Worker dies from exposure to chlorine gas leak at Pacific Steel in Spokane, Washington

(Photo: KREM.com)

KREM Staff, KREM.com

August 16, 2015

 SPOKANE, Washington

A Pacific Steel spokesperson confirmed one man has died from exposure to leaked chlorine gas.

Employees reported a barrel was accidentally punctured Wednesday morning, leaking a yellow gas. Those in the area said the gas smelled strongly of cleaning products. Many nearby began experiencing breathing trouble and tightness in the throat.

Officials evacuated a four block radius around the plant, located on N. Freya Street.

After misidentifying the gas as Arsenic Trichloride, officials confirmed Friday night that it was chlorine gas that spilled. Chlorine can be dangerous in high quantities or through prolonged exposure. Ten people were transported to the hospital, eight listed in serious condition.

A representative at Pacific Steel said three of their workers hospitalized had dramatically improved by Friday afternoon. One of their employees that was in intensive car has since been released from the hospital.

A man was killed when a trailer detached from a pickup truck and smashed into the thrift store where he was helping a customer.

AUGUST 16, 2015

PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. —

Investigators say a man was killed Saturday afternoon when a trailer detached from a pickup truck and smashed into the thrift store where he was helping a customer.


The coroner says the victim, identified as Brian Keith, 48, of Easley, died at the scene from blunt force trauma.

Officials say the customer was not injured.

According to state troopers, a Ford F-250 was pulling a trailer along Saco Lowell Road just outside the Easley city limits about 12:15 p.m.


Investigators say it came loose from the truck, went off the road, sideswiped a parked car, went down an embankment and crashed through the building housing a thrift shop for Home with a Heart.

The shop is one of five owned by Home with a Heart ,a rehabilitation center for men struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

Troopers have not said whether the driver would face charges.

1 injured aftre a Piper PA-28-161 Warrior plane crashed in a backyard Sunday in Bristow, Virginia

(Photo: COURTESY of PJ Elliott/NewsRadio 99.1)

Small plane crashes in Bristow backyard
4:32 p.m. EDT August 16, 2015 

BRISTOW, Va. (WUSA9) -- 

A small plane crashed in a backyard Sunday in Bristow, according to Prince William County fire officials.

The pilot, Karyta Barnes, 50, of Alexandria, Va. was extricated out of the plane and transported to Fairfax Inova Hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening injuries, officials said. The crash happened around 9 a.m. in the 9600 block of Looking Glass Court.

At this stage of the investigation, officials say, it appears the single-engine, fixed-wing 1980 Piper PA28-161 lost power and made a crash landing into a tree in the backyard of a residence.

Officials said the plane struck some trees and fell into the backyard of a residence. No one on the ground was injured and officials say the plane did not strike any houses.

The NTSB was notified and the FAA responded to the scene to conduct its investigation. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by state police.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.









Date: 16-AUG-2015
Time: 09:11
Type:
Piper PA-28-161 Warrior
Owner/operator: Dulles Aviation Inc
Registration: N82587
C/n / msn: 28-8116026
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Substantial
Location: Bristow, VA, NW of Manassas Regional Airport KHEF), Washington, DC - United States of America
Phase: Approach
Nature: Training
Departure airport:

Destination airport: Manassas Rgnl (KHEF)


Narrative:
The aircraft impacted trees and timbered residential terrain in Bristow, VIrginia, northwest of the Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field (KHEF), Washington, District of Columbia. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the sole student pilot onboard received serious injuries.
Sources:

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=178742
http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/manassas%20/2015/08/16/small-plane-crashes--bristow-backyard/31811985/#
http://wtop.com/prince-william-county/2015/08/small-plane-crash-reported-in-prince-william-county-on-sunday/
http://wjla.com/news/local/pilot-injured-in-a-small-plane-crashes-in-bristow-va
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=82587

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mOBxdvx9EdY

1 man was killed after a fire broke out in a detached garage that was converted into a home in Van Nuys, California

One person was killed after a fire broke out in a detached garage that was converted into a home in Van Nuys early Sunday morning.

By Darsha Philips

Sunday, August 16, 2015 10:28AM

VAN NUYS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) --

One person was killed after a fire broke out in a detached garage that was converted into a home in Van Nuys early Sunday morning.

