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Secretary of Agriculture holds Wildland Fire Town Hall with employees

Bill GabbertMay 17, 2021August 6, 2021UncategorizedTom Vilsack18 Comments

US Forest Service headquarters in Washington.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack hosted a virtual “Wildland Fire Town Hall Meeting” Monday. The Forest Service was apparently expecting a large number of employees to attend and established a 10,000-person limit on the Zoom platform.

Here is how the meeting was described in an email sent to Forest Service personnel:

Employees representing fire operations, leadership, research, and wildfire support operations are invited to engage in a conversation with Secretary Vilsack and Chief Christensen. This meeting is intended to be a focused and intimate dialogue with employees from the wildland fire community across the agency, however all employees are invited. There is a limit of 10,000 participants.

Chief Christensen will welcome wildland fire employees, speaking to the risks and leader’s intent for the fire year. Secretary Vilsack will share his leader’s intent on a variety of issues that include extended fire seasons, fire and climate change, wildfire response during COVID 19, and an inclusive workplace environment that focuses on employee safety and well-being. Employees will have an opportunity to share their fire experiences with the Secretary and ask questions.

The meeting was not open to the public but some of those who attended told Wildfire Today that there were about 15 people on the screen who may have had the ability to speak including the Secretary and Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. Others represented jobs such as Fire Management Officer, Research Ecologist, Wildland Fire Module Captain, Fuels Specialist, Helitack Captain, and Fire Staff Officer on a Forest.

The individuals that spoke introduced themselves and described their job, sometimes at great length, and then asked the Secretary a question.

The subject of converting seasonal employees to permanent came up at least twice. Climate change, the competitive job market, a diverse workforce, work-life balance, and mental health were other topics discussed according to our sources.

If you attended the event and would like to add more information or have an opinion about the usefulness of a virtual town hall meeting like this, let us know in a comment below, or at the top of the article click on “Leave a comment” or “Comment.”

UPDATE May 18, 2021. We found out today that Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland hosted a similar wildland fire management town hall on the same day as Secretary Vilsack’s.

Sheriff’s office searching for arsonist at Palisades Fire in SoCal

Bill GabbertMay 16, 2021July 6, 2021Wildfirearson, California, Palisades Fire4 Comments

A suspect was arrested Sunday afternoon

Updated at 5:01 p.m. PDT May 17, 2021

The Los Angeles Fire Department announced Monday morning that an adult male suspected of igniting the Palisades Fire was detained, questioned and then arrested Sunday afternoon by LAFD Arson Investigators. Ralph M. Terrazas, Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a 10 a.m. press conference on Monday that personnel in a Police Department helicopter observed the ignition of the fire, as well as a second ignition later but lost sight of him in the smoke and dense brush. The suspect was treated Sunday for smoke inhalation.

The intensity and spread of the fire slowed considerably Sunday night and Monday. As predicted, the visibility improved Monday afternoon enough to allow the use of three fixed wing air tankers which dropped retardant to assist firefighters on the ground. They supplemented the work being done by helicopters that have been dropping water. The fire has burned 1,325 acres.

There has been no change in the existing Mandatory Evacuation orders in the County of Los Angeles or the Evacuation Warning in the City of Los Angeles.

No structures have been damaged. One firefighter sustained a minor injury.

Updated at 9:52 p.m. PDT May 16, 2021

Palisades Fire May 16, 2021 — Palisades Fire, looking west from Green Peak at 7:17 p.m. PDT May 16, 2021.

The active investigation into the cause of the Palisades Fire continues. Arson investigators from the Los Angeles Fire Department detained and released one individual, but at 6 p.m. PDT they announced that they are questioning a second person.

The latest information about the fire puts it at 1,325 acres, but these fire updates have been running many hours behind the actual fire activity.

The weather will turn against the firefighters Monday afternoon when the wind out of the southwest will increase to 10 mph and gusts to 16 mph, with relative humidity dropping into the 50s. The cloud cover will decrease after 11 a.m. which may allow the use of fixed wing air tankers.

Updated at 4:04 p.m. PDT May 16, 2021

LA County helicopter departs 69Bravo Palisades Fire — LA County helicopter departs 69Bravo heading toward the Palisades Fire at 11:59 a.m. PDT May 16, 2021. AlertWildfire photo.

At 3:05 p.m. Sunday the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that the Palisades Fire near Topanga, California was mapped at 1,325 acres.

The Department issued a warning at 2 p.m. Sunday for residences in a portion of The Summit community to be ready to evacuate.

An Evacuation Warning is now in effect for the following area (as shown on the map above): Starting at the 1500 block of Chastain Parkway W – all homes north of Chastain Parkway over to Calle Del Cielo (eastern boundary). The warning area includes Calle De Sarah, Calle Bellevista and all homes West of Calle Del Cielo / Ave Ashley up to the hills.

All residents in this area are asked to prepare for a potential evacuation based on the developing fire activity. Secure your valuables, medicines, etc in your car and be prepared if asked to evacuate.

