MEC&F Expert Engineers : 08/28/15

Friday, August 28, 2015

Jury awarded laborer $2.8 million in a construction site injury but placed 30 percent of the blame on him

By Dave Hutchinson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 


August 27, 2015


BERGEN COUNTY, NJ


A laborer who had his leg amputated after he fell three stories while applying stucco to a building's exterior was awarded a $2.8 million settlement, according to a report in the New Jersey Law Journal.

On July 26, 2011, Han Su Chin, 48, was working at a construction site on Lemoine Avenue in Fort Lee when he fell into an alley, the law journal reported. He now has a prosthesis and needs a cane to walk after he suffered extensive fractures to his right leg and ankle that required two separate amputations, the law journal reported.

"I was somewhat disappointed," Kevin C. Decie, an attorney from Davis, Saperstein and Salomon who represented Chin, told NJ Advance Media. "The award wasn't an insult by any stretch of the imagination. It's not crazy low but it's lower than I expected. It hurts me to say it because I tried the case.


"I was hoping for around $4 to $5 million, considering the extent of my client's injuries. It'll be difficult for him to work again. This has been his trade. There's not a whole lot he can do. He's going to need ongoing treatment for the rest of his life."

According to the law journal, Chin sued building owner Koryo Corp. and general contractor Dong Y. Jo, (also known as Dong Seo Interior Inc.). Also named in the lawsuit was Tae W. Han as principal of EZ Han Construction Corp., who had hired him at the behest of Koryo Corp., the law journal reported.

Chin, who was born in Korea and speaks limited English, alleged he was not provided a safe workplace and equipment to perform his duties, but he also acknowledged that he helped make the bosun chair, a chair made of wood and rope, from which he fell, Decie told NJ Advance Media.

That Chin helped make the chair damaged his case, Decie said. The jury placed 30 percent of the blame for the accident on him, Decie said.

"I thought that was fair," Decie said.

Chin's case was also weakened, Decie said, when the defense pointed out he took a friend to a car dealership, helped him purchase a new car and received a finder's fee. The defense argued that showed Chin could work, perhaps as a car salesman, Decie said. Daniel M. Santarsiero, an injury lawyer from The Law Offices of Jonathan Marshall firm in Red Bank, told NJ Advance Media the jury award may have been lower than expected because jurors aren't given directions about how to arrive at a settlement amount in injury lawsuits.


"Jurors in New Jersey aren't provided with a mile marker or guide post," Santarsiero said. "They're just told to evaluate the case and come to a verdict that fairly compensates the injured party or parties. Lawyers or judges can't suggest a particular amount of money as a fair verdict."

Decie said Chin has been "surprisingly resilient" since the fall.

"The guy fell 30 feet on cement and that doesn't usually end well," Santarsiero said. "He's lucky to be alive."

Biker faces manslaughter, DUI charges after woman rider hurt in motorcycle collision with car dies in Richmond, Virginia



Posted August 28, 2015, by Web Staff






Motorcycle accident in the 1700 block of E. Main Street.

RICHMOND, Va. — A 37-year-old man is facing manslaughter and drunk driving charges after a woman riding on his motorcycle died following a crash last weekend in Shockoe Bottom.

Richmond police said the wreck happened around 4:50 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. That’s when the bike hit the rear of an automobile while both vehicles were travelling east bound in the 1700 block of E. Main Street.

Richmond Police spokesman Gene Lepley said 33-year-old Sarah Weeda, of the 2000 block of Newman Road in Richmond, was seriously injured when she was thrown from the motorcycle. Weeda was transported to VCU Medical Center where she died from her injuries Tuesday.

The driver of the motorcycle, Joe C. Durham Jr., of the 2000 block of Newman Road in Richmond, was charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter, DUI and driving outside of restrictions after police consulted the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

Durham Jr. is recovering from injuries sustained in the crash.

The driver of the vehicle that was hit was not injured.


