California Archives - Page 168 of 234

Some fire agencies in California gearing up for wildfire season earlier than usual

Bill GabbertApril 3, 2015April 3, 2015UncategorizedCalifornia

CAL FIRE S2Ts at McClellan AFB March 17, 2014. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

An article in the Press-Enterprise quoted some fire officials about their concern that the California drought may reduce the number of dipping sites available for helicopters seeking water to drop on wildfires. They also indicated that some agencies are bringing on their firefighting resources earlier than usual:

…Cal Fire positioned firefighting airplanes at Hemet-Ryan Airport and Ramona Airport east of Escondido last week, about three weeks ahead of schedule, Mohler said.

The Cleveland National Forest will increase its daily staffing April 7, Nobles said, about a month ahead of schedule. Each of the three ranger districts will go from one fire engine to a minimum of four that are available day and night. Part-time firefighters are being brought in early.

When seasonal firefighters arrive May 10, a total of 28 fire engines will be available in the forest that extends south to San Diego.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Barbara.

California snowpack lowest on record since 1950

BillMarch 30, 2015UncategorizedCalifornia, drought, snowpack1 Comment

California’s snowpack has reached an all-time low since 1950, the California Department of Water Resources announced last week.

Like most states in the West, the department takes regular snowpack measurements, which are used to predict the amount of water California can expect to see in its reservoirs. The measurements are also an indicator of how dry and possibly fire-prone California’s landscape has become.

California’s snowpack accounts for 30 percent of the state’s water, once it melts, the release said.

Snowpack measurements are taken against an average — at 100 percent — making anything less than 100 less than average. California’s snowpack has been on a steady decline since January of this year. The latest measurement was 8 percent of the historical average. Typically, snowpack is at its peak in California by April 1.

The state is going into its fourth year of extreme drought, following three of its driest years on record.

Sequoia National Forest firefighters’ annual refresher

Bill GabbertMarch 27, 2015August 25, 2019UncategorizedCalifornia4 Comments

Sequoia national forest firefighters — USFS photo.

Firefighters in the Sequoia National Forest in California conducted their annual fire refresher training February 23 through 27 at the Porterville Air Attack Base. These photos were taken by Raul Contreras.

“The death of a forest”

Bill GabbertMarch 26, 2015March 26, 2015UncategorizedCalifornia4 Comments

They don’t make films like this anymore. It was part of the 1960’s television series “True Adventure” with host Bill Burrud. This episode features Chuck Hartley on the Angeles National Forest. Chuck went on to a long firefighting career in the U.S. Forest Service, much of it on the Angeles.

My favorite line is:

It’s a story of Chuck Hartley, a forest, and a fire. A combination that spells a life and death struggle as we’ll see, when we go out on the fireline to watch the death of a forest.

Did you notice any other interesting lines?

Four years of drought in California

Bill GabbertMarch 24, 2015UncategorizedCalifornia, drought, weather

After 4 yrs of drought, CA could be in for a busy 2015 fire season. Take steps to prepare now: http://t.co/9pM4R3wkVT pic.twitter.com/1fQDQeKbz2

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) March 24, 2015

Teenage girl found guilty of starting Cocos Fire in San Diego County

Bill GabbertMarch 24, 2015March 24, 2015Uncategorizedarson, California, Cocos Fire1 Comment

The teenage girl on trial for starting the Cocos Fire north of San Diego was found guilty Tuesday morning. The prosecution’s case hinged on expert testimony from a CAL FIRE investigator who said a burning ember from a fire the girl admitted starting in her back yard traveled 0.44 miles to ignite the fire that eventually burned 1,995 acres and destroyed 36 homes in San Marcos, California.

Conflicting expert testimony from a retired CAL FIRE investigator who said an ember from the girl’s fire could not have traveled that far apparently was discounted by the judge, who ruled in the trial. There was no jury, because the defendant was a juvenile — 13 years old when the fire started in May, 2014.

The girl told investigators she “didn’t want to kill anybody” — only to “see what would happen” when she set the first of two fires in her backyard, according to an audio tape played in court on Monday.

The damages caused by the fire amounted to about $10 million. Sentencing is set for April 15 in juvenile court.