Electrocution death under investigation in JANAF parking lot in Virginia. The investigation centers around a Tesla-owned electric vehicle supercharger station in the parking lot

Posted  August 18, 2015

by Becca Mitchell


Norfolk, Va. – 

Norfolk Police are investigating the death of a man who may have been electrocuted at the JANAF Shopping Center.

Police say they responded to the scene in the 5900 block of E. Virginia Beach Boulevard around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning after a man was discovered unresponsive by a co-worker.

Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene. He has been identified as 32-year-old Steven V. Weaver of Angier, North Carolina.

The incident is currently being considered an undetermined death while the circumstances around the death are investigated.

The investigation centers around a Tesla-owned electric vehicle supercharger station in the parking lot. The grand opening for the supercharger station was scheduled for Wednesday. That event was postponed due to this incident.

Tesla says the accident involved an electrical contractor and occurred during the installation process.

Additional updates will be provided as they become available.

Photo Gallery  

1 driver killed in a fiery T-bone collision with a semi-trailer truck on I-15 near Fillmore, Utah

Utah Highway Patrol

By Pat Reavy

Posted August 19, 2015


FILLMORE, UTAH

A Washington man was killed in a fiery accident on I-15 near Fillmore early Wednesday.

Derek White, 23, of Sammamish, Washington, was driving a 2004 Honda Civic on I-15 about 12:30 a.m. when he entered a construction zone, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

"The driver drifted to the left edge of the roadway and then over-corrected to the right. The driver steered sharply back to the left, and the car began to rotate as it left the roadway toward the median," according to the UHP.

White again pulled his wheel sharply to the right and his car came to a stop, sideways in the construction area.

An oncoming semitrailer, apparently not realizing the Honda was disabled, smashed into the driver's side door, the UHP stated. 

"Both vehicles left the road to the right, went through the right-of-way fence and came to a stop on the frontage road. The vehicles then caught on fire. The subject driving the red car was pinned in the car," according to the UHP.

Severe weather causes flooding, property damage in Union County, causes wall collapse in Watchung, New Jersey

Several inches of rain have fallen in parts of Union County, New Jersey, Wednesday, leaving some areas with severe flooding. That flooding even resulted in a wall collapse in Watchung. It happened in the parking lot of the Weldon Quarry. Fortunately, no one was inside of the several cars that were smashed as flat as pancakes.





Nina Pineda has the details



Mike Waterhouse and Jennifer Matarese 

Updated 1 hr 14 mins ago 


SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J. (WABC) -- 

Most of the severe flooding has been concentrated in the Scotch Plains area. Meteorologist Jeff Smith said AccuTrack radar indicates more than 3 inches have fallen in the area. He said the storm stayed in place over that area for at least two hours.

Water got into a lot of cars on Route 22, some parts saw pavement buckle as water poured beneath it.

The sad sound of car alarms filled the damp, heavy air. Big dump trucks couldn't make it through the high water, so smaller cars never had a chance.

Utility poles too became unmoored and had to be wrangled later.

We're getting some photos from Eyewitness News viewers that show extreme flooding in the area, with high water making it into some homes.

These photos show flooding on Byrd Avenue off Route 22 in Scotch Plains:


This photo shows just how high the water got on the highway:


 


And here's what it looked like after the water levels went down:

 

 Here some other photos sent to us via Twitter:

This one shows a car submerged in flood water, and appears to be stuck:


A fire truck blocked off the roadway here, so that no one could drive into high water:


If you capture photos or video of severe weather, send it to us via Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #abc7NY.

The president and owner of Quality Blow Molding Inc. disagrees with how an industrial accident at his Elyria, Ohio, plant has been portrayed

Company owner disputes OSHA's portrayal of 'willful' violations
By Michael Lauzon
 



The president and owner of Quality Blow Molding Inc. disagrees with how an industrial accident at his Elyria, Ohio, plant has been portrayed, and said he will defend his company against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Ron Matcham said in an Aug. 19 phone interview that the new employee injured on the first day of the job was told how to operate the blow molding machine.