Evacuation warning issued for areas of Wishon due to Rough Fire


Fire officials say the warning is meant to alert the community of a potential threat from the fire and urge residents to prepare to leave if needed.
Fire officials say the warning is meant to alert the community of a potential threat from the fire and urge residents to prepare to leave if needed.

They said the warning is part of a planned firing operation in the Wishon area as crews tie two fire lines together in the effort of overall containment.

This impacts everyone along McKinley Grove Road between Dinkey Creek Road and the Wishon Reservoir. McKinley Grove Road remains open to motorists, however, a Fresno County sheriff's deputy is posted in a patrol vehicle at the Dinkey Creek intersection to notify drivers of the dangerous conditions.

Firefighters do not anticipate any problems, but if the fire were to jump a line, residents would have two hours to leave the area. Again, this is a warning, but the sheriff's office wants to alert residents that they should be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.

Click here for the latest on the Rough Fire

3-year-old boy dies after being pulled from pool at Swim America in Clovis, California


Clovis police have confirmed a 3-year-old boy, who was pulled from the pool at Swim America during a preschool activity on Thursday, has died.
Clovis police have confirmed a 3-year-old boy, who was pulled from the pool at Swim America during a preschool activity on Thursday, has died. Police are investigating exactly what happened to the boy.

The swim school was closed on Friday, as were the associated dance school, tumbling school and the preschool the boy attended. His class came over for a swim in the preschool pool on Thursday, and the boy somehow ended up underwater in the bigger pool.

The calm waters of Swim America turned turbulent Thursday as staff members tried to save the 3-year-old boy found underwater. Nobody seems to know how long he was in there after leaving his group of about a dozen preschoolers enjoying the waters of the 2-foot-deep kiddie pool.

"That's where we were trying to keep everybody, and obviously we had a problem and somehow missed this young man, and we're going to take a careful look at it," Swim America co-owner Rick Klatt said.

Klatt also owns tumble America, Dance America and the preschool at Camp America. He canceled classes at all of them until Monday out of respect for the boy's family, and to give his own staff time to heal. But he himself is still on site, racking his brain to figure out what happened and how to keep it from happening again.

"We'll review everything internally from A to Z, and you know, hopefully we can find exactly what went wrong here because we don't know precisely what went wrong," Klatt said.

He does know the boy ended up underwater in a far corner of the bigger pool, near a water slide. But he knows that's not enough, and he says his entire team is heartbroken for the boy's family.

"Ohh, our prayers and hopes and dreams just go to the family," Klatt said. "I can't begin to tell you how awful we all feel; our instructors and our staff and certainly my wife who has built this place to be a safe place and a wondrous place for young kids."

Swim America has a camera focused on parts of the pool, but they discovered Thursday it was not recording video.

Clovis police say it could be next week before they're close to knowing what went wrong.

FRESNO COUNTY, CA: A baby girl was saved from a fiery vehicle crash that claimed the lives of a man and a woman who are presumed to be the child's parents



2 adults dead, baby girl rescued after fiery crash in Fresno County




A baby was saved from a fiery vehicle crash that claimed the lives of a man and a woman who are presumed to be the child?s parents.






By Gene Haagenson
Updated 10 mins ago
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A baby girl was saved from a fiery vehicle crash that claimed the lives of a man and a woman who are presumed to be the child's parents. It happened just after 3 a.m. Friday in a rural area southwest of Fresno. The baby was rescued by a man who lived near the crash site.

The vehicle, a Chevy Blazer, hit a utility pole on the side of the road, knocking down power lines. The lines were over the vehicle and on the ground, but that didn't stop Jose Sanchez, who heard the baby crying and ran to the flaming wreckage. But he was unable to save the couple trapped inside.

Sanchez was awakened by his wife who heard the crash. He told Action News, "At that point, there's an explosion and huge flash outside our bedroom window."

Once outside, they rushed toward the flames. Sanchez said, "We were hearing a baby cry."

Sanchez braved fallen power lines to reach the burning vehicle. He said, "I just kind of ducked under and went to the door that was open, which was that door, and that's when I see the baby on the ground. At first glance she looked OK because she was crying and just dusty, didn't look bloody, so at that point I just focused on the two people there. The male was kind of slumped over in the lady's lap, and she was in the back seat, and so his back was on fire, and so I just stomped it out a little bit. But then I seen underneath her seat that was all on fire, and she was moaning, but I couldn't get to her. So I grabbed the baby, took off and didn't get too far when everything started coming, started going."

The vehicle exploded in flames. Sanchez said the baby did not appear to be hurt, and fell asleep in his arms. She is now at a local hospital and said to be doing fine.

The California Highway Patrol and the Fresno County coroner are trying to identify the man and woman who died in the crash. Because of the burns, positive identification is expected to take a long time. However, persons believed to be family members of the victims have come forward.

Worker with Earth Pest Control in Oswego was electrocuted after he was conducting outdoor maintenance using a 29-foot aluminum pole and touched a 7,200-volt transmission line.





AUGUST 28, 2015

WEST DUNDEE, ILLINOIS

Man recovering after electrical shock in West Dundee 


By Erin Sauder Elgin Courier-News
A pest control worker was taken to the hospital Wednesday after he was injured by an electric shock.


A pest control worker was hospitalized Wednesday after he suffered electrical shock while doing routine maintenance in West Dundee.


The West Dundee Fire Department responded at 2:05 p.m. to 770 Beacon St. and found the man's co-worker, Kevin Floyd, and West Dundee police Sgt. Anthony Gorski administering CPR to a 21-year-old man who had no pulse, a West Dundee Fire Department news release said.

Gorski used a defibrillator on the man, officials said. One shock was given to the victim as the ambulance crews took over life support efforts.


After defibrillator use, the man began to improve as he was taken by ambulance to Advocate Sherman Hospital.

West Dundee Fire Chief Randy Freise said he arrived at the scene before the ambulance and engine crew. He saw both Sgt. Gorski and Floyd administering CPR and then saw Gorski use the AED.

Freise said Gorski had gone through EMT training.

"He took it upon himself to respond because he was close by at the station. A lot of credit goes to him for taking the initiative to get trained medically," Freise said.

The man was conscious and talking with paramedics at the hospital, Freise said.

A lot of prayer is what Kevin Floyd, owner of Earth Pest Control, attributes to his employee being alive today.

Floyd was on the job with the 21-year-old when he heard him give out a yell and fall to the ground.

"It looked like he got shocked. I saw some smoke. He stood up twice and fell down," Floyd said. "Then he stopped breathing for a while."

And that's when Floyd and some people who had been inside the building began praying.

"Someone said we had to do CPR. I haven't done CPR. I learned it when I took a class when I was about 16," Floyd said. "So I prayed and asked God to take control of me and show me the right way to do it."

Floyd said his employee has burns on his feet, forehead and hands from the incident.

"But he's looking to make a full recovery," he said.

The man is employed by Earth Pest Control in Oswego. He was conducting outdoor maintenance using a 29-foot aluminum pole, officials said.

And as it turns out, Gorski's EMT training class was led by two of Freise's firefighter/paramedics.

"It's gratifying that they were able to train him and he was able to use that in the field to save someone's life," Freise said.

He calls the whole situation "amazing."

"This guy wasn't breathing. His heart stopped and then we got him to the hospital and he was talking and aware of his surroundings," Freise said. "That was pretty exciting to hear he was OK."

ComEd workers were investigating, the release said. Officials believe the pole may have hit a 7,200-volt transmission line.

Floyd is still shaken up about the event.

"I've been struggling with it all day today," he said Thursday. "I'm kind of in a daze about what happened. But it was a miracle. And it was due to a lot of faithful Christians praying."

ComEd officials said no service was interrupted, as the pest control worker did not roast for too long and no wire or breakers were blown..

