Wildfire news, November 8, 2008

Kentucky: firefighters charged with arson

From Kentucky.com:

Two current and one former Eastern Kentucky firefighters are accused of allegedly creating more work for firefighters by setting blazes in Pike and Knox counties. 

Christopher C. Little, 30, of Pike County, James Adam Yeager, 20, of Knox County and Walter D. Brown, 23, also of Knox, were arrested and charged with arson after they allegedly started fires in their home counties this week, the Kentucky Division of Forestry said Friday.
081108Arson

The fires could have benefited Little and Yeager financially by creating more work for them. The two were employed part-time by the state and paid on an hourly basis. Both have been dismissed.

Brown was an emergency firefighter last year before his dismissal, according to a Kentucky State Police press release.

Little, who had worked for the state since October, was arrested early Friday after the Division of Forestry received several calls from residents in Hellier in Pike County who allegedly saw him setting the blaze, MacSwords said. Forestry officials immediately notified the Kentucky State Police post in Pikeville.

California: Super Scoopers in LA County


The Los Angeles Times has an interesting article about the use of the Canadian CL-415 air tankers in Los Angeles County. We did not realize that the County has been leasing the aircraft for the last 13 fall fire seasons.

Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. Please read the commenting rules before you post a comment.