Structure Fire Lancaster CA

Los Angeles County firefighers battled a well involved single family dwelling home at Sandcroft and J4 this afternnon. Upon arrival firefighters were faced with sweltering triple digit temperatures and extreme radiant heat from a well involved house fire with exposures. It took firefighters 30 minutes to gain control of the blaze. Units from Stations 33, 135, 129 made an agressive attack on the fire and kept the fire from spreading to neighboring homes.

Photos Copyright Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC

Fire Weather Watch Dry Lightning I5 Corridor

Possibility of a dry lightning event if the unstable air mass and moisture form over the mountain ranges in northern LA and Ventura Counties:

.DISCUSSION...HIGH PRESSURE CURRENTLY OVER THE WESTERN U.S. WILL
CONTINUE TO SHIFT EAST TODAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN WEAK EASTERLY
FLOW AT LOWER AND MID LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE ALLOWING A LIMITED
AMOUNT OF MOISTURE TO OVERSPREAD THE REGION. THIS MOISTURE ALONG
WITH DAYTIME HEATING WILL RESULT IN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS
WITH DRY LIGHTNING THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM NEAR THE I-5
CORRIDOR WESTWARD TO NEAR CUYAMA. THIS INCLUDES THE MOUNTAINS OF
NORTHERN VENTURA COUNTY AND NORTHEAST SANTA BARBARA COUNTY...THE
LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST...AND A SMALL PORTION OF THE ANGELES
NATIONAL FOREST IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Grass B Assignment

Grass B assignment today, 110 Street East and Palmdale BL. Don't forget to start the attack at an anchor point. Hold, anchor and flank. Use roads and natural barriers to help holding actions, observe and predict flame spread, base all actions accordingly. Order additional resources when appropriate. Keep one foot in the black. Practice, practice and then practice some more.

Are You Ready for Mob Violence, The Streets are Heating Up

Violence erupted in the streets in Los Angeles after the Laker Championship game, police cars have been burned at the g-20 summit, the economy is in the dumps and summer is here with its sweltering temperatures. Large crowds at EDC estimated to be at 130,000 over a two day event at the LA Coliseum, required dozens of ambulances and paramedics, hospitalizing 114 patients from various traumatic injuries, over doses, seizures.

What does that spell for first responders, large agitated crowds, throwing rocks and bottles and setting nuisance fires, so lets be heads up any time there are large crowds forming at your incident, it is not business as usual. Shooting calls in low income areas often times set off chain reactions with very large crowds emptying out into the streets from large apartment complexes.

The other day I watched as fight broke out in a city park, gang members using cell phones texted for reinforcements, in a matter of an hour the park was filled with gang activity requiring six sheriff cars to restore order.

When responding to these calls, you must have a plan of action and always have an escape route, always stay together as a team. Keep forcible entry tools inside locked compartments so that no one can use your tools against you. If the Department allows you to wear Body Armor, wear it under neath your uniform attire. Try not to agitate crowds any further with your presence, we are there to help. However you have the right to defend yourself if you fear for your life. Try to have law enforcement clear the scene prior to your entry, I know this is not always possible. Carrying pepper spray may be an option if the Department allows you to. Take a much more defensive approach to crowds this summer.

Working in public safety for 30 years I have been through 2 college riots and numerous civil disturbances. I have seen the decline for respect for peace officers, so people have become more apt to attack public safety personnel.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/police-vehicle-protester/photo//100627/481/urn_publicid_ap_org8a01ab46b88c4161b9eaeee52abe79f7//s:/ap/cn_world_summit_protests

Wildfire Updates

Fire Updates: So Cal Fire Journal will now start posting large incidents across the west during the fire season as time permits.

Arizona
Fires: 5
Acres: 26,743
New fires: 0
Fires contained: 0

Schultz (Coconino National Forest): 14,300 acres at 25 percent contained. This fire is four miles north of Flagstaff. Evacuation orders were lifted.
Information: Call 888-679-8393 or visit the incident website.