1 worker electrocuted to death and 2 others are critically injured after the aluminum ladder they were touching fell into 7,200 Volt power lines in Draper, Utah











Ravell Call/Deseret News

By Megan Marsden Christensen | 

Updated - August 28th, 2015


DRAPER, UTAH


One person is dead and two others are critically injured after the three were shocked at work, officials said.

Unified Fire spokesman Dave Ulibarri said the roofers were working on the air conditioning at Bailie's Gym & Power Tumbling at 88 W. 13100 South around 10:45 a.m. when the aluminum ladder they were touching fell into some power lines.

Aaron Garn, of Eagle Mountain, was killed in the incident, and another worker went into cardiac arrest, but was revived through first CPR efforts and transported to the hospital, Ulibarri said.

The third roofer was also transported to the hospital. Both are in critical condition.

The names of the two critically injured men weren't released Friday afternoon.

Officials do not yet know exactly what happened, but Ulibarri said one co-worker who witnessed the scene was on the roof, so they anticipate the roofers were moving equipment up the ladder as it lost balance.

Unified fire and Rocky Mountain Power responded to the scene and the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Division responded to do an inspection.

A GoFundMe account* was set up for the Garn family Friday.

Rocky Mountain Power spokesman David Eskelsen said the voltage of the power line the ladder struck was 7,200 volts.

The voltage of the power line is common for what is used to serve homes or small businesses, according to Rocky Mountain Power. The company's crews were called to make repairs in the area and finished there late Friday afternoon.

Eskelsen said they urge their customers to be safe around electricity. Information for homeowners, farm and ranch locations, construction work and for police and fire first-responders is available on the Rocky Mountain Power website.

A 17-year old woman killed in 3-vehicle crash north of Helena, Montana



Posted: August 28, 2015
By The Associated Press

 

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - 


A 17-year-old Helena girl was killed and three other people were injured in a three-vehicle crash north of the city.

The Montana Highway Patrol says the victim was southbound on Applegate Drive Thursday afternoon when she turned left onto Lincoln Road, into the path of a full-sized pickup pulling a fifth-wheel camp trailer. The pickup truck and camper rotated and landed on top of another passenger vehicle. The driver of that vehicle had to be extricated.

Lewis and Clark County Coroner Mickey Nelson identified the victim as Mariah Nelson Swingley. Her passenger, the driver of the pickup and the driver of the third vehicle were taken to the hospital with injuries that Nelson did not believe were life-threatening.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS: Alcohol, speed were factors in deadly crash outside Lebanon bakery in Indiana that killed the driver and injured at least 2.


Posted August 28, 2015


by Matt Adams - Web Producer



LEBANON, Ind. (Aug. 28, 2015) – 


Alcohol and speed were factors in the early Friday morning crash that killed a driver and left two people injured outside a Lebanon bakery, police said.

The crash happened around 6 a.m. in the 800 block of West South Street/State Road 32 in front of Titus Bakery. Investigators said a gray Ford Mustang was speeding while going westbound and lost control. The car went off the road and continued into the parking lot at the Bakery, striking three parked cars.

The driver was identified as Robert G. Cole, 21, Lebanon. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The impact sent one of the parked cars into Jane Willhite, 76, Lebanon, who was standing outside the bakery. Lebanon police said she was critically hurt.

Paul Reagan, 78, was also hurt. His Boone Area Transit Service truck was one of the vehicles hit. Reagan suffered minor injuries, police said.

Some of the parked cars hit the bakery building, which was evacuated until investigators determined it was safe. Titus Bakery remained open while police gathered evidence at the scene.

The Boone County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team is investigating. Alcohol and speed were believed to be factors, police said.

The crash closed the road for more than two hours. It reopened around 8:40 a.m.


The only good news is that the driver will not do this again, as he reached his final destination at 21.

