Fire department wants residents to 'Junk the Juniper' /Trees are very combustible, could help reduce threat of wildland fires

RGJ.com: Fire department wants residents to 'Junk the Juniper' /Trees are very combustible, could help reduce threat of wildland fires
Video: Protect your home from wildfire
KAREN SHERLOCK/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

Area residents can exchange juniper shrubs for another shrub, plant or tree at two Moana Nursery locations.

Faced with budget constraints, the Sierra Fire Protection District and other local fire agencies are waging a door-to-door fire safety assessment campaign in high risk areas around the Truckee Meadows.

The Reno Fire Department is urging people to help reduce the threat of wildland fire near homes by taking part in this Sunday's "Junk the Juniper" event at Moana Nursery.

"The juniper has a combustibility that ... acts as a ladder fuel," said Capt. Bonnie Terry of the Reno Fire Prevention Bureau.

A ladder fuel starts low in shrubs, such as junipers, and climbs to higher levels, such as nearby trees, and eventually the adjacent homes, Terry said.

Bring in one juniper shrub or tree to either Moana Nursery location between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday at 1100 W. Moana Lane or 11301 S. Virginia St. and exchange it for another shrub, plant or tree.

This event is part of the Nevada Wildfire Awareness Week, which runs through Friday. It is an effort to modify ornamental landscaping around homes and buildings to help reduce the threat of a wildland fire destroying structures.

Fire Fighters Are Knocking At Your Door

SOONEWS.CA - Fire Fighters Are Knocking At Your Door

Sault Ste. Marie Fire Service will commence their annual In-Service “Fire Safety Awareness” campaign on May 22, 2007 through to September 27, 2007.

Uniformed firefighters with identification will be knocking on doors of homes throughout the city. Crews will provide information concerning residential fire safety and ensure home owners understand that it is their responsibility.

The Ontario Fire Code requires that all residential occupancies have a working smoke alarm installed on all storeys.

This year’s in-service campaign will be conducted from Monday through Thursday – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Mission District fire leaves 1 dead, 3 injured / 'Everything was in flames,' one (naked) S.F. resident says

Mission District fire leaves 1 dead, 3 injured / 'Everything was in flames,' one S.F. resident says
Building construction was an issue in this fire:

"It was a very tough fire, there was a lot in the walls," she said. "It took about two hours to get under control. It was very stubborn in the walls and the attic. ... We (still) have crews out there doing fire watch, because sometimes little hot spots get a little whiff of oxygen and will flare up again. We have been having some little flare ups, and they quash those as soon as they start."
Talmadge said the blaze was particularly difficult to battle because it got into the light wells of the adjacent buildings and behind the metal flash lining in those light wells.

31 people at first count, were displaced, but they believe the number may be much higher than that. The Red Cross is providing emergency shelter for those that need it.
One of the victims was a former Olympic Athlete (Remember..this IS San Francisco )

Raphael Muniz, 74, was displaced from his home at 25 Duboce Ave. by the fire. Muniz, a retired Muni inspector who said he swam for Mexico in the 1952 Olympic Games, said he ran out of his third-floor apartment "faster than I swam in Helsinki."

That would be 59 seconds, he said.

"Everything was in flames, flames were coming out everywhere and it smelled like rubber," said Muniz, who was naked until he realized there might be ladies outside, and decided to put on some pants.

Python, cobras, and other creatures rescued after small basement fire in N.Y.

Python, cobras, and other creatures rescued after small basement fire in N.Y.

NEW YORK (AP) - Firefighters responding to a small basement fire Thursday morning were startled to find a 10-foot python, two cobras, tarantulas and an assortment of other creatures inside.

"It was like out of a science fiction scene," said Lt. Ed Ireland, whose engine company responded to the Queens blaze.

The fire, whose cause hadn't been determined, was reported at about 11:20 a.m. in the borough's Corona section. Once it was extinguished and the smoke cleared, Ireland noticed the python writhing near his feet.

In cages and tanks, there also were two small alligators, frogs, turtles and tarantulas, he said.

All the creatures were removed by a private animal rescue agency, except for two that the lieutenant said probably died of smoke inhalation.

"The cobras didn't make it," he said.

The animals' owner was cited for health code violations.

UPDATE 1-GE recalls 2.5 mln dishwashers, citing fire hazard | Consumer Products & Retail | Reuters

UPDATE 1-GE recalls 2.5 mln dishwashers, citing fire hazard | Consumer Products & Retail | Reuters

CHICAGO, May 16 (Reuters) - General Electric Co. (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research is voluntarily recalling 2.5 million built-in dishwashers made from September 1997 to December 2001 because of fire hazards, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Wednesday.