Firefighters said the blaze was reported around 4:45 a.m. in the 14000 block of Victory Boulevard.

A man in his 50s was found dead inside the bedroom, which is where firefighters say the blaze originated from. The man was the sole occupant of the residence.

Witnesses say a passerby stopped his vehicle and woke up the residents in the main house on the property. Neighbors and bystanders grabbed garden hoses, trying to put the fire out.

Fire officials said one neighbor even tried to rescue the victim, but the flames were just too fierce. That neighbor was transported to an area hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns to his arms.

The fire spread to an R.V. on the property. Two occupants inside the vehicle were able to escape, but the R.V. was a total loss.

Firefighters made quick work of the fire, which was extinguished in about 13 minutes.

According to firefighters, the converted garage did have a smoke alarm, but it was unclear if it was functioning. The garage was not equipped with fire sprinklers.

The identity of the deceased man was not immediately released. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

2 killed, baby transported to hospital after Corona, California hit-and-run crash

Two people were killed and a baby was rushed to the hospital following a hit-and-run crash in Corona on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015. (KABC)

Sunday, August 16, 2015 12:54PM

CORONA, Calif. (KABC) --

Two people were killed and a baby was rushed to the hospital following a hit-and-run crash in Corona.

The incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday on the 15 Freeway just north of Ontario Avenue.

Corona firefighters and the California Highway Patrol responded to the scene. Circumstances surrounding the crash were not clear.

Investigators said two adults were killed, and a baby was rushed to the hospital. The condition of the baby was not immediately known.

The two deceased individuals were identified as 32-year-old Jose DeJesus Ibarra-Espinoza and 26-year-old Rosio Ibarra, both of Lake Elsinore.

Authorities are searching for a black Honda Civic, possibly modified for racing. A description of the driver was not released.

1 U.S. Army skydiver dead, 1 injured after midair collision at Chicago Air & Water Show

Crowds are gathering for day two of the Chicago Air and Water Show as parachute acts have been canceled following a collision.


 

 AUGUST 16, 2015

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

A U.S. Army skydiver who had served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan died Sunday from injuries suffered in a midair collision with another jumper during a stunt at the Chicago Air & Water Show, authorities said.

Corey Hood of Cincinnati, Ohio, who had recently turned 32, was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said Mario Johnson, a Cook County medical examiner's investigator.

Hood had logged more than 200 free fall jumps and 75 military static line jumps during his career, according to his Army biography.

The Army Golden Knights and Navy Leap Frogs parachute teams were performing what is known as a "bomb burst" Saturday when the collision occurred, Golden Knights spokeswoman Donna Dixon said. During the stunt, parachutists fall with red smoke trailing from packs and then separate, creating a colorful visual in the sky.











Dixon said Hood collided with a member of the Navy's precision skydiving team.

Hood was knocked unconscious, "which resulted in an uncontrolled offsite landing," Dixon said in a statement.

Spectator Heather Mendenhall told the Chicago Tribune on Saturday that she was watching the show from a rooftop and saw Hood strike the roof of a high-rise building next door with his feet and then fall - his parachute trailing behind him.

"His legs caught the tip of the roof, and then he fell over. It was horrible," she told the newspaper.

The other parachutist, who has not been identified, landed on North Avenue Beach near the main viewing area for the show, Fire Department spokesman Juan Hernandez said Saturday. He was treated for a broken leg.

"The Knights are a very close knit team and the military skydiving community is equally close; we will support Corey's family and each other during this difficult time," Col. Matthew Weinrich, commander of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, said in a statement.

Hood served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and had earned numerous awards, including two Bronze Stars. He is survived by his wife, Lyndsay.

Members of the Navy team are active-duty personnel drawn from forces including the Navy SEALs. Specialists such as the Army and Navy jumpers can reach speeds of up to 180 mph during freefall by pulling their arms to their sides. They typically open their parachutes at around 5,000 feet, joining their canopies together in formation and setting off smoke grenades to send red smoke trailing behind them.

The accident is under investigation, the Army said. The team did not perform again on Sunday.