TROPICAL STORM ERIKA: Coastal Watches/Warnings and 5-Day Forecast Cone for Storm Center


Investigators are still unclear as to what caused a hazardous materials situation in which two people were found dead in Des Plaines, IL


Cause In North Maine Hazmat Incident Remains Unknown





Tom Wessell
North Maine Hazmat

Hazmat responders enter home on Harrison Street just west of Dee Road.





Posted: Friday, August 28, 2015

By TOM ROBB Journal & Topics Reporter


Cook County Sheriff’s Police investigators are still unclear as to what caused a hazardous materials situation last night (Thursday) in which two people were found dead in a home in the 9400 block of Harrison Street, unincorporated Des Plaines. Two other residents and four sheriff’s deputies were taken to area hospitals.

The two dead in the townhome at 9439 Harrison were identified this morning (Friday) by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as John Tae Kim, 83, and Hong Kyq Kim, 53, both of 9439 Harrison St. Both were pronounced dead Thursday at 6:50 p.m. Autopsies were scheduled today to determine causes.


Cook County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Sophia Ansari said criminal activity is not suspected at this time, although investigators are awaiting more information from autopsies by the medical examiner’s office. She would not comment on reported conditions found in the home or connected garage.


The first calls came in at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Cook County Sheriff’s Police, firefighters and paramedics from nine fire departments swarmed the scene scene near Apollo Elementary School between the Illinois State Police headquarters and Dee Road. Area roads were not fully reopened to traffic until about 11 p.m.


North Maine Fire District officials said those transported to area hospitals included one woman in critical condition, a second woman for evaluation along with the first four sheriff’s deputies who responded to the scene.


Those deputies reported respiratory distress in their mouths and throats and a burning sensation, North Maine Fire Protection Dist. Chief Richard Dobrowski said. A Cook County sheriff’s spokeswoman said all deputies transported to hospitals for treatment and evaluation have since been released.


After deputies arriving at the home entered and experienced symptoms indicating hazardous materials might be present. A hazmat box alarm and ambulance box alarm were called and residents in one building with six units were evacuated. Dobrowski said once teams suited up in full head-to-toe protective suits, they ran tests for hazardous materials but found none in the home.


After crews declared the home safe, investigators, fire and medical first responders entered the home and declared John Tae Kim and Hong Kyq Kim dead at 6:50 p.m.


Dobrowski said evacuated residents began returning to the scene and were allowed back in their homes between 8 and 9 p.m.


Dee Road, which was closed for the incident between Golf and Central roads was not reopened to traffic until about 11 p.m. after Dobrowski said decontamination pools in the area were cleaned up.


Dobrowski said 52 firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene from North Maine, Des Plaines, Niles, Glenview, Prospect Heights, Morton Grove, Northbrook, Evanston and Highland Park.

The body of El Jefe Captain Tom Andresen has been recovered days after his fishing boat sunk in the Sandy Hook Channel.

Body of fisherman aboard sunken boat in Sandy Hook Channel recovered

Body of fisherman aboard sunken boat in Sandy Hook Channel recovered
The body of El Jefe Captain Tom Andresen has been recovered days after his fishing boat sunk in the Sandy Hook Channel.

Thomas Andresen was fishing in Sandy Hook Channel on Tuesday when his 40-foot steel hull fishing boat, El Jefe sunk.

Divers searched the water for the boat as debris from it floated in the channel.

Dangerous conditions prevented divers from searching the boat for his body.

"They call it the rips for a reason, I mean the current rips through there and it's a dangerous spot, plus there's a lot of debris down there, whatever netting was hanging off the boat, the ropes, and chains, and you know it's dangerous," said Corey Andresen, the missing man's son.

The Belford Seafood Co-Op released a statement saying: "It is with great sorrow that we report that divers have recovered the body of Captain Tom Andresen this afternoon. He was a cheerful member of our fishing community, and he will be missed by many. To his wife, Barbara, and the rest of his family, we send you prayers for comfort and love during this very sad time."

