VERY VERY HOT EVERYWHERE...SUMS UP TODAY. FORECAST IN GOOD SHAPE...BUT MADE A MINOR UPDATE TO WARM UP A COUPLE OF PLACES SOME MORE TODAY AND TONIGHT. GRADIENTS TRENDING STRONGER OFFSHORE WITH A 592DM HIGH PARKED OVER THE REGION...AND WITH LOW TEMPERATURES VERY WARM THIS MORNING...DAYTIME TEMPERATURES HAVE A HEAD START. MANY RECORDS ARE LIKELY TO FALL...WITH TEMPERATURES A NUMBER OF DEGREES HOTTER THAN YESTERDAY. DOWNTOWN LA LOOKS LIKE A LOCK TO BREAK A RECORD FOR TODAY...WITH A HIGH AROUND 110 NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION...RESULTING IN THE WARMEST DAY IN OVER 20 YEARS. THE AIR IS REALLY DRY...AND HEAT INDICIES WILL REMAIN JUST UNDER EXCESSIVE HEAT THRESHOLDS...BUT THIS IS STILL A CONCERNING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS HEAT WAVE. TO NO SURPRISE...RED FLAG WARNINGS LOOK GOOD AS THEY ARE...BUT MOSTLY FOR PROLONGED HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS...AS OFFSHORE WINDS ARE LOCALLY BREEZY AT BEST.

Potential exists for dry Lightning in south west CA with fhunderstroms predicted for the Sierras and Kern County Mountains and deserts later this week. Fire weather concerns are for dry lightning storms.

Extreme Fire Weather, Red Flag Warning

FIRE WEATHER PLANNING FORECAST FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 930 AM PDT SUN SEP 26 2010 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT MONDAY DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES...THE VENTURA COUNTY VALLEYS AND THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR THE SAN GABRIEL AND SAN FERNANDO VALLEYS... .DISCUSSION...UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE OVER THE AREA THROUGH TUESDAY...BRINGING VERY HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS TO THE AREA. INLAND LOCALES WILL EXPERIENCE AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 100 AND 110 DEGREES. AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY ACROSS INLAND AREAS WILL FALL INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS AND LOW TEENS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS...WITH VERY POOR OVERNIGHT RECOVERIES. AS FOR WINDS...THE NORTHEAST WINDS ARE WEAKER THIS MORNING DUE TO A WEAKER PRESSURE GRADIENT. HOWEVER THE OFFSHORE GRADIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THIS EVENING AND MONDAY WHICH WILL HELP PRODUCE SOME STRONGER WINDS. THROUGH AND BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS...NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS...ESPECIALLY TONIGHT. THROUGH MONDAY...THE COMBINATION OF VERY HOT TEMPERATURES... EXTENDED PERIODS OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND SOME GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES...AS WELL AS THE VENTURA COUNTY VALLEYS AND THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. THEREFORE...A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS. ACROSS THE SAN FERNANDO AND SAN GABRIEL VALLEYS...CONFIDENCE IS NOT AS HIGH IN REACHING REQUIRED DURATION OF RED FLAG CONDITIONS. THEREFORE...THESE AREAS WILL REMAIN IN A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. VERY WARM TEMPERATURES ARE STILL EXPECTED ON TUESDAY...THEN SOME COOLING IS EXPECTED BY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AS THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WEAKENS. AS THE HIGH WEAKENS...SOME MID LEVEL MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA ON THURSDAY. THIS MOISTURE WILL LIKELY PRODUCE SOME AFTERNOON CUMULUS BUILDUPS OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. AT THIS TIME...NO PRECIPITATION IS FORECAST FOR THURSDAY. HOWEVER...IF THE MOISTURE BECOMES MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN CURRENTLY FORECAST...SOME PRECIPITATION CHANCES MAY BE INTRODUCED. THE SITUATION WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY.

Red Flag Warning in Effect for LA County and Ventura County Mtns.

Red Flag warning in effect, check www.NOAA.GOV LOX for Information.

Fire Weather Watch in Effect: Critical Fire Conditions

FIRE WEATHER PLANNING FORECAST FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA 930 AM PDT FRI SEP 24 2010 ...FIRE WEATHER WATCHES IN EFFECT SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES... .DISCUSSION...UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE AREA THIS WEEKEND...BRINGING HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS TO THE AREA. AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE VERY HOT...PEAKING ON MONDAY WITH MANY INLAND AREAS EXCEEDING 100 DEGREES. NEAR THE SURFACE...OFFSHORE FLOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WHICH WILL HELP DROP AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS ACROSS INLAND AREAS. OVERNIGHT RECOVERIES AWAY FROM THE COAST WILL BE POOR. AS FOR WINDS...SOME GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS LIKELY ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THROUGH MONDAY...THE COMBINATION OF VERY HOT TEMPERATURES...EXTENDED PERIODS OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND SOME GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS MAY PRODUCE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. THEREFORE...A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THESE AREAS.