Evacuation warning The Summit, at 2 p.m. May 16, 2021. LAFD map.

The visibility over the fire is not adequate to allow the use of fixed wing aircraft, but helicopters are still assisting firefighters. Departments that sent helicopters include LA FD, LA County, Ventura County, and Orange County.

12:01 p.m. PDT May 16, 2021

Palisades Fire Map, released Sunday morning May 16, 2021. By LA Co. FD, and LA FD.

No structures have been damaged. One firefighter sustained a minor injury. There are no reported injuries to any civilians.

Continue reading “Sheriff’s office searching for arsonist at Palisades Fire in SoCal”

Palisades Fire is burning northwest of Santa Monica, California

Bill GabbertMay 15, 2021May 16, 2021WildfireCalifornia, Palisades Fire

The fire is in Topanga State Park

Updated at 9:23 p.m. PDT May 15, 2021

(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Palisades Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.)

Authorities have ordered evacuations for some areas near Topanga as the Palisades Fire continues to spread north-northwest from The Summit community toward Topanga in Southern California. (see map of the Palisades fire above)

The evacuations affect locations east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Topanga Community Center and Viewridge Road, as well as those north of Entrada Road, south of Oakwood Drive and east of Henry Ridge Mountain Way.

*MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ORDERED* See attached images. If you live in Zone 4 or Zone 6 in Topanga (boxes outlined in blue) please evacuate. Also hard closure at Topanga/Mulholland and Topanga/PCH #PalisadesFire
#@LAFD @CAL_FIRE pic.twitter.com/pXLaa66Y0h

— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) May 16, 2021

The fire crossed the Topanga Fire Road at about 7 p.m. At that time Air Attack orbiting over the fire estimated it had burned more than 750 acres.

The only bit of good news is the relative humidity will increase Saturday night from the mid-80s to 100 percent along with a 24 percent chance of 0.02 inch of rain. On Sunday afternoon the chance of precipitation decreases to 10 percent and the relative humidity will drop to 60 percent — still high to support the spread of a typical Southern California vegetation fire, but the 60 year old brush near Topanga is showing it can burn in high humidity during the extreme drought currently affecting the area.

The Palisades Fire started in the city limits of Los Angeles, but appears likely to spread into Los Angeles County, if it hasn’t already.

Updated at 6:30 p.m. PDT May 15, 2021

The Palisades Fire was reported at about 10 p.m. Friday 5 miles northwest of Santa Monica, CA in Topanga State Park. (See map above.) The blaze is less than a mile north of The Summit, a gated community of upscale homes.

At 5:20 p.m. PDT Saturday firefighters estimated it had burned 150 to 200 acres.

A 10 mph wind out of the south is pushing the fire up hill to the north into a remote area that is difficult for firefighters to access. It is moving at moderate rate of spread, which is faster than I would expect considering that the relative humidity near the fire at Green Peak was high, 79 percent at 5:16 p.m. PDT.

LA County Helicopter 14, a Bell 412 Palisades Fire — LA County Helicopter 14, a Bell 412, refilling at 69Bravo during the Palisades Fire, 5-15-2021

It is spreading through vegetation that has not burned in at least 60 years, according to records from the National Interagency Fire Center. This buildup of old, possibly decadent brush helps explain how it’s burning so well while the RH is high. Live fuel moisture may also be a factor.

Several helicopters and at least a half dozen fixed wing air tankers worked on the blaze until about 6 p.m. when the tankers had to be shut down due to poor visibility. The helicopters will continue to drop water through the night, unless the visibility gets even worse.

MyNewsLA reported that members of the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau were searching for a person suspected of setting the fire. The search was confirmed by Deputy Alejandra Parra of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

We will update this article as more information becomes available.

Review of Those Who Wish Me Dead

Bill GabbertMay 14, 2021May 16, 2021Uncategorizedmovie11 Comments

A movie that features a smokejumper, Those Who Wish Me Dead, premiered today on HBO Max.

We asked Smokejumper Bro who appears frequently in the Wildfire Today comments sections if he would write a review of the movie. It is below. After that are a few comments from Bill about the movie.

Those Who Wish Me Dead is a film about Hannah (Angelina Jolie), a smokejumper trying to piece her life back together after tragedy strikes on a fire the year before. She is floundering through life until a family who knew too much is on the run from hitmen. Their paths cross on the Bitterroot National Forest in Montana, and as one family’s life is being ripped apart, Hannah finds a new purpose and a reason to start living again.

This movie is a great addition to the wildfire canon that has been produced in Hollywood recently. It feels more like a big-budget thriller with A-list actors than a streaming steamer. Of course, the fire behavior is a little dramatic, the goggles are comical, and maybe the HALO Smokejumping operations are a bit much, but when a smokejumper faceplants on landing, it brought it back home for me. Overall, it doesn’t take too large of a leap to make the movie feel realistic, even for firefighters.

Angelina Jolie gives a great performance, and she really fits the smokejumper role. She’s kind of crazy and wild, yet professional and dialed-in when needed. When it really matters, people are lucky to have her around.