Speeding SUV collides with parked SUV and lands on top of it in Bustleton in Philly, PA

It was a bizarre scene after a crash in Bustleton on Friday.
An SUV landed on top of an overturned SUV after a crash on Friday morning in the Bustleton neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia.

The crash happened before 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Verree Road and Bloomfield Avenue.

Police say the driver of a Chevy Trailblazer lost control and rolled the vehicle, ending up on top of a Hyundai Santa Fe in the driveway of the Cokl home.

The family living in the home there said despite the massive damage, they feel very lucky.

"We were just - 'What's going on?' We look out the window and there's car, in my driveway, on top of my car," said Michaela Cokl.

The crash happened just inches from the Cokl's home.

"I believe he came around the corner a little too fast, hit my neighbor's driveway, which is on an incline, and soared through the trees and on top of my car, flipped my car over and landed on the undercarriage of my vehicle," Michaela said.

Police say the driver of the Trailblazer, a 34-year-old man, likely suffered a medical emergency just before he lost control of the vehicle, sending it soaring through Michael Corwin's front lawn.

"Drove up, used my lawn as a ramp, and was able to vault a seven foot hedge and land on my next door neighbor's car," Corwin said.

Crews worked for hours, slowly and carefully pulling the SUV's away from the house, finally pulling the vehicles apart around 10:00 am.

Police say the driver was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Because this crash was likely caused by a medical emergency, officers say charges are not likely to be filed.

END OF WEEK FOOLS RUSHING TO BE KILLED/INJURED: Speeding car flips on Walt Whitman Bridge into NJ


Car flips on Walt Whitman Bridge into NJ
A car flipped over on the Walt Whitman Bridge heading into New Jersey in South Philadelphia.

Chopper 6 was over the scene around 4:10 p.m. Friday.

A car was on its roof with a number of people and emergency vehicles nearby.

There was no word on what caused the crash or if there were any injuries, although eye witness said that the car was speeding.

PEDESTRIAN DEATHS ON THE RISE, AS THE ECONOMY IS EXPANDING: Jogger, passenger killed, driver injured in massive wrong-way crash along southbound Route 206 in New Jersey

Jogger killed in Burlington Co. crash ID'd as teacher

Police are investigating the deaths of two people, including a woman just out for an afternoon run.
The jogger who was struck and killed by a truck, in a crash that also left one of the vehicle's passengers dead, was a local middle school teacher.

New Jersey State Police identified the jogger as 29-year-old Allison McGinnis, of Southampton Twp., New Jersey.

McGinnis taught English and language arts at Helen Fort / Newcomb Middle School in Pemberton Township.

The other victim was identified as 31-year-old David Eldridge, of Wrightstown.

The crash happened around 2 p.m. Thursday along southbound Route 206.

Police say a pickup truck, being driven by Patrick Miller of New Hanover, was heading north when it veered into the southbound lanes, hitting McGinnis.

The truck then hit trees and overturned.

Miller was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital where he is being treated for a serious injury.

No charges have been filed as police continue to investigate the accident.

In a statement, the district superintendent said McGinnis "was a vibrant, involved teacher who was headed into her second year of teaching at Helen Fort/Newcomb Middle School. Her students were fortunate to have such a warm, caring individual, and she will be missed by all whose lives she touched."

"Allison swept into Helen Fort like a ray of sunshine. No one was left untouched by the warmth of her smile. In the year that Allison was here she positively affected the lives of every student and staff member," colleague Debra Kerner said in the statement.

3 injured after chemical leak reported at PBF Energy in Delaware City, DE refinery











Updated 2 hrs 59 mins ago
DELAWARE CITY, Del. (WPVI) --

Rescuers were called to a reported chemical leak at a refinery in Delaware City, Delaware.

Firefighters and medics were dispatched to the PBF Energy facility in the 4500 block of Wrangle Hill Road shortly after 12 p.m. Friday.

Three people were taken to Christiana Hospital after the incident. One person was being taken to the hospital's decontamination unit.

