News and opinion about wildland fire
The National Weather Service has posted Red Flag Warnings or Fire Weather Watches for areas in Oregon, California, and Nevada.
The Red Flag map was current as of 8 a.m. MDT on Monday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts and maps. For the most current data visit this NWS site.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Woman driving on tire rim causes multiple fires 
A woman driving on a tire rim is suspected of causing multiple fires in San Andreas, California. After a tire went flat, Renee Hogan continued driving as the tire caught fire and sparks were created as the metal rim dragged on Mountain Ranch Road.
Several fires started in the nearby vegetation that eventually merged to become the Willow Fire which has burned 450 acres and required evacuations in the Willow Valley Subdivision.
The California Highway Patrol arrested Ms. Hogan at the easternmost fire, which also burned her vehicle. She was initially arrested for driving under the influence of drugs. Upon further investigation, she was arrested for causing a fire that resulted in a structure burning, seven counts of causing a fire to forestland or a structure, and one count of committing a violation during a declared state of emergency.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized12 Comments on Charges filed after crash that killed two firefighters Nine firefighters traveling in a second crew carrier were stopped 30 miles down the highway, restrained with zip ties, and questioned individually.
(Originally published at 7:22 a.m. MDT August 29. Updated at 2:52 p.m August 30, 2016)
The driver of the crew carrier that crashed August 27 near Blaine, Minnesota killing two firefighters has been charged with a crime. Michael Allen Johnson, 28, was arrested the day of the accident and booked into Anoka County jail. He was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner.
The two deceased firefighters were identified Sunday by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community as James F. Shelifoe, Jr., 23, of Baraga Michigan, and Alan J. Swartz, 25, of Baraga, Michigan.
Monday evening WLUC reported more information about Mr. Johnson based on a copy of the criminal complaint. Here are some of the key points according to their article and an AP report:
In the video above the reporter says:
Two hours after the crash a second Beartown truck carrying nine more firefighters was stopped in Bloomington. Their hands restrained behind their backs they sat along a curb, individually questioned, and left on their way.
Bloomington is about 30 miles from Blaine, Minnesota where the crash occurred.
ABC News reported that a witness saw the truck drive past him at about 80 to 90 mph in a 70 mph zone shortly before the crash, according to the complaint.
The passenger compartment on the crew carrier separated from the truck’s chassis when the vehicle rolled.
Seven firefighters in the crew carrier were injured, including Mr. Johnson. All are expected to recover. The Minnesota State Patrol said in a statement:
The truck was southbound on I-35W near 95th Avenue. The truck left the roadway for an unknown reason, struck the median cable barriers, and rolled. A total of nine people were in the vehicle.
There were 11 other firefighters in two other vehicles traveling in the convoy but the truck that crashed had become separated from the other two. All are part of the Beartown Fire Crew from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in the upper Peninsula of Michigan. The firefighters were en route to the Box Canyon Fire in Utah.
National Weather Service forecasters have identified a Red Flag Warning for Yellowstone National Park and the Absaroka Mountains to the east. They designated the park boundary and the Wyoming/Montana state line as the edge of the extreme weather and fuel conditions on three sides. Apparently the national forests and the park on the north, west, and south sides of Yellowstone are not affected.
The Red Flag areas are confined to Fire Weather Zones 140 and 236. Zone 140 is Yellowstone NP, which has mostly straight lines on three sides. Zone 236 is the Absaroka Mountains.
This is the only area in the United States under a Red Flag Warning today.
Meanwhile the U.S. Forest Service forecasts mostly Moderate to High fire danger for the same area.
The Red Flag map was current as of 8:40 a.m. MDT on Sunday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts and maps. For the most current data visit this NWS site.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Two wildland firefighters killed in Minnesota vehicle accident (Originally published at 10:17 p.m. MDT August 27, 2017. Updated at 11:05 p.m. MDT August 28, 2016)
(UPDATE: the driver of the firefighters’ truck has been charged with a crime.)
Two firefighters with a Type 2 hand crew were killed in a traffic accident Saturday August 27 near Blaine, Minnesota. The Minnesota Incident Command System verified that the firefighters were part of the Beartown Fire Crew from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in the upper Peninsula of Michigan that was en route to the Box Canyon Fire in Utah.
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community confirmed the tragic accident:
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community learned this evening that our Beartown Firefighting crew was involved in a tragic traffic accident. Two of our fire fighters were killed and several others were severely injured. Our hearts are broken and our prayers are with the family members and those injured.
The seven other firefighters in the crew carrier that were injured in the crash are expected to recover.
The two deceased firefighters were identified Sunday by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community as James F. Shelifoe, Jr., 23, of Baraga Michigan, and Alan J. Swartz, 25, of Baraga, Michigan.
The Minnesota State Patrol said in a statement:
The truck was southbound on I-35W near 95th Avenue. The truck left the roadway for an unknown reason, struck the median cable barriers, and rolled. A total of nine people were in the vehicle.
There were 11 other firefighters en route to the same fire. They were traveling in a convoy but had become separated.
According to Minnesota Department of Transportation, that section of the Interstate was closed in both directions for about four hours after the accident.
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs manages the Beartown Firefighters Type 2 hand crew. It is based out of Baraga, Michigan and is available for dispatch locally as well as nation-wide.
Our sincere condolences go out to the family, coworkers, and friends of the injured and deceased firefighters.
2 #FIREFIGHTERS KILLED, 6 INJURED IN FIRE APPARATUS CRASH-MINNESOTA/MICHIGAN #LODD https://t.co/sViZodmtnQ pic.twitter.com/fCAfsOV5uB
— FirefighterCloseCall (@TheSecretList) August 28, 2016
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.
The National Weather Service has posted Red Flag Warnings for areas in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming.
The Red Flag map was current as of 11:14 a.m. MDT on Saturday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts and maps. For the most current data visit this NWS site.