The annual two-day air show draws millions of people to Chicago's Lake Michigan shoreline. Headliners included the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

200-acre brush fire burns 6 structures in Castaic, California

Massive plumes of smoke from a fast-moving brush fire are seen over hills in the Angeles National Forest in Castaic on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015. (KABC)

 

AUGUST 16, 2015

 

CASTAIC, Calif. (KABC) -- 

 

Los Angeles County firefighters are battling a 200-acre brush fire that burned six structures in the Angeles National Forest in Castaic Sunday afternoon.

The blaze, dubbed the Warm Fire, was reported to be near Lake Hughes and Warm Springs roads. About 75 percent of the structures at Warm Springs Rehabilitation Facility were burned.

Firefighters believe the fire, which is moving rapidly through dry brush, has the potential to grow to 2,000 acres.

Edison crews are also at the scene as the blaze threatens nearby power lines.

No evacuations have been ordered. Lake Hughes Road at Elizabeth Lake Road was shut down.

4 dead following midair collision of a twin-engine Sabreliner jet and a single-engine Cessna 172 planes in San Diego County, CA

A typical Cessna 172 Skyhawk

A typical Sabreliner Jet

Emergency personnel are shown at the scene of a plane crash in San Diego County on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015. (twitter.com/SDFD) 






Aug. 16, 2015: Emergency personnel respond after two small planes collided and crashed near an airport in southern San Diego County, Calif. (John Gastaldo/U-T San Diego via AP) 

At least 5 killed after two small planes collide over southern California

Published August 17, 2015
FoxNews.com
 
Authorities said five people were killed Sunday when two small planes collided in midair while approaching an airport in southern San Diego County, Calif., sparking brush fires in a remote field where the wreckage landed.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator Andrew Swick told NBC San Diego that four people were on board a twin-engine Sabreliner jet that collided with a single-engine Cessna 172.

The Sabreliner had been leased by military contractor BAE Systems, which issued a statement confirming its employees were on board the aircraft. The pilot of the Cessna was also killed. Swick said the Cessna pilot had been taking a cross-country trip.

The collision occurred around 11 a.m. local time about 2 miles northeast of Brown Field Municipal Airport, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Ian Gregor said. The airfield, a former Naval auxiliary air station, is located 13 miles southeast of downtown San Diego, near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The aircraft caught fire when they hit the ground and broke apart, said Nick Schuler, a division chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesman Lee Swanson told the San Diego Union-Tribune that two small grass fires were ignited by the crash debris, but were extinguished within the hour. No homes were damaged, but fire officials told the Union-Tribune that about two acres burned near where the Cessna crashed.

"It appears it was a very violent crash, as you can tell by both aircraft being in multiple pieces," Schuler said. "Witnesses reported hearing the midair collision. They reported hearing the aircraft hit the ground. And we had numerous reports that there was fire in the area," said Cal Fire Division Chief Nick Schuler.

The Sabreliner crashed on a grassy slope and the Cessna fell within the bounds of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital after he suffered a heat-related injury, Schuler said. Temperatures in the area approached 100 degrees at the time of the fires.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
///////////////////////------------/// 

AUGUST 16, 2015

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Two small planes collided midair while approaching an airport in southern San Diego County on Sunday, killing at least four people and sparking brush fires in a remote field where the wreckage landed, authorities said.

The collision occurred around 11 a.m. about 2 miles northeast of Brown Field Municipal Airport, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.

Both planes - a twin-engine Sabreliner jet and a single-engine Cessna 172 - were approaching Brown Field, Gregor said.

The aircraft caught fire when they hit the ground and broke apart, said Nick Schuler, a division chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

"It appears it was a very violent crash, as you can tell by both aircraft being in multiple pieces," Schuler said.

First responders initially reported three fatalities, but as they inspected the wreckage which was strewn across a quarter-mile area, they determined that at least four people were killed, he said.

The Sabreliner crashed on a grassy slope and the Cessna fell within the bounds of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge.

Crews extinguished several brush fires where the planes came down. One firefighter was taken to the hospital after he suffered a heat-related injury, Schuler said.

Brown Field, a former Naval auxiliary air station, is in the Otay Mesa area about 15 miles southeast of downtown San Diego, near the border with Mexico.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, Gregor said.

Date:	16-AUG-2015
Time:	11:04 a.m.
Type:	Cessna 172 Skyhawk
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:
C/n / msn:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	3
Airplane damage:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Brown Field Municipal Airport (KSDM), San Diego, CA -   United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:
Destination airport:	Brown Field Muni (KSDM)

Narrative:
The plane crashed and was destroyed by fire in Otay Mesa northeast of Brown Field Municipal Airport (KSDM), San Diego, California, following a midair collision with a Saberliner. Four reported fatalities.
 

Sources: 
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=178741 www.10news.com/news/police-say-airplane-on-fire-near-harvest-road-081615
http://www.cbs8.com/story/29798191/two-small-planes-crash-midair-in-otay-mesa
http://abc7.com/news/3-dead-following-midair-collision-of-small-planes-in-san-diego-county/935907/
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-small-planes-collide-20150816-story.html
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/aug/16/plane-crash-brown-field-fatal/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Sabreliner



The Cessna 172 is the most successful light aircraft ever built. More 172’s have been produced than any other aircraft, over 42,500 to be exact. Primarily used for training, the Cessna 172 has become a common name among pilots and non-pilots alike. 


Cessna Introduced the 172 in 1956 featuring a Continental 0-300 with 145 horse power. With a starting price of 8,995 dollars what’s not to like?


Since those days the 172 has greatly changed, now with over 21 variations of the famous 1956 version.

A Cessna 172 is a fine purchase for just about any general aviation pilot, as they are relatively easy to insure and inexpensive to operate.


However since the 172 was used primarily as a trainer it is important to factor this into your search.

1 killed, 1 injured after fiery crash onto a tree in Jackson neighborhood in Mississippi

Witnesses say the car was running from police. Police say there was no chase. Therese Apel/The Clarion-Ledger Therese Apel, The Clarion-Ledger 2:22 p.m. CDT August 16, 2015



(Photo: Therese Apel/The Clarion-Ledger)

Jackson police and firefighters are investigating a fiery crash in which a man was killed Sunday.

The passenger of a black Nissan Maxima was killed in the wreck on the 2800 block of Greenview Drive. The driver is currently at University of Mississippi Medical Center being treated for his injuries, according to JPD spokesperson Colendula Green.

"They ran into a tree and the car caught on fire. And he was burned beyond recognition," said Melonia Taylor, the grandmother of the victim.

Family members on the scene identified the deceased as Nikey Fisher-Ritchey. A witness said he was able to pull the driver out of the car but was unable to save Fisher-Ritchey.

"I pulled the first guy out, the guy that was driving, and pulled him to the side. He had a cut right here and I didn’t have on no shirt, I had on pants. I took my pants off and wrapped it around his wound, and the car blew up. The car set afire," said Nicholas Young. "Nikey was still in the car."

Young grew up with Fisher-Ritchey.

Witnesses expressed anger and concern because they said they don't believe the police tried to help free Fisher-Ritchey from the car before it exploded. It's procedure for officers to wait for an ambulance crew before removing victims of a car crash for medical safety reasons including that they could have spinal injuries and do not need to be moved until they can be stabilized.

It's unclear if officers were aware that the car was about to explode, or if there was fire showing at the time.

"When I came out of the house, the other dude, he hit the tree right there and the police were already there. The car was about to start fire and the police, they sat right there," Young said. "They watched the car go up in flames and they sat right there."

Green also said the car was stolen during a recent robbery and had been involved in a series of crimes before the accident occurred.

"I don’t know what they were doing, but someone said they were weaving up and down Terry Road in the cars and stuff and they came here," said Taylor.

Green said there was not a police pursuit involved.

Young said Fisher-Ritchey had made some mistakes, but that he was a good person.

"He was a people person, anybody can get along with him. Everybody, anybody," he said. "He was smart, intelligent. He bumped his head a couple times, but he's a smart person, he’s a good person. Everybody loves him. That’s why everybody’s out here, because they know that even though he came from nothing, he’s trying. Even though everybody falls short of the glory of God. He was a good person though."


A wrecker preparing to load the car involved in a deadly crash Sunday in Jackson. (Photo: Therese Apel/The Clarion-Ledger)

Worker killed after trapped in trench collapse in Fort Dodge, Iowa

UPDATED August 14, 2015


FORT DODGE, Iowa —


A worker was trapped in a trench collapse in Fort Dodge on Friday, the Fort Dodge Fire Department tells KCCI.

