Public Safety Picnic A Huge Success: Neenach CA

Brining the community together to discuss public safety issues and show our appreciation to firefighters and local law enforcement while eating hot dogs, listening to a live band and eating cookies. A pretty simple idea to hand out free trees, fire prevention material and smoke detectors. We have mowed weeds and brush picked up garbage and continue to try to improve the community with all volunteer help. Next year hopefully more involvement from public safety agencies.

It all starts wiutha  simple idea and lots of volunteer help to make an event fantastic!

Santa Anas Tonight and Friday

Fires are already popping up in LA County from the winds, Soledad Cyn and Golden Triangle, five acres, more strong winds predicted for tonight and tomorrow, critical fire weather pattern. Photo courtesy Bernie Deyo, EPN.

Santa Ana Event: Heightened Fire Concerns

 FOR WEDNESDAY...EXPECT TEMPS TO WARM 3 TO 5 DEGREES IN MOST AREAS. 
  NORTHERLY WINDS WILL REDEVELOP ACROSS THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY 
  MOUNTAINS...SBA SOUTH COAST AS WELL AS THE LA COUNTY MOUNTAINS 
  INCLUDING THE I-5 CORRIDOR...SANTA CLARITA AND SAN FERNANDO VALLEYS 
  AS WELL AS THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAIN RANGE. NORTHERLY GRADIENTS 
  STRENGTHEN SIGNIFICANTLY BY WED EVENING INTO THURSDAY MORNING. 
  LAX-BFL IS FORECAST TO BE UP TO -7.2MB. DURING THIS TIME...WE COULD 
  SEE WINDS RAMP UP TO ADVISORY LEVELS ACROSS THE I5 CORRIDOR IN THE 
  LOS ANGELES MOUNTAINS AND SANTA YNEZ RANGE...WITH GUSTS IN THE 40 TO 
  50 MPH RANGE. IN ADDITION...GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED 
  TO EXPAND INTO THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY...SAN FERNANDO VALLEY...AND 
  SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS...WHERE WIND ADVISORIES WITH GUSTS IN THE 30 
  TO 40 MPH RANGE WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.  THIS NORTHERLY WIND 
  INFLUENCE WILL ALSO BRING A GOOD WARMING TREND...ESPECIALLY ACROSS 
  THE LOS ANGELES BASIN WHERE TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB ABOVE 80 DEGREES 
  IN SOME LOCATIONS.
  
  ...FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
  
  ON THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD 
  ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN...LIKELY BRINGING THE STRONGEST AND MOST 
  WIDESPREAD SANTA ANA EVENT OF THE SEASON. 12Z NAM SHOWING A RATHER 
  IMPRESSIVE LAX-DAGGETT GRADIENTS OF -8.2 MB FOR FRIDAY MORNING. IN 
  ADDITION...CROSS SECTIONS SHOWING A LAYER OF 30-40 KNOT WINDS FROM 
  THE SURFACE TO 850 MB LEVEL WITH A GOOD SURGE OF SUBSIDENCE. AS A 
  RESULT...THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 60 
  MPH ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA 
  COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS. AS A RESULT...HIGH 
  WIND WATCHES HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR THESE AREAS. IN 
  ADDITION...WIDESPREAD WIND GUSTS IN THE 40 TO 50 MPH RANGE WILL BE 
  LIKELY FOR COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA 
  COUNTIES...WHERE WIND ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED AS WE DRAW 
  CLOSER TO THE EVENT. OFFSHORE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO RAMP UP QUICKLY 
  THURSDAY EVENING ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS...PEAKING IN 
  STRENGTH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THE GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS 
  WILL ALSO COINCIDE WITH LOW HUMIDITIES AND CRITICALLY DRY FUELS TO 
  BRING A SIGNIFICANT FIRE WEATHER CONCERN TO THE REGION. FIRE WEATHER 
  WATCHES HAVE ALREADY BEEN POSTED FROM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY 
  EVENING FOR THE MUCH OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES.

Are You Ready for Initial Attack?

This week we will see cooler temperatures until Wednesday, then we should transition back to high pressure over Southern California with the potential for offshore flow, north east winds and low relative humidity. With the offshore winds comes heightened concerns for wildfires in the mountain regions.

So this beckons the question are your ready for initial and extended attack fires? With the complex urban interface environment remember that the first arriving officer is responsible for a clear and concise size up: fuel type, topography, rate of spread, structure threat, weather conditions, road access and the need for additional resources, strike teams and air craft. Don't forget to order the extra command staff for large scale fires early and make sure you have adequate air support.

I have seen to often fire officers under estimate rate of spread and forget about the importance of wind and terrain. Don't be caught on the short end of the stick. Have your command card ready to go on the seat next to you. We are entering the time of year for the bigger and faster wind driven fires in Southern California.

I hope to see all of you in the field next week. I am preparing for a public safety picnic and getting my PPE ready for those great images.

Wildfire Contained Quickly in Angeles Forest

A small wildfire burned approximately one half acre of thick brush near the Depatment of Water and Power plant in San Francisquito Canyon in dry north east winds on 10-17-2012. The fire originated under power lines and had large potential should it have escape initial attack. Heavy helicopters and fixed wing sooper scoopers from the County of Los Angeles quickly contained the blaze as ground forces came in to mop up the fire. 

Much cooler weather is expected this week, however on Saturday the strong onshore push will create gusty canyon winds in the Antelope Valley. Some light precipitation maybe possible early next week north of Point Conception and heavy drizzle is predicted n the LA Basin with dense fog in the morning hours.

Fire Weather: Offshore Flow to Heat Up So CAl:

High pressure is building bringing a warming and drying trend, offshore flow is expected with near triple digit temperatures on Wednesday. Winds maybe gusty at times in the canyons and passes.
We will monitor conditions to see if thresholds meet fire weather watch criteria.

Rain and hail mid week did bring some badly mositure to potrtions of CA zone 259 and 288.

National Fire Fallen Firefighters Foundation Benediction

We Remember Them,

In the rising of the dawn and the setting of the sun, We Remember Them.

In the springtime and fall, We Remember Them,

In the chill of winter and the blowing snow, in the blustery wind and driving rain, We Remember Them.

 In the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring, We Remember Them.

In the blueness of the skies and the heat of summer, We Remember Them.

In the rustling of the leaves and the beauty of autumn, We Remember Them,

In the beginning of the New Year and regardless how it ends, We Remember Them.

When we are weary and in need of strength, We Remember Them.

When we are lost and sick of heart, We Remember Them.

When we have joys,  triumphs and celebrations, We Remember Them.

So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are part of us.

Masking the pain, we never fully recover, yet We Remember and Honor Them

We remember today and we shall never forget their selfless sacrifices to protect, defend and honor our families, friends and all of America. We remember today our American Values towards community service and the greater good for all of mankind.

Windy Conditions For Interstate 5 Corridor and Antelope Valley

North and northwest winds continue to elevate fire conditions in CA zone 259 as gusty winds to 35 MPH continue drying out the fuel beds of So CAL.

Winds will continue to be the story the next few days in the mountains, but a bit of drizzle along the coastal areas will cool down the coastal canyons. Although not red flag conditions, fuel, steep slopes and windy weather can still spell problems for the mountains surrounding the high desert and Antelope Valley.

A first alarm wildfire response today for LA County at Elizabeth Lake Road and Bouquet Canyon, sorry guys unavailable to respond today. I am trying to free up my calendar this week so hopefully I can get in the field a bit more for our followers on the fire weather blog.

Wildfire Munz Ranch, LA County, Five Acres

Los Angeles County firefighters aggressively attacked a five acre wildfire in Munz Ranch today around 3 pm, just south of Lancaster Road and West of Munz Ranch Road. Firefighters were able to quickly gain control even though the fire was burning in triple digit temperatures with very low relative humidity. County units from Lake Hughes and the Antelope Valley including air support from helicopters hit the flanks quickly as the fire could have been much worse had a natural barrier not slowed the fire prior to arrival. Cause and origin are under investigation. Photos Jeff Zimmerman