There was no immediate word on their conditions.

The incident was placed under control at 12:33 p.m. No further details were immediately available.

It was one week ago Friday that a fire ripped through part of the refinery.  See article below and photos of the fire.


//--------------------------//


Fire erupts at Delaware City oil refinery




Firefighters battled a blaze at a refinery in Delaware City.






Friday, August 21, 2015

DELAWARE CITY, Del. (WPVI) -- A fire ripped through part of a refinery in Delaware City on Friday afternoon.

The fire was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Friday at PBF Energy's Delaware City Refinery in the 4500 block of Wrangle Hill Road.

Black smoke could be seen from several miles away.

The view from Chopper 6 showed flames shooting out of a building with firefighters pouring water on the blaze.

Refinery officials say all workers have been accounted for. No injuries have been reported.

The fire was placed under control at 3:17 p.m.









Chopper 6 was over the fire at a Delaware City oil refinery on Friday, August 21st. PHOTOS: Fire at Delaware City refinery

The fire was reported to be inside a catalytic cracker. It's described as a "a chemical reactor for converting oils with high boiling points into fuels with lower boiling points in the presence of a catalyst."

From the refinery's website:

The Delaware City refinery is located on a 5,000-acre site on the Delaware River, with the ability to accept crude by rail or waterborne cargoes. Delaware City possesses an extensive distribution network of pipelines, barges and tankers, truck and rail for the distribution of its refined products.

California Statewide Fire Summary Friday, August 28, 2015: Over 7,700 firefighters are battling 15 active wildfires across California.

California Statewide Fire Summary
Friday, August 28, 2015

Over 7,700 firefighters are battling 15 active wildfires across California. Warmer weather over the past couple of days has hampered containment efforts, although firefighters continue to make progress on many of these fires.

Warm and dry conditions continue today.  While a cooling trend is expected to lower temperatures to normal across the state beginning tomorrow, a Red Flag Warning has been issued for Saturday from the Lake Tahoe region south through Mono County for high winds, increasing fire danger.

CAL FIRE reminds everyone that the best time to complete your defensible space is in the spring when temperatures are cooler and humidity is higher.  But if you need clear dry and dead vegetation near your home, make sure you don’t do the right thing the wrong way.  For tips on how to be safe with equipment, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

Fires of Interest:
 **CAL FIRE Incidents**
Democrat Fire, Trinity County (more info…)
Democrat Gulch, Weaverville
*128 acres – 75% contained

Horse Fire, Humboldt County (more info…)
Saddle Mountain Road, Northeast of Shelter Cove
*146 acres – 96% contained

Peterson Fire, Lake County (more info…)
Peterson Lane near Kelseyville
*215 acres – 100% contained

**Unified Command Incidents**
Cuesta Fire, San Luis Obispo County (more info…)
CAL FIRE / US Forest Service – Los Padres National Forest
Cuesta Grade, north of San Luis Obispo
*2,446 acres – 90% contained

**Federal Incidents**
Summitt Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…) 
US Forest Service – San Bernardino National Forest
Snow Summit Resort Area
*55 acres – 75% contained

Fork Complex, Trinity County (more info…)
US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest / CAL FIRE
Near the Hayfork area
*36,499 acres – 90% contained (40 fires)

Rough Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
US Forest Service - Sierra National Forest
2 miles north of the Kings Wild and Scenic River
*60,238 acres – 25% contained
Walker Fire, Mono County (more info…)
US Forest Service – Inyo National Forest
North of Walker Lake
*3,676 acres – 98% contained

River Complex, Trinity County (more info…)
US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest
New River Drainage, near Denny
*65,221 acres – 27% contained (3 active fires)
South Complex, Trinity County (more info…)
US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Near Hyampom, south of Hwy 299
*29,275 acres – 65% contained (6 active fires)

Route Complex, Humboldt & Trinity Counties (more info…)
US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest
West of Hyampom
*35,604 acres – 74% contained

