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KMG_365

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KMG_365

KMG_365

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Just sent one of our FF/PM's up to the Fire burning near Hemet as a single resource Line EMT for the Strike Teams.

 

Russell, it's a good thing it's not a Santa Ana wind condition--Wildomar would be in the line of fire.

 

It's begun and it's only going to get worse. Godspeed and safe travels, all.

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Kathy R

Kathy R

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Thoughts with all who are in harms way.

 

+1

 

It's raining here in lush and green Western Upstate N.Y. I feel very fortunate.

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KMG_365

KMG_365

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Thoughts with all who are in harms way.

 

Especially your brethren giving their all to help.

Sadly, two more of our brothers just gave their ultimate all today.

 

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

 

Link.

 

R.I.P. :cry:

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Firefight911

Firefight911

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:cry::cry:

 

We have 10 men and women out on the line in strike teams on the various fires from our department alone.

 

God Speed my brothers, God Speed

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KMG_365

KMG_365

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It is with deepest regret and sorrow to report the line-of-duty deaths of two members of IAFF Local 1014 – Los Angeles County, California.

 

Captain Tedmund "Ted" D. Hall, 47, and Fire Fighter Specialist Arnaldo "Arnie" Quinones, 35..., were killed yesterday, Sunday, August 30, 2009, at the “Station” wildland fire when their apparatus was overrun by a fast moving fire and driven off the road in heavy smoke and flames.

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AZKomet

AZKomet

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Posted
Thoughts with all who are in harms way.

 

Especially your brethren giving their all to help.

Sadly, two more of our brothers just gave their ultimate all today.

 

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

 

Link.

 

R.I.P. :cry:

 

 

 

:cry::cry:

 

 

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Firefight911

Firefight911

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We have one strike engine and a line EMT in the vicinity of this rollover.

 

Also, my fire department EMS Officer's son is a seasonal Cal-Fire and was involved in a burn over yesterday. He is OK but there engine was overrun and destroyed.

 

His words in an email to our department. (FYI, he is in HI for his 30th anniversary and to celebrate their recent promotion (?) to empty nesters since their youngest daughter just moved out to go to college 2 weeks ago.)

 

Yesterday afternoon was the most emotional

day in my career for Kim and I. We had just arrived in Maui when I recieved a phone call from my good friend, a Calfire BC. Mike told me that AEU E2763, Christian's Company had been involved in a burn over on the Pacheco Fire. He said that the crew was safe but that they had not made contact with them or knew where they were. It had been less than an hour since the incident and would be several more before we would confirm with Christian that he was safe. It was a close call, the Engine was destroyed along with all of their gear. They ran and escaped with only what they had on. We all know and accept the risks but when it's this close, it really brings it home. Be safe and pray for all of our brothers and sisters who are out there. God is watching over us... Calvin...

 

635627334_qU4sS-L.jpg

 

 

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KMG_365

KMG_365

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Wow. Scary shot.

 

Leslie and I took the kids to see the Body Worlds exhibit at the SD Natural History Museum yesterday. The museum also screened a Discovery Channel film about how the brain works under duress (fight or flight, extreme malnutrition, starvation, extreme sleep deprivation, etc.) and the fight or flight section showed a hotshot crew running from a burn-over and deploying their fire shelters. It was very well done and explained how the various parts of the brain function together to address a threat. The reason center of the brain has to overcome the reptilian brain's drive to flee to stop and deploy the shake-and-bake's in the face of a clear threat barreling down on them. The final aerial shot showing the small group of shelters huddled amongst the lunar landscape was pretty powerful.

 

I keep hoping that these two victims to mother nature's awesome power will be the last, though I know otherwise. I can't imagine the grief their loved ones are experiencing right now. Arnie's wife is due in a few weeks with their first child. I just hate going to these funerals . . . but it's the least we can do to honor their sacrifice. :cry:

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TEWKS

TEWKS

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"I HAVE NO AMBITION IN THIS WORLD BUT ONE, AND THAT IS TO BE A FIREMAN. THE POSITION MAY, IN THE EYES OF SOME, APPEAR TO BE A LOWLY ONE; BUT WE WHO KNOW THE WORK WHICH A FIREMAN HAS TO DO BELIEVE HIS IS A NOBLE CALLING. OUR PROUDEST MOMENT IS TO SAVE LIVES. UNDER THE IMPULSE OF SUCH THOUGHTS THE NOBILITY OF THE OCCUPATION THRILLS US AND STIMULATES US TO DEEDS OF DARING, EVEN OF SUPREME SACRIFICE."

salute.gif

 

Edward F. Crocker Chief of Department F.D.N.Y.

