Forty years ago a Boston firefighter rescued an infant. Here is a video from NBC news about how the person that was rescued sought out and found that firefighter 40 years later.
(The link to the video no longer works)
Month: March 2009
Watch Out Situation #17
On February 26 Wildfire Today posted some of the history of the “18 Watch Out Situations”. As we explained then, they began with the “13 Situations that Shout Watch Out” in the 1960s, and evolved in 1987 into the “18 Watch Out Situations”.
Each day from March 19 through March 30 we will be posting images depicting each of the original 13 Situations that were in the “Basic 32” wildland firefighter training program that was developed by the El Cariso Hot Shots 1972-1973.
The image above is the 12th one we have posted. It is similar to Situation #17 on the present day list of 18.
To see all of the “13 Watch Out Situation” images that have been posted to date, click on the “13/18 Situations” tag below.
The passing of an icon: Rick Gale
Richard T. Gale passed away at his home in Boise, Idaho Friday night, March 27.
Rick had been an icon in interagency fire management and in the National Park Service for decades. He was one of the first Type 1 Incident Commanders and Area Commanders, was Chief Ranger at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area north of Los Angeles, Chief Ranger of the National Park Service, and the National Fire Management Officer for the National Park Service.
Rick was the Area Commander during the 1988 Yellowstone fires and was the Incident Commander of the first Type 1 All-Risk Incident Management Team formed by the National Park Service in 1991. (The team is shown in the photo below.)
For 25 years he was involved in S-520, Advanced Incident Management and S-620, Area Command as an instructor, evaluator, and Steering Committee Chairperson.
After his retirement in 2002 following 41 years with the NPS he continued his involvement in wildfire by consulting. He served two 3-year terms on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Wildland Fire, retiring from the board in December, 2008 after serving the maximum number of consecutive terms allowed.
I worked with Rick many times in a large variety of situations and incidents. He had the willingness to do the right thing even if it meant battling stupid rules.
When he worked in the NPS Washington office there was a sign on the wall at the end of the hall that said: “What have you done for a park today?”… a concept that is a little too rare in Washington these days.
UPDATE, March 30
The remembrance celebration for Rick Gale will be scheduled for mid-day on Friday, April 3 in Boise, for those who may be making travel arrangements. When more specific details are available, we will post them here.
UPDATE, March 31
THIS POST has the details about the funeral or remembrance service.
Watch Out Situation #16
On February 26 Wildfire Today posted some of the history of the “18 Watch Out Situations”. As we explained then, they began with the “13 Situations that Shout Watch Out” in the 1960s, and evolved in 1987 into the “18 Watch Out Situations”.
Each day from March 19 through March 30 we will be posting images depicting each of the original 13 Situations that were in the “Basic 32” wildland firefighter training program that was developed by the El Cariso Hot Shots 1972-1973.
The image above is the 11th one we have posted. It is similar to Situation #16 on the present day list of 18.
To see all of the “13 Watch Out Situation” images that have been posted to date, click on the “13/18 Situations” tag below.
Wildfire News, March 27, 2009
Followup on Kansas helicopter crash
The NTSB has released some preliminary information in a short report about the crash in which Roger Hershner, a long time fire helicopter pilot, died. The report, which does not mention the cause of the crash, includes this information:
A nearby resident heard the helicopter’s engine “rev to a high RPM” twice followed by two to three “thump” or “whump” sounds. There are no reported eyewitnesses to the accident.
Fire in Chicago surburbs
Larry Shapiro of Shapiro Photography sent us a link to some photos he took Sunday of a 4-alarm, 250-acre fire in Lake Zurich, on the northwest side of Chicago. The Daily Herald reports that 30 (!) fire departments from three counties battled the fire for 4 hours in the Cuba Marsh.
Fire contractor fined for making false statements
In November Wildfire Today covered the trial and conviction of Jay Gasvoda who was convicted of making false statements related to falsifying physical fitness or “pack test” records. Now a judge has sentenced him to a $10,000 fine.
From the Independent record:
Gasvoda maintained that he was only engaging in a practice that most or all rural fire districts do when he certified that his crew had passed physical tests that allowed them to operate equipment on fire lines while under contract with the Forest Service.
“In the fire business, Sula had a different understanding of what pack tests were required and who could certify it,” Martin Judnich, Gasvoda’s attorney, told the judge. “The chiefs said they weren’t aware you had to take this test and pass it. We thought that if you thought (they were physically fit) that they could certify that and put it down. The Forest Service says no.”
*
According to information from the U.S. Attorney’s office, Gasvoda had a business, Bitterroot Fire Protection, and contracted in 2003 to provide two fire engines and a water truck, plus eight people, to fight wildfires on national forest lands in Montana. As part of that contract, Gasvoda signed documents saying the crew was “certified.”However, the Forest Service later learned that several of Gasvoda’s employees hadn’t taken the “standards for survival” test, and others hadn’t completed an arduous “pack test” that required firefighters to walk three miles in 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound backpack.
Gasvoda was paid $68,000 from the federal government for working on six fires that summer.
“I have never taken a pack test in my life, but they have always sent me the (certification) card,” Gasvoda said. “My sons were given cards two years ago by state employees, and they didn’t take the pack tests, nor did hundreds of others.
“I realize the system, for safety reasons, has to be there and I’m all for it. But this particular system has way too many holes in it that don’t work.”
That may be, Lovell said, but he wasn’t prepared to retry the case in court — although he did offer to postpone sentencing while he read the entire transcript from the 2 ½-day trial that was presided over by Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula. That offer was turned down by Gasvoda, who is considering filing an appeal of the conviction, but is concerned about the high cost of legal fees.
Watch Out Situation #15
On February 26 Wildfire Today posted some of the history of the “18 Watch Out Situations”. As we explained then, they began with the “13 Situations that Shout Watch Out” in the 1960s, and evolved in 1987 into the “18 Watch Out Situations”.
Each day from March 19 through March 30 we will be posting images depicting each of the original 13 Situations that were in the “Basic 32” wildland firefighter training program that was developed by the El Cariso Hot Shots 1972-1973.
The image above is the 10th one we have posted. It is similar to Situation #15 on the present day list of 18.
To see all of the “13 Watch Out Situation” images that have been posted to date, click on the “13/18 Situations” tag below.