GE has received 191 reports of overheated wiring, including 56 reports of property damage, but no injuries, the commission said.

The commission said liquid rinse-aid could leak from the dispenser on the GE dishwashers into the internal wiring of the dishwasher, possibly causing electrical shorts or overheating.

The recall covers various GE built-in dishwashers sold under the Eterna, GE, GE Profile, GE Monogram, Hotpoint and Sears-Kenmore brands.

Deluge Test gone wrong

Test of a deluge system in an aircraft hangar. They thought they were going to be able to turn it off. Not so much. Good music-Enjoy!

Rescue 911 - 100 Lives Saved - Segment 2

Electrical cord starts a fire and a "silent killer". Good stuff!

That Peter Kay Thing 'Eyes Down'

Ingnorance kills...well so does smoke...and oh yeah...fire too. "Help Help my Mommy's on fire!"
Enjoy!

Jobs Available!!!

City of Pasadena: Firefighter Trainee and Lateral Firefighter

OCFA (Click this link to access all of the job flyers)
Firefighter Trainee
Firefighter/Paramedic Lateral
Fire Prevention Analyst
Senior Fire Prevention Specialist

LA County Fire Dept
Firefighter Trainees
They are also hiring the following: (Click here to access these flyers!)Application Developer II (32521-C)
Assistant Chief, Fire Fleet Services (3-7476-C)
Community Services Liaison (32706-C) NEW!
Forestry Assistant (Exam: 3-0328-F)
Fire Equipment Mechanic (Exam: 3-7472-E)
Fire Fighter Trainee (Exam: 30198A)
Fire Prevention Engineering Assistant II
Forestry Technician (Exam: 3-0326-E)
Helicopter Mechanic (Exam: 3-7492-I)
Senior Nursing Instructor (Exam: 3-5216-A)
Student Professional Worker (Exam: 3-8243-A)
Student Worker (Exam: 3-8242-A)
Supervising Cadastral Engineer I (33634-A) NEW!

Huntington Beach Fire Department
Ambulence Operator

City of North Las Vegas Fire Department
Current Openings:
Fire Prevention Inspector
Fire Protection Engineer

City of North Las Vegas anticipates recruiting for the position of Fire Fighter Trainee tentatively during mid 2008.

City of South San Francisco
Fire Safety Inspector

City of Brea
Apprentice Firefighter
Battalion Chief

Summer Job: Surf Camp
Summer job openings for Surf Instructors, Private Lesson Instructors (year round possibility), Weekend Instructors, Beach Kid Camp Instructors
Locations in: Huntington Beach, El Segundo, and Santa Monica
Dates, times of interview...
> Date: Saturday, May 19, 2007
> Time: 1:00pm
> or
> Date: Wednesday, May 23, 2007
> Time: 6:30pm
> at
> Place: Huntington Beach City Gym
> 1600 Palm Ave
> Huntington Beach, CA 92648
>
> Please bring the following to the interview...
> -Resume
> -Application
> http://www.surfacademy.org/06jobapplication.pdf
> -Copies of certifications if any
> -Anything else you think will help us

You can also visit www.surfacademy.org to find out more information and to fill out an application.

For more info email Sunny at sunny@surfacademy.

Fire Fire Everywhere.....

So fire season isn't supposed to start for another month or so....but it seems like the entire US is currently on fire! Here is the low down on whats going on with links to all of the incidents....

Large fires are currently burning in the following areas:
Arizona a> -Fires burning in both northern and southern Arizona.
Florida- Florida Fire Updates: FL Turnpike Closed
Georgia -Bugaboo Fire roars on
Ga. swamp fire could burn for months
Minnesota-'Good day' in fighting northeastern Minnesota fire
New Jersey -High winds whip N.J. fires; more evacuations

(For more info from National Fire News-click here)

Firefighters receive well-deserved lei-off

Firefighters receive well-deserved lei-off - Los Angeles Times
A firefighter strike team with the distinction of battling brush fires last week in Griffith Park and then Catalina Island returned to the mainland today with special orders: Remove your leis.

The leis, made of seashells and bright orange plastic ribbons, were gifts of gratitude handed to each member of the 15-man, one-woman team in Avalon as they boarded a Catalina Express boat headed for Long Beach.

The crew was one of four strike teams from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection on the boat, but it was the only one to have pulled double duty.

Gas Pump Fire: Woman drives off with hose still in the car!

The Advocate - www.newarkadvocate.com - Newark, Ohio
More evidence that "Fire Prevention" methods work (and won't put anyone out of work!)

UNION TOWNSHIP — In the morning rush to get gas, a motorist became distracted when the credit card machine wasn’t working and ended up driving off with the hose still in her tank, Union Township Fire Prevention Officer Ron Jones said.

“A spark, we don’t know from where, set the gas in the hose on fire,” Jones said.

The fire quickly engulfed the plastic housing of the gas pump. When Hebron Fire Department arrived at the scene for the 7:30 a.m. call, they quickly dosed the pump with foam to extinguish the flames before any other damage was done.

“I’ve never been to a gas station fire before,” said Jones, a 30-plus year veteran firefighter. “When we came down from the hill, we could see the black, billowing smoke.”

But with the amount of safeguards on gas pumps, fire never reached the fuel tanks.

Gabby - Fire Cheese

Gabby makes good on his pledge to 'be helpful' by assisting the local fire department while they put out a fire. When the chief incapacitates himself by getting Gabby's hat stuck over his head, Gabby takes charge with with disastrous consequences. 6:41

SMOKEY THE BEAR

Smokey Bear rocks in this fav PSA: "Only YOU!" can prevent forest fires!

Spontaneous Human Combustion: Part 1

Watch this Very Exciting Paranormal Video About SHC. Very Interesting Investigation. 9:36
Warning: Graphic content, may be disturbing to some.

Human Combustion 2

Watch Humand Combustion 1 before this. Continues the Paranormal Investigation of Spontaneous Human Combustion. 9:48

Dr. Heard's Amazing Fire Magic

Fire fun and facts!
Fun with chemistry. In the 1990s, we had Bill Nye the Science Guy. In the 1960s, we watched Mr. Wizard on TV on Saturday mornings. and in the 1950s, they had Dr. Heard. Many of these chemistry demonstrations are still being done today. Enjoy! This clip is from a 1950s newsreel from the Internet Archives. (more)

Caught On Tape: Man Clings To 36th-Floor Ledge

HONG KONG -- A man crawled out onto a narrow window ledge to escape a fire in his 36th-floor apartment in Hong Kong on Tuesday, and the whole thing was caught on tape.

The crowd below gasped as the man, who was trying to escape smoke and flames in the apartment, nearly lost his footing.

As the fre grew, the man tried to move to the next ledge. After a number of attempts, he made it.

Not long after that, a Hong Kong firefighter rappelled down the building and saved the man.
http://www.on9now.com

Aging homes a problem for city HUNTINGTON -- Tonia Page and her neighbors complained for three years about the downward spiral of the house at 1835 9th Ave.It began with tall weeds and garbag

Aging homes a problem for city

HUNTINGTON -- Tonia Page and her neighbors complained for three years about the downward spiral of the house at 1835 9th Ave.

It began with tall weeds and garbage that attracted rats and other vermin. Then, drug dealers and prostitutes began using it as a place to get high.

Fortunately, Page says, the house has not caught fire. The same can't be said for dozens of other abandoned homes in the area.

In the next few weeks, the house at 1835 9th Ave. will be demolished, as will 13 other derelict properties in Huntington. It's a small victory, considering the city's Unsafe Building Commission ordered the demolition of 62 homes in 2006 while the housing inspector and fire marshals identified about 220 more that were either fire-damaged, unsafe or in need of major upgrades.

And there could be hundreds more that have not yet been identified or are a couple of years away from falling into disrepair.

Yorba Linda fire 60% contained

Yorba Linda fire 60% contained - Los Angeles Times

A brush fire in Yorba Linda that has burned about 140 acres was 60% contained by this morning, fire officials said.

"Things are looking good right now, but if the winds heat up later in the day, we might have to change our assessment," said Capt. Steve Miller, the Orange County Fire Authority's spokesman.

Miller repeated Monday's prediction that the fire would be completely controlled by 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The fire, which was accidentally started by a Caltrans road crew, forced the evacuation of the Canyon RV Park. Trees in nearby Featherly Regional Park have been seriously damaged by the fire and will have to be cut down today to keep them from adding fuel to the flames, Miller said.

The fire burned west along the 91 Freeway, and firefighters were able to stop it from crossing the Santa Ana River.

A Caltrans crew had been installing metal fencing at Coal Canyon Road when sparks from a cutting tool ignited the fire, investigators said.

All roads in the area are now open, the California Highway Patrol reported.