LA County to conduct major earthquake exercise

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LA County OESThe Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management will be hosting a major functional exercise to respond to a simulated magnitude 7.8 earthquake, Thursday March 21.

The exercise will feature the California Integrated Seismic Network’s Earthquake Early Warning Demonstration System and the participation of 53 City emergency operations centers, American Red Cross, Emergency Network Los Angeles, Southern California Edison and County departments (Chief Executive Office, Community & Senior Services, Coroner, Fire, Health, Human Resources, Internal Services, Mental Health, Public Health, Public Social Services, Public Works and Sheriff). These departments and organizations will be communicating and coordinating various types of resource and commodity requests by utilizing the Operational Area Response and Recovery System in response to a simulated magnitude 7.8 earthquake that impact the entire LACOA.

A functional exercise is a training event that is designed to test and evaluate selected emergency functions and the interaction of various levels of government, response organizations, volunteer groups, and industry in a simulated environment. This type of exercise usually involves key decision makers, the local emergency operations center and representatives from response and support organizations. Field response units are not normally activated and deployed during a functional exercise.

Update on Galena Fire near Fort Collins, March 18, 2013

Map of Galena Fire, 8 pm March 17, 2013

Larimer County released this map of the Galena Fire which has burned 1,348 acres on the west side of Horsetooth Reservoir west of Fort Collins, Colorado. Below is their update from this morning:

The Galena Fire is now estimated at 1348 acres. There has been minimal growth in the fire and the higher estimate is based on better mapping.

Containment is at 75% but is expected to be higher by the end of the day. 130 firefighters are still on scene with two Type 2 helicopters flying today if conditions permit. No structures have been damaged. There have been two minor injuries. Both firefighters were treated and released at a local hospital.

Fire crews will be completing and securing fire lines today as well as doing some mop-up. Crews have constructed approximately five miles of lines which given the early season limited resources is extremely good. Incident Commander Tony Simons says crews are working hard and have a positive attitude.

Winds will still be a big factor today and will cause increased smoke in the interior of the fire.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is close to being complete. The fire has been determined to be human caused but was NOT a result of a campfire, a controlled burn or a prescribed burn that escaped. Details will be made available as soon as the investigation is complete.

Pre-evacuation notices remain in effect today due to concerns about the wind.

Below is video from a news conference conducted about three hours after the fire started on March 15.

More information about the Galena Fire.

Red Flag Warnings, March 18, 2013

Red Flag Warnings

 

Red Flag Warnings for enhanced wildfire danger have been issued by the National Weather Service for areas in New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska.

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The map above was current as of 1:00 p.m. MT on Monday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts. For the most current data, visit this NWS site.

Fire burns dozens of structures in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Pigeon Forge fire map
Map showing the approximate location of the fire near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, as detected by the MODIS satellite at 3:45 a.m. ET, March 18, 2013.

UPDATE at 7 p.m. ET, March 18, 2013:

The fire is contained, thanks in part to some rain on Monday. Most of the firefighters have been released. The number of structures burned has been raised to 50. Below is a video from Knoxville’s WATE broadcast early Monday morning:

 

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Originally published at 10 a.m. Monday at 10 a.m. ET

A fire in eastern Tennessee has burned hundreds of acres and approximately 35 large rental structures in Pigeon Forge between Gatlinburg and Knoxville. In what looks like a carbon copy of Saturday’s fire in Horry County, South Carolina, the fire began in a structure and then spread to the vegetation, eventually igniting dozens of large rental cabins. In photos, the structures appear to have multiple guest units. Black Hawk helicopters from the Tennessee National Guard assisted firefighters by dropping water dipped out of Douglas Lake and other sources.

Estimates on the size of the fire, which is burning outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, range from 145 to 300 acres.


Thanks go out to Bill and Dick

An afternoon at Wind Cave

Wind Cave NP

The March winds were blowing almost like a Santa Ana in Wind Cave National Park Sunday afternoon. When I was taking these photos I had to brace myself by leaning against something or by getting down on one knee to minimize camera movement. At one point the wind drove a few little hard kernels of snow, “corn snow” into the crevices of my coat and the camera, but that only lasted for a few seconds.

Wind Cave NP

Wind Cave NP

Wind Cave NP

 

Dozens of structures destroyed in South Carolina brush fire

Saturday afternoon a wildfire in Horry County, South Carolina spread to a single-family home and then ignited and burned 26 buildings containing 109 housing units. All are considered a total loss.

On Sunday a spokesperson for the South Carolina Forestry Commission said the fire’s point of origin was near power lines.

Ten search and rescue teams made up of county police and firefighters went through the community looking for possible victims.