Hangar 24 Air Fest Show

CAL FIRE Helicopter 305 will be on display at this years Hangar 24 Air Fest Show.

Come by and see us and enjoy a great day out with the family. 

Congrats to Fire Captain Adam Shay on his recent retirement!

Keep Your Fire Guard Up!

With the extreme fire hazard that exists across San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire everyone needs to “keep their guard up”  as the potential for wildfire grows with the arrival of the Santa Ana wind period. The “Devil Winds” as they are known, race through Southern California primarily during the months of October through December.  However, it is not unusual to experience Santa Ana winds as early as September or into the next year. The fire activity that we have witnessed the past few months has been very active and severe without the driving hot, dry Santa Ana winds.

Many of California’s most disastrous fires have been driven by strong, dry Santa Ana winds.  Eleven of the twenty largest California wildland fires by structures destroyed occurred in Southern California between September and November. This includes the Panorama fire of November 1980, that destroyed 345 structures and killed four people, the 2003 Grand Prix and Old fires and the deadly Esparanza fire.

CAL FIRE San Bernardino Acting Unit Chief Rod Bywater says “fire is everyone’s fight. Fire safety and prevention needs to be on the mind of everyone, especially those who live and recreate in the mountains and wildland areas”.  CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit Fire Prevention Battalion Chief Preston Fouts reminds us that “that one less spark can result in one less fire.  By being fire safe, people really can make a difference in preventing fires from starting in the first place.” It is also a good idea to see if the clearance around your property is still good.  Even if you did your clearance in the spring, you should give the property a once over so that you have good defensible space around your structures.  This defensible space provides firefighters the area they need to mount an effective defense of your home. 

 

According to weather experts, the Santa Ana wind cycle begins when high pressure from the high desert of the Great Basin pushes hot dry winds into Southern California.  These winds initially occur approximately every ten days.  The frequency of the wind events increases as the weeks go by until December when the winds events can happen about every three or four days.  The racing winds, dry weather, and low humidity combine to create a prescription for disaster.

 Another reason that makes the Santa Ana winds so dangerous is their appeal to arsonists.  The hot and dry vegetation beckons to the destructive tendencies of an arsonist.  With this in mind, it is very important for residents everywhere especially in the mountain and wildland areas to pay attention to suspicious actions.  If you see something suspicious report it to CAL FIRE, your local fire agency or law enforcement.

 The arson fires from 1993 were the catalyst for the 1994 “One Strike for Arson” law.  It punishes any person who willfully, maliciously, deliberately, with premeditation and with specific intent, sets fire to, burns, or causes to be burned, any residence, structure, forest land or property.  That person when convicted is guilty of aggravated arson.  According to this law, if any one or more of the specified aggravated factors exists, the person convicted SHALL not be eligible for probation and SHALL be imprisoned in state prison for ten years to life.

 Firefighters need your help to combat arson and wildfire.  The vegetation is tender dry and with low humidity and high winds, very susceptible to ignition.  Almost any type of heat source can start a fire in these conditions.  If you see a fire, no matter what size, report it to the nearest fire department or call “911”.  Please do not assume that another person made the call.  The quicker the public reports a fire, the faster firefighters can respond.  Remember, “fire is everyone’s fight” and if you have information about how a fire started, report it to the fire department or law enforcement.

CAL FIRE  San Bernardino Unit  Fire Prevention Battalion Chief Preston Fouts says “preventing fires is everyone’s business.  If we work together, we can keep our homes and property, recreational areas and most of all our loved ones safe from the ravages of wildfire”.  For more information go to http://www.preventwildfireca.org/

Crafton Hills Fire Academy Honors 9-11

Yesterday, the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America was honored by the Fire Cadets attending the Crafton Hills Fire Academy.  The Academy is currently sharing space at the Headquarters of the CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit while their new facility is built.  The Cadets conducted a flag raising ceremony to commemorate what happened on the September morning when nearly 3,000 Americans, civilians and emergency responders lost their lives.  The CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit stands with the Crafton Hills Fire Cadets and every other American in remembering the tragedy of that day.

