Uncategorized Archives - Page 132 of 1619

Firefighter suicide in Illinois — could it happen in your organization?

Bill GabbertJuly 22, 2020Uncategorizedfirefighter health, suicide5 Comments

Rest in peace, Nicole Hladik

All suicides are tragic, but when it happens to a young firefighter who had been on the job for less than a year it is especially so. Nicole Hladik was not a wildland firefighter, but could it happen in any fire organization?

From FirefighterCloseCalls.com:

FIREFIGHTER TAKES HER OWN LIFE.
A family is searching for answers after a 27-year-old Hinsdale Firefighter (Illinois) who died by suicide. Firefighter Nicole Hladik was the only female firefighter at the Hinsdale Fire Department and the third in the town’s history. “Nicki was a bright rising star in the fire service, she was beloved by all of us of course and very happy early on,” Brian Kulaga, Hladik’s uncle, said.

But Kulaga said something changed recently.

“Then she traded shifts and suddenly just a lot of negativity and then leading up to today, which was obviously a complete surprise to all of us,” he said. Hladik died by suicide Tuesday and her brother Joseph Hladik said it was a complete shock. “Super active, super fit, a family person, a great friend, she’s my sister but my best friend,” he said. Hladik’s family said it doesn’t make sense. “Our goal is, we just want someone to look into this, it’s not an accusation. It’s just the facts are, how could someone who was so happy and loved what she was doing go from one spectrum to the other end? It just doesn’t make any sense,” Joseph Hladik said.

Newspaper stories about Nicole Hladik shortly after she was hired at the Hinsdale Fire Department:
–The Hinsdalean, October 9, 2019: Village’s Newest Firefighter Is Happy To be “One Of The Gang”
–Chicago Tribune, October 20, 2019: Shout Out: Nicole Hladik of Willowbrook-Hinsdale’s newest Firefighter

Suicide rates among wildland firefighters have been described as “astronomical.

Help is available for those feeling really depressed or suicidal.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. Online Chat.
Anonymous assistance from the Wildland Firefighter Foundation: 208-336-2996.
National Wildland Fire and Aviation Critical Incident Stress Management Website.
Code Green Campaign, a first responder oriented mental health advocacy organization.
Would you rather communicate with a counselor by text? If you are feeling really depressed or suicidal, a crisis counselor will TEXT with you. The Crisis Text Line runs a free service. Just text: 741-741

Firefighters making progress on Elephant Butte Fire near Evergreen, Colorado

Bill GabbertJuly 14, 2020July 14, 2020UncategorizedColorado

Elephant Butte Fire July 13, 2020 Jason Hamburg — The Elephant Butte Fire, July 13, 2020. Photo by Jason Hamburg, park ranger with Jefferson County Open Space. It was taken from his fire lookout position on Jenkins Peak, looking south toward Elephant Butte.

Firefighters are making progress on the Elephant Butte Fire burning on steep terrain two miles northwest of Evergreen Lake, Colorado. The update from the Jefferson County Sheriff Tuesday morning indicated the fire had not grown overnight and was still 50 acres.

At 5 p.m. some, but not all, evacuation orders were lifted. They are hoping the cooler weather Tuesday is going to help them reach more containment.

Jason Hamburg who took the photo above, also shot the video below.

Direct aerial attack on the #ElephantButteFire #EvergreenColorado ⚠️Please avoid the area and change your plans if you were coming to visit Evergreen area #jeffcotrails #Alderfer3Sisters #ElkMeadowPark #EvergreenLake #DenverMountainParks ‼️ pic.twitter.com/d15ghi4tFx

— Jason (@jcosrangerjason) July 13, 2020

Fawn Creek Fire spreads rapidly southwest of Meeker, CO

Bill GabbertJuly 14, 2020July 14, 2020Uncategorized

(Updated at 2 p.m. MDT July 14, 2020)

A Type 2 Incident Management Team, the Rocky Mountain Geographic Area Blue team, has been dispatched to the Fawn Creek Fire in northwest Colorado.

(Originally published at 8:53 a.m. MDT July 14, 2020)

Fawn Creek Fire map — Approximate location of the Fawn Creek Fire, based on satellite heat data collected as late as 2:54 a.m. MDT July 14, 2020. Additional heat sources can be seen to the east which may be a separate fire. Not to be used for planning or evacuation purposes.