Fire Weather Warning, So Cal, Critical Fire Weather Alert

FRIDAY GRADIENTS WILL BE TURNING OFFSHORE WITH SIGNIFICANT WARMING AND DRYING EXPECTED. ALTHOUGH SOME OFFSHORE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS FRIDAY, STRONGER OFFSHORE FLOW IS EXPECTED BY SATURDAY AND ESPECIALLY SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN A LENGTHY PERIOD OF VERY DRY CONDITIONS WITH HUMIDITIES DROPPING INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS. ALTHOUGH THE STRONGEST OFFSHORE WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL SUNDAY, IT`S POSSIBLE THAT RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP SOONER THAN THAT, PERHAPS AS EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME FOR THE SITUATION TO CHANGE, THIS APPEARS TO BE OUR FIRST SANTA ANA WIND EVENT OF THE SEASON AND FIRE AGENCIES SHOULD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FORECASTS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND START PREPARATIONS FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD OF HOT, DRY, AND OCCASIONALLY WINDY CONDITIONS.

Fire Weather Discusssion

DISCUSSION...A COUPLE OF UPPER LEVEL TROUGHS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE WEST COAST TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE FIRST TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT AND MONDAY...AND WILL GENERATE SOME GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. THE STRONGEST NORTHERLY WINDS WILL OCCUR THIS EVENING ACROSS THE USUAL LOCATIONS SUCH AS THE SANTA YNEZ RANGE AND THE I-5 CORRIDOR WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH EXPECTED. ALONG WITH THE WIND...THIS FIRST TROUGH WILL USHER IN SOME COOLER AIR ACROSS THE AREA ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY ALONG WITH HIGHER RELATIVE HUMIDITY. ON TUESDAY NIGHT...A STRONGER TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE WEST COAST. THIS WILL PRODUCE A RAPID DEEPENING OF THE MARINE LAYER...WITH SOME DRIZZLE LIKELY FROM THE COASTAL SLOPES WESTWARD TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. THURSDAY WILL BE A TRANSITION DAY ACROSS THE AREA AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVES TO THE EAST. TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY WILL WARM BY SEVERAL DEGREES WITH AN ASSOCIATED DECREASE IN RELATIVE HUMIDITY ACROSS INLAND AREAS. FOR FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND...AN UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BUILD OVER CALIFORNIA. THIS PATTERN WILL RESULT IN DRAMATICALLY WARMER AND DRIER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND. NEAR THE SURFACE...THERE WILL POSSIBLY BE SOME WEAK OFFSHORE FLOW WHICH WILL HELP LOWER RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND PRODUCE SOME WEAK NORTHEASTERLY WINDS.

Canyon Wildfire, Kern County

Incident Overview

The Canyon Fire was reported at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 12,2010

The fire is located in the Lower Kern River Canyon, below, (and west) of Lake Isabella. The fire started near Delonegha on the south side of the Lower Kern River. The fire quickly spread to both sides of the Kern River, jumping over the Old Kern Canyon Road and back across Highway 178, resulting in active fire on both sides of the two roads. Within an hour the fire spread to over 200 acres calling for evacuations of recreational sites along the Lower Kern River, including Remington Hot Springs, Black Gulch, Mill Creek, Hobo, Sandy Flat and Miracle Day Use area. Several outfitter guide (boating) companies camp sites were also evacuated.

Highway 178 is now OPEN -Please observe all speed limits through the burned area off of Hwy 178 due to fire fighters and equipment on the road.

The fire is presently at 6,136 acres.

Evacuations: Myers Canyon south of Bodfish Canyon, and Rocky Road, and community of Havilah. Be advised, the American Red Cross shelter is now operating at the Kern River Valley Senior Center (6405 Lake Isabella Blvd.). The phone number is 661-333-0265. Kern County Human Services staff is onsite working with Red Cross volunteers. A second shelter has been established in Twin Oakes at 661-867-2550. Both shelters are available to help accomodate small and large animals.

Road Closures: Bodfish Canyon road and Caliente Bodfish road is closed from Bodfish to Havilah, Old Kern Canyon road.

1,565 personnel, Cost: 4.5 million

Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Human -under Investigation
Date of Origin Sunday September 12th, 2010 approx. 01:54 PM
Location 8 miles west of Lake Isabella
Incident Commander David Cooper

Current Situation
Total Personnel 1,565
Size 6,136 acres
Percent Contained 50%
Estimated Containment Date Sunday September 19th, 2010 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved Grass, brush and timber.

Fire Behavior Interior areas of the fire continue to burn actively on the east half of the fire, the west side had some observed hot spot inside the line. Wind continues to affect the fire with occasional flare up near the line.

