Author

2009 Safety Gram

Bill GabbertFebruary 26, 2010Uncategorizedfatality

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Safety and Health Working Team has released the 2009 Safety Gram listing the serious accidents, burnovers, entrapments, and fatalities on wildland fires last year.

According to their report, there were 15 fatalities on wildland fires, which is a substantial decrease from the 25 recorded in 2008.

Below is a summary of the fatalities; the entire Safety Gram is here:

Driving – 3: One fatality occurred when two trucks collided head-on in dense smoke. Two fatalities occurred when a fire vehicle left the roadway and rolled down the mountain side in California.
Entrapment/Burnover – 0
Medical Emergencies – 5: Four of which were confirmed as heart attacks and one unknown cause of death.
Hazard Tree/Snag – 1: One fatality occurred when a firefighter was conducting tree felling training.
Aviation – 6: One fatality occurred when aircraft crashed while observing a fire in Wisconsin. Three fatalities occurred when retardant aircraft was mobilizing to a fire in New Mexico. One fatality occurred when a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) aircraft crashed on a fire in Nevada. One fatality occurred when a firefighter was involved in a rappel proficiency test.

And remember, Let’s Be Careful Out There.

Newspaper editorial: railroad being charged with felonies for starting fire

Bill GabbertFebruary 25, 2010August 25, 2019Uncategorizedrailroad

On February 16 Wildfire Today reported that the Attorney General of Michigan filed felony charges against the Lake State Railway for allegedly starting the 2008 Grayling fire that burned 1,300 acres. Today the Traverse City Record-Eagle wrote an editorial about the actions of the Attorney General. Here is an exerpt:

…The criminal charges are not good news for the railway, and possibly industries and businesses in the northeast corner of the Lower Peninsula that ship freight by rail. If convicted, LSR could be ordered to pay fines and full restitution. The estimated cost of the fire totaled $934,000 — $464,000 in lost timber, $370,000 in personal property loss and $100,000 for firefighting.

The cost of (spark) arresters — if it is found engines were not equipped with them — compared to possible restitution is peanuts.

The state Department of Natural Resources is to be commended for pursuing its two-year investigation, and Cox is right to file charges if evidence indicates that the company is responsible.

Wildfires anywhere, but especially in forested areas, are serious and deadly business. It is fortunate that no lives were lost.

Spark arresters and other safety equipment are a must for trains. The laws are there for a reason.

Congratulations to the Traverse City Record-Eagle and the Michigan Attorney General, Mike Cox, for their good work. They are setting an example that the state of Washington should follow, holding railroads accountable for starting fires.

Miller-McCune’s 5th article about battling tomorrow’s wildfires

Bill GabbertFebruary 25, 2010Uncategorized

Miller-McCune has released the fifth in their series of five articles about the latest advances in managing wildland fires.

Part I: THE POWER OF ‘LOOK-DOWN’ TECHNOLOGY
Part II: UNDERSTANDING WILDFIRE BEHAVIOR AND PREDICTING ITS SPREAD
Part III: WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING ON U.S. FIRELINES
Part IV: CATCHING WILDFIRE ARSONISTS RED-HANDED
Part V: SMART SOLUTIONS GOING FORWARD

Their latest article, Part V, covers:

Small unmanned aerial vehicles that could be carried on fire trucks and used by firefighters at the scene of a fire.
An insurance company that will deploy private firefighters to your house if a wildfire or burning embers come within 3 miles of your house. But the house must first qualify by becoming fire-safe.
High-tech mapping systems

Thanks Dick

Silver State Hot Shots to host fund raiser for Wildland Firefighter Foundation

Bill GabbertFebruary 25, 2010August 25, 2019UncategorizedWildland Firefighter Foundation4 Comments

The Silver State Hot Shots, based in Carson City, Nevada, are hosting an event, called a “vertical drop competition”, to raise money for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. I have no idea what a “vertical drop competition” is and was unable to find out after some brief research, but it is being held at a ski resort at Lake Tahoe, so maybe it involves sliding down a hill, or dropping off a hill. Their flyer and registration form don’t provide any further clues, but the event is scheduled for March 19.

The Wildland Firefighter Foundation does GREAT work, and even if you, like me, are not interested in vertical drops, it is an organization worth supporting. Here are some examples of the work they do:

*Provide immediate travel assistance to get an injured firefighter’s family to their firefighter’s bedside and assist with expenses for families while their firefighter is recovering.

*Arrange travel for crews to be able to take their fallen brothers home.

*Network crews and families with information and support after an injury or fatality.

*Give financial assistance to families of firefighters killed in the line of duty, ensuring the home is maintained and children are provided for.

*Help an injured firefighter meet their financial needs until they receive benefits, or are able to go back to work.

*Track injured firefighters to ensure they are receiving worker’s comp benefits.

*Assist children returning to school after the loss of a parent.

*Ensure survivors are able to attend “Family Fire” the Foundation’s annual gathering of families, co-workers, and wildland fire service personnel. Families share their path of healing and their children meet other kids struggling with the loss of a parent.

*Organize a Disneyland trip for children of our fallen wildland firefighters.

Two other fund raising events to benefit the WFF are listed on their web site:

The Dalton Hot Shots are participating in the Ragnar Relay Series 180-mile relay race, April 23-24.
Sporting Clay Shoot, April 23-24, sponsored by the Fulton and Texas Canyon Hotshots.

Driftwood piles being burned on frozen Pactola Lake

Bill GabbertFebruary 24, 2010February 25, 2010Uncategorizedprescribed fire

Burning piles on the frozen Lake Pactola. — Taken with my Droid cell phone a couple of hours after the piles were first ignited.

The driftwood piles at Pactola lake are being burned on top of the frozen lake surface. The six piles were ignited easily with a propane weed burner. I will post more pictures later.

Below is an update and better photos–taken with an actual camera.

Continue reading “Driftwood piles being burned on frozen Pactola Lake”

Video of Martin Mars’ drop in Vancouver today

Bill GabbertFebruary 23, 2010December 6, 2019Uncategorizedair tanker, Martin Mars

Earlier today we told you that the Martin Mars air tanker would do a demonstration drop in Coal Harbor in Vancouver. Well, here’s the video proof. I had no idea it would be flying right next to skyscrapers. Turn up the SOUND so you can hear those big radial engines!

An EXCELLENT video!

This was part of Forestry Day in downtown Vancouver. In addition to the Martin Mars, a Convair air tanker and a Bell 212 helicopter also participated.

Forests Minister Pat Bell was quoted as saying:

(British Columbia has) the largest forest industry anywhere in the world, and the demonstration of our air tanker fleet, I think, just shows what capacity we really have. It was impressive to see the amount of water coming down.

Ok, that’s enough airtankerporn for one day.

UPDATE Feb. 24, 2010

Since you insist, here’s another video of the Martin Mars scooping, dropping, and then mooring on the same day, Feb. 23, in the Fraser River at Steveston, just south of Vancouver. It did another demonstration at Steveston today.

Here are a couple of photos taken by Tony Walsh at the Steveston demo yesterday.

Share this:

Share this:

Thanks Dick

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: