News and opinion about wildland fire
An air tanker crashed in France Saturday while it was fighting a wildfire about 18 miles northeast of Beziers. (map) The aircraft crashed at around 11:15 a.m. while it was making a drop, apparently driven to the ground by a strong gust of wind, according to reports. The pilot walked away with a head wound and the air tanker partially burned. The main fire consumed about 370 acres.
John Segar has been named Chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fire Management Branch, moving up from the position of Deputy Chief. Before that he was the National Fuels Coordinator working out of the Boise office. He has previous experience with the National Park Service and the U. S. Forest Service.
Congratulations to John. He takes the place of Brian McManus who retired as Chief earlier this year. The USFWS has seen a significant turnover in the upper ranks of fire management over the last year with five of the eight regional chiefs of refuges announcing their retirements or accepting other jobs — Jon Andrew, Tony Leger, Carolyn Bohan, Todd Logan, and Chris Pease. Those personnel moves may well be the tip of an iceberg about to hit. According to a workforce planning report completed in October 2009, 19 percent of the Refuge System’s employees planned to retire by 2014.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized2 Comments on Wildland firefighter arrested for impersonating a police officer 
The Albuquerque Journal and KRQE.com are reporting that a former wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs was arrested for impersonating a police officer Wednesday in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tyree Appleberry, 42, working as a security guard, turned on the blue and white strobe lights on his Chevy Tahoe and pulled over an undercover Albuquerque police detective. He started issuing verbal commands to the detective who became suspicious and asked Appleberry for his identification. When the detective identified himself as a member of the Albuquerque Police Department, Appleberry tried to flee, but the police apprehended him.
Appleberry had a warrant out for his arrest and was driving on a suspended license, police said. He was charged for that and for impersonating a police officer. His license was suspended in 2004. In March 2011 he was charged with driving with a suspended license, careless driving, and failing to appear in court.
KRQE.com reports that Appleberry was a “contract firefighter” this summer for the BIA, which sounds like he was an AD firefighter working part time.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Montana Representative’s lawsuit against Billings FD stalled again The lawsuit that Montana’s representative to the House of Representatives has filed against the Billings Fire Department has stalled again. Representative Denny Rehberg is attempting to obtain money from the fire department to compensate him for a 2008 fire that burned some undeveloped land that he and his wife own. In the lawsuit that was filed July 2, 2010, he accused the fire department of not having firefighters on the fire long enough, which allowed the fire to flare up again and burn additional acres.
According to an article in the Billings Gazette, attorneys for both sides are accusing the other of stonewalling.
Wildfire Today has learned that some retired wildland firefighters have been contacted by attorneys for Rehberg, asking if they would be interested in working as an expert witness to bolster the Congressman’s case against the Billings Fire Department. We know that at least initially, the attorneys had no luck.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Winds push large fires across South Dakota and Nebraska 
Strong winds have pushed large fires across the plains of South Dakota and Nebraska over the last two days. The largest, the Okreek fire between Winner and Mission in South Dakota has burned 7,500 acres and is 22 miles long. Spokesperson Jeni Lawver told us at 10:35 a.m. today that there were no evacuations in effect and there have been no serious injuries. Joe Lowe’s Type 2 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. At least some of the fire is on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.
A reporter for KELO television said the winds were so strong that it made it difficult to stand. The weather forecast offers little relief and calls for 33 to 41 mph winds out of the northwest with gusts up to 57 mph on Thursday. There is a 19% chance for thunderstorms Thursday afternoon, increasing to 40% Thursday night.
There are media reports that two firefighters from Yankton, SD were injured on a fire in Nebraska’s Cedar County, but they are reported to be in good condition after receiving medical treatment. Another report says a firefighter from Kennebec, South Dakota suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation while working on a fire in Lyman County. The “Harvest CA” fire, five miles south of Stapleton, Nebraska, has burned 7,000 acres.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized4 Comments on Nebraska firefighters injured responding to wildfire 
Three firefighters with the Superior, Nebraska fire department were injured while they were responding to a wildfire on Sunday. Two were treated and released, while another is in the hospital awaiting surgery scheduled for Tuesday.
The Superior Express described the accident on their Facebook page:
Appears a fire truck with four firemen on board collided with a cedar tree where a county road suddenly goes from good to poor and makes a slight jog just over the crest of a hill.
The Superior Express has been posting updates on the condition of the firefighters.