Hardy (Flagstaff District, Arizona Department of Lands): 282 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is two miles southeast of Flagstaff. Numerous structures are threatened.

Eagle Rock (Kaibab National Forest): 3,420 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 11 miles northeast of Williams.
Information: Call 928-635-5687 or visit the incident site.

Horseshoe (Coronado National Forest): 3,401 acres at 25 percent contained. This fire is five miles south of Portal.
Information: Call 520-388-8484 or visit the incident site.

Paradise (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest): 5,340 acres. This fire is 16 miles southwest of Alpine. Road closures remain in effect.
Information: Call 928-333-4301 or visit the incident site.

California
Fires: 1
Acres: 275
New fires: 0
Fires contained: 0

Fine (Fresno-Kings Unit, Cal Fire): 275 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is five miles northeast of Friant. Road closures remain in effect.

Colorado
Fires: 3
Acres: 5,740
New fires: 0
Fires contained: 0

Parkdale Canyon (Royal George Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 732 acres at 65 percent contained. This fire is seven miles northwest of Canon City. Structures and power lines remain threatened. Evacuation orders were lifted.
Information: Call 303-445-4322 or visit the RMCC website.

Water Creek (Glenwood Springs Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 117 acres at an unknown percent contained. This fire is eight miles northwest of Rifle.
Information: Call 970 319-4130 or visit the incident website.

Medano (Great Sand Dunes, National Park Service): 4,891 acres. This fire is 19 miles southeast of Crestone.
Information: Call 720-219-4463 or visit the incident website.

New Mexico
Fires: 4
Acres: 19,324
New fires: 2
Fires contained: 2

South Fork (Santa Fe National Forest): 14,816 acres at 45 percent contained. This fire is 20 miles west of Espanola. A municipal watershed and electronic sites are threatened.
Information: Visit the New Mexico Fire Info website.

NEW Dead Man (Capitan District, New Mexico State Forestry): 300 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 30 miles west of Roswell.

NEW Number 5 (Mescalero Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs): This fire was contained at 491 acres.

Long Canyon (Las Cruces District, Bureau of Land Management): The fire was contained at 1,242 acres.
Information: Call 575-749-3278 or visit the incident website.

Tecolote (Santa Fe National Forest): 812 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
Information: Visit the New Mexico Fire Info website.

Aspen (Gila National Forest): 3,400 acres at 80 percent contained. This fire is 26 miles northwest of San Lorenzo.
Information: Visit the New Mexico Fire Info website.

Havoc in the Streets of LA

Special Event Standby - NBA Finals
1111 South Figueroa St
Convention Center District
Thursday, June 17, 2010
TIME: 3:32 PM
INCIDENT #: 0729

On Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 3:32 PM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 17 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 LAFD Brush Patrol Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 68 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Terry Manning, gathered for a Special Event Standby near the Staples Center arena at 1111 South Figueroa Street in the Convention Center District of Los Angeles.

In the seventh and decisive game of the NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers emerged victorious against the Boston Celtics.

In the 3 hours that followed the game, 68 strategically deployed Los Angeles Firefighters responded to 37 incidents within a one-half mile tactical area surrounding Staples Center.

LAFD incidents included 15 rubbish fires, 1 vegetation fire, three vehicle fires and 18 medical aid requests for persons ill or injured. A total of 8 persons were taken by Fire Department ambulance to area hospitals.

The age, gender, condition and affiliation of patients, as well as the circumstances of their illness and/or injuries was not immediately available.

The lawless behavior of some celebrants following the game remains under investigation by Los Angeles Police Department officials.

LAPD Tactical Alert for Thursday Evening, EPN Metro Area

LAPD to be out in force for Lakers-Celtics championship game
June 16, 2010 | 11:15 am

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef01157112afc6970b-800wi

Los Angeles police will be out in force Thursday for Game 7 of the NBA Finals to try to avoid a repeat of last year when fans outside Staples Center celebrated the Lakers' victory by damaging police cars, setting fires, looting nearby businesses and pelting officers with rocks and bottles.
LAPD officials will not say how many officers will be deployed. But those familiar with the department's planning strategies said the numbers would easily surpass those of 2009 and that officers would move quickly to target agitators bent on destroying property and committing other crimes.

A large contingent of officers also will be deployed along Crenshaw Boulevard in the Leimert Park area.

"It's my hope that whatever the outcome, people will celebrate responsibly, respectfully and lawfully," LAPD Asst. Chief Earl Paysinger said Wednesday.

Police said fans could expect a significant concentration of uniformed and undercover officers at Staples Center. They will move swiftly against any unlawful activity, from motor vehicle violations to illegal vending.

Should the Lakers clinch the NBA championship, tentative plans call for a parade Monday at 11 a.m. beginning at Staples Center and traveling south on Figueroa Boulevard to Jefferson Boulevard.

Early plans do not include a rally at the end of the parade, in contrast to last year when the Lakers appeared at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in front of an estimated crowd of 90,000 people.

The problems last year began after the Lakers swept the Orlando Magic in six games, notching their final victory on the road. That did not stop raucous fans from flooding into downtown L.A.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Melee at last year's championship. Times file.

Fire Outlook for June 2010

http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

Fire Weather Watch, Possible Red Flag Event

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA...NORTHWEST ARIZONA
AND SOUTHERN NEVADA.
GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATE WEDNESDAY
MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. WINDS SPEEDS
BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 35 MPH OR GREATER ARE
POSSIBLE. AT THE SAME TIME AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE
EXPECTED TO BE BELOW 15 PERCENT...HOWEVER SOME HIGHER ELEVATIONS
MAY BE AT OR ABOVE 15 PERCENT. THE COMBINATION OF WINDS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY MAY CREATE HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG
WARNINGS.

5.7 Earthquake

SAN DIEGO – The California-Mexico border region was rocked by a magnitude-5.7 quake Monday, rattling nerves from San Diego north to Orange County and Los Angeles.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered five miles southeast of Ocotillo in Imperial County — about 85 miles east of San Diego. It struck Monday at 9:26 p.m. PDT.

No serious damage was reported.

Wildfire 14 Freeway Ave F

Lancaster CA: Los Angeles County Fire Department responded a grass B assignment to the North Bound 14 Freeway at Ave F at approximately 3 pm this afternoon. Upon arrival firefighters found several acres of grass and mixed brush burning on the east side of the 14 freeway. Los Angeles County used engine, dozer and hand crews to contain the fire in approximately 1 hour. The fire was held to about 8 acres.

Photos Jeff Zimmerman
Copyright Zimmerman Media LLC

Car Crashes Into Block wall, Palmdale CA

A male driver was taken into custody by Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputies after he crashed a passenger vehicle into a large block wall on Ave S at 63 Street east. Los Angeles County Fire Department was alerted to a vehicle that had struck a wall narrowly missing a home at 11:55 am. A full dispatch was sent including paramedics and an urban search and rescue team put on alert. The driver sustained only minor scrapes as his air bags deployed. LA County Sheriff Deputies took the driver into custody at approximately 12:00 pm.

Ferris Wheel Rescue LAFD

On Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 7:42 PM, 2 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 23 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Chris Kawai, responded to rescue riders stranded on a Ferris wheel at 1521 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood.

Summoned by carnival operators who had established temporary presence on the athletic field at Hollywood High School, Los Angeles Firefighters arrived to find ten persons stranded in the open air seats of a twin Ferris wheel that had suddenly become inoperative.

Immediately assuring the temporary amusement ride was stable and the riders informed and uninjured, firefighters conferred with technicians who had recently assembled and were operating the 85 foot high transportable device.

Delicately using a Fire Department aerial ladder in a crane-like fashion, firefighters extracted riders one-at-a-time, gently lowering them with an accompanying LAFD rescuer to a more secure intermediate level before repositioning the 100-foot capable ladder to repeat the operation.

The calm and orderly effort took more than two hours, and occurred without physical injury. The three adults and seven children declined medical treatment or transportation.