1899-1911

 

 

Pat

 

 

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ESokoloff

ESokoloff

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It's begun and it's only going to get worse.

Scary stuff and with out the Santa Anna's.

Sunday & yesterday the (Station) fire created it's own Cumulus clouds overhead.

An awesome yet terrifying sight to behold.

Fortunately for me, the only impact these fires have had on me is air quality

God Speed to those two two individuals that gave all :cry:

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Firefight911

Firefight911

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Jamie... Are these two firefighters part of the story I heard about... They were scouting a excape route for DOC fire teams stuck in a block house?

 

Yes.

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Huzband

Huzband

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Phil, I won't pretend to know how you feel about all of this. It seems to be a yearly deal with you guys, & it gets progressivly worse.

 

Every time a fire fighter is lost, I think of, & pray for, you & Jamie.

 

That's all I've got.

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Firefight911

Firefight911

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Phil, I won't pretend to know how you feel about all of this. It seems to be a yearly deal with you guys, & it gets progressivly worse.

 

Every time a fire fighter is lost, I think of, & pray for, you & Jamie.

 

That's all I've got.

 

Thank you my friend!

 

Update on our crew's status on these conflagrations (I just love that word!)

 

One of the Capitan's from my fire department assigned to one of the fires passed out on the line from exhaustion near the end of their 24 hour shift. He was flown out via emergency heli-tack helicopter evacuation to the nearest hospital. Fortunately, it appears that he was merely exhausted and dehydrated with no other signs of injury and, as such, has been released and is on his way home with another one of my department Captain's replacing him. The rest of the original crew opted to stay on the fire and finish the job they came there to do.

 

Last year, I took a lambasting for my comments concerning my "excitement" for getting the opportunity to go slay these beasts (fire) that cause such devastation. Maybe it was justified, maybe not. But, don't you forget for a second that we face risks to do this job that most wouldn't care to and we do it willingly without hesitation so that we may have the opportunity to make a difference and do something each and every one of us love.

 

Sometimes with an ultimate sacrifice, or a near one but, hopefully not so we can all come home to our beloved families.

 

And, yes, I am chomping at the bit wanting to get in there and go fight fire. Unfortunately, it isn't going to happen this season because of the titanium install in my neck. Next year! I'll be just as excited and willing to face the beast and slay it wherever it rears its ugly head!

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Ken H.

Ken H.

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Slight hijack…

 

What irritates me to no end is the people who refuse to leave an evacuation area because they want to stay behind and protect their house and possessions. Then firefighters and others end up having to risk themselves even further to go pull them out of the pickle they intentionally put themselves in.

 

For god sakes people, it’s only ‘stuff!’ Where’s your sense of priority? 1000 houses are not worth one life! Some heads seriously screwed on wrong.

 

 

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russell_bynum

russell_bynum

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Slight hijack…

 

What irritates me to no end is the people who refuse to leave an evacuation area because they want to stay behind and protect their house and possessions. Then firefighters and others end up having to risk themselves even further to go pull them out of the pickle they intentionally put themselves in.

 

For god sakes people, it’s only ‘stuff!’ Where’s your sense of priority? 1000 houses are not worth one life! Some heads seriously screwed on wrong.

 

 

It isn't always that simple. One example...last year Lisa's aunt and uncle's house was in an area that was under an evac order due to one of the big fires. The big threat to their neighborhood was blowing embers rather than an actual fire. Even though the area was under evac order, the firefighters told several people they could stay and help deal with the embers. They did, and were able to stop a dozen or so fires. Left unattended, any one of these would have eventually caught a house on fire, and spread from there. There's no telling how many homes were saved because of just a few residents who stayed behind to help.

 

Yes, it's just "Stuff" and it isn't more important that human life. But it is important and it is worth saving. Otherwise, we'd just let the fires burn naturally until they burned themselves out...what's the point of having firefighters if "stuff" isn't worth protecting?

 

Don't get me wrong...when fires threaten our area, we get ready to bug out. If we get an evac order, we will stay around long enough to load our bug-out gear and pets into the cars, and then we'll haul ass. If there isn't time to load the gear, we'll get the pets and be gone. But...if the guys in the funny yellow hats think I could help the situation by staying, then I'll stay and help.

 

 

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Firefight911

Firefight911

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if the funny guys in the yellow hats think I could help the situation by staying, then I'll stay and help.

 

 

Fixed it for ya!

 

If you think for a second that we are going to over-extend ourselves to save someone from themselves after having already been given adequate notice to evacuate, you are giving us firefighters too much credit!!

 

Risk v Benefit

 

Risk a lot to save a lot

 

Risk some to some some

 

Risk nothing to save nothing

 

 

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KMG_365

KMG_365

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Slight hijack…

 

What irritates me to no end is the people who refuse to leave an evacuation area because they want to stay behind and protect their house and possessions. Then firefighters and others end up having to risk themselves even further to go pull them out of the pickle they intentionally put themselves in.

 

For god sakes people, it’s only ‘stuff!’ Where’s your sense of priority? 1000 houses are not worth one life! Some heads seriously screwed on wrong.

 

It's not so cut and dried either way. The Australians tried to promote their plan: "Leave Early or Stay and Defend" and tried to educate people on how to make a determination on where to draw that line. It included things like training, resources, defensible space, fire resistant architecture, etc, etc. It was pretty complicated and unfortunately too much for the average citizen. As a result, in the Black Saturday Bushfires in February of 2009 173 people died and over 500 more were burned or injured. Folks only got the "Stay and Defend" part without making a realistic assessment of their situation re: the "Leave Early" part.

 

After our major fires in October of 2007 there was a hue and cry from folks here in SoCal who lost their homes: "We should have been able to stay to defend our homes like they do in Australia!" Unfortunately, February of 2009 changed everyone's mind. Australia is rethinking their strategy and in the US we have informally dubbed their failed strategy as "Leave Early or Stay and Die", which unfortunately is what happens all too often. Unless you get some specific education on your individual situation and can make an INFORMED assessment, you should be prepared to bug out--end of story. Mother Nature gives no quarter and takes no prisoners.

 

I've been working my ass off on my own time to see to it that San Diego County takes the appropriate steps to protect its citizenry from the ravages of Wildfire. We've had two "Hundred Years' Fires" in just the last six years. But it's incredible how STUPID and STUBBORN some folks can be in the face of the statistics. I'm burning out myself and I'm just THIS far from telling them: "You know what? Fine. You're a 'rugged individualist' who doesn't want to pay taxes for Fire Protection and wants to go it alone. Goodbye and good luck. 'We will bury you'." :cry:

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russell_bynum

russell_bynum

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I've been working my ass off on my own time to see to it that San Diego County takes the appropriate steps to protect its citizenry from the ravages of Wildfire. We've had two "Hundred Years' Fires" in just the last six years. But it's incredible how STUPID and STUBBORN some folks can be in the face of the statistics. I'm burning out myself and I'm just THIS far from telling them: "You know what? Fine. You're a 'rugged individualist' who doesn't want to pay taxes for Fire Protection and wants to go it alone. Goodbye and good luck. 'We will bury you'." :cry:

 

Jamie, I know it goes against your nature to try to help everyone, but I think that's a perfectly reasonable response. If someone decides to stay, then so be it but no heroic measures will be taken to bail them out if things get ugly.

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Matts_12GS

Matts_12GS

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If someone decides to stay, then so be it but no heroic measures will be taken to bail them out if things get ugly.

 

That's becoming more and more the issue with hurricane warnings and the like as well.

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KMG_365

KMG_365

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Jamie, I know it goes against your nature to try to help everyone, but I think that's a perfectly reasonable response. If someone decides to stay, then so be it but no heroic measures will be taken to bail them out if things get ugly.

It not only goes against my nature but against the very fiber of the being of EVERY firefighter. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY US FOR! We're rescuers by nature, and that's what makes us gravitate to this calling. Just look at Phil's posts--he's just out of neck surgery and coming off an incorrect fatal diagnosis fer cryin' out loud . . . and yet he and I both are champing at the bit to go and DO WHAT WE ARE TRAINED AND PAID TO DO: rescue those in harm's way--make a bad situation better--protect life and property and ease the suffering of our fellow man.

 

After the fires in October of 2007--knowing that folks who lost their homes would immediately re-build in these same fire-prone areas--the County rushed through some building code changes to prevent so many people from losing their homes AGAIN. These new requirements--based on the data gleaned from the field on what caused some homes to burn to the ground while their neighbors' remained completely untouched (and there were literally HUNDREDS of these examples to draw from)--were fairly minor and added only a few percent to the overall cost of the re-build. Not only would these changes do a MUCH better job of keeping their homes from burning to the ground a second time, the increased cost would be paid back by the savings in home insurance policies in only a few years. Sadly and ironically, these same people--WHO HAD JUST LOST EVERYTHING--were falling all over themselves to pull their building permits before January 1st, 2008 so they would not "HAVE" to rebuild their homes to the upgraded building code. There were even some folks who lost their homes in 2007 WHO HAD LOST THEIR PREVIOUS HOME IN THE CEDAR FIRE OF 2003 and were rebuilding in the exact same location! I just don't know what to say in the face of that lunacy.

 

But I am tired of going to funerals for my brothers and sisters who are drawn like the moth to the flame and end up dying to save some idiot from securing his spot in the Darwin Awards.

 

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 23, 2007 (UPI)

 

Four injured Southern California firefighters showed heroism in their failed attempt to rescue a trapped man and his son, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

 

Thomas Varshock, 52, and his son, Richard, 15, were trapped at their home Sunday afternoon as flames circled them near the U.S.-Mexican border.

 

Cal Fire Chief Ray Chaney was flying a plane and by radio, guided the four unidentified firefighters to possible approach routes as wind gusts of up to 80 mph sent the flames in erratic directions.

 

However, the firefighters became trapped themselves, and a U.S. Forest Service helicopter dropping water on the fire spotted the firefighters, landed and extracted them and the younger Varshock, the report said.

 

The teenager and four firefighters are hospitalized with burns covering between 3 percent and 60 percent of their bodies as well as lung damage from inhaling smoke.

 

The body of Thomas Varshock was found after the evacuation, the newspaper said.

 

These two civilians ignored an evacuation order, yet who could ignore their pitiful cries for help? I met these four Firefighters at an awards ceremony for the San Diego Burn Institute Fund Raiser last year. They had all mostly recovered and all but one had even returned to work, but they were all visibly and invisibly scarred for life.

 

Due to a previous commitment I'm going to have to miss the funeral for my two Los Angeles County brothers who died on the "Station Fire", but I've already been to too many. Even on that fire a pair of civilians have already been rescued from their hot tub with severe burns thinking they could "just ride it out".

 

The media is full of stories of "miracles" . . . folks who survived submerged in their swimming pools breathing through a drinking straw, or some other fluke . . . but just like George Burns who smoked a dozen cigars a day for 70 years and lived to be 100 or all the poseurs you see wearing "wife beaters" and/or flip flops on their motorcycles for years with no consequences . . . they're not going to beat the odds forever, and when their number comes up they will not survive. I just hope that all these folks don't take any more of my firefighter brethren with them.

 

I'm fine with individual freedom and self determination. Some of my toughest calls are trying to talk an older person into going to the hospital when I know they've sustained a potentially debilitating if not fatal injury. I do my best to inform them of the consequences and then abide by their wishes if I think they've completely understood the potential ramifications of their choice. I'll paint a very realistic worst-case scenario or even resort to scare tactics and get the family involved ("I know you're probably fine and I'm just being overly cautious, but your ____ is very worried about you. Do it for them so they can sleep tonight KNOWING that you're going to be fine."), but in the end it's their decision and if they want to die of a slow hemorrhage in their bed that night, that's certainly their right. Part of me absolutely HATES dragging some old person out of their home in the middle of the night and carting them off to the Trauma Center, but in the course of my job I've seen far too many subdural hematomas manifest themselves hours or even days after the initial injury to risk letting them down when they're counting on me as the professional to know best and to keep them safe.

 

Whoa . . . long day, I guess.