“He was shown what to do,” Matcham said.

According to OSHA, a 21-year-old worker suffered amputations to four fingers on his right hand as a result of a March 2 incident. OSHA said the company did not properly train the employee on safety and it did not report the accident.

OSHA fined the company $171,270.

According to Matcham, the accident happened when the worker tried to free up a jam during the molding cycle, and his gloved hand was covered with the molten plastic.

One of the workers’ fingers was amputated three days later by health care workers who deemed that amputation was the best way to treat the injured fingers. A week after the first amputation, three other fingers were amputated.

Matcham stressed the amputations were not caused by any chopping action from machine parts at the plant site in Elyria. The worker also suffered severe burns to other areas of his hand.

An OSHA spokesman said the fine was stiffer than normal because OSHA cited the company for similar violations in 2014 and 2010 at the same facility.

In the most recent incident, Quality Blow Molding was cited for two willful, two repeated and one other-than-serious violations. The company also was placed in OSHA’s severe violator enforcement program, in which OSHA concentrates resources on inspecting employers “who have demonstrated indifference to their OSH Act obligations.”

The business molds bottles, golf tees and other plastic items.

Matcham said there had been problems with the machine guard on the machine where the accident occurred, and that during an earlier visit an OSHA representative recommended the machine operator use a stick to replace the machine guard when the guard was removed for maintenance.

Matcham said he disagreed with the proposed solution and offered a less hazardous remedy.

“We understand no injury is good, but we are a clean and safe workplace,” Matcham said. The company has been blow molding for more than 20 years and only had this one accident of this nature in that time, he added.

Matcham said his company has had issues with OSHA in the past but Quality Blow Molding does care about its workers.

“I had a vacation scheduled but I canceled it because I care,” Matcham said.

OSHA found the company failed to implement procedures to prevent machines from starting up during service and maintenance, and it did not train workers on safety procedures or install machine guards on horizontal lathes. These types of violations are among the most frequently cited by OSHA.

“A preventable and unforgivable injury has changed this young man’s life,” said Kimberly Nelson, OSHA’s director for the Toledo area, in an Aug. 13 news release. “For the second time in two years, Quality Blow Molding intentionally and willfully disregarded OSHA standards and requirements for machine safety.”

Quality Blow Molding has 15 business days to respond to the citations, which it received on Aug. 12.

Construction worker killed when a shard from a pipe he was cutting struck him in the neck at a site near the base of Canyons Village, Utah

Jesus Garcia Hermosillo, 39, of Heber City, was fatally injured Tuesday near White Pine Canyon at the base of Canyons Village while operating a saw. The Utah Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident. (Courtesy of Summit County Sheriff s Office)

 


Angelique McNaughton, The Park Record
Posted: AUGUST 18, 2015
 
A construction worker was fatally injured when a shard from a pipe struck him in the neck at a site near the base of Canyons Village, the Park City Fire District said.

The Summit County Sheriff's Department identified Jesus Garcia Hermosillo, 39, of Heber City, as the victim.

Emergency responders were dispatched at approximately 11:10 a.m. to the site near White Pine Canyon. The Summit County Sheriff's Office and four units with the Park City Fire District responded.

According to Park City Fire Battalion Chief Ray Huntzinger, Hermosillo was installing pipe in the ground when he sustained a severe cut to his neck while operating a saw.

A contractor working for TCFC, the development company that owns the land on which Vail Resorts operates its ski area, is building a roadway where the accident occurred.

Coworkers and law enforcement officials attempted to administer first aid at the scene, but the man was pronounced dead around 11:20 a.m., according to the release.

The Utah Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident, Huntzinger said.

Cause sought in deadly hospital scaffold collapse in New Mexico that killed one construction worker and injured seven others

Created: AUGUST 18, 2015

By: The Associated Press

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) - 

Investigators are trying to determine what led to the collapse of a six-story scaffold outside a Rio Rancho hospital that killed one construction worker and injured seven others.

New Mexico Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials were at the Rio Rancho site Wednesday, a day after 21 feet of scaffolding buckled and collapsed from the top down.

Work on a second patient tower at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center has been going on since last year.

Patty Johnson, a spokeswoman for general contractor McCarthy Building Companies, says a subcontractor built the scaffolding. She says the company promises its full support of an investigation.

Johnson says she did not know the conditions Wednesday of the injured, who were all hospitalized including three with critical injuries.

A fourth worker died at the hospital.

Worker injured in USCB south campus pipe blast after inflatable pipe plug became over-pressurized and exploded

 



Officials look on as workers string caution tape at the scene of an construction site explosion USCB's south campus on Tuesday. A construction worker was injured when a pipe exploded where a new parking lot is being built. Mike Majer, owner of Majer's Diving and Salvage Inc., said the employee was conscious before he was taken Savannah's Memorial University Medical Center for treatment just after 10:30 a.m. Bluffton Township Fire Capt. Randy Hunter declined to comment on the severity of the injuries but said they were "significant enough that he had to be airlifted to a local trauma center. JAY KARR — Jay Karr
 
 
By LUCAS HIGH

lhigh@islandpacket.com

August 19, 2015

The construction worker injured in a pipe explosion Tuesday morning at a University of South Carolina Beaufort's south campus work site has been released from the hospital.

Mike Majer, the injured worker's boss at Majer's Diving and Salvage Inc., has repeatedly declined to identify the man but said Wednesday morning that the worker was released from Savannah's Memorial University Medical Center late Tuesday afternoon.

"He's at home recovering," he said. "He's banged up and bruised up, but he's ok."

Majer said there is no timetable for when the employee will be back to work.

"He'll be back whenever he feels up to it," Majer said. "There's no rush. We just want him to get back to 100 percent."

The employee was airlifted to the hospital at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday after an explosion in a pipe he was working on.

Majer attributed the accident to faulty equipment and said it involved an inflatable pipe plug becoming "overpressurized and exploding."

The specific nature of the malfunction remains unclear. The equipment belongs to Majer's company, he said.

South Carolina OSHA spokeswoman Lesia Kudelka said in an email Wednesday the organization "is currently evaluating the accident to determine whether it will investigate."

JS Construction Services is overseeing the parking lot construction project.

Owner John Lopat said Wednesday construction has resumed, but declined to comment further on Tuesday's incident.

"It was an accident and the insurance company is handling it. That's all I have to say about it," he said.

USCB spokeswoman Lynn McGee said crews were working to convert a dirt parking area into a paved lot at the time of the blast.

Students were on campus Tuesday and the Student Center was evacuated just after the explosion.

McGee said the evacuation was a precautionary measure and no students or university staff were in danger because the explosion was about 100 yards from the nearest building.

Fall classes at the university begin Thursday.

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2015/08/19/3885723_worker-injured-in-uscb-blast-released.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Merchant sailor on-board the Green Ridge vehicle transporter dies despite multi-agency rescue efforts

 

August 19th, 2015  
 
ALAMEDA, California

A multi-agency rescue operation to help a seriously ill merchant sailor aboard a cargo ship in the Pacific Ocean was cancelled Wednesday morning after the man was declared deceased.

Tuesday, at approximately 9:50 a.m., the 11th Coast Guard District Command Center received a report of a sick man aboard the 600-foot vehicle carrier Green Ridge approximately 1,000 miles west of San Diego.

The command center requested assistance from the California Air National Guard who dispatched a team of four Guardian Angel pararescuemen to the Green Ridge aboard an Air Force MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft. The pararescue team jumped into the ocean, boarded the ship and provided medical aid to the man.

The rescue center also contacted the U.S. Navy’s 3rd Fleet to assist, who diverted a Navy ship to rendezvous with the Green Ridge. The Navy ship’s doctor declared the patient deceased Wednesday at approximately 6:15 a.m.

All rescue units have been released from the case. The Air National Guard team will be taken aboard the Navy ship.

