Firefighting

August 13, 2008 -- Today, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent the following letter to President Bush through Nancy Ward, Federal Emergency Management Agency Regional Administrator, Region IX, requesting that the President amend his previous emergency declaration and declare a major federal disaster for the State of California due to wildfires.

Helicopters fighting a wildfire: Photo by Noah McMurray (CC)

The request includes:

* A major federal disaster declaration for the State of California as a result of the wildfires;
* Dating the declaration to include wildfires that began on May 22, 2008; and    » read more »

Las Vegas, NV – The International Association of Fire Fighters has announced the launch of a new initiative to help fire fighters, family members and friends to quit smoking cigarettes.

“Our goal is to help make the IAFF the first smoke-free union,” IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said in his address to delegates at the IAFF 49th Convention.

Cigarette butts: Photo by The Other

The IAFF is collaborating with pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. to promote smoking cessation. Schaitberger and Pfizer CEO Jeff Kindler first announced the joint initiative at the IAFF Health and Safety Conference in Chicago, Illinois, in October 2007.    » read more »

August, 2008 -- Home fire deaths are higher in states that have a greater percentage of smokers, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study published this month in the journal Injury Prevention. If smoking at home is reduced or stopped, fewer residential fire deaths may result, the study said.    » read more »

June 9, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today signed into law two bills designed to help keep Connecticut communities safer and to protect the first responders – police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians – who accept that difficult and often dangerous job.    » read more »

06/03/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined representatives from the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), local elected officials, firefighters and Blue Ribbon Commission Task Force members to unveil five new engines from the OES Engine Program that have been assigned to the San Diego, Escondido, Oceanside, Murrieta and Riverside Fire Departments.

California Governor Schwarzenegger unveils new fire engines: Photo courtesy California Governor's office    » read more »

01 June 2008 -- A large fire has destroyed some movie sets on a back lot at Universal Studios in Los Angeles County, California.

Hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze that broke out before dawn Sunday, about 15 kilometers from the city of Los Angeles.

Fire officials say the blaze began on a sound stage known as "New York street," built to look like New York City. It swept through a set from the 1980s hit movie Back to the Future, and a vault containing tens of thousands of archived videos and film reels.

But Universal chief Ron Meyer told reporters nothing irreplaceable was lost from the vault, because copies of the archives are stored elsewhere.

Fire officials also say the King Kong attraction at the adjacent Universal Studios theme park was damaged.    » read more »

Statement By Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg On Council Passage Of New Fire Code For New York City

May 28, 2008 -- "The City Council today adopted a new Fire Code, the first comprehensive revision of the Fire Code since 1913, which will make this City safer for both New Yorkers and the firefighters that protect us.

The Fire Code governs the use of building safety systems like sprinkler systems and extinguishers, the permit and inspection process, fire-detection and extinguishing systems, and emergency preparedness and planning.    » read more »

BALTIMORE, Md. (05/28/2008) - Hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June 1, but the Maryland National Guard and the Baltimore County Fire Department aren’t waiting until then to get acquainted.

On May 17, a small detachment of Maryland Guard Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment (Security & Support) in Edgewood, Md., with two, high clearance five-ton trucks and a Humvee traveled to Baltimore County Fire Department’s (BCFD) station #17 to rehearse and train with the counties swift water and flood rescue teams.    » read more »

05/24/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued another proclamation related to the Summit Fire after flames crossed into Santa Clara County. The Governor issued a similar proclamation on Thursday for Santa Cruz County.

Smoke from the Summit fire seen from Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, May 22, 2008: Photo by lemurdillo (CC)    » read more »

05/22/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement and proclamation:

"I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the brave firefighters. As I've said many times before, we have the most courageous, talented and best trained firefighters in the world. They are doing a great job fighting the Summit Fire.

"My administration is working closely with federal and local officials, including Congresswoman Eshoo, Congressman Honda, Senator Maldonado and Assemblymember Laird. We are aggressively battling this fire from the onset. We are putting extra resources on this fire, and we will continue to mobilize and coordinate all the resources necessary to fight it."    » read more »

May 13, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement after the Senate took the first step to passing the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 (S.2123). Senator Obama is an original cosponsor of the bill and voted in favor of beginning debate on it.

A Seattle firefighter: Photo by Narisa (CC)    » read more »

May 9, 2008 -- A warm, windy summer could mean more wildfires for Colorado, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter announced at his annual wildfire briefing today

Conditions on the Eastern Plains and in northwest Colorado may contribute to higher-than-average wildfire activity. Fire experts also are concerned about the foothills and lower elevations east of the Continental Divide due to the abundance of dead, dry grass produced by the wet winter of 2006/2007.

Forest firefighting via helicopter, Colorado, 2007: Photo by Brad (CC)

The recent dry weather in western Colorado also has them on alert.    » read more »

05/09/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued Executive Order S-03-08, which boosts the state's preparedness for wildfire season and directs the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to immediately mobilize critical firefighting resources and personnel to save lives and homes statewide.

California Governor Schwarzenegger takes action on firefighting: Photo courtesy California Governor's office    » read more »

May 8, 2008 -- By the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado, under Article IV, Section 2 of the Colorado Constitution, Governor Bill Ritter today has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff to mark the following occasions on the following dates:

1. Gov. Ritter has granted a request from the City of Colorado Springs to lower U.S. and Colorado flags on state buildings within the City of Colorado Springs on Friday, May 9, 2008, in observance of the funeral of former Mayor Bob Isaac. Isaac, 80, passed away Friday, May 2. He served as mayor from 1979 to 1997.    » read more »

April 22, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the forest fire in Minnewaska State Park in Ulster County is now contained. However, officials remain on guard for flare-ups, smoldering spots and other hazards presented by rising temperatures and winds.

“The fire has been contained, thanks to the tremendous effort of the forest rangers, other state agencies and the dozens of local fire companies involved,” said Governor Paterson. “Hazards still remain – flare-ups are always a concern in these situations and crews will have to remain vigilant. All involved can be proud of their work in preventing what could have been much worse.”    » read more »