Jon Bernthal (Walking Dead) is excellent as a local sheriff’s deputy and Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones) is perfect in his role as the not-entirely-emotionless assassin.

What really sets this film apart from other wildland firefighter films is Hannah’s story. She’s suffering a mental health crisis from PTSD developed on the job. Without treatment, she pursues dangerous, risky behavior that is all too common amongst our colleagues. Death-defying stunts and alcoholism, coupled with the US Forest Service ignoring and isolating her during her crisis really makes this movie the most realistic, and even brought me to shed a few tears in my early morning viewing. It may not have been intentional, but the movie is more about mental health than anything else, and the need to address it.

I’d say it’s my favorite fictional wildfire film. Definitely worth putting the phone down and watching the film.

Smokejumper Bro Rating **** 4/5

(end of review)

Excellent review by Smokejumper Bro!

Firefighters, of course, will be able to nitpick about things like fire behavior and the use of breathing apparatus, and they might laugh at a lighthearted moment about MREs.

I agree with Bro — Ms. Jolie is a very good actor and pulled it off. I could almost visualize her as a smokejumper. Almost.

The credits included the fact that it was filmed in New Mexico, the same state where much of “Only the Brave” was made.

It is very difficult for movie makers to make wildfire flames look realistic, and that is apparently one of the reasons why they had about 40 Visual Effects Artists assigned to the project.

The film is entertaining and worth seeing.

GAO agrees to evaluate hiring and retention of federal wildland firefighters

Bill GabbertMay 13, 2021UncategorizedGAO, pay19 Comments

This could have an impact

Myrtle Fire burnout Song Dog Rd — Firefighters in Cold Springs Canyon on the Myrtle Fire in South Dakota, July 22, 2012. Photo by Bill Gabbert

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) announced today that the Government Accountability Office has agreed to assess the hiring and retention of federal firefighters at the five agencies responsible for wildland fire management.

The senators requested this review in an April 27 letter. In addition to Senators Feinstein and Sinema, the request to GAO was joined by Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

“I applaud the GAO for agreeing to review the critical matter of wildland firefighter resources. Climate change is making fires in the West more deadly and destructive, and we need to do more to ensure we have the resources available to battle these fires,” Senator Feinstein said. “The federal government is responsible for managing millions of acres of lands in the Western United States, and ensuring we have enough firefighters and that they are compensated fairly will be an important part of planning for future wildfire seasons.”

In conducting its review, the senators urged GAO to:

Identify barriers to recruitment and retention of federal firefighters at the wildland fire agencies.
Assess the seasonal firefighter employment model used by wildland fire agencies, and make recommendations for transitioning to a full-time firefighting workforce.
Review the current job series and pay scale of Forest Service and Interior Department wildland firefighters to ensure their pay is commensurate with state firefighting agencies and reflects their training requirements and the hazardous conditions they must endure.

In the last year Senators and Representatives have shown interest in wildland firefighters:

January, 2021: Sought to raise the max-out limit on overtime pay for senior level federal employees.
October, 2020: Called for creation of a wildland firefighter job series and an increase in firefighters’ pay.
June, 2020: Requested pandemic-related PPE and COVID testing for firefighters.

A new movie about Smokejumpers opens Friday

Bill GabbertMay 13, 2021May 15, 2021Uncategorizedmovie, smokejumpers8 Comments

“Those who wish me dead”

Wildland firefighters might be pleased, disturbed, or distressed to learn that another movie about their profession is opening this week.

Those Who Wish Me Dead starring Angelina Jolie will be available on HBO Max Friday May 14.

Here is how it is described:

Angelina Jolie stars in this suspenseful thriller as Hannah, a smoke jumper reeling from the loss of three lives she failed to save from a fire, who comes across a traumatized 12‐year‐old boy with nowhere else to turn.

Those Who Wish Me Dead stars Angelina Jolie, Nicholas Hoult, Tyler Perry, Aidan Gillen, Medina Senghore, Finn Little, Jake Weber, and Jon Bernthal.

In the trailer Ms. Jolie is seen at a lookout tower and later is being chased by bad guys with semiautomatic rifles.

The still shot taken from the trailer, above, shows Ms. Jolie holding what appears to be an ice axe, a tool not commonly used on fire crews. Perhaps there’s a really good reason she ends up with that particular tool. We’ll just have to wait and see….. IF we have a subscription to HBO Max.

I have to admit, if I was casting a movie about smokejumpers, Ms. Jolie would not be at the top of my list.

Few movies have been built around wildland firefighters. There was Red Skies of Montana that in 1952 introduced the myth of exploding trees, and Firestorm brought us Howie Long in 1998. Always, of 1999, was a good movie, but it was not really about wildland fire even though air tankers played a role. Many firefighters thought Only the Brave from 2017 was one of the best of the genre, perhaps because, in part, the producers hired hotshots as technical advisors.

(UPDATE, May 14, 2021: Wildfire Today’s review of Those Who Wish Me Dead)

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