“Our thoughts go out to the shipmates, friends, and families of the crewmember,” said Lt. Cmdr. Andrea Sacchetti, 11th Coast Guard District search-and-rescue mission coordinator. “We appreciate the quick response and dedication of the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing who risked their lives to help this gentleman and diligently worked hard through the night to provide care to the patient aboard the Green Ridge. We would also like to thank the U.S. Navy 3rd Fleet and the crew of the USS John C. Stennis and USS William P. Lawrence for diverting to assist with this complex operation.”

A Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento C-130 aircraft supported the operation by delivering 10 units of blood from Travis Air Force Base to the 129th Rescue Crew at Moffett Air Field before the team departed to the Green Ridge.

Agreement Ensures Groundwater Study at No. Smithfield, R.I. Superfund Site

 

Release Date: 08/19/2015
Contact Information: Dave Deegan, (617) 918-1017


BOSTON – The owner/operators and parties responsible for hazardous substance disposal at the Landfill & Resource Recovery Superfund Site in North Smithfield, R.I., have agreed to perform and pay for an investigation and study to evaluate the extent of, and cleanup options for, contaminated groundwater at the site.

Until 2014, groundwater samples collected in the monitoring wells at the edge of the landfill generally showed declining concentrations of contaminants. However, in 2014 groundwater samples further down-gradient of the landfill found contaminant concentrations exceeding acceptable levels for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and arsenic. In addition, 1,4-dioxane, a contaminant newly identified at the site, was found at elevated levels in the groundwater and in surface water near the landfill. No site-related contamination was found in nearby residential drinking water wells, which will continue to be monitored as a precaution.

“The parties responsible for polluting must take responsibility for finding out how far the contamination goes and the best way to clean it,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Over the years, EPA has worked to address contamination at this site, and this agreement will help ensure the cleaning up of pollution caused by the landfill.”

The 28-acre site was listed on the National Priorities List of Superfund sites in 1982. Now an inactive landfill, it historically received domestic, commercial and industrial wastes, including materials in liquid, sludge and solid forms. Since the early 1990s, the responsible parties have been cleaning up the site under EPA and RIDEM oversight, including the installation of a landfill cap and a flare to control air emissions, and monitoring groundwater, air and surface water.

More information:

- The administrative record file for the groundwater portion of the site is available at the Landfill & Resource Recovery Superfund Site information repository at Municipal Annex Building, 85 Smithfield Road, North Smithfield, RI 02895, and at EPA’s Boston office.

- EPA’s past and ongoing work at Landfill & Resource Recovery Superfund Site (http://www.epa.gov/region1/superfund/sites/l&rr)

Settlement Requires Ardagh Glass Inc., a Milford, Mass. Glass Manufacturer, to Improve Stormwater Treatment

Release Date: 08/19/2015
Contact Information: Dave Deegan, (617) 918-1017


BOSTON –Wastewater discharged by a glass manufacturing company in Milford, Mass. into wetlands adjacent to the Charles River will be cleaner as a result of a recent settlement between the manufacturer and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Ardagh Glass Inc. agreed to pay a $103,440 penalty and to fund three environmental projects costing a total of about $121,700 to settle claims it was discharging wastewater in violation of its permits.

In the settlement with EPA’s New England office, Ardagh agreed to install equipment that will enhance the treatment of stormwater before it is discharged. In addition, the company will buy firefighting equipment and materials for the Town of Milford Fire Department.

EPA alleged that Ardagh, which makes glass bottles, jars, and other containers, was in violation of its permits issued under the Clean Water Act to discharge stormwater and cooling water, which both flow into wetlands adjacent to the Charles River.

“We are glad that action has been taken to make sure wastewater and stormwater discharged by the company complies with federal permits and standards designed to protect our environment,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “This action will ensure that the Charles River is protected."

During a Sept. 2013 inspection of the facility, EPA inspectors found that the company was not consistently in compliance with permit effluent limitations for maximum daily flow, acidity, temperature and residual chlorine concentrations in cooling water it discharged between 2010 and 2014.