 

/rant

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russell_bynum

russell_bynum

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Yup....that's what I meant when I said it was against your nature.

 

 

After the fires in October of 2007--knowing that folks who lost their homes would immediately re-build in these same fire-prone areas--the County rushed through some building code changes to prevent so many people from losing their homes AGAIN. These new requirements--based on the data gleaned from the field on what caused some homes to burn to the ground while their neighbors' remained completely untouched (and there were literally HUNDREDS of these examples to draw from)--were fairly minor and added only a few percent to the overall cost of the re-build. Not only would these changes do a MUCH better job of keeping their homes from burning to the ground a second time, the increased cost would be paid back by the savings in home insurance policies in only a few years. Sadly and ironically, these same people--WHO HAD JUST LOST EVERYTHING--were falling all over themselves to pull their building permits before January 1st, 2008 so they would not "HAVE" to rebuild their homes to the upgraded building code. There were even some folks who lost their homes in 2007 WHO HAD LOST THEIR PREVIOUS HOME IN THE CEDAR FIRE OF 2003 and were rebuilding in the exact same location! I just don't know what to say in the face of that lunacy.

 

Yup. We're rebuilding New Orleans, too. There's seemingly no limit to human stupidity.

 

 

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KMG_365

KMG_365

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Yup. We're rebuilding New Orleans, too. There's seemingly no limit to human stupidity.

I dunno, there's something to be said for perseverance, too!

 

All the kings said it was daft to build a castle in the swamp. But I did it all the same. It sank into the swamp. So I built another. That one fell into the swamp. So, I built a third. That one burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp. So, I built a fourth. And that one, stood up. And that's what you're gonna get, lad. The strongest castle in these islands.

 

:rofl:

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russell_bynum

russell_bynum

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Yup. We're rebuilding New Orleans, too. There's seemingly no limit to human stupidity.

I dunno, there's something to be said for perseverance, too!

 

All the kings said it was daft to build a castle in the swamp. But I did it all the same. It sank into the swamp. So I built another. That one fell into the swamp. So, I built a third. That one burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp. So, I built a fourth. And that one, stood up. And that's what you're gonna get, lad. The strongest castle in these islands.

 

:rofl:

 

I wondered how long it would take before you started quoting Monty Python. :grin:

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KMG_365

KMG_365

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Angeles National Forest

 

Dramatic Time Lapse View of the Fires.

Whoa, I just came here to post that same link.

 

How about this one?

 

Watch him drop in just over the berm. Tell me that wouldn't be an E-Ticket ride!

 

As of yesterday morning, "The Station Fire" was over 140,150 acres (56,700 hectares) and was only 22% contained. The Station fire has burned almost 21% of the land mass of the Angeles National Forest. :eek:

 

Services for Capt. Hall and Specialist Quinones are scheduled for Saturday the 12th in Dodger Stadium at 10:00. I'm on shift, but we're getting together a bus to take up FF's from SD County. Damn. :(

 

http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/exclusive-footage-california-wildfires-from-above/C9D0F419-D697-4D3F-97E7-C21FC3C755A9

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ESokoloff

ESokoloff

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In the coming day's, weeks, months all sorts of discarded objects will emerge from the once thick now consumed underbrush.

Old cars, refrigerators etc as well as human remains :eek:

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lvnvbiker

lvnvbiker

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I've got the utmost respect for those of you who choose to run the wrong way as fire approaches, and hope that no more are lost trying to beat this one back.

I've got a few fireman friends here in Vegas and am greatfull that they are around incase a trench goes south while I am working. Stay safe gentlemen.

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Matts_12GS

Matts_12GS

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I've got the utmost respect for those of you who choose to run the wrong way as fire approaches, and hope that no more are lost trying to beat this one back.

I've got a few fireman friends here in Vegas and am greatfull that they are around incase a trench goes south while I am working. Stay safe gentlemen.

 

+1

 

I never understood you guys, but I'm glad to know you're there.

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doc47

doc47

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During my training and work as a paramedic, then as an ER nurse, I worked alongside firefighters. I can't think of a finer bunch of people. Period.

 

I am so sorry for the families of the two firefighters who were killed.

 

Jaimie, thank you for what you do and for your wonderful heart.

 

doc

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