Firefighting

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 »

State Forestry Division responding as fire threatens homes and property

April 20, 2008 -- SANTA FE- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson late this afternoon directed all related state agencies to assist in ongoing federal firefighting efforts with the Trigo fire burning in the Manzano Mountains in Torrance County.

Trigo wildfire, New Mexico: Manzano Mountains in Torrance County. Photo by Kit_Z (CC)

The fire is burning primarily on federal land and firefighting efforts are being directed from the Southwest Fire Coordination Center in Albuquerque.    » read more »

Additional State Resources Mobilized to Assist with Firefighting Efforts as State and Local Agencies Continue Coordinated Response

April 20, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that a forest fire at the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County is now 80 percent contained with favorable conditions suggesting the fire could soon be under control.

New York Governor David Paterson: Photo by jcommaroto (CC)    » read more »

Grant Will Enhance Fire and Police Response in NYC, Westchester and Long Island

April 16, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that $34 million in homeland security grant funds have been awarded to the New York City urban area as part of the federal government’s Urban Area Security Initiative.

FDNY fire truck: Photo by Sergio Calleja (CC)

The funds are made available through the federal Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program that will help fire, police and other first responders better communicate during emergencies.    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter tonight declared the fire burning in Crowley County a state emergency and made $500,000 available from the State Disaster Emergency Fund.

The funds will be used to help defray firefighting and recovery costs in and around Ordway.

Gov. Ritter also has directed the Colorado Division of Emergency Management to seek any available federal assistance, including Small Business Administration loans, to help those who sustain damage from the fire.

"We will be doing all we can to assist the people of Ordway and Crowley County as they try to bring this fire under control," Gov. Ritter said.

Source: Colorado Governor

April 15, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, urging him to ensure that there are sufficient federal firefighters in California to protect the state’s national forests and neighboring communities in the coming fire season.

Thank you sign for San Diego firefighters: Following San Diego wildfires. Photo by slworking2 (CC)    » read more »

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) fire protection engineers turned an abandoned New York City (NYC) brick high-rise into a seven-story fire laboratory last month to better understand the fast-moving spread of wind-driven flames, smoke and toxic gases through corridors and stairways of burning buildings.
NIST High-Rise Fire Test; Positive Pressure Ventilation Fans: Firefighters watch as a fan, simulating wind, changes airflow and smoke conditions during experiments in a seven-story high-rise abandoned apartment building on New York City's Governors Island. Photo: NIST    » read more »

Also Orders Burning Ban Reinstated Due To Drought And Approach Of Spring Fire Season

2/13/2008 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley has signed an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency that enables North Carolina to seek federal assistance to help pay costs incurred while fighting major fires. He also reinstated the statewide burning ban, effective noon Thursday (Feb. 14) in advance of the spring fire season.    » read more »