The accident was reported about 1:40 p.m. near the Marian Home and Village at 2400 6th Ave. North, an extended care facility.

Fire officials said the crew was working on sewer lines when the accident happened. The worker was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said no other injuries were reported.

The worker's name has not been released, pending notification of family.

The accident remains under investigation.

Allianz, Zurich Receive Tanjin-Related Claims After Multiple Huge Explosions in the Chinese Port

Posted by Joseph Keefe

Friday, August 14, 2015

 

The Chinese units of European insurers Allianz and Zurich Insurance Group said on Friday they received claims for unspecified damages from customer companies in the northeast city of Tianjin after two huge explosions in the port.
The pair said they are now assessing potential losses.
Zurich General Insurance Co (China) Ltd said in an email to Reuters that it received claims from companies including those operating in the property and cargo sectors. It didn't identify the companies involved.
Allianz said in an emailed statement it is still assessing its potential exposure to the blasts. "We can confirm that Allianz China General Insurance has exposures in the areas of property and marine clients," Allianz said, "however we are unable to furnish any further details at the moment."
Chinese official investigators were still searching for clues on Friday to identify what caused the explosions in an industrial area at the port on Wednesday night.

CALIFORNIA BURNING: Over 14,000 firefighters are battling 18 active wildfires across California. Sunday, August 16, 2015

California Statewide Fire Summary

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Over 14,000 firefighters are battling 18 active wildfires across California. Today will be another hot day across much of California with temperatures again reaching the triple digits in many areas. The Sacramento Valley will once again experience gusty winds of up 25mph, which will not only elevate the fire risk, but will push smoke from the fires burning in Trinity County down into the Sacramento region and Bay Area. The potential for large fire will continue to be elevated across Southern California today as record heat continues along with humidity in the teens.

This weekend CAL FIRE is again urging the public to careful with outdoor activities. Whether it’s camping, barbequing, or off-road driving, conditions are ripe for a simple spark to ignite a wildfire. One Less Spark means One Less Wildfire. Learn more at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

Fires of Interest:

 **CAL FIRE Incidents**

Jerusalem Fire, Lake & Napa Counties (more info…)

Jerusalem Grade Road northeast of Middleton

*25,146 acres – 82% contained

*All evacuations lifted

Humboldt Lightning Fires, Humboldt County (more info…)

Throughout Humboldt County

*75 fires totaling 4,883 acres – 90% contained

Tulloch Fire, Tuolumne County NEW

South of Lake Tulloch

*112 acres – 90% contained

Mark Fire, Calaveras County

South of Angeles Camp

*114 acres – 85% contained

Anza Fire, Riverside County (more info…)

Off Hwy 74, east of Hwy 371 in Anza

*543 acres – 100% contained

**Local Incidents**

Rustic Fire, Ventura County (more info…)

Ventura County Fire Department

Simi Valley area

*186 acres – 75% contained

**Unified Command Incidents**

Fork Complex, Trinity County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest / CAL FIRE

Near the Hayfork area

*32,698 acres – 42% contained (40 fires)

**Federal Incidents**

Cabin Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Angeles National Forest

Off Hwy 39, 6 miles north of Glendora

*1,448 acres – 20% contained

* CAL FIRE is assisting

Walker Fire, Mono County (more info…) NEW

US Forest Service – Inyo National Forest

North of Walker Lake

*1,200 acres – 7% contained

* CAL FIRE is assisting

Horno Fire, San Diego County (more info…)

Department of Defense

On Camp Pendleton

*1,850 acres – 80% contained

River Complex, Trinity County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest

New River Drainage, near Denny

*37,165 acres – 18% contained

South Complex, Trinity County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Near Hyampom, south of Hwy 299

*20,082 acres – 25% contained (6 active fires)

Route Complex, Humboldt & Trinity Counties (more info…)

US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest

West of Hyampom

*27,801 acres – 28% contained

Mad River Complex, Trinity County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest

Near Ruth Lake

*22,807 acres – 60% contained

Dodge Fire, Lassen County (more info…)

Bureau of Land Management – Northern California District

*10,570 acres – 96% contained

Nickowitz Fire, Del Norte County (more info…)

U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest

*2,254 acres – 53% contained

Gasquet Complex, Del Norte County (more info…)

U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest

on the Gasquet Ranger District

*3,761 acres – 23% containment (6 fires remain active)