EPA also alleged that the company did not comply with the conditions in its stormwater discharge permit. While Ardagh maintained a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, it was not fully implementing certain terms and conditions required by the permit and in the plan, including: conducting and documenting all the required routine facility site inspections, quarterly visual assessments for discharges to the wetlands, and annual comprehensive site inspections; illustrating required information in a facility site diagram; installing adequate control measures to minimize the exposure of industrial materials stored outside from coming into contact with stormwater; and managing stormwater runoff to minimize soil erosion and reduce pollutants in discharges to the wetlands and ultimately the Charles River.

Finally EPA alleged that the company discharged untreated process wastewater into adjacent wetlands without a permit.

The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of process wastewater without a permit or in violation of requirements in a permit. The law also requires that industrial facilities, such as glass manufacturers, have controls in place to minimize pollutants from being discharged with stormwater into nearby waterways. Each site must have a stormwater pollution prevention plan that sets guidelines and best management practices that the company will follow to prevent runoff from being contaminated by pollutants. Without on-site controls, runoff from industrial facilities can flow directly to the nearest waterway and can reduce water quality resulting in, for instance, siltation of rivers, beach closings, fishing restrictions, and habitat degradation. As stormwater flows over these sites, it can pick up pollutants, including sediment, used oil, and other debris. Polluted process water discharges and stormwater runoff can harm or kill fish and wildlife and can affect drinking water quality.

More information on how EPA enforces the Clean Water Act: http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/water-enforcement#cwa

EPA Reaches Settlement with the Iowa Fertilizer Company and Orascom E and C USA for Clean Water Act Violations

  Release Date: 08/19/2015
Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7394, whitley.christopher@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Lenexa, Kan., August 19, 2015) - The Iowa Fertilizer Company and Orascom E&C USA have agreed to pay a $80,689 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Water Act associated with the construction of a new fertilizer plant in Wever, Iowa, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 announced today.

Orascom is Iowa Fertilizer's construction contractor for the site and is jointly responsible for compliance under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. EPA Region 7 inspected the facility in June 2014 to evaluate the site’s compliance with its stormwater permit. Of the 369-acre site, construction-related activity had occurred on nearly 323 acres.

The EPA inspector identified violations at the site, including the failure to install or implement adequate stormwater control measures, failure to update or amend the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), and failure to perform adequate stormwater self-inspections. EPA observed that the violations resulted in sediment-laden stormwater leaving the site and entering a tributary of the Mississippi River.

Construction projects have a high potential for environmental harm as they disturb large areas of land and significantly increase the potential for erosion. The Clean Water Act requires construction sites to have controls in place to limit pollution from being discharged via stormwater into nearby waterways. Without proper on-site pollution controls, stormwater runoff can carry pollutants into waterways and degrade water quality, threatening aquatic life and its habitat, and impair the use and enjoyment of waterways.

The Clean Water Act seeks to protect streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources. Protecting streams and wetlands is also part of adapting to climate change impacts like drought, sea level rise, stronger storms, and warmer temperatures.

Following EPA's inspection, the companies took actions to address the violations observed during the inspection and to return the site to compliance with the Clean Water Act. The proposed settlement is subject to a 40-day public comment period before it becomes final. Information on how to submit comments is available online.

Miami Beach nightlife mogul passed out before boat crash, report says. Blackout may be related to previous brain surgeries

Author: Amanda Batchelor, Senior Digital Editor, abatchelor@local10.com
Liane Morejon, Reporter, lmorejon@wplg.com
 
Published On: Aug 19 2015


MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -

More information has been released in the boat crash that injured a South Florida nightlife executive and his girlfriend.

According to an incident report, the 25-foot Chris Craft Michael Capponi, 42, and his girlfriend, Brooke Biederman, 23, were riding in crashed shortly before 10 a.m. March 20 at the Coast Guard station near the MacArthur Causeway.

Capponi told Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials that he was heading to a business meeting when he suddenly blacked out.




Courtesy: Instagram

Nightlife mogul and founder of the Haiti Empowerment Mission, Michael Capponi, (second from left), was injured in a boat crash March 20.