The Fawn Creek Fire has spread rapidly 28 miles southwest of Meeker, Colorado since it was reported around noon July 13.

The official size reported Monday evening was 930 acres but satellite data from 2:54 a.m. Tuesday indicates that it could be several times that size.

The fire is burning on BLM protected land in timber and tall grass, exhibiting extreme fire behavior with crowning and running. Structures and energy infrastructure facilities are threatened.

We will update this article as more information becomes available.

Pay for California state firefighters cut by 7.5%

Bill GabbertJuly 11, 2020UncategorizedCAL FIRE, California23 Comments

CAL FIRE dozer and transport — Dozer and transport for the Nevada Yuba Placer Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. CAL FIRE photo, March, 2019.

Budget problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in pay cuts for many employees of the state of California.

In May, 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom said he would seek a 10 percent pay cut for state workers, but the changes in salary had to be negotiated with numerous labor unions. The reductions could be accomplished by modifying various types of special pay, overtime, vacation time, or health insurance. By the July 1 deadline all but one of the smaller unions had agreed to the changes.

The deal worked out by the firefighters union, CAL FIRE Local 2881, was an overall 7.5% cut while receiving two flexible days off each month. That includes a 4.4% reduction in their retirement health care, resulting in a 3.1% cut in take-home pay. The changes take effect this month.

More information is at the Sacramento Bee.

Red Flag warnings in four states, July 10, 2020

Bill GabbertJuly 10, 2020UncategorizedRed Flag Warning, weather

High temperatures, low RH, and strong winds

The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for July 10 in areas of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Colorado.

Darren Clabo, the South Dakota State Fire Meteorologist, tells us what to expect in his state:

“A Red Flag Warning is in effect for southwestern SD today from 1200 to 2100 hrs. See https://www.weather.gov/unr/ for details.

“A dryline will move pass through southwestern SD at noon today. Following it, temperatures will rise to near 100, RH will drop below 10%, and westerly winds will gust up to 40 mph creating very critical fire weather conditions. Later this evening, a cold front will then move through which will switch the winds to the north but the winds will remain strong through 2200 hrs. No precipitation is expected over southwestern SD with the cold front passage. There will be a ~10 hour window of extremely critical fire weather conditions. Stay aware of your surroundings when on initial attack. This primarily affects Fall River, Custer, and Oglala Lakota Counties.

“Elsewhere across the state, severe weather is likely with large to very large hail, strong winds, and a few tornadoes possible.”

(Red Flag Warnings can be modified throughout the day as NWS offices around the country update and revise their weather forecasts.)

CAL FIRE to hire more than 1,000 additional firefighters

Bill GabbertJuly 10, 2020July 10, 2020UncategorizedCAL FIRE, California, inmate crew, inmates30 Comments

More seasonal and permanent firefighters

(Revised at 11:15 a.m. PDT July 10, 2020)

Inmate crew carrier vehicles — Approximately 19 inmate crew carrier vehicles at the Eagle fire in San Diego County, which burned between Warner Springs and Borrego Springs, California. CAL FIRE photo, July 25, 2011.

With the COVID-19 pandemic reducing the number of inmate firefighters, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is scrambling to find enough personnel to handle the all important job of cutting fireline and mopping up wildfires.

COVID spreading through inmate crew camps and prisons has cut the number of inmate crews available from 192 to 94. Thursday California Governor Gavin Newsom said 12 inmate camps had to be quarantined last month due to the virus. Compounding the firefighter shortage was the early release of thousands of state inmates to create more space in the facilities during the pandemic, and before that, the state’s initiative to reduce the incarceration of those jailed for lower-level offenses.

The Governor announced the state intends to hire an additional 858 seasonal and 172 permanent firefighters. The agency has also changed the mission of six California Conservation Camp (CCC) crews to exclusively perform fire related tasks, two in the south and four in the north.

Lynnette Round, a CAL FIRE Education and Information Officer, said the $72 million needed to hire the firefighters will come from the already allocated Emergency fund.

CAL FIRE expects to begin hiring the firefighters immediately using current eligibility lists. They anticipate that a recruitment process will occur to increase the number of candidates beyond the current lists.

The increase in the number of employed state firefighters is part of the agency’s effort to keep 95 percent of all fires to 10 acres or less.

(This article was edited July 10 to show that 172 permanent firefighters are being hired, in addition to the 858 seasonals.)