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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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December
2006
Volume
11 - Number 3 |
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By Fernanda Sosa On October 26 a wildfire ignited in the San Bernardino National Forest, California. According to the Riverside county’s District Attorney-elect, Rod Pacheco, the fire was deliberately started at 1:10m am near Esperanza Avenue in Cabazon, a town located 20 miles west of Palm Springs. This is a windy area, circumstance that contributed to spread the fires south and south west of its starting point, burning rapidly tinder-dry trees and brush as well as the rest of the forest. Several hundred people were evacuated from their homes during Thursday and Friday. It took five days to fully contain the fire; retardant-dropping planes aided the firefighters. The consequences: 40,200 acres burned, 34 homes destroyed and five firefighters killed. Engine Company 57, based in Idyllwild was assigned to the scene. Over the five days that the fire lasted more that 2,000 firefighters participated in the effort of containing it. Sadly, on the very first day, while trying to protect an evacuated home in San Gorgonio View Road, the wind changed rapidly and a wall of fire was inescapable for five firefighters. Four of them died the same day, the fifth died five days later with burns that covered 90 percent of his body. The five firefighters that died were Capt. Mark Loutzenhiser, 43, of Idyllwild (the team's leader); Jason McKay, 27, of Phelan; Jess McLean, 27, of Beaumont; Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, of San Jacinto; and Pablo Cerda, 23, of Fountain Valley. According to the National Interagency Fire Center this represents the greatest lost of firefighters in a wildfire since 1994. On the same day that the fire started an accusation for murder and arson was made to a local auto-mechanic. He denied the charges. Days later investigators charged the arson suspect Raymond Lee Oyler, 37. Experts from the University of California have from their expertise added some information about the causes of this fire. Prof. Richard Minnich, expert in fire ecology: “the winds, the drought, the heat and the bark beetles have combined to create an unprecedented fire danger…the danger of a half dead forest is absolutely phenomenal" he said of the conditions in the San Bernardino Mountains. Timothy Paine another professor from the University added that the predominant three specie in the San Bernardino Mountains is pine “and that is the prime target of the bark beetles”. The fire spread over parts of the 41st and 45th Congressional Districts, represented by Jerry Lewis and Mary Bono. The representatives expressed their preoccupation on the situation and stated, "We are grieving for the loss of these brave firefighters, and commit to their families that we will not rest until we have brought to justice whoever caused this horrible disaster." They said that the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had offered their support to local officials and were ready to bring any resource necessary; they also mentioned that FEMA approved fire management assistance to cover up to 75 percent of the state and local costs for fighting the fire. References: Kasindorf, Martin. California mourns 5 firefighters. USA Today; 11/06/2006 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=J0E395255221806&site=ehost-live The Voice of America News. Investigators Question Two In Deadly California Wildfire. US Fed News Service, Including US State News. Washington, D.C.:Oct 31, 2006. http://proxygw.wrlc.org/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1154389161&Fmt=3&clientId=31812&RQT=309&VName=PQD The Voice of America News. Reward Grows In Search For California Desert Fire Arsonists. US Fed News Service, Including US State News. Washington, D.C.:Oct 28, 2006. http://proxygw.wrlc.org/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1152856871&Fmt=3&clientId=31812&RQT=309&VName=PQD Reps. Lewis, Bono Call For Full Federal Investigation Of Possible Arson Fire That Killed Forest Service Firefighters. US Fed News Service, Including US State News. Washington, D.C.:Oct 26, 2006. http://proxygw.wrlc.org/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1153814921&Fmt=3&clientId=31812&RQT=309&VName=PQD University Of California, Riverside Wildfire Experts Faculty Bring A Variety Of Expertise To Wildfire Stories. US Fed News Service, Including US State News. Washington, D.C.:Oct 26, 2006. http://proxygw.wrlc.org/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1151789661&Fmt=3&clientId=31812&RQT=309&VName=PQD |