He said he remembered traveling north on the Melloy Channel, but didn't remember the impact of the crash.

"I remember laying down and looking up and on the seawall -- there's a bunch of Coast Guard guys and they're like, 'Hey, you OK?' Something like that," Capponi said.

According to the FWC report, Capponi's girlfriend rushed to help him and didn't put the boat in neutral. Video shows the boat make a sharp turn and crash into the seawall.

Capponi suffered broken ribs, a shoulder fracture, skull fracture and bruising throughout his body. Biederman suffered a brain injury and is in New York with her family undergoing rehabilitation.

According to officials, Capponi and Biederman were not wearing life jackets. Kill switches or safety lanyards are mandatory on personal watercrafts, but optional on a boat like the one in question.

Neither victim was cited in the crash, which authorities deemed to be caused by "an unfortunate and overwhelming medical condition."

The FWC report also said the blackout could have been related to three previous brain surgeries that Capponi had undergone, or a "current but separate health issue."

No alcohol or drugs were found in the couple's systems, aside from the medication given to them at the hospital.

California Statewide Fire Summary For Wednesday, August 19, 2015: 16 active wildfires continue to burn in California with over 10,000 firefighters on the frontlines.

California Statewide Fire Summary

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

16 active wildfires continue to burn in California with over 10,000 firefighters on the frontlines. With temperatures returning to a more seasonable, normal level, firefighters are hoping that the will be able to continue making good progress on the numerous wildfires burning in California. In Southern California westerly winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph will surface across the Kern County Mountains, Antelope Valley, Banning Pass.  And the eastern side of the Cleveland National Forest. While temperatures will begin to be cooler statewide, very warm and dry conditions will maintain an elevated threat for large fire across the foothills and mountains.

In recent months, firefighters in California have encountered hobby drones on large scale wildfires that have interfered with the air operations of the fire. A collision with a hobby drone could easily result in major damage to firefighting aircraft, injuries to the pilot and crew on board as well as firefighters below, and/or worse, a midair collision. It is unsafe for unauthorized drones to be flown anywhere near a wildfire. CAL FIRE officials again stress to hobby drone users, “If you fly, we can’t!”. CAL FIRE launched a public service announcement warning of the dangers. More information visit:

http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/communications_ifyouflywecant.php

Fires of Interest:

 **CAL FIRE Incidents**

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

Jerusalem Grade Road northeast of Middleton

*25,118 acres – 95% contained

Humboldt Lightning Fires, Humboldt County (more info…)

Throughout Humboldt County

*75 fires totaling 4,883 acres – 97% contained

Horse Fire, Humboldt County NEW

Saddle Mountain Road, northeast of Shelter Cove

*50 acres – 5% contained

**Local Incidents**

Lincoln Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)

City of Montebello Fire Department & LA County Fire

Near the City of Montebello

*370 acres – 80% 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

*2,500 acres – 15% contained

 Fork Complex, Trinity County (more info…)

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

Near the Hayfork area

*35,165 acres – 52% contained (40 fires)

**Federal Incidents**

River Complex, Trinity County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest

New River Drainage, near Denny

*45,477 acres – 20% contained (3 active fires)

South Complex, Trinity County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Near Hyampom, south of Hwy 299

*22,367 acres – 40% contained (6 active fires)

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

US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest

West of Hyampom

*33,962 acres – 37% contained

Mad River Complex, Trinity County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest

Near Ruth Lake

*26,462 acres – 65% contained

Walker Fire, Mono County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Inyo National Forest

North of Walker Lake

*3,715 acres – 35% contained

Rough Fire, Fresno County (more info…)

US Forest Service - Sierra National Forest

2 miles north of the Kings Wild and Scenic River

*30,901 acres – 3% contained

Nickowitz Fire, Del Norte County (more info…)

U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest

*3,331 acres – 53% contained

Gasquet Complex, Del Norte County (more info…)

U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest

on the Gasquet Ranger District

*7,853 acres – 20% containment (6 fires remain active)

Cabin Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Angeles National Forest