Cabin Fire, Tulare County (more info…)

US Forest Service - Sequoia National Forest

8 miles northeast of Camp Nelson

*6,672 acres – 96% contained

Rough Fire, Fresno County (more info…)

US Forest Service - Sierra National Forest

2 miles north of the Kings Wild and Scenic River

*16,390 acres – 0% contained

Wildfires threaten homes in Idaho, Washington, California

By Laura Smith-Spark, CNN

Updated 10:17 AM ET, Sun August 16, 2015










Hundreds evacuated due to wildfire 00:54

Story highlights
Wildfires near Kamiah, in northwest Idaho, burn 50 homes
Home and cabins are also lost in four fires in central Washington state


(CNN)Wildfires continued to ravage three western states Sunday, with scores of homes and cabins lost, and many more menaced by flames.

The Lawyer Complex Fire near Kamiah, in northwest Idaho, has destroyed an estimated 50 homes and 75 outbuildings, according to the state's Department of Lands.

So far, it is 15% contained, with more than 770 officials working to bring the flames under control. It includes the Old Greer, Kamiah Gulch, Lawyer 6 and Adams Grade fires, across a combined total of around 20,759 acres.

There have been no reports of death or injury as a result of the fire, authorities said.

However, Cheryl Lee Wissler, 70, of Adams Grade, died Friday when she fell and suffered a head wound while preparing for possible evacuation, said the sheriff's department.

Mandatory evacuations remain in place around Kamiah.
Washington state

Wind-pushed fires burned around Chelan and McNeil Canyon, in central Washington state, and remain actively burning with zero containment and the potential to grow, fire officials said Saturday.

An estimated 100 structures have already been lost, including homes and cabins in the four fires around Chelan, a town of about 4,000 people, according to Chelan County Emergency Management. No deaths or serious injuries have been reported.

Up to 1,500 evacuation orders are in place, and fire officials are scrambling to come up with a plan of attack.

Lightning strikes started the fires Friday morning, said Jim Duck of the Central Washington Interagency Communication Center.
California

A thousand miles to the south, in California's Angeles National Forest, the Cabin Fire started Saturday.

The fire covers 1,484 acres and is 20% contained, according to the national fire tracking website InciWeb. Five structures have burned down.

Five firefighters were evacuated with minor injuries and 462 personnel are on scene, InciWeb said.

The fire is south of Falling Springs off Highway 39, which is closed in the affected areas for the rest of the weekend.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for parts of California, where four years of historic drought have made it easy for flames to spread.

'A tinderbox': Firefighter dies as thousands battle California wildfires

Watercraft operator charged in Pactola Reservoir boat crash. Woman missing after boat sinks in crash with watercraft

POSTED:Aug 15, 2015


Search continues for missing Boater 

RAPID CITY, S.D. -

The Pennington County Sheriff's Office says a jet ski operator involved in Friday night's boat crash at Pactola Reservoir has been charged with boating while intoxicated.


Jody Kreycik, 29, of Rapid City, was taken to Rapid City Regional Hospital after the incident where he was treated and released. He was then taken to the Pennington County Jail.

Kreycik is currently out on bond, but additional charges are expected, according to a release from the sheriff's office.

The circumstances surrounding the collision are still under investigation.

Kreycik's watercraft collided with a boat Friday night. A woman who was on the boat when it sunk is still missing.

Search and rescue crews spent Saturday looking for her near the Jenny Gulch area of Pactola Reservoir.

PEDESTRIAN DEATHS/INJURIES ARE ON THE RISE, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE: 19-year-old male killed crossing Route 9 in Freehold, New Jersey

By MaryAnn Spoto | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com


on August 15, 2015


FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ

A 19-year-old man was killed when he was hit by a car as he tried to cross Route 9 in Freehold Township, authorities said on Saturday.

Tyler Horneck, a Freehold Township resident, was pronounced dead at the scene of Friday night's crash, which occurred in the northbound lanes of Route 9, said First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Marc LeMieux.

Horneck was struck by a 2006 Saturn driven by a 51-year-old Jackson woman around 9:11 p.m., said Charlie Webster, spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

Webster said the incident occurred just north of Schanck Road near the Wendy's fast food restaurant.

