries/Treatment Accident Location Involved People Deployed 1/26 Puerto Rico Pack Test Work Capacity Test Local Government Medical 1 1 Cardiac Arrest Fatality Arduous San Juan Puerto Rico 2/28 Water Tender Accident Initial Attack Local Government Vehicle 3 1 2 injured, 1 fatality Fatality VFD New London TX 3/10 Grass Fire Fatality UNK Local Government UNK 1 1 Incident date: 3/10 Ellinger VFD (Suspected Medical) Deceased: 3/23 TX 3/12 Hazard Tree Mitigation Chainsaw Federal Medical 1 1 Fell unconscious, Fatality Operations USFS transported to Olympic NF hospital. Deceased WA 3/15 Grass Fire Fatality Initial Attack Local Government Medical 1 1 Fell ill and collapsed UNK Heart Attack on 3/16. OH Deceased: 3/16 1 Incident Name Agency/Entity Number # Date Type of Jurisdiction Activity of Personnel of Shelters Fatalities Injuries/Treatment Accident Location Involved People Deployed 4/12 Shaw Fire Initial Attack Local Government Entrapment 2 1 1 fatality; 1 FF with Cheyenne 2nd degree burns. OK 4/18 Rocky Mount Fatality Initial Attack Local Government Medical 1 1 Neck and back pain VA VFD on 4/18. Deceased: 4/19 4/21 Training Hike Fatality Fitness Training State Medical 1 1 Collapsed, treated on CA Dept. -
Serious Accident Investigation
Serious Accident Investigation: Factual Report and Analysis Fatality of NPS Arrowhead Interagency Hotshot Crew Captain Brian Hughes The Ferguson Fire on the Sierra National Forest, CA, July 29, 2018 Page Intentionally Blank 1 In Memory of Brian Hughes August 1, 1984 – July 29, 2018 Captain Hughes is in the back row, left. The surviving members of the Arrowhead Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) have expressed sincere admiration for their fallen friend and leader. “Fortitude Vincimus” By Endurance We Conquer Arrowhead IHC motto 2 Serious Accident Investigation: Factual Report Accident: Tree Strike of National Park Service (NPS) Arrowhead Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) Captain Brian Hughes Location: Ferguson Fire, Division-G, Sierra National Forest, near Yosemite West Date: July 29, 2018 Investigation Team Team Leader: Jim Loach Title: Associate Regional Director, NPS, Midwest Region, Omaha, NE Signature/ Date Deputy Team Leader: Randy Draeger Title: Regional Director of Safety, USFS, Ogden, UT Signature/ Date Chief Investigator: Don Boucher Title: Regional Structural Fire Manager, NPS, Midwest Region, Omaha, NE Chief Investigator [Shadow]: Jeremy Murphy Title: Regional Chief Ranger, NPS, National Capital Region, Washington, D.C. Investigator: Lindel Gregory Title: Chief Ranger, NPS, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Van Buren, MO 3 Investigator: Nick Armitage Title: Ranger, NPS, Grand Teton National Park, Moose, WY Investigator: Patrick Pearson Title: Chief of Fire and Aviation, NPS, Midwest Region, Omaha, NE Subject Matter Expert – Hotshot: -
Symposium Program Proceedings
Department of Geography Spring 2019 Colloquium May 8th, 2019 7:00 PM – 9:45 PM Program Poster Session – 7:00PM – 9:45PM (Peterson Hall 2nd Floor) Social Vulnerability in Communities Affected by the Thomas Fire Disaster by Lluvia Lastra, Lilian Yang, Segnide Guidimadjegbe, and Andrew Siwabessy The burden of hazard prevention and of loss in communities on the wildland-urban interface (WUI) is often unequally shouldered along socioeconomic lines. The changing nature of social vulnerability in these communities, in light of the dynamic fire regime, is not well studied in the context of southern California. In this study this shift is characterized by analyzing the 2017-2018 Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flow events using a mixed methodology approach. Maps of structural damage are created using Cal Fire parcel-level damage data in a geographical information system (GIS). Demographic data is reduced from Census block group information using principal component analysis (PCA) and is re- represented as a social vulnerability index (SoVI) after Cutter (2003). To identify socially vulnerable groups that are not obvious from Census data, we utilized a content analysis of newspaper articles published by the Santa Barbara Independent to further inform the geospatial analysis. Although the spatial analysis did not identify an explicit correlation between our SoVI and damage extent, qualitative enrichment offered explanations for damage extent outlier block groups and identified vulnerable groups that were missed by the spatial analysis. A Spark of Life: California Coastal sage scrub regeneration post-Woolsey Fire by Derek Emmons Despite California coastal sage scrub (CSS)’s resilience to millennia of human interactions, losing 90% of its historic range to development has left the remaining islands of biodiversity sensitive to variations in disturbance (Engelberg et al. -
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. -
2020 Year End Report
Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center www.wildfirelessons.net 2020 Year End Report This brief report summarizes the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center’s important updates and achievements that occurred in 2020. ln May 2020, we welcomed Kelly Woods as the new Director of the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC). “This is the coolest of opportunities,” Kelly said. “I am honored to be joining the amazing folks at the LLC.” Kelly comes to the LLC most directly from the Bureau of Land Management where she spent the last eight years as the Great Basin Training Center Manager. Kelly’s career—which spans nearly 30 years—includes positions on the Mount Hood, Ochoco, Payette, and Boise national forests; the Pacific Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the Forest Service’s Washington Office. Kelly’s work experience ranges from positions on type 2 crews and hotshot crews to serving as an engine captain and heli-rappeller. She has also worked in fire prevention and mitigation, as well as fire training development and delivery. In addition, Kelly served as lead public information officer on a type 2 incident management team. “With me joining the team and the LLC’s 20-year anniversary coming up, it’s a good time to reflect on what the next iteration of the LLC should prioritize,” Kelly informs. “Our staff is engaged in strategic conversations about our most effective tools and methods for sharing the lessons and what new innovations we should be considering.” Kelly is the third person to fill the director position since the LLC was established in 2002. -
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. -
Fuels, Fire Suppression, and the California Conundrum
Fuels, fire suppression, and the California conundrum Eric Knapp U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Redding, CA Bald and Eiler Fires - 2014; Photo: T. Erdody How did we get here? 2018: Most destructive wildfire (Camp Fire) Largest wildfire (Mendocino Complex) Most acres burned in modern CA history 2017: 2nd most destructive wildfire (Tubbs Fire) 2nd largest wildfire (Thomas Fire) Mediterranean climate = fire climate Redding, CA (Elev. 500 ft) 8 100 7 6 80 F) o 5 Wildfire season 4 60 3 Precipitation (in) 2 40 Ave Max.Temp. ( 1 0 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Precipitation Month Temperature • Very productive – grows fuel • Fuel critically dry every summer • Hot/dry = slow decomposition Fire activity through time Shasta-Trinity National Forest (W of Trinity Lake) 1750 1850 1897 Fire return interval 3 years 12 years No fire since 1897 Fuel limited fire regime | Ignition limited fire regime • Fire was historically a combination of indigenous burning and lightning ignitions • Aided travel, hunting, and improved the qualities of culturally important plants • Many early Euro-American settlers initially continued to burn • Forage for grazing animals • Lessened the danger from summer wildfires • Foresters advocated for Halls Flat, A. Wieslander, 1925 suppressing fire • “The virgin forest is certainly less than half stocked, chiefly as one result of centuries of repeated fires” – Show and Kotok 1925 • Believed keeping fire out would be cheaper than treating fuels with fire Burney area, A. Wieslander, 1925 Change in structural variability (trees > 4 in.) 1929 2008 Methods of Cutting Study – Stanislaus National Forest Lack of fire also changed non-forests A. -
Appendix 9-11 Wildfire Tech Reports
APPENDIX 9.11 WILDFIRE TECHNICAL REPORTS ACCEPTED DRAFT Murrieta Hills FIRE PROTECTION TECHNICAL REPORT Plan No. SP 012-3164, TTM 35853 Prepared for: Murrieta Fire and Rescue 41825 Juniper Street Murrieta, California 92562 Contact: Scott Ferguson, Fire Chief On behalf of Applicant: Benchmark Pacific 550 Laguna Drive, Suite B Carlsbad, California 92008 Contact: Richard Robotta, Vice President Prepared by: 605 Third Street Encinitas, California 92024 Contact: Michael Huff, Principal AUGUST 2019 Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled material. Murrieta Hills Fire Protection Technical Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page No. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... V ES.1 Findings for Maximum Dead-End Road Length .................................................. vii 1 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................1 1.1 Intent ....................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Applicable Codes/Existing Regulations ................................................................. 2 1.3 Proposed Project Summary ..................................................................................... 3 1.3.1 Location ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3.2 Current Site and Vicinity Land Use ........................................................... -
2020 Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Fire Plan
Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Fire Plan 2020 MMU Strategic Fire Plan Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Fire Plan 2020 UNIT STRATEGIC FIRE PLAN AMENDMENTS Page Section Date Numbers Description of Update Updated By Updated Updated 4/2020 Contents Page i-ii 2020 Update P4224 4/2020 Signature Page 1 Annual Update P4224 4/2020 Executive 2 Update C4200 Summary 4/2020 I Update P4224 4/2020 II None P4224 4/2020 III Update P4224 4/2020 IV Update B4220 4/2020 IV (B) Update F4208 3/2020 V Update All Battalions 4/2020 Appendix A Update P4224 4/2020 Appendix B None P4224 4/2020 Appendix C None P4224 4/2020 Appendix C-1 None P4224 4/2020 Appendix C-2 None P4224 4/2020 Appendix D None B4220 4/2020 Appendix E Update B4220 3/2020 Appendix F New P4224 4/2020 Appendix G Update B4211 3/2020 Appendix H None B4212 3/2020 Appendix I Update B4214 4/2020 Appendix J None B4215 4/2020 Appendix K None B16 4/2020 Appendix L None B17 3/2020 Appendix M Update B18 4/2020 Appendix N Update D4206 4/2020 Exhibits: Maps None GIS 4/2020 Accomplishments Update Various i Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Fire Plan 2020 Table of Contents UNIT STRATEGIC FIRE PLAN AMENDMENTS ............................................................. i Table of Contents .............................................................................................................ii SIGNATURE PAGE ........................................................................................................ 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ -
Coarse and Fine Particulate Matter Components of Wildland Fire Smoke at Devils Postpile National Monument, California, USA
Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 19: 1463–1470, 2019 Copyright © Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research ISSN: 1680-8584 print / 2071-1409 online doi: 10.4209/aaqr.2019.04.0219 Coarse and Fine Particulate Matter Components of Wildland Fire Smoke at Devils Postpile National Monument, California, USA Donald Schweizer1,2*, Ricardo Cisneros2, Monica Buhler3 1 USDA Forest Service, Bishop, CA 93514, USA 2 University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA 3 Devils Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, USA ABSTRACT Fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) particulate matter were monitored during the summer and fall of 2018 at Devils Postpile National Monument, California, USA. This remote site, located in the Sierra Nevada, was downwind of a number of wildland fires that were burning in California. The coarse (PM2.5-10) and the fine (PM2.5) fractions of the PM in the wildland fire smoke showed median PM2.5-10/PM2.5 ratios of .47 and 1.37 during periods with and without smoke, respectively. The concentrations at ground level were significantly (p < 0.001) higher during the periods with smoke for both the PM2.5-10 –3 –3 (10.3 µg m ) and the PM2.5 (35.3 µg m ), although the PM2.5 contributed most of the increase. These concentrations suggest that the fire size and intensity along with the distance and transport of smoke determine the exposure risk to humans. Current exposure estimates obtained via modeling and emission estimates may misrepresent ground-level concentrations due to a lack of understanding of the aerosol distribution in an aging wildland fire smoke plume. -
WUI Program...1
Page 1 Ferguson Fire - Brush Engine 1 Crew INSIDE THIS QUARTER: WUI Program................... 1 Calls & Response Stats.... 2 Mutual Aid Assignments. 2 This year’s WUI program was a success with a total clearance of 235 Prevention Unit Stats...... 3 acres. The crew performed fuels reduction around the residences, tribal buildings, and road system on the reservation. Defensible space Traffic Accidents.............. 4 was maintained up to 100 feet around the homes and tribal buildings. Fireline Medic.................. 4 The program runs each year from June through September with a Training & Testing........... 5 crew between 7 to 10 individuals, including a crew boss and assistant Misc.................................. 6 crew boss. The Bureau of Indian Affairs funded Email the Battalion Chief’s this year’s WUI program by way of [email protected] mkennedy@pechanga -nsn.gov grant at a total of $109,252.00. [email protected] Or Call Pechanga Fire Department at (951)770-6001 Page 2 Pechanga Fire Department Quarterly Report Pechanga Fire Department personnel actively participated in this year’s wildland fires, CALLS both operational and administratively. The following is a breakdown of fire personnel that participated in mutual aid assignments this quarter. EMS Calls 273 Fires 10 . FC Chris Burch: Dispatched to the Klamathon Fire in Siskiyou County on July 5th, and Public Assistance 2 the Carr Fire in Shasta County on July 25th as Planning Section Chief, working closely Good Intent 27 with the Incident Commander to plan and organize the tactics, strategy and False Alarms 3 resources needed to suppress the fire. Hazardous Condition 1 .