Mad River Complex, Trinity County (more info…)
US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest
Near Ruth Lake
*37,227 acres – 84% contained

Nickowitz Fire, Del Norte County (more info…)
U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest
*6,524 acres – 54% contained

Gasquet Complex, Del Norte County (more info…)
U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest
on the Gasquet Ranger District
*22,914 acres – 28% containment (6 fires remain active) 

Cabin Fire, Tulare County (more info…)
US Forest Service - Sequoia National Forest
8 miles northeast of Camp Nelson
*6,955 acres – 96% contained 

Cabin Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
US Forest Service – Angeles National Forest
Off Hwy 39, 6 miles north of Glendora
*1,723 acres – 99% contained

Natural gas gathering operations leak enough methane to power 3.2 million households.


Methane Leaking From Natural Gas Operations Underestimated
Environment: New estimates of leaked methane point to reduced climate change benefits of natural gas over coal
By Jeff Johnson






GATHERING LOSSES
Natural gas gathering operations leak enough methane to power 3.2 million households.
Credit: Environ. Sci. Technol.


A new study finds methane is leaking at surprisingly high rates from a mostly unaccounted for part of natural gas operations—facilities that collect, compress, and process natural gas for pipeline distribution after drilling and hydraulic fracturing (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02275).


The study found that gathering and processing had methane losses twice that of earlier estimates by the Environmental Protection Agency. “This was the first-ever national study on methane emissions from natural gas gathering facilities,” notes Anthony J. Marchese, a Colorado State University mechanical engineering professor, who led the new study.





FIELD COLLECTIONS
Researchers used ambient measurements of methane and tracer gases to derive methane loss from natural gas gathering and processing operations.
Credit: Colorado State University


U.S. natural gas production has shot up by more than 26% over the past 10 years, largely owing to new hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling technologies. Natural gas burns cleaner and emits about half the carbon dioxide of coal when used to generate electricity. But methane, the primary component in natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas when leaked to the atmosphere. The climate change impact of methane is 80 times that of CO2 over the first 20 years after leakage and 20 times as potent over a 100-year span. Methane leakage from oil and gas operations is responsible for nearly one-third of all U.S. methane emissions, and EPA estimates that if methane leakage exceeds about 3% of production, the natural gas climate benefit over coal is lost.


Currently, EPA assumes about 1.3% of all methane generated through oil and gas production is lost to the environment and has estimated that about 20% of that comes from gathering and processing operations. “There is not a high level of confidence in EPA’s number,” Marchese says. “The data are old and mostly estimates, coupled with a handful of recent measurements and industry-supplied data.”


In the new work, Marchese and his team sampled ambient methane concentrations at 114 gathering facilities and 16 processing plants in 13 states. The team measured methane and tracer gases near the facilities to determine methane emissions from a given site and used computer methods to extrapolate their measurements to the national scale.


Marchese’s team found methane loss to be nearly twice EPA’s estimate for this sector. The new figures would raise the total methane loss to more than 1.5% of production, Marchese says.


Although the percentage seems small, the amount of gas lost from gathering facilities is valued at $390 million a year, Marchese says, and could provide enough gas to fuel 3.2 million households. “It may be a bitter pill for industry to swallow,” he says, but notes that his study was partially funded by gas companies that want to know about leaks.


Marchese’s study is one of 16 funded and organized by a small group of gas producers and the Environmental Defense Fund, an advocacy group, that are trying to lock down methane loss from all aspects of natural gas production—from exploration to burning in natural gas vehicles. The final report will combine all these data and is expected by year’s end. When completed, Marchese says, the new total loss number “may be north of 2%.” How far north that number goes will determine whether methane retains its perceived greenhouse gas advantage over coal.


Katie Brown, a spokeswoman with Energy In Depth, a petroleum-industry-funded research, education, and outreach organization, stresses that even with the new leakage emissions, the total lost to the environment from the oil and gas system production still makes natural gas a cleaner fuel than coal.