Labor Day Fire Safety Should Be Foremost on Everyone’s Mind

Since April of this year, we have been experiencing burning conditions unlike any seen in years.  The extremely dry vegetation has become explosive when ignited.  We witnessed this extreme fire activity on the Mountain and Silver fires in the mountains near Idyllwild and we are seeing this activity on the Rim fire near Yosemite that has burned nearly 150,000 acres.  The Rim fire has grown to the 13^th largest fire in California history.

It only takes a moment of carelessness to cause this

CAL FIRE San Bernardino Acting Unit Chief Rod Bywater is calling on everyone to practice fire safety and awareness in everything they do not only during the Labor Day weekend, but every day.  “It is very important for people to reduce the potential for causing fires in the things that they do near and in wildland areas” said Chief Bywater.  San Bernardino Unit Fire Prevention Battalion Chief Preston Fouts says “90% of fires are human related.  With a little attention to our surroundings and what we are doing, we can reduce the number of human related fires.”

 For this last weekend of the summer, please be fire safe and remember “One Less Spark, One Less wildfire.”  For more fire safety information go to http://readyforwildfire.org/.

One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire

The One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire campaign has reached southern California and the CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit is all in.  What is this campaign you might ask, well here's the answer.  The goal of this effort is to reduce property loss and the threat to residents and firefighters by reducing some targeted causes of wildfires.  To aide in that effort, a CAL FIRE cover engine from the Madera, Mariposa, Merced Unit participated in the shooting of campaign Public Service Announcements yesterday.  The video shoot was conducted at the United States Forest Service's Technology and Development Center in San Dimas, California.

Careless equipment use can spark a wildland fire

Waiting for the director

Not exactly what you expect on a cover assignment

 CAL FIRE was one of many agencies there to support this important statewide fire prevention effort.  The PSA's focused in the goals of the campaign which is to reduce wildland fires ignited by equipment usage, vehicle caused wildland fires, and escaped debris fires.  Smokey Bear and Sparky the Fire Dog were there doing their best to help get the message out.  Actress Betty White has also volunteered to appear in the PSA's although the veteran actress was not at the facility.

This is a statewide interagency campaign much like the Ready-Set-Go program.  You will hear the phrase "ALL LANDS, ALL VOICES" throughout this campaign as every agency works to reduce human caused wildfires in California. The campaign has come about through the efforts and support of the U.S. Forest Service Region 5 Fire and Aviation Staff working with the California Wildfire Coordinating Group. For more information about 'One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire" go to; http://www.preventwildfireca.org/

All together..."One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire"

CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit teaches News Media Fire Safety to ABC7

Back lot of ABC7

The CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit is involved in providing fire safety education to members of the news media.  The news can be local around the Inland Empire or in Los Angeles.  Since the specialized class was created in 2002, over 1,000 members of the Los Angeles and Inland Empire news media have received the important safety information at least once.

ABC7 class member deploys practice fire shelter as class members watch.

ABC7 television in Glendale, California had CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit Information Officer Bill Peters (one of the creators of the news media fire safety class) come to the station for the fourth consecutive year to teach wildland fire safety to their news and technical staffs.  This year Bill taught a two hour refresher class.  The class included the media access law 409.5 of the California Penal Code that allows news media access to disasters, wildland fire behavior, personal protective equipment, fire ground injuries, vehicle operation and fire shelter deployment.

More than 115 ABC7 personnel attended one of the eight two hour presentation held over three days.

Parked outside of ABC7 Studio B where the classes are taught.

CAL FIRE Camp Crews provide valuable service to the Community

For 67 years, CAL FIRE and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation have been operating Conservation Camps utilizing incarcerated men and women to fight fire and help protect the citizens their property and the resources of California.  The Conservation Camp program began in 1946 when the Rainbow Conservation Camp was established in San Diego County.  CAL FIRE is currently authorized to operate 196 fire crews year-round.

