RescueKujo

This is a good time for training officers/division to go over the SOPs regarding Bomb Threat/IED responses if they haven't done so recently. This has been and is the current M.O. for bombmakers, having a 2nd device. Usually though it is timed long enough after the initial blast to draw the First Responders in. 15-20 seconds really wasn't enough time to inflict much injury. I know, many will disagree, but if the 2nd device had gone off 1:30 or 2 minutes after the initial, the bomber would have gotten everyone running from the initial blast. At 15 seconds people were just reacting to the 1st blast.

Seth-this looks to be a variant of the robots military EOD and some local bomb squad units are using. Robots were just being issued to all units when I got out, as IEDs had not become that big of a problem as they are now. My questions are 1) will these squads use this enough to be smooth with the robot handling/carrying the materials? and 2) is the pincher arm delicate enough to hold a thin cased container such as the water bottle in the video without breaking it? Interesting use, but probably wouldn't be used for anything other than recon. I don't think you can manipulate the arm/pincher enough to take samples/swabs or do any type of plug and dyke...

I wholeheartedly agree...I know of a case here in San Diego County where a deputy had been shot and wounded and a TV station put out his name less than a half hour after the incident...the SDSO notification team had not notified his wife yet... the vultures all want to be the first ones to announce "breaking news", and the families of the wounded/killed be damned...

a senseless loss to the community...May the Fallen Rest in Peace, and God watch over their family, friends and fellow Safety workers during this tragic time. Also wishing a speedy recovery to the injured...

I've gotten back to shooting apparatus photos, so I thought I would share some recent ones from through out the Southwestern part of the United States where I have been traveling lately. First up, from this month, is from the Poway Fire Department Open House here in San Diego County. 1) Poway FD E 3711-Pierce Arrow XT 2) Poway FD Medic 3798-Ford F350/Horton Type III Ambulance 3) Poway FD Division Chief 3704-Chevy Suburban Command Vehicle

that is it for now...I leave Tuesday morning for a week of photographing rigs in both the Tucson and Phoenix areas of Arizona...looking forward to this trip...

and lastly, Needles California is just 30 minutes from Laughlin. This rig was parked behind the station there.. 1) San Bernardino County Fire Department Engine 34-E-One/Freightliner Engine

as I stated, after Utah we went back down to the Laughlin area. struck gold at the main Mohave Valley FD station. 1) Mohave Valley Fire Department Engine 81-E-One/Freightliner Engine 2) Mohave Valley Fire Department Brush Patrol 81-Ford F-450/In housebuilt skid kit 3) Mohave Valley Fire Department Water Tender 81-Chevy Bison/Becker Fire Equipment 4) Mohave Valley Fire Department Medic 82-Fird/Braun/Northstar Type III Ambo

in Utah I only got photos of 1 piece of apparatus, an Engine from Washington City, which is northeast of St George. 1) Washington City Fire Department Engine 61-American LaFrance Eagle engine

in September, I took a trip up to the National Parks in the St George/Cedar City are of Utah. We started off in Las Vegas, went up to the parks for a few days, then back down to Laughlin. Here's a few of the rigs I shot on that trip...first stop Mesquite, Nevada... 1) Mequite Fire Department Rescue 11-Freightliner Ambulance 2) Mesquite Fire Department Reserve Ambulance-Ford/Road Rescue 3) Mesquite FD Command Vehicle

Next was the Chula Vista Fire Department Open House, in the southern part of San Diego County...not much there though 1) Chula Vista Fire Department E54-Pierce Dash Engine 2) Chula Vista FD Administrative Vehicle 3) American Medical Response Medic 414-Ford 350/AEV Type III Ambulance

Wildland rigs from Cal Fire and the US Forest Service, and the contracted Medic unit from AMR M17. 1) Cal Fire Engine 3382-HME/Arhens Fox Type III Engine 2) US Forest Service E347-2011 Boise Mobile Equipment Type III Engine 3) American Medical Response M17-Ford f-350/AEV Type III Ambulance

Next was the Alpine Open House in eastern San Diego County... 1) Alpine Fire Department Engine 17-2004 KME 2) Alpine Fire Department Chief 4701-Dodge Power Wagon 3) Viejas Fire Department Engine 25-2011 Crimson/Spartan Engine 4) San Miguel Fire Department Engine 14-1997 E-One Engine

Also at the Poway FD Open House Santee Fire Department Rescue 5, a 2000 Pierce Saber

also from the Poway FD Open House, San Diego County Sheriffs Department Copter 12, a Bell 205A1 used for fire suppression/rescue work.