Temporary amusement rides in California are operated under the auspices of the State's Department of Industrial Relations.

Fire Weather Watch for Napa County

COUNTIES BELOW 1000 FT - EXCLUDES THE DELTA-LAKE COUNTY PORTION OF LAKE-NAPA-SONOMA UNIT-536 AM PDT FRI JUN 11 2010...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO8 PM PDT SATURDAY...
A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO8 PM PDT SATURDAY.* WIND: NORTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH BY THIS AFTERNOON. GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE LATE AFTERNOON
AND EVENING.* HUMIDITY: HUMIDITY WILL DROP TO 10 PERCENT OR LOWER. AREAS OF POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY ARE LIKELY TONIGHT AS BREEZY WINDS CONTINUE.* TEMPERATURES: THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES OF THE YEAR ARE EXPECTED
SATURDAY AS TEMPERATURES RISE INTO THE MID 90S.* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF WARM TEMPERATURES...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY AND TOMORROW.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

Fire Weather Warning in Effect

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGHSUNDAY MORNING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE EAST BAY HILLS....HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE GREAT BASIN WITH LOW PRESSURE ALONG
THE COAST WILL RESULT IN A DEVELOPING OFFSHORE FLOW BY TONIGHTWHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY. THE OFFSHORE FLOW WILLPRODUCE GUSTY WINDS WITH WARMING AND DRYING CONDITIONS.CAZ511-120100-/O.CON.KMTR.FW.A.0001.100612T0900Z-100613T1400Z/
EAST BAY HILLS AND DIABLO RANGE-534 AM PDT FRI JUN 11 2010...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGHSUNDAY MORNING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE EAST BAYHILLS...
* AFFECTED AREA: FIRE ZONE 511 EAST BAY HILLS AND DIABLO RANGE...INCLUDING THE SANTA CLARA UNIT.* TIMING: GUSTY OFFSHORE FLOW WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.* WIND: NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP
TO 40 MPH.* HUMIDITY: DAYTIME HUMIDITIES WILL RANGE FROM 15 TO 20 PERCENT AND NIGHTTIME HUMIDITIES WILL RANGE FROM 30 TO 40 PERCENT.* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY
OFFSHORE FLOW WILL CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS... ESPECIALLY IN ELEVATIONS BETWEEN 1000 TO 2000 FEET WHERE FUELS ARE DRIEST.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS

Wildfire, LACOFD 78 Antelope Acres

Fire season is here for the high south eastern deserts in Southern California. Los Angeles County Firefighters responded to a wind driven wildfire on Highway 138 at 110th street west in the Antelope acres, an unincorporated area west of Lancaster CA. Strong northerly 35-50 mph wind gusts pushed the fire across Highway 138 at approximately 12:00 am. Firefighters from LA County Stations 78,33 and Kern County Engine and Patrol 15 valiantly held the line and kept the fire from becoming a major wind driven incident by aggressive mobile attack. Five engines, two water tenders, 1 dozer team, 2 patrols and a battalion chief controlled the fire in 3 hours. Strong northerly winds have been drying fuels out rapidly on the desert floor which received ample winter rain fall, in turn making a dense crop of grass which allows fire to spread easily. The fire was reported to dispatcher at approximately 11:45 pm, however full control of the fire did not occur to 03:15 am. Approximately 5 acres of brush and grass were scorched, no structures were threatened. Cause is under investigation by fire officials.

Vehicle Fire 14 Freeway at Ave S, Palmdale

Los Angeles County Firefighters were summoned to a vehicle fire on the North Bound 14 Freeway just north of Ave S in rush hour traffic. Upon arrival firefighters from Station 37 and 24 in Palmdale found a passenger vehicle well involved with fire burning on the right shoulder of the freeway. No injuries were reported.

Earthquake Hermosa Beach 3.7

A magnitude 3.7 earthquake struck LA County this afternoon at approximately 5:10 PM, no damage reported, centered 4 miles west of Hermosa Beach CA.

Wildfire, Lancaster CA

Los Angeles County Firefighters responded to a vegetation fire today at approximately 1:45 pm near the intersection of 30th Street West and Ave M in Lancaster. Upon arrival firefighters found approximately 4 acres of brush and Joshua trees burning along Ave M. Additional resources including a bulldozer were ordered to stop the flames burning in the north west wind. No structures were damaged and the cause is under investigation. Crews from fire stations 33, 134, 136 and 129 controlled the fire in approximately 1 hour.

Major Emergency Fire, LAFD Harbor Area

A major fire is still burning at 1903 N. Blinn Av.* on aprox 1 acre of smoldering autos, metal and scrap material at a "Pick Your Part". Knockdown anticipated late this afternoon. Additional bulldozers have been requested to move material,assisting Firefighters to access the seat of the fire. No structures have damaged. No injuries have been reported today. Cause is under investigation & $Loss is undetermined.A larege plume could be clearly seen across the Harbor area yesterday near Pacific Coast Highway and Alameda Streets in an industrial area.

We will have more information soon. We will post all images of the incident on our web site at www.zimmermanmedia.com under fire photography, latest images, Blinn IC.

Photos Copyright, Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC

Traffic Accident Palmdale, 14 Freeway at Palmdale BL

A sports car struck the center divider/k rail on the North Nound 14 Freeway at Palmdale Bl. AMR Ambulance and LA County Fire Paramedics responded to the incident but the patient refused paramedical assistance. The freeway was blocked for about 30 minutes. The accident is under investigation by CHP. Photo Jeff Zimmerman, copyright Zimmerman Media LLC

Wildfire Pear Blossom Highway and 72 East, LACOFD

Approximately 5 acres of grass and brush burned today in Little Rock at 72nd street east and Pear Blossom Highway. Hot temperatures, low relative humidity and a north wind helped to push the wildfire within several hundred yards of rural ranchetes in Little Rock. No structures were damaged by the fire. The cause of the fire is being investigated by Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriffs Departments.

Vehicle Accident 14 Freeway at Rancho Vista BL

Los Angeles County Firefighters were summoned to an over turned vehicle on the North Bound 14 Freeway at Rancho Vista Bl at approximately 09:35 this morning. A male driver lost control of his vehicle, careened off of the freeway and tumbled down a steep embankment just north of Ranch Vista Bl. Paramedics from Fire Station 37 in Palmdale and personnel from AMR ambulance service extricated the patient, placed him in spinal precautions and carried the victim to an ambulance up a 50 foot slope. I believe the patient was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital for medical treatment. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
Photos Copyright Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC.

Two Plead no Contest to Corral Canyon Wildfire in 2007

2 plead no contest to starting 2007 Malibu fire that destroyed 53 homes

By Victoria Kim

Los Angeles Times

June 2, 2010 | 12:40 pm
Two men accused of starting the Malibu Corral Canyon fire in 2007 pleaded no contest Wednesday morning to recklessly starting the blaze that consumed 53 homes and injured six firefighters.
Brian Alan Anderson and William Thomas Coppock, who were 22 and 23 at the time of the fire, admitted to felony charges of starting a fire that caused injury and caused an inhabited structure or inhabited property to burn. An additional charge alleging that the men set the fire in an area where a state of emergency had been declared is expected to be dropped at the time of sentencing.

The men were ordered to undergo a diagnostic study in June and return to court in September for sentencing. A third man, Brian David Franks, pleaded no contest in 2008 and received a sentence of five years' probation and 300 hours of community service.

Franks testified in the preliminary hearing for Anderson and Coppock. Charges against two other defendants, Dean Allen Lavorante and Eric Matthew Ullman, remain pending.

Authorities accused the five men, whom they described as coming from working- and middle-class backgrounds, of starting an illegal campfire in a cave in the Malibu hills known as a late-night party hangout. Police identified the men by tracing alcohol containers, food wrappers and bundled fire logs left at the site to a nearby grocery store.

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/06/2-admit-starting-2007-malibu-fire-that-destroyed-53-homes.html