RescueKujo

And lastly, Copter 16.

Today, my SPAAMFA group held it's quarterly meeting at Barton Heliport, home of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations. Besides our meeting, we were given a tour and had the opprotunity to shoot some photos. Here's a few, more of the helos taking off coming later in the week.

1) LACoFD Copter 12

2) LACoFD Copter 15

Seth (and others too numerous to mention),

great job on the forums. It is a tough job keeping an equal balance without stepping on too many toes. Keep it up and the site will continue to grow. Thank you for all your hard work.

Duane

So, here I am in Las Vegas for some apparatus photography (I will share later) and the Nellis AFB Airshow. I was going to dinner one night, I see the sign for one of EMTBravo's favorite West Coast eateries. But this being Vegas and all, I don't think it looks like he would recognize it....

I agree! It's earlier and earlier each year. For me, the Christmas Season doesn't start until Santa passes through Herald Square on Thanksgiving Morning.

I saw some stores had there Christmas stuff out in September!

That's okay, guys. Out here, as stores were selling out of their Halloween candy, the shelves were then stocked with Christmas decorations and candy. Ans as Seth said, this was the end of September

I like the star idea alot, But alot of broads do that. So maybe we can do something differant than stars???

What kind of women are you dating?? Care to share the info??

I was saddened to learn of the demise of the Lance, Dash, etc., as they were among my favorite apparatus models. Wasn't thrilled with the Velocity at first, but I think it will grow on me after a while, funny looking mirrors and all.

Like the Quantum and the newer Crimson model??

Here's the quote I love

"The Minnesota Air National Guard probably doesn't need air conditioners," he said. The cost of an air conditioning unit per aircraft is about $98,000, McCuin said. Redesigns to add vents, scoops and other devices to increase cockpit ventilation for the rest of the fleet could add millions more.

As part of the military, doesn't equipment from the Minnesota National Guard sometimes end up in hot climates?? When I was in the Air Force, a Air National Guard unit from South Dakota deployed to our base in Florida.

I just got this through my email at work. This is a photo of the Harris Fire as it ran from the south side of Mt San Miguel in the southern part of San Diego County. The photo was taken from the Pt Loma pennisula on the west side of San Diego Bay. In the foreground is Downtown San Diego, and you can see the red warning lights of the transmitter towers on San Miguel. This photo was taken sometime late Monday night/early Tuesday morning (October 22nd/23rd) during the incident. Unknown Photographer.

Duane

This is an interesting subject, and I can give you both sides. I have been in dispatch now for almost 7 years, with 12 before that as an EMT. I have worked 12 hour night shifts and 24s in the field.

That said, I, like many of you have worked way too many hours in one stretch. I remember a 100 hour stretch one time (driving the Children's Hospital response unit). It is insane the hours that we have to put in to make ends meet. Something has to be done in regards to crew safety. First thing I think should be the abolishment of the 24 hour shift. We have a couple units that run 15-17 runs a shift, and I'm sure you can't be at your best at 4 a.m. if you haven't had much rest. Adequate staffing is also a must. But these days, when your crews don't understand the needs of the business, how can you mantain that?

On the other hand, in San Diego business is very competitive. We have 8 agencies trying to make a profit with the interfacility transfer business. If you can't/don't give an adequate ETA (most ERs want a 30 minute or less), another company will, just to get the business. And we as dispatchers are questioned if we "lose" a call, unless we're short staffed. But as a dispatcher you better have your ducks in a row and able to explain your decision making process.

It's a delicate balance that must be looked at to achieve what is best in the end. But what usually ends up happening is the crews, in the effort to take care of the customer/patients, gets the short end of the stick.

Thoughts and prayers to my EMS brothers and Sisters back east. May God watch over all of you and help you through this terrible time.

Duane

Here's one for the Red Sox fans....

It's actually San Jose in the Bay area, not San Diego that is testing this out...

Thanks for the compliment Chris. I was trying to walk that fine line between education and sounding like a pompous jackass

My parents live in Vista, CA (North SD County)

My Sister lives in Vista.

My Aunt and cousin live in La Mesa (central SD county I think)

My other cousin lives in Chula Vista.

The Chula Vista cousin was evacuated - unknown outcome of the home

Everyone else was packed and very ready to go but were never given the order to leave.

The soot/ash is about 2-3" deep in Vista though.

Good luck to all!!!

La Mesa borders the eastern edge of San Diego along Interstate 8 in the county. It is my understanding that while the Harris Fire burned to the eastern edge of the Eastlake section of Chula Vista, no homes were lost in that city.

For those whose families were affected by this disaster, prayers go out that all are safe and well.

Seth,

The media and local politicians are playing that up big time. The problem is, with santa ana winds, usually the moment the fire starts the winds are too high for fixed wing aircraft to fly. It just becomes too turbulent. Then comes the effectiveness. Does anyone critizing the fact aircraft are not flying even think as to what the retardant or water dropped does in 40 mph or higher winds?? It loses its density, losing its effectiveness to douse flames or in the case of retardant lay a thick enough line to slow the fire. Retardant lines aren't any good in the high winds also due to the fact embers can be flying as much as a half mile away to start another spot fire that the main body will then catch up to.

Thanks Mike. With what I've dealt with this week the laughs were worth it. I'm sure everyone's heard that first one before, but with their favorite team and their hated rival. I know I've read it with the Chargers and Raiders, with the Raider fans being the idiots.

Put on your duck costumes, he won't shoot at you that way!!

