Wildfire Today

News and opinion about wildland fire

Wildfire Today

15 new rookie smokejumpers in the Northern Geographic Area

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags ,

Above: The 15 graduates of the 2017 Northern Geographic Area rookie smokejumper training program. USFS photo.

Fifteen trainees were successful graduates of the rookie smokejumper training that recently concluded in Missoula, Montana. The Missoula base will claim 9 of them, Grangeville Idaho gets 5, and West Yellowstone one.

A person associated with the program told 26 started the class, which was more than they usually have.

And in related smokejumper news, last week Tory Kendrick was promoted to Base Manager in Missoula.

And, another 13 jumpers from McCall, Idaho, recently finished the Ram Air Transition Training (round canopy to square canopy).

More details released about the May 24 inmate fatality in California

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , , , 3 Comments on More details released about the May 24 inmate fatality in California

Above: The top of the tree that struck Matthew Beck on May 24, 2017. CAL FIRE photo.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has released a few more details about the accident that killed a California inmate firefighter in Humboldt County on May 24. As disclosed earlier, Matthew Beck died after being struck by a falling tree.

Now we know that the tree had been previously identified as being hazardous but it was thought to be outside the work area.

Alder Crew #4 was working on Ishi Pishi Road towards Somes Bar picking up piles of limbs and brush from the previous two days of work to feed into a chipper. The machine was running at full throttle when the crew supervisor saw the tree falling and yelled a warning, which was not heard by the entire crew due to the noise from the chipper.

The supervisor attempted to call the Fortuna Emergency Communications Center on his hand held radio but could not make contact. He got in the crew carrier truck and drove about 400 yards to a location from which he could talk to the ECC with the vehicle’s mobile radio.

Mr. Beck received a fatal blow from the tree causing blunt force trauma to the head, neck, and torso.

The tree was a 105-year-old, 146-foot Douglas-fir, with a 21.5-inch diameter (DBH). It weighed approximately 3,000 pounds and had a downhill lean of about 46 degrees. Mr. Beck was hit by a portion of the tree that was about 18 feet from the tree top.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Eric.
Typos or errors, report them HERE.

Carpet cleaner puts out vegetation fire in Phoenix

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags 3 Comments on Carpet cleaner puts out vegetation fire in Phoenix

Above: Jared Aiton uses his carpet cleaning equipment to put out a fire along a Phoenix highway. ADOT photo.

A man who cleans carpets for a living saw a small brush fire on the side of the Loop 303 in north Phoenix Wednesday. Jared Aiton, a technician for Zerorez, said he wished there was something he could do to help, then remembered he had a tank of water in his vehicle. So he pulled over and used a reel hose to stop the spread. By the time the fire department arrived all the flames had been knocked down.

An Arizona Department of Transportation highway camera documented Mr. Aiton’s efforts.

3TV | CBS 5

Research projects funded by Joint Fire Science Program concentrate on vegetation

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags ,

Joint Fire Science ProgramThe Joint Fire Science Program announced on Friday which research projects are being funded for fiscal year 2017. Of the 22 approved proposals, about 16 of them are various ways of studying vegetation.

It would be refreshing to see more funds put toward projects that would enhance the science, safety, and effectiveness of firefighting.

Click HERE to see the list of approved research projects.

Videos of the first 5 hours of the Fairview Fire in Nevada

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , 1 Comment on Videos of the first 5 hours of the Fairview Fire in Nevada

Above: Screen grab from the NVSeismoLab video.

The cameras operated by the Nevada Seismological Laboratory detected and recorded the ignition and spread of a wildfire near Fairview Peak south of U.S. 50 between Fallon and Austin in western Nevada. Below we have the time-lapse videos, each compressing about one hour to one minute.

According to KOLOTV the Fairview Fire burned at least 50 acres of Fallon Naval Air Station land.

Below the descriptions (provided by nvseismolab) are the applicable videos.

****

Although the fire starts at 12:50 PM, it begins in earnest around 1 PM … First fire discovery for 2017! Starting to pick up speed by hour’s end.

Although early in the season, the fire still manages to expand and move uphill in plain sight of the Fairview Fire Camera. Time lapse covers from 2 PM to 3 PM.

Fairview Fire continues to grows as air resources begin to drop water on the fire …

4th hour time lapse of the Fairview Fire as more helicopter delivered buckets hit the flames.

This one hour long time lapse video starting at 8 PM shows continued wildfire activity. Near-IR filter is turned on 42 seconds (8:42 PM) …

CAL FIRE’s Wildfire app

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , 3 Comments on CAL FIRE’s Wildfire app

CAL FIREThe California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CAL FIRE, has a new application for smart phones that provides wildfire alerts. After downloading Ready for Wildfire users can sign-up for customized alerts that will send a text or a push notification to their device when CAL FIRE is responding or assisting at a wildfire in their area. Additionally, users can set up alerts for single counties, multiple counties, or statewide. If traveling, the app lets them enable an alert system when a wildfire is reported within 30 miles of their device.

The Ready for Wildfire app also gives homeowners tips for creating defensible space, hardening their homes with fire-resistant construction, assembling an emergency supply kit, and creating a family communication and evacuation plan.

“One of the many benefits of our new Ready for Wildfire app is the timely and accurate information it provides to residents about a wildfire in their area,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director and California’s state forester. “I am excited about this new valuable tool that will provide early alerts to the public to help ensure their safety.” To download the app, visit the App Store or the Google Play Store – search for CAL FIRE and install.

For more information visit ReadyForWildfire.org