CAL FIRE Inmate Crews digging out mud from homes in the 2010 Christmas floods

 CAL FIRE in partnership with CDCR operates four conservation camps within the San Bernardino Unit.  These camps are Pilot Rock Camp near Crestline, Prado Camp in Chino, Fenner Camp near Valyermo in Los Angeles County and Owens Valley Camp near Bishop.  These camps house a combined total of nineteen crews of up to 17 inmates each.  While the primary mission of the crews is to respond to wildfires, the crews have also responded to numerous emergencies over the years.  So far this year, crews from the four CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit camps have spent more than 15,500 hours fighting fires in California, most recently during the Mountain fire in Riverside County. The CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit also operates in partnership with CDCR the women’s fire crew training facility at the Chino Institute for Women.  CIW provides female inmate firefighters for CAL FIRE camps in Rainbow and Puerta La Cruz as well as Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Malibu Camp.  Additionally, The CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit’s Prado Camp is home to the only inmate helicopter fire crew in California.  The Inmate Helitack program has been operation for more than 20 years.

CAL FIRE Prado Camp helitak crew practices hover stepping during 2010 Tonner Canyon exercixes

CAL FIRE Inmate Fire Crew on the 2009 San Bernardino Fire

 In San Bernardino County, CAL FIRE crews not only fight fire and respond to emergencies such as the Christmas flood in Highland and the floods following the disastrous 2003 Old and Grand Prix fires, the crews also provide help and assistance to other state and local agencies.  Some of these efforts include assisting CAL TRANS in roadside maintenance and vegetation removal in the San Bernardino Mountains, along with project work for Corona, Yucaipa, Chino Hills, California State Parks and Orange County to name a few.  These projects amount to tens of thousands of hours of work annually. 

The crews can be used anywhere in California.  One example was the Christmas flood in the City of Highland where CAL FIRE utilized more than 30 crews from throughout California to mitigate the hazards to the local community.  Statewide, CAL FIRE operates 39 Conservation Camps in conjunction with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.  The camp crews are an important part of California’s emergency response resources providing more than 2.5 million hours of emergency response work every year. For more information about the Camp Program you can go to www.fire.ca.gov

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CAL FIRE loses one of their own

R.I.P.

Fire Apparatus Engineer/Paramedic

Christopher Douglas

 

 

Riverside – CAL FIRE Fire Apparatus Engineer/Paramedic Christopher Douglas, 41, of Temecula was fatally injured while responding to a traffic collision along Interstate 10 near the Thousand Palms area in Riverside County. He was an eight year veteran of CAL FIRE.

Engineer Douglas is survived by his wife, Amy, and son, Sammy (2). Christopher is also survived his siblings, Martin Douglas of Colorado Springs, Heather Douglas of Denver, mother, Veronica Herrington and family of Newport Beach,his in-laws, Ronald and Sheryl Aitken of Newport Beach, and sister in law Jessica Carroll of Costa Mesa,

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement regarding the death of Engineer/Paramedic Christopher Douglas:

“Anne and I were saddened to learn of the death of Engineer Christopher Douglas. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fellow state firefighters.”

The CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit shares in the sadness of the tragic loss today of Fire Apparatus Engineer/Paramedic Christopher Douglas. Our prayers go out to his family and friends.



CAL FIRE BDU trains with Apple Valley Fire

Several fire engine crews from the CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit participated in the day long Fire Control 3 classes being put on by the Apple Valley Fire Protection District.  The three 90 minute sections allowed for a larger group of firefighters to participate.  The classes included fire behavior and interior attack, special searches and roof ventilation.

This is a good example of coordinated regional training that enhances the abilities of all the firefighters who trained together.  Present through the day were Apple Valley Fire, CAL FIRE BDU and Baldwin Lake Fire Department.

Firefighters watch as the fire begins to roll across the ceiling.

Another shot of the fire's behavior as it grows

CAL FIRE BDU Firefighter Matt Swendra climes out of the window after a room search

There was a very special firefighter who visited the training exercise today.  He is honorary Apple Valley Firefighter Dominic Cumo.  This brave young boy is suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and loves to visit firefighters.  After his training evolution, Matt Swendra presented his fire helmet, signed by all of the CAL FIRE BDU personnel present at the time to Dominic.  You can find this brave young boy on Facebook; Dominic Cumo.

Honorary Apple Valley FF Dominic Cumo and his new CAL FIRE friends

CAL FIRE BDU crew getting in some roof ventilation practice

This was a good day of training and working along side firefighters and leaders from different fire departments.

CAL FIRE Arrests Yosemite Lakes Park Area Arson Suspects

Madera - After a rash of suspicious fires, CAL FIRE law enforcement officers Tuesday night arrested a Yosemite Lakes Park couple on suspicion of dozens of arson fires. Kenneth Alan Jackson, 40 and Allison Marie Waterman, 46, both of Coarsegold, were booked into the Madera County Jail for arson. Jackson is being charged with 31 counts of arson, resisting arrest, as well as attempted battery on a peace officer. Waterman was booked on a single charge of arson.


“The Yosemite Lakes Park community has been threatened by countless wildfires over the past several months that we believe were a result of arson,” said Chief Nancy Koerperich, CAL FIRE Unit Chief for the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit. “We appreciate the community’s support and assistance as we worked to track down these suspects.”

CAL FIRE law enforcement officers work diligently in arson cases to aggressively investigate and prosecute those suspected of intentionally starting fires. Numerous agencies assisted in the investigation and arrest including the Madera County Sheriff’s Department, Madera County District Attorney’s Office and the Yosemite Lakes Park security staff.

As fire danger remains extreme across California, arson is a major threat to both life and property. Residents should be vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons when a fire does start. If you witness someone suspicious make note of the time, his or her physical description, as well as any vehicle description, including the license plate number. Always contact law enforcement, never approach a suspicious person. Anyone with information about arson is urged to contact the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.

Yosemite Lakes Park is a community of approximately 1,900 homes in Madera County located between Yosemite National Park and Fresno, near the town of Coarsegold.

The CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit wants to remind everyone to be extra careful during this coming period of hot weather.  Wildland fire ignition potential will be greatly increased with the heat.  Fireworks, illegal and Safe and Sane can quickly be the cause of fires if used improperly or in the wrong place.  Please be fire safe and fire wise.

BLM Bishop Field Office & Inyo National Forest Announce Fire Restrictions

Effective Friday, June 28, the Bureau of Land Management- Bishop Field Office and the Inyo National Forest are implementing fire restrictions. The restrictions are in effect on all BLM public lands managed by the Bishop Field Office and all Inyo National Forest lands, including wilderness areas. “Ongoing drought conditions, well below average rain and snowfall this past winter and warmer than average temperatures have led to very dry conditions for this time of year,” said Inyo National Forest Supervisor Ed Armenta. “We are experiencing very high fire danger and continued hot and dry weather patterns here in the eastern Sierra.”

Beginning June 28, and until further notice, the following restrictions will be in effect:

• NO CAMPFIRES, briquette barbeques, or stove fires are allowed outside of designated developed recreation sites and specifically posted campsites or areas. A list of designated campgrounds and recreation sites is available at local Ranger Stations and Visitor Centers, and on the Inyo National Forest website, www.fs.usda.gov/inyo. Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit (available free of charge at any Ranger Station or Visitor Center) are not exempt from the prohibitions but are allowed to use portable stoves or lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.

• NO FIREWORKS. It is prohibited to possess or discharge any fireworks.

• NO SMOKING, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

• NO WELDING or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by permit.

• NO USE OF EXPLOSIVES, except by permit.

Resorts, pack stations, recreation residences and other sites operated under special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service or BLM may be exempt from the special orders, as long as any fire activity is conducted in compliance with their permit. Special use permit holders should contact their permit administrator to make sure they are on the list of exempt sites, or check the information for special use permit exemptions on the Inyo National Forest Website, www.fs.usda.gov/inyo.

Steve Nelson, Acting BLM Bishop Field Manager and Armenta urge the public’s cooperation in helping to prevent wildfires in this year of very high fire danger, and they remind both residents and visitors that fireworks, even “Safe and Sane” are not allowed at any time on public lands.

The CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit also wants to urge everyone to be not only fire safe, but fire aware.  As the weather heats up to possibly record highs, the potential for wildland fire ignitions increases as well.