Off Hwy 39, 6 miles north of Glendora

*1,723 acres – 98% contained

Cabin Fire, Tulare County (more info…)

US Forest Service - Sequoia National Forest

8 miles northeast of Camp Nelson

*6,840 acres – 96% contained

Warm Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Angeles National Forest

North of Lake Castaic

*300 acres – 100% contained

Dodge Fire, Lassen County (more info…)

Bureau of Land Management – Northern California District

17 miles northeast of Ravendale

*10,570 acres – 100% contained

Horno Fire, San Diego County (more info…)

Department of Defense

On Camp Pendleton

*1,850 acres – 100% contained

Cause of one of the two fires, which grew together to become known as the Rocky Fire, was the result of the failure of a gas water heater in an outbuilding that contained flammable liquids.

AUGUST 19, 2015


Investigators Determine Cause of Destructive Rocky Fire

Lake County, California

CAL FIRE Law Enforcement officers have determined that the cause of one of the two fires, which grew together to become known as the Rocky Fire, was the result of the failure of a gas water heater in an outbuilding that contained flammable liquids. The outbuilding fire then caught the nearby vegetation on fire and quickly spread to the surrounding area. While the cause has been determined, the circumstances surrounding the fire starting remain under investigation. The cause of the second fire is also still under investigation.



The Rocky Fire started on July 29, 2015 at 3:29 p.m. off of Morgan Valley Road west of the community of Lower Lake. The fire burned nearly 70,000 acres over the next 16 days, destroying 43 homes and 53 outbuildings. At the peak of the fire, more than 13,000 residents were impacted by evacuations and 7,500 homes were threatened. The fire was fully contained on August 14, 2015.



On August 9, 2015, the Jerusalem Fire began in Jerusalem Valley, just south of the Rocky Fire. While the Jerusalem Fire burned very close to the Rocky Fire, the cause is unrelated and remains under investigation.



California’s extreme drought continues to lead to fire prone conditions. CAL FIRE continues to urge residents to take all precautions to avoid sparking a wildfire. One Less Spark means One

Less Wildfire. Learn more at www.ReadyForWildfire.org

CAL FIRE asks the public to never fly drones near wildfires. Remember: If You Fly, We Can't!

If You Fly, We Can't!

In July of 2015, firefighter's efforts were disrupted during the vital initial attack stage of the North Fire.  As the fire burned toward the public driving on the nearby interstate 15, firefighters were unable to utilize any aircraft to help hold back the blaze that would torch vehicles and force motorists to flee on foot from the oncoming flames.  The reason? Several hobby drones, or UAS (unmanned aircraft systems), were seen flying in the fire area, forcing officials to ground all responding aircraft.

   The North Fire is just one of many recent incidents in which hobby drones have caused disruptions in the suppression of California's major wildfires. Hobby drones are an increasingly common sight all across the state. While a hobby drone can be a fun toy and even a valuable tool for many professional flyers, a drone flown irresponsibly can pose a serious danger, particularly during a wildfire.

Aerial firefighting aircraft, such as airtankers and helicopters, fly at very low altitudes, typically just a few hundred feet above the ground; the same as UAS flown by members of the public, creating the potential for a mid-air collision that could injure or even kill aerial and ground firefighters, as well as residents on the ground below.

Because of this potential for collision, when a UAS is detected flying over or near a wildfire, air operations must be suspended until all drones flying in a fire area are removed. This delay can decrease the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations, allowing wildfires to grow larger, and in some cases like the North Fire, increasing the threat to lives and property.

Similar to a crime tip line, those who have information about irresponsible drone operators who have flown close to disasters and emergencies can call 1-844-DRONE11 (1-844-376-6311). This telephone line is not for reporting emergencies.

CAL FIRE asks the public to never fly drones near wildfires. Remember: If You Fly, We Can't!