Significant Events Emergency road closures are in place on the "Old" Kern Canyon Road


Outlook
Planned Actions Continued line construction and start mop-up operations.

Growth Potential Medium

Terrain Difficulty High

Remarks Steep ground and active fire are still major concerns. Air resources continue to play a key role in keeping fire away from high risk areas. Some damage was sustained by the 66KV powerlines, local power company has started repairs.

Current Weather
Wind Conditions 19 mph SW
Temperature 86 degrees
Humidity 21%

Source: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2124/

EMS Accident

Terrible accident involving EMS Personnel. http://www.jems.com/video/news/3-dead-maryland-ambulance-cras

9-11 Services Today

We will never forgett 9-11.

Death Toll May Rise in Blast

By SUDHIN THANAWALA, Associated Press Writer Sudhin Thanawala, Associated Press Writer – 10 mins ago

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Fire crews tried to douse the remnants of an enormous blaze and account for the residents of dozens of homes Friday after a gas line ruptured and an explosion ripped through in a neighborhood near San Francisco, killing at least four people and likely more.

Emergency workers haven't been able to get into all the homes and said there could be more casualties. Earlier Friday, officials said at least six people were killed before revising the official number to four. At least 50 people were hurt, with three suffering critical burns in the explosion Thursday evening that left a giant crater and sent flames tearing through the middle-class neighborhood of 1960s-era homes in hills overlooking San Francisco, the bay and the airport

"Now that there is daylight, there is going to be even more heartache and more difficult times ahead. Individuals are going back and seeing the devastation of this fire," said San Francisco state Sen. Leland Yee, who was at the scene.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. President Chris Johns said Friday morning a 30-inch gas pipe ruptured about three feet underground just before 6:30 p.m Thursday, but crews still haven't been able to determine the cause of the rupture or the blast because they can't get close enough. The blaze was 75 percent contained by midmorning, fire officials said.

Johns said the company has heard reports that some residents smelled gas in the area before the blast.

Two Sentenced in Corral Canyon Wildfire

Two of the five men accused of starting the 2007 Corral Fire in Malibu were sentenced to one year in jail plus probation. The Corral Fire destroyed 53 homes and burned about 5,000 acres. About 14,000 people had to be evacuated and six firefighters were hurt. Brian Anderson and William Coppock were sentenced Thursday. They will get credit for 200 days already spent in jail.

They also must apologize to victims and firefighters and pay restitution, which has yet to be determined but includes $7.7 million in firefighting costs.


Source: KABC-TV Los Angeles

Red Flag Warning, Los Angeles County

Red Flag Warning: Los Angeles County mountains. Additional aircraft on stand by at Van Nuys tanker base. Low Relative humidity and triple digit temps, low fuel moistures until 9 pm Saturday.

Vehicle Fire LA County Engine 37

Los Angeles County Firefighters from Palmdale Station 37 responded to a reported vehicle fire at Q and Division at 7:45 am Saturday morning September 4, 2010. Upon arrival firefighters found a vehicle engulfed in flames. Firefighters had the fire under control in 5 minutes.

Fire Weather Watch

Near red flag condions for LA County mountains and passes for low RH, above average temperatures and some locly gusty wind until 9pm tomorrow. Fore more info www.noaa.gov click lox, fire weather.

Clinton Canyon Wildfire, Riverside CA

Riverside County CA, Cal Fire working a 50 acre brush fire on Clinton Keith Rd near Lake Elsinore and the 15 Freeway. On firefighter complaining of heat exhaustion.

Saying Good Bye is Never Easy, Chief Callahan

Chief Callahan's Memorial Service, San Luis Obispo CA.

Remembering Chief John Callahan. Veteran Fire Chief John Callahan died suddenly in San Luis Obispo August 18, 2010 while playing in a City softball game at Santa Rosa Park in the City of San Luis Obispo. Citizens performed CPR prior to paramedics arrival but efforts proved to be futile. Chief Callahan was pronounced dead at Sierra Vista Hospital a short time later after resuscitation efforts were unable to revive the Chief.

Chief Callahan was a retired Deputy Chief from the Los Angeles City Fire Department with 32 years of service and also served as Fire Chief in San Luis Obispo for the past five years. Chief Callahan was planning to retire in November of this year to spend more time with his wife Lynne.

Chief Callahan was active with the local YMCA, Rotary Club and as a Director for San Luis Obispo Telosa. At his service he was eulogized as having a dry Irish wit and as man who dedicated his life serving others.

Grand Ave in Cal Poly was lined with fire apparatus as the horse drawn procession brought the Chief into the Performing Arts Center for his final salute for a job well done. Honor guards from both Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo Local 3523 lifted the Chief from a 1906 horse drawn chemical wagon into the pavilion as uniformed personnel and bystanders saluted the Chief.

Family, friends, co-workers and firefighters from the region said their final tear filled fairwells to the Chief on Friday morning August 27, 2010.

Photos Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC