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Author Topic: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07  (Read 17596 times)

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Offline Wrightwood

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Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« on: Jul 08, 07, 10:02:45 PM »
A bus carrying 29 passengers was traveling East on N4 when it caught fire this morning. All children and adult supervisors escaped the fire without injury. The bus was within 5 minutes of Camp Big Pines.

Here we go again with a potential forest fire in Wrightwood, during red flag conditions stopped by quick acting crews and roadside fuel reduction pushed by previous District Ranger Cid Morgan & the Wrightwood Fire Safe Council.

About 1/8 acre of vegetation burned and the low intensity fire remained on the ground due to the Big Pine Fuel Reduction. (Check the fuel reduction clearances circled in white)

























Quote from: Wrightwood on Nov 14, 06, 07:49:46 PM
Former ANF District Ranger Cid Morgan may have changed job assignments but the work she accomplished in the Wrightwood area definitely showed today.

Cid's push for a Big Pines Fuel Reduction started in 2003. By early 2004 a proposed plan, map and scoping letter had been issued. Cid met with the Big Pines Camping Association and Wrightwood Fire Safe Council on numerous occasions explaining the need for this fuel modification project.

Her emphasis was on protecting people, property, historic values and decrease fireline intensity.

In Nov 2004 crews began marking trees for removal along Big Pines highway and in Dec 2004 ANF fire crews from Valeyermo started reducing dense areas of scrub oak and chamise 2-3 miles below Jackson Lake.

Work has continued on the Big Pines project with the better part of the fuel reduction work already accomplished.

The high winds this morning caused power lines to go down resulting in a  vegetation fire a short time later. Close by organizational camps had structures threatened and were preparing to evacuate.

Due to a quick response from LA County Fire and USFS crews the wind driven fire was quickly knocked down.

Crews from LA County Engine 79 said that the fire stayed on the ground and did not get into the trees as ladder fuels were not present. This was primarily a ground fire with pine needles and leaves the only fuel that was there to burn.

I don't want to take anything away from the great job firefighters accomplished this morning but if it wasn't for Cid Morgan's forethought and perseverance we might be evacuating the community of Wrightwood as I write this.

The Wrightwood Fire Safe Council and community members would like to thank District Ranger Cid Morgan for the work she accomplished while in the ANF! We dodged a major fire today and you are the reason the fire intensity was minimal.

Cid continues to be an active forum member and adds a great deal to this community even though she now lives and works out of state.



Apple Fire Intensity Reduced by Cid Morgan's Actions
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forum/index.php/topic,7680.0.html


http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forum/index.php/topic,7676.30.html
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Offline Wrightwood

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #1 on: Jul 08, 07, 10:10:30 PM »
A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PDT TONIGHT. HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS TODAY... WITH SEVERAL STATIONS REPORTING LONG DURATIONS OF SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES. IN ADDITION TO THE LOW HUMIDITIES...THERE WILL BE STRONG ONSHORE WINDS IN THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH THIS EVENING... WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 30 MPH.       
         
Instruction:      
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS... LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... VERY WARM TEMPERATURES... AND CRITICALLY DRY FUELS WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.       
         
Area: VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST-       
Affected Counties or parts of: Monterey, Santa Barbara, Kings, San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Los Angeles,       
Sent: 2007-07-08T15:04:30-07:00
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kew

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #2 on: Jul 08, 07, 10:15:17 PM »
YEA CID!!!!   PLEASE COME BACK!!!
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Offline Wrightwood

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #3 on: Jul 08, 07, 10:52:57 PM »
A great deal of thanks to USFS Crews Engine 37 & 38, LA County Fire Engine 79 and SB County Fire Engine 101 for today's quick response!
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Freighthauler

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #4 on: Jul 09, 07, 03:42:32 AM »
I can't believe that Laidlaw would use an old Crown coach like that to come up a steep hill. That bus is from the late 70's with a mid engine, hence the fire in the middle.
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WWsince1975

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #5 on: Jul 09, 07, 05:32:13 AM »
Does anyone smell fire now? We are straight up from town and smell fire.

Its 1030pm
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Offline Nolena

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #6 on: Jul 09, 07, 01:51:14 PM »
What's that guy doing working the fire with no breathing apparatus?.....and without proper structure gear and eye protection?
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Offline ForestGal

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #7 on: Jul 09, 07, 11:36:27 PM »
Wow, I just now saw this.  A HUGE thanks to all the involved crews for their fast action, and also to Cid for her part in the fuel reduction.  This truly could have been much more disastrous.  I'm thankful that no one was injured.

In response to Nolena's post above - I don't know much about firefighting, or turnout gear, or tools involved, but I, too, noticed that one of the men who was working the fire, seemed to be much less substantially dressed than the others (the one using the 2-pronged hook thingy to extract what appears to be burned sleeping bags).  I'm just curious why he wouldn't want to wear the more protective gear that the other men were wearing.

Good job Guys!!!   :2thumbsup:
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Offline K9luvr

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #8 on: Jul 10, 07, 02:16:41 PM »
O.K.  thanks are duly noted....  Now, where the heck is the Wrightwood Fuels Reduction EA?!?!?!?!  The agency spent a BUNDLE on that analysis and it should have been out on the street YEARS ago.  GRRRRR.   Sorry Ken, I just couldn't take the frustration any more and had to leave.   :-*
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Offline Wrightwood

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #9 on: Jul 10, 07, 02:22:22 PM »
Quote from: K9luvr on Jul 10, 07, 02:16:41 PM
O.K.  thanks are duly noted....  Now, where the heck is the Wrightwood Fuels Reduction EA?!?!?!?!  The agency spent a BUNDLE on that analysis and it should have been out on the street YEARS ago.  GRRRRR.   Sorry Ken, I just couldn't take the frustration any more and had to leave.   :-*

According to new District Ranger Capell at last week's WWPOA meeting the Wrightwood EA is due to hit the streets soon.
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Offline K9luvr

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #10 on: Jul 10, 07, 02:23:24 PM »
I heard that one for weeks before I left 10 MONTHS AGO!   ;)
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Offline Stitches

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #11 on: Jul 10, 07, 02:32:12 PM »
EA?   Environmental Assessment ???
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Offline K9luvr

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #12 on: Jul 10, 07, 04:39:43 PM »
DING DING DING DING--Stiches--you are "da winner!"   :2thumbsup:

Yes, an EA is an environmental assessment--the physical document that outlines the environmental analysis that was done for this project.  If they don't get it out soon, the data will all be stale and they will have to start over again!
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Kimy1387

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #13 on: Jul 11, 07, 03:56:52 AM »
  :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:THANK YOU FIRE PEOPLE :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

(I'm trying to be politically correct)
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Offline K9luvr

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #14 on: Jul 11, 07, 08:44:04 PM »
Quote from: Kimy1387 on Jul 11, 07, 03:56:52 AM
  :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:THANK YOU FIRE PEOPLE :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

(I'm trying to be politically correct)


The correct term is "firefighters"  As a wildland firefighter friend used to say, "I'm a firefighter, firemen work on trains!"  ;D
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Nutcracker

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #15 on: Jul 12, 07, 12:36:54 AM »
The best defense against wildland fires is a good aggressive brush clearance program. Thanks Fire Safe Council and Cid......and of course the fire crews.  Noticed station 101 was the only ones in full PPE (personal protective equipment)...hey I'm just saying.
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Offline Big Pines

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Re: Bus fire in the Angeles Forest 7-8-07
« Reply #16 on: Jul 14, 07, 01:02:54 AM »
actually usfs engine 38 were first on scene and in full ppe turnouts/ scbas they did a great job nocking the fire out of the bus and keeping the brush to just a small spot.
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