VIDEO: The dangers of flying hobby drones over wildfires. If You Fly, We Cant! PSA

Private drones are putting firefighters in 'immediate danger,' California fire official says








A helicopter works to put out a fire near Oak Hills, Calif., in July. In recent months, private drones have flown dangerously close to firefighting aircraft, interfering with operations. (James Quigg / Associated Press)




By Patrick McGreevy
Drones


Top state fire officials told lawmakers Tuesday that private drones are posing a serious danger to air crews and other emergency workers battling wildfires, with more than a dozen incursions reported just this summer.

Most recently, a DC-10 air tanker returning to base after fighting the Rocky fire in Northern California came within 50 feet of a drone, said Ken Pimlott, chief of the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.


“The most immediate and critical issue we face is the serious threat that these drones pose with the irresponsible use of them,” Pimlott told a joint hearing of two legislative committees. “It is placing our air crews, our pilots, in immediate danger.”

He said aircraft had to be pulled from a recent fire in the Cajon Pass for several minutes because of the presence of five drones. In other cases, air ambulances have reported near collisions, including an incident last week in Fresno in which a helicopter came within 25 feet of a drone, officials told the lawmakers.

The Cajon Pass and Fresno drone operators have not been identified, but investigations are underway, officials said.

Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said many of the drone operators involved in interfering with firefighting are hobbyists, some of whom post their video on YouTube. Officials said some may also be freelancers hoping to sell footage of disasters to television news stations.

In response, the state has launched a public service campaign with a television commercial titled “If you fly, we can’t,” in which Cal Fire pilots talk about the danger of sharing the skies with hobby drones.


Tuesday's testimony supported the need for legislation to restrict the use of unmanned aerial devices where emergency workers are operating, according to members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management and the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“We should not wait for a tragedy to occur before acting,” said Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona), panel chairman.

Ideas being considered by legislators include putting an identifying number on drones so authorities can trace their operators, and setting fines of up to $5,000 when drones interfere with emergency workers.

It is already a violation of federal law to interfere with an aircraft, but the FAA is developing new regulations to address the particular issues raised by drones.

Emergency agency officials said they are developing a plan for their own use of drones to help keep track of wildfires, search for people missing in the wilderness and look for criminal suspects on the loose.

Medical officials are even considering using drones to deliver automated external defibrillators to scenes where people need life support.

FALLEN HEROES: 3 firefighters killed, 4 injured in fighting Washington state wildfire

"It is really bad out there. The fires have just exploded."  "We're just directing everybody to head south."

 
By GENE JOHNSON and NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS  .

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — 

Three firefighters were killed and three to four others were injured Wednesday as raging wildfires advanced on towns in north-central Washington, authorities said.


Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said the deaths, in a wildfire near Twisp, had been confirmed, but he said he was not immediately releasing further details about the circumstances.

"My heart breaks over the loss of life," Gov. Jay Inslee said in a written statement. "I know all Washington joins me and Trudi in sending our prayers to the families of these brave firefighters. They gave their lives to protect others. It was their calling, but the loss for their families is immense."

The news came after officials urged people in the popular outdoor-recreation centers of Twisp and Wintrop, in the scenic Okanogan River valley about 115 miles northeast of Seattle, to evacuate as a complex of fires in the area covered about 50 square miles. The Okanogan County Emergency Management department issued the order for the towns, which combined have a population of about 1,300.

The town of Conconully, home to about 200 people 20 miles northwest of Omak, had also been evacuated.

Angela Seydel, a spokeswoman for the agency, said Wednesday evening that 4,000 homes in the region had been evacuated.


 

Three Washington National Guard soldiers stand in a clearing on a hillside as they fight the First Creek Fire, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015, near Chelan, Wash. The troops in Washington state were part of a massive response to blazes burning throughout the West. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) 


"It is really bad out there. The fires have just exploded," she said. "We're just directing everybody to head south."

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the eastern portion of the state from 11 a.m. Wednesday to 5 p.m. Friday. Officials said temperatures will climb above 90 degrees and relative humidity will drop as low as 14 percent.

Drought and heat have combined to make this fire season of the most active in the United States in recent years. Nearly 29,000 firefighters are battling some 100 large blazes across the West, including in Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and California.