The investigation is continuing and no charges have been filed at this time, he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Freehold Township police at 732-462-7908. Several people took to Twitter on Friday to mourn his loss.

1man killed, another injured in Van Nuys fire in Los Angeles, CA

AUGUST 16, 2015

By Carlos Lozano
Los Angeles Fire Department


One man was killed and another injured after fire engulfed a converted garage in Van Nuys early Sunday, authorities said.

A neighbor reported the fire in the 14000 block of Victory Boulevard about 4:35 a.m., according to a statement from the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire was in a garage that had been converted into an apartment behind a one-story home.

A man living in the home attempted to rescue the occupant of the apartment but was forced to abandon the effort because of the fast-growing fire, authorities said.


After arriving on the scene, firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and found the body of the unidentified victim inside the structure, authorities said.

His would-be rescuer, who was not identified, was transported to a hospital, where he was treated for smoke exposure and minor burns to his arms, officials said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Indonesian airliner with 54 aboard crashes into mountain

Indonesian airliner with 54 aboard crashes into mountain
John Bacon and Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA TODAY 2:10 p.m. EDT 

August 16, 2015


Indonesia's air transportation chief confirmed that the Trigana Air Service plane was found by villagers in the country's largest province, Papua. USA TODAY



(Photo: BAGUS INDAHONO, EPA)


A crash site was found Sunday after an Indonesian airliner with 54 people aboard lost contact with air traffic control over a remote, mountainous area in bad weather, Indonesian officials said.

Air Transportation Director General Suprasetyo confirmed the plane was found by villagers who said it crashed into a mountain in Papua, the nation's largest and most eastern province. The fate of the 49 passengers — including five children — and crew of five was not immediately known, he said.

"Residents provided information that the aircraft crashed into Tangok mountain," Suprasetyo said.

The crash was third catastrophe for the Southeast Asian nation's beleaguered air transportation system in less than a year.

The Transportation Ministry said the Trigana Air Service flight lost contact 33 minutes into a 42-minute flight from the provincial capital of Jayapura bound for the city of Oksibil. There was no indication of a distress call from the French-built ATR 42-300 twin turboprop plane, the ministry said.

Heavy rain, high winds and some fog were reported in the area around the time the plane disappeared. Papua is home to some of the world's highest mountains as well as dense rain forests.

The National Search and Rescue Agency tweeted at about 7 a.m. ET — 8 p.m. local time — that the search had been suspended due to limited visibility and will resume early Monday. A short time later Suprasetyo confirmed that villagers had found the crash site.

“We are now working closely with the National Search and Rescue Agency to find the plane,” Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan told the Associated Press.

The agency tweeted that it had not arrived at the site and could confirm no details. "We pray for the best for the passengers and crew," the agency tweeted.

Trigana, one of many Indonesian airlines banned from flying to Europe due to safety concerns, is a local airline founded in 1991. It had 14 "accidents and incidents" since 1992, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

“It’s mountainous, very remote and the airfield runways are sometimes on the side of a hill, so it is not really an area for the faint-hearted to fly,” aviation analyst Gerry Soejatman told The Guardian. “There are bound to be accidents.”

Indonesia has made international headlines for two other deadly crashes. In June, more than 100 people died when a military plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in Medan, Indonesia's third-largest city. In December, an AirAsia plane crashed in the Java Sea en route from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore, killing all 162 people aboard.

That tragedy spurred Indonesia to impose new regulations aimed at improving safety. The 17,000-island nation of 250 million people, the world's fourth-largest country by population, has seen rapid growth in the aviation industry. But the industry has struggled to provide enough pilots, mechanics, air traffic controllers and updated airport technology to ensure safety.

Woman rescued from roof of burning home in Camden, New Jersey

Firefighters rescued a woman from the roof of her burning home in Camden.

Sunday, August 16, 2015 07:08AM

CAMDEN, N.J. (WPVI) --

Firefighters rescued a woman from the roof of her burning home in Camden.

The blaze broke out before 2:30 a.m. Sunday at a home in the 700 block of Woodland Avenue.

Firefighters arrived to find fire had ripped through the first floor, sending a woman inside scrambling to the roof.

They used a ladder to rescue her.

They also evacuated a family of four in a neighboring home.

The fire was declared under control within 20 minutes.

Investigators were working to determine the cause.