CAL FIRE at the Fair

Day 5 of the San Bernardino County Fair in Victorville, California began with winds gusting to 25 miles an hour.  The winds pushed dust across the area and served as a reminder about the potential for wildfire.  With fire equipment from the San Bernardino Unit assisting on fires in other areas, a strike team of fire engines again spent the day in the San Bernardino Unit supplying support.


This Madera/Mariposa/Merced strike team had been in the San Diego Unit on the fire there before coming to the San Bernardino Unit.  Like the previous day, the strike team showed up at the San Bernardino County Fair.  Once again fair goers were able to see up close and personal what CAL FIRE is all about.

Young man is assisted out of the cab after getting to see the inside of a real fire engine

The firefighters jumped right in, talking to visitors and showing off their engines to young and old alike.  They also helped in the CAL FIRE booth in Smokey Bear Park, answering questions and asking fire prevention and safety questions to the young people who wanted to spin the CAL FIRE fire prevention wheel.  The MMM firefighters along with San  Bernardino Unit firefighters took Smokey Bear around the fair where he made many new friends.

Smokey Bear and friends head out for a walk about around the fair

Thank you to the firefighters and leaders of the Madera/Mariposa/Merced Unit strike team.  They showed once again that CAL FIRE can travel anywhere in the state, and work together with other CAL FIRE members to accomplish a common goal whether it is fighting fire or working public fire safety events.

Have you got your Smokey on?

Fire engine Disneyland for fair goers

Yesterday, Tuesday, May 28, 2013 was the fourth day of the San Bernardino County Fair in Victorville, California.  The public service area of the fair called Smokey Bear Park had some special visitors.  A CAL FIRE strike team of fire engines (strike teams consist of 5 engines and a strike team leader) from the San Mateo/Santa Cruz area stopped by to lend a hand.



Captain Tony Jones explaining what CAL FIRE does at the fair to the San Mateo/Santa Cruz Firefighters



Looking from the entrance of Smokey Bear Park at two CAL FIRE engines infront of the CAL FIRE booth

The strike team had been in San Diego assisting the CAL FIRE Unit there in covering some of their stations in place of the regular crews who had been involved in fighting a wildland fire there.  This is one of the abilities of CAL FIRE, to move resources from one area to another to meet operational needs.

Flo the Clown stopped by to see what was going on and spent some time with the Firefighters

Because of the highwinds and low humidities in the Inland Empire and High Desert areas, the strike team which had been released from San Diego was repositioned in the San Bernardino Unit in case a fire broke out. The strike team had been positioned at the Phelan Fire Station and came over to the fair to help.

Two of the San Mateo/Santa Crus engines infront of the CAL FIRE booth

This is the only time in the history of the CAL FIRE presence at the fair that so many fire engines have been available for the public to see and learn about.  During their time at the fair, the crews assisted in the CAL FIRE booth sharing fire prevention information as well as providing the public with guided tours around their fire engines.  They also took Smokey Bear on a tour of the fair much to the enjoyment of children and adults alike.

The CAL FIRE engines saying good bye to fair goers as they left

The San Bernardino Unit says thank you to the CAL FIRE firefighters from San Mateo/Santa Cruz for jumping in and helping the fair going public to learn more about CAL FIRE and fire safety.  The six fire engines (one was from the San Bernardino Unit) were a fantastic draw and served to display CAL FIRE at its best. 

CAL FIRE goes to the Fair

Today is day three of the San Bernardino County Fair in Victorville, California.  The CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit has been participating at the fair for more than 30 years.  For the last 15 years, the CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit has been the coordinator for Smokey Bear Park. This is an area where the fair allows public service organizations and governmental agencies to provide public information at no cost.

Entrance to Smokey Bear Park

This year, besides CAL FIRE, there is Narcotics Anonymous, Victor Valley Ham Radio Club, High Desert Homeless, Civil Air Patrol, Military Kids and San Bernardino County Victim Witness.

Fair goers stopping to look at the CAL FIRE engine before entering Smokey Bear Park

CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit's booth

Fire Prevention Education Wheel next to Smokey's Five Rules

Safety Information wall

CAL FIRE photo wall

 The fair runs daily through next Sunday, June 2nd

CAL FIRE assists the City of Monrovia

When we work TOGETHER we're BETTER !