WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => In The news => Topic started by: Elk on Dec 04, 17, 10:23:14 PM
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A large wildfire named the "Thomas Fire" has erupted in Ventura County. According to Tweets from Ventura County Fire PIO twitter account the fire has grown to over 5000 acres in approximately 3-4 hours.
Tweets from Ventura County Fire PIO...
VCFD PIO?Verified account
@VCFD_PIO
36m36 minutes ago
#ThomasFire updated acreage is 5000 acres. Incident commander expects this fire to impact the city of Ventura this evening. @VCFD #VCFD
VCFD PIO?Verified account
@VCFD_PIO
44m44 minutes ago
#ThomasFire This is an updated perimeter map. This fire is burning in steep terrain with 25 to 30 mph wind. #VCFD @VCFD
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQQnXDwVAAEiBXS.jpg)
VCFD PIO?Verified account
@VCFD_PIO
57m57 minutes ago
#ThomasFire is currently impacting Highway 150. Please leave impact areas early as firefighting equipment need access to continue structure protection operations. #VCFD @VCFD
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQQkqrQUEAErBO2.jpg)
VCFD PIO?Verified account
@VCFD_PIO
1h1 hour ago
#ThomasFire - Highway 150 is currently closed between Denison Grade in Ojai and Stonegate Rd in Santa Paula #VCFD @VCFD
VCFD PIO?Verified account
@VCFD_PIO
2h2 hours ago
#ThomasFire is currently 2500 acres with 0% perimeter containment. Firefighter's priorities are structured defense and evacuations of residence north of foothill Road in the city of Santa Paula. #vcfd @VCFD
VCFD PIO?Verified account
@VCFD_PIO
2h2 hours ago
#Thomasfire: Due to heavy winds, the fire has grown to approx. 500 acres. The
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Bernie Deyo?Verified account
@EPN473
Update: #ThomasFire has reached Harmon Canyon which is the eastern edge of #Ventura , I don't think people outside Fire fighting can truly appreciate this ROS. #Breaking
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John Palminteri?
@KEYTNC3JohnP
Follow Follow @KEYTNC3JohnP
THOUSANDS reporting MASSIVE power outages in Santa Paula, Oxnard, Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta. Elevators stuck, alarms sounding. Linked to major wildland fire in Santa Paula. Be alert at intersections. NOTE: Don't call 911 unless you have an emergency!!!
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KTLA News at 10pm is reporting size of fire at 8000-10,000 acres. Live coverage now on KTLA Channel 5.
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Naomi Pitcairn?
@NaomiPitcairn
1m1 minute ago
ThomasFire from south mountain rd
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQQ1GJpVAAAxWfc.jpg)
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VCFD PIO?Verified account
@VCFD_PIO
7m7 minutes ago
#ThomasFire - 11pm News conference scheduled at Santa Paula fire station #82, 536 Main St., Santa Paula, CA
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VCFD PIO?Verified account
@VCFD_PIO
2m2 minutes ago
#ThomasFire - Incident Command expect this fire to impact East Ventura by 1 AM. Updated acreage is now 10,000 acres. #VCFD @VCFD
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CA Fire Scanner?
@CAFireScanner
11m11 minutes ago
#ThomasFire Mandatory evacuations ordered for everything between Wheeler Canyon Rd & N Victoria Ave in Ventura. Fire anticipated to impact the Ondulando/Clear Point areas of Ventura in approximately an hour.
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And again........we were just in Oxnard for my wife's birthday last week. This is really freaky.
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VCFD PIO?Verified account
@VCFD_PIO
18m18 minutes ago
#ThomasFire - confirmed 1 Fatality associated with this fire from a automobile accident. #VCFD @VCFD
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Continuously updated map of fire hotspots (dark red boxes are newest, within last 12hr):
https://maps.nwcg.gov/sa/#/%3F/34.3698/-119.2294/11
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQtnTVtVAAETdtN.jpg:large)
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Twitter
Los Padres NF
3 hours ago
The #ThomasFire becomes the 10th largest wildfire in CA history at 173,000 acres. 15,000 structures threatened, 15% contained, 4,435 personnel.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQtnWBnVoAEemof.jpg:large)
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CBS Los Angeles?Verified account
@CBSLA
4m4 minutes ago
More
#ThomasFire Update: 754 structures lost, 200,000 acres burned. Red Flag warning extended through Monday 8 p.m. Evacuations ordered, go to http://CountyofSB.org for exact locations.
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Deven? @Deven_Socal 5m5 minutes ago
#thomasfire exploded in size today it's surpassed over 200,000 acres.
Fire fighters got there butt kicked today by this massive blaze.
Santa Barbara may be under mandatory evacuation orders soon.
This fire has an extreme rate of spread.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQuzG8PVAAEAzdJ.jpg)
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Numbers on size seem to be changing frequently...
Bernie Deyo?Verified account
@EPN473
35s36 seconds ago
Update: #ThomasFire now 230,000 acres and surpasses the #MatilijaFire as the largest fire in Ventura County History and 5th largest in CA history, 44K acres away from being the largest ever.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQ3PUGTVoAA1WRC.jpg:large)
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ABC7 News
Cal Fire investigating whether SoCal Edison equipment sparked fires
Southern California Edison said Tuesday that Cal Fire investigators are looking into the utility's equipment as a possible origin of recent brush fires in the Southland.
The company said Cal Fire investigations now include the role SoCal Edison facilities played in several fires that have consumed hundreds of thousands of acres across multiple counties.
The 234,200-acre Thomas Fire continues to rage in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
"The causes of the wildfires are being investigated by CAL FIRE, other fire agencies and the California Public Utilities Commission," SoCal Edison said in the press release.
"The investigations now include locations beyond those identified last week as the apparent origin of these fires. SCE believes the investigations now include the possible role of its facilities. SCE continues to cooperate with the investigations. The wildfire investigations may take a considerable amount of time to complete. SCE will provide updated information as circumstances warrant."
Cal Fire has not yet released the official causes of the Thomas Fire or other Southern California blazes. The Los Angeles Fire Department determined Wednesday that the Skirball Fire that ripped through the Bel Air area was caused by an illegal cooking fire at an encampment near the 405 Freeway.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the investigation into SoCal Edison would mark the second in the state of a utility this year. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is also part of an investigation by Cal Fire after blazes in the Bay Area carved a path of destruction through California's wine country and claimed dozens of lives, the Chronicle reported.
http://abc7.com/cal-fire-investigating-whether-socal-edison-equipment-sparked-fires/2774104/
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Lots of trees near the power lines that run along the Hwy in Santa Paula that is the area where the fire originated: https://goo.gl/maps/jnYFW1PEo6u .
The question is does Edison bear the burden of clearing every tree that poses a hazard to power lines?
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They have a very organized system of trying to keep their lines secure from fire which includes clearance. With the scope and scale of their grid system...it is a massive job. Edison has a rep at every fire command helping with information and planning to keep grids operating. They have an impressive group of retired USFS and CalFire wildland firefighters working who have a life time of knowledge and speak the language of the firefighters.
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Something to consider - I learned recently that things like dense fog or even high amounts of blowing dust can cause lines to arc. We actually saw the Edison helicopter doing inspections of lines in Santa Barbara (probably technically Goleta or unincorporated) a few days before this fire.
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Date: Thursday, December 14, 2017
Time: 12:10 PM
THOMAS FIRE PRESS RELEASE
I am very saddened to report that a firefighter fatality has occurred on the Thomas Incident. The incident is still unfolding, but in this world of fast moving information, it is important to me that only factual information be shared. To that end, I can confirm a fatality of a CAL FIRE Engineer from the San Diego Unit has occurred. IMT 4, CAL FIRE Local 2881 and Southern Region leadership are working to support the Unit and his family, who have been notified.
More details will be made available as they are confirmed. In the meantime, please join me in keeping our fallen firefighter and his loved ones in your prayers and all the responders on the front lines in your thoughts as they continue to work under extremely challenging conditions.
Chief Ken Pimlott CAL FIRE Director
www.CountyofSB.org www.ReadyVenturaCounty.org
SAFETY MESSAGE The public is reminded to stay vigilant on current fire conditions. Please continue to adhere to road closures and evacuation orders. Please drive slowly and yield to emergency personnel
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRCRJ12VAAAxgFo.jpg)
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Not sure how well this will show.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRDpJ6zUIAAn3Xe.jpg:large)
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CalFire has released the name of the Cal Fire Engineer who died in the line of duty on the Thomas Fire. It's one thing to hear on the news that another firefighter died in the line of duty....it's another to look him in the eye and see his wife and two year old daughter who are left behind.
This is CAL FIRE San Diego County Engineer Cory Iverson.
(https://s2.postimg.org/5eyw6bsvt/cory_fire.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
This is CalFire Engineer Iverson...his wife and two year old daughter.
(https://s2.postimg.org/l0g7pu24p/cory_family.jpg)
Along with 7,000 other firefighters,who battle the massive Thomas Fire, Engineer Iverson willingly put himself into harm's way for the good of us all. From the time he died today until the time when he is laid to his final rest....he will never be alone. He will be escorted by an Honor Guard of fellow firefighters and law enforcement from many agencies. Once again, the Fire Community will gather to honor CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson and share their respects, comfort and love to his family in the time honored tradition. The thousands of firefighters who remain on the Thomas fire will go out on their shifts and continue to try to bring this monster under control.
RIP. You've earned your eternal rest.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRGHlpJUIAIIZgd.jpg:large)
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Currently live
http://www.keyt.com/livestream
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Twitter
VCFD PIO?Verified account @VCFD_PIO
43 minutes ago
#ThomasFire -total cost: $103,912,000.00 - Current Acreage: 259,000. with 40% perimeter containment. 8370 total personnel in the FIGHT !!
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Another live feed link:
https://livestream.com/accounts/19285506/live
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRNFRCxUMAAHpwR.jpg:large)
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Wind has picked up again. This looks likely to turn back into a really bad deal. The weather just wont relent. In my line of work I had a phone conversation with a very nice lady a few years ago who lived up on Camino Cielo (a ridge top road above Santa Barbara). Hopefully her home makes it.
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Continuing live coverage:
https://livestream.com/accounts/19285506/live
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Twitter
CAL FIRE
39 minutes ago
#ThomasFire [update] north of Santa Paula (Ventura and Santa Barbara County) is now 271,00 acres & 50% contained. Unified Command
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Twitter
Los Padres NF
?13 hours ago
12.22.2017 Good Evening from the #ThomasFire. The fire is 273,400 and 65% contained. The Thomas Fire has now become the largest fire in California's recorded history.
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Ventura County
Class Action lawsuit filed in Thomas Fire
50 Clients from Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties
By:Beth Farnsworth
Posted: Jan 04, 2018 04:41 PM PST
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. - A Westlake attorney who filed a class-action lawsuit blames Southern California Edison (SCE) for starting the Thomas Fire.
Alex Robertson, the head of Robertson and Associates, LLP, told NewsChannel 3 that he has roughly 50 clients impacted by the devastating wildfire and expects to represent many more.
"It's really a tragic story and just a catastrophic loss for the community," Robertson said Thursday by phone.
Robertson said the lawsuit alleges SCE started the fire in a canyon near Anlauf Canyon Road, above Steckel Park, He said SCE crews were working in the canyon weeks before the flames broke out on December 4, he believes, replacing poles.
"Our client said she saw this power pole with the blown transformer on it taken out," Robertson said. "There were two Cal Fire trucks in the lead and the Edison flatbed with the evidence of the pole and two Cal Fire investigator trucks behind and it was a whole procession that came down the canyon."
Robertson said power lines/poles are the second leading cause of wildfires in California and by law, power companies must preserve evidence of "the ignition source of wildfires."
Robertson said he is representing roughly 40 clients in Ventura, 10 in Upper Ojai and two in Santa Barbara County; one in the Toro Canyon area of Montecito and one in Carpinteria.
The trial attorney also filed suit against the City of Ventura for failing to have backup generators to operate the pumps when the power went out.
"We allege that's why so many neighborhoods were completely destroyed, every house is gone," Robertson said. "There was no water."
Robertson says firefighters simply had no water pressure for the hillside hydrants when the fire came roaring over the hill into the city between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. Tuesday morning on December 5.
Robertson anticipates representing even more residents impacted by the Thomas Fire.
http://www.keyt.com/news/ventura-county/class-action-lawsuit-filed-in-thomas-fire/681504606
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Statement from SCE:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171211006278/en/
The causes of the wildfires are being investigated by CAL FIRE, other fire agencies and the California Public Utilities Commission. The investigations now include locations beyond those identified last week as the apparent origin of these fires. SCE believes the investigations now include the possible role of its facilities.
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