Date: 09/23/12 Time: 1215 PDT Location: Shockey Truck Trail/Tierra Del Sol Campo California Frequency: Multiple Units Operating: Cal Fire, US Forest Service, Local Government, Multiple Strike Teams from throughout Southern California, CHP, SD Sheriff, California Department of Corrections Weather Conditions: Warm Low Humidities, Winds from the west Description Of Incident: Major wildland fire burning chapparal/manzanita between homes along the border in Campo California. 1700 acres as of 2000 PDT. Multiple structures lost. Strike Teams throughout Southern California onscene or en route. Expected to burn for a few days at this time. Reporters: RescueKujo Notes: Santa Ana season has not started yet. While a wind driven fire, the wind is an on shore flow driving the wind into mountainous terrain to the east. Type 1 strike teams for structure protection. Multiple air tankers and helicopter support. Links: http://cdfdata.fire....idents_current] Cal Fire Info Page Shockey Fire http://www.radiorefe...o/?feedId=9733] Cal Fire/USFS Radio Feed update 09/24/12 2200 PDT: 1 body has been found in a destroyed house. Firefighters and Law Enforcement checking on other destroyed houses. 2,451 acres - 40% contained Structures Destroyed: There have been an estimated 20 residences destroyed and 10 damaged. 15 outbuildings have also been destroyed. Evacuations: Evacuation orders remains in place for Tierra Del Sol. Evacuations have been lifted for the communities of Boulevard and Jacumba. The Red Cross has opened an evacuation shelter at the Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley. Cooperating Agencies: San Diego Sheriff, Indian Reservation Fire Depts, & US Forest Service Total Fire Personnel: 955 (539 CAL FIRE) Engines: 87 fire engines (75 CAL FIRE) Fire crews: 40 crews (28 CAL FIRE) Airtankers: 6 airtankers Helicopters: 3 helicopters Dozers: 7 dozers (3 CAL FIRE) Water tenders: 8 watertenders Conditions: The fire is burning actively towards the east. This evening the fire continues to threaten 25 homes in Eastern San Diego County. Highway 94 closed at Shockey Truck Trail to Jewell Valley Road.

Happy Birthday Seth!!

This weekend, at the schoolhouse at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the United States Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community will gather for it's annual Ball and Memorial. It is a time to renew friendships and to remember our fallen warriors, whether it be recent or in the distant past. The Technicians names being added to the wall this year are listed below, 18 heroes who gave their lives while protecting their fellow teammates and the units they were assigned to. Unfortunately I will not be attending this year, but want to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The EOD motto is "Initial Success or Total Failure", but to those of us who earned the Crab at the school we declare, "We Remember"… 　 USAF A1C MATTHEW R. SEIDLER KIA January 2012 TSGT DANIEL L. DOUVILLE KIA June 2011 TSGT KRISTOFFER M. SOLESBEE KIA May 2011 SSGT JOSEPH J. HAMSKI KIA May 2011 TSGT MATTHEW S. SCHWARTZ KIA January 2012 USA SSG MICHAEL J. GARCIA KIA July 2011 SSG CHAUNCY R. MAYS KIA February 2011 SPC CHRISTOPHER G. STARK KIA February 2011 SSG MARK C. WELLS KIA March 2011 SSG ERIC S. TRUEBLOOD KIA March 2011 USMC GYSGT RALPH E. PATE JR. KIA June 2011 SSGT NICHOLAS A. SPROVTSOFF KIA September 2011 SSGT STEPHEN J. DUNNING KIA October 2011 SGT DANIEL J. PATRON KIA August 2011 SSGT DAVID P. DAY KIA April 2011 USN EODC NICHOLAS H. * KIA August 2011 EODCS KRAIG M. VICKERS KIA August 2011 PO1 CHAD R. REGELIN KIA January 2012 From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember'd; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile King Henry V-William Shakespeare May They Rest In Peace and have God watch over their families.

Some good points about wildland PPE have been made. Here's some thoughts of this from the left coast, where fighting this kind of firefighting is a common thing. the limitations of structural PPE have been mentioned and those posters are correct. Limited mobility, bulkiness and heat retention lead to heat exhaustion/stroke. The US Forest Service personnel wear a specific nomex pant. I'm not sure of serial numbers or anything, but that is what they do. Everyone else wears the commerially made nomex brush coat/pant set, wildland gloves (structure gloves being too bulky) wildland helmet with shield that attaches inside the helmet and comes around to velcro together in front of the face. Goggles for eye protection and heavy duty work boots without steel toes or shanks (when walking on hot coals do you want that heat transfer through the sole to a protection shank in that said sole??). Everyone should have web gear, with a canteen or 2 and a shelter pack. Here in Cali, no one can be on the fire line without a shelter. In other posts, or even signatures, I see the phrase "Everyone Goes Home"...if that is the case, why won't you do what is needed all of the time??

1) Engine 10-1997 Spartan/Boise Mobile Equipment 1500/500 2) Engine 2-2005 American LaFrance 1500/500 3) Remarked rig-2005 American LaFrance 1500/500 former Engine 7 now OCFA Engine 77

1) Truck 1 1995 Spartan/LTI 100' TDA 2) Reserve Engine 2-1989 Beck/Boise Mobile Equipment 1500/500 3) Engine 9-2001 American LaFrance 1500/500 65' TeleSqurt

1) Medic 1-2005 American LaFrance/Freightliner 2) Medic 4- Unk Year American LaFrance/Freightliner 3) Medic 7- Unk Year American LaFrance/Freightliner 4) Medic 8-2003 American LaFrance/Freightliner As OCFA doesn't do ALS transports, these are going away and a contract for BLS transports will go out.

1) Battalion Chief Suburban 2) Different Battalion Chief's Rig 3) Mobile Decontamination Unit-F650 4) Haz Mat Rig-2007 Pierce Lance

As of 0800 on April 20th, 2012 the Santa Ana Fire Department will no longer exist. Due to financial problems, after 128 years as of that date they will become a part of the Orange County Fire Authority. With the take over, their rigs are being relogoed as the OCFA. With that in mind, a friend and I made the rounds one final time for prosperity.. As rigs are already being changed, I am glad we did this yesterday...and I am showing everything we photographed.. 1) Facade at FS 1-the Captain didn't know what they were going to do with this 2) Rear of the Battalion Chief's Suburban 3) The Haz Mat Team's Logo 40 Old Style Door Logo

OCFA Dozer Transport and Tender...the tender has tools and other equipment to assist the dozer operator...