Okay guys, I'm back. After 2 nights and a day of working my backside off, I am actually able to get on my computer and access the places I can't at work. We are the ambulance coordinator during disasters for San Diego County, and have been coordinating the evacs of convalescent homes and even a hospital. Ambulance strike teams from throughout Southern California have converged in San Diego to safely transport patients to facilities throughout Southern California. In some of our contracted cities/areas, we are sending BLS ambulances as first responders for our medics rather than engines, so they can concentrate on fire and traffic collision responses. It's been a busy few days, but the worst seems to have lessened.

As to comments about what or who was declined when offered, I do not pretend to have any answers. But I believe in the post disaster review, some interesting tidbits about turf wars will be exposed and people will lose their jobs because of it. While I don't believe that there wasn't a lot to stop or even slow these fires at the height of the Santa Ana (you do not fly in 60 mph wind gusts), it really doesn't look good as a leader if you are declining assets and thousands of structures are lost. Poeple may refuse to believe that nothing could be done, but their perception is what they'll remember.

10-25-07 7:46 p.m. CAL FIRE provided the following update.

The Harris Fire is 84,000 acres and 20% contained. Cost to date $5.4 million. There are 1,341 firefighters assigned and 12 firefighter injuries. There has been 97 homes , 2 commercial properties and 17 out buildings destroyed. Active structure protection continued in Lyons Valley. The fire spotted across the south-west arm of Barrett Lake. Approximately 500 more homes were ordered evacuated today. Re-entry for residents only was allowed today in the Thousand Trails, Potrero and Tecate neighborhoods.

No change in acreage for the Witch Fire, but it is now 30% contained, with full containment expected on October 31st and full control on November 5th. Cost to date $7 million, 1,061 homes, 30 commercial properties and 175 outbuildings, 239 vehicles have been destroyed. 62 homes, 10 commercial properties and 50 outbuilding have been damaged. There have been 22 injuries to firefighters, and 2 civilian fatalities. There are 2, 883 firefighters assgined.

The Rice Fire is still 9,000 acres and now 40% contained, with full containment expected October 28th, and full control November 5th. Cost to date $1,917,000. 3 firefighters have been injured, and there are 1,073 assigned. Fire activity generally limited to localized flare-ups. The cause was powerlines.

The Poomacha Fire is 38,500 acres and 30% contained, with full containment expected October 29th. Cost to date $1,619,000. 60 homes and 19 outbuildings have been destroyed. There have been 12 injuries to firefighters and there are 1,406 assigned. Control line has been tied in to the Witch Fire. Some spotting across the line has occurred, but control line is holding. Mop up and patroling is in progress within the flats, but the Pauma Reservation and Palomar Mtn. areas are still active. Fire has entered the Aqua Tibia Wilderness. Control operations are difficult within this area due to steep terrain, inaccessibility and lack of crew resources. Active structure protection in Mt. Palomar area. 450 structures threatened. A general assessment of structures lost is in progress

Dave,

alot goes into it. Type of contruction, roofing materials, vegetation around the structure, and most of the time just dumb luck.

Mike,

The "X" in X-Ray come from UXO, for unexploded ordnance.

Paul, the MAST unit is a combinded SDPD/SDFD team. They run 3-4 runs a day. The bomb squad tech comes from that team.

Until now, SDFD has tended to be low key with their Bomb Squad/MAST (Metro Arson Strike Team) units/teams. The call sign for the unit is X-Ray 1, hence the XR1.

San Diego County Update

Overnight the winds did not die down as the usually do in a Santa Ana event. Gusts up to 60 mph with sustained winds in the fire areas of 35-45 mph. 7 fires now burning in the county.

Turbulance is such fixed wing tankers CANNOT fly. Helos are up, but only 7 at this time. Requests are being run through dept of Defense for Navy/Marine helos to assist. These are trained for firefighting on San Clemente Island and Camp Pendleton.

Pomerado Hospital in Poway, numerous nursing homes and senior living facilites are/have evactuated due to immediate fire threat. Qualcomm Stadium has been opened as an evacuation collection point. 250,000 people (that's a quarter of a million, folks) have been evactuated in SD County at this time.

Mutal Aid Assistance agreements are in effect with Nevada and Arizona. Resources expected to arrive either later tonight or tomorrow. For reference, in 2003 for the fires in San Diego County I saw resources from as far away as Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

If you look at a map, or are familiar with the area, the Witch Fire merged with a fire that started in the San Pasqual Valley early this morning and now is west of I15. Rancho Santa Fe, South Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Poway all have strutures burning at this time.

The Harris Fire is expected to burn west to bump up into the Eastlake area of Chula Vista. The media is emphasizing the Witch Fire, so I haven't got much of an update for this one or any others.

The Chief that is running the EOC for the County has stated he expects the Witch fire to burn to the ocean.

The wind event is expected to blow until sometime later tomorrow or even Wednesday.

Well, when it rains it pours (if only it would rain right now). 3 more fires broke out between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. in the communities of San Marcos, Descanso and Fallbrook. The fire in San Marcos is threatening homes now.

The Witch Fire has split, with one finger heading down the San Pasqual Valley towards Escondido, the other heading towards Poway to the south. This fire is starting to take the same path as the Cedar Fire in 2003.

The Harris Fire is threatening both Jamul and Deerhorn Valley to the southeast.

No acreage updates yet this morning. No updates yet on the injured firefighters.

San Diego Fire's new Bomb Squad rig has arrived. On a Pierce Arrow XT chassis like LAPD's Bomb Squad and SWAT rigs, with minor differences. I will hopefully have a photo tour soon. But this should whet an appetite or 2...