Posted on 11/02/2003 7:04:53 AM PST by First_Salute
This continues the work of others at Free Republic, including here, first, the content that lainie brought forward, for the last few days. (Some of these links may not now be working.):
Cal Fire Maps
http://wildfire.cr.usgs.gov/ca_geomac/viewer.htm
http://www.incidentcontrol.com
http://www.firedetect.ssd.nesdis.noaa.gov/Run.htm
Live online scanner feeds for fire, cops, CDF, air attack
http://www.live365.com/stations/kb6jag FYI, this gives popups
http://www.police-scanner.info/livescan.htm - No pop ups on this feed
http://www.compucations.com/nuke/html/modules.php?name=LiveScanners - click on Big Bear Feed
http://verdugo.ci.glendale.ca.us/radio.html - Verdugo fire scanner
http://www.shoutcast.com/directory/?s=scanner&numresult=100&x=34&y=9 - Simi Valley fire scanner
http://209.153.152.2:8888 - Ventura county scanner chatter
Big Bear online scanner feed (CDF, cops, air attack etc.) Requires Yahoo.com registration. Then join any chat room. In the text box of your chosen chatroom type:
/join the old fire scanner:1
This should reroute your participation directly to a room where a Big Bear scanner feed is playing live. There is also live chat there from other people affected by the Old Fire in the Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Big Bear Area.
CHP Dispatch
CDF AIR CHANNELS
Red - 151.220 - Air to ground units
Blue - 151.280 - Air to air
Green - 151.295 - Air to air
Yellow - 151.310 - Air to air
Victor - 122.925 - Air to air for contract helicopters
List of channels for SoCal
Get a copy of Police call for when you're mobile
San Bernardino National Forest
171.475 mhz and 172.225
123.100 Air to Ground
123.9750 National Air Tanker Base Freq.
135.9750 Air ops
151.2200 CDF Red Air to Ground
151.2650 CDF Region
151.3100 CDF Air Tactics 6
151.3550 CDF Command Net 1
154.2650 OES White Fire 2
154.2800 OES White Fire 1
154.2950 OES White Fire 3
164.1250 Fire Camp Service Net
166.6125 "Command" Fontana area
166.8500 Air attack
167.9500 BLM Air to Ground
168.0500 NIFC Tac 1
168.0750 NIFC Tac 3
168.200 NIFC Tac 2 (Crew Net)
168.2500 BLM?
168.4000 BLM "Command"
168.6000 NIFC Tac 3
168.6250 Air Guard
169.1250 Calif. Fire Travel Net
169.0625 vehicle mechanics?
170.0000 Air to Ground Region 5
173.9125 Region 5 Tac 4
173.9625 Region 5 Tac 5
173.9875 Region 5 Tac 6
415.5500 National Air channel
HAM
145.220
Los Angeles Area
KNBC: http://www.nbc4.tv
KABC: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/
KCBS: http://www.cbs2.com
KTTV: http://www.fox11la.com
KCAL: http://www.kcal.com
Good list of S. Cal TV stations w/links to their websites
San Diego
http://nbcsandiego.feedroom.com/?fr_story=af0368e01c0323615f2e6f30970885b317fe905c
http://www.kogo.com/streaming.html
List of Online Newspapers, TV, Radio Stations in California, by city
RIMOFTHEWORLD.net is your continual source for information concerning the fire risks to the San Bernardino mountain communities
Thanks spectr17 for the links.
Other links of interest
Links to previous Free Republic pages on the Southern California Wildfires, (and arson) Sept. - Oct. - Nov. 2003
September 19, 2003 - Friday
ELF suspected in two more fires in San Diego this morning (posted by Tree of Liberty)
October 21, 2003 - Tuesday
Fires Breakout all over Southern Cal (posted by al baby)
October 25, 2003 - Saturday
Fires in SoCal are destroying homes! (650 homes) (posted by Stars N Stripes)
October 26, 2003 - Sunday
Southern CA fires - Live Thread 10/26 (4 separate major fires, incl. 1 new arson fire) (posted by mhking)
San Diego County fires - Live Thread 10/26 (posted by socal_parrot)
Crisis on our National Forests: Reducing the Threat of Catastrophic Wildfire [San Bernardino Fires] (posted by Carry_Okie)
Wildfires merge in Southern California; 14 dead, 650 homes lost (posted by Brian S)
October 27, 2003 - Monday
Southern CA fires - Live Thread 10/27 (posted by spectr17)
13 dead in California Wlidfires, 850 homes burned (posted by GeronL)
October 28, 2003 - Tuesday
SoCal Fires Live Thread 10/28 (posted by spectr17)
October 29, 2003 - Wednesday
Southern California Fires -- Live Thread 10/29 (posted by lainie)
3.7 Earthquake under California Fires... (posted by ALOHA RONNIE)
October 30, 2003 - Thursday
Southern California Fires -- Live Thread 10/30 (posted by lainie)
October 31, 2003 - Friday
Southern California Fires ... 10/31 (posted by lainie)
November 1, 2003 - Saturday
Southern California Fires Live Thread -- 11/1/2003 (posted by lainie)
November 2, 2003 - Sunday (today)
re: California Fires -- LISTEN TO DR. BILL WATTENBURG TONIGHT ON KGO (10:00 PM PACIFIC) (posted by doug from upland)
Links with current news of the area --- San Bernardino Mountain Range
Especially for today, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003 --- road information and entry and exit requirements for Big Bear
Lake Arrowhead Mountain News
Rim of the World (.net)'s message board
The envirals cause several states and a large chunk of Pacific ocean (OH! the poor Dolphins) to be inundated with smoke so thick that normal activites had to be curtailed for a week.
But now these same folks are concerned about an infinitesimal amount of smoke from the few people who are heating their homes with wood.
Where is the concern for the poor folks who heat with wood because they can't afford electricity or gas?
Will Barbra Streisand tear down her seven chimneys?
I have an idea for another invention: "The Sierra Club", a knarly piece of wood used to bash out the alleged brains of environmentalists. I could probably sell a lot of them (for entertainment purposes only).
Article by Judi BowersOld Fire 78 percent contained, federal team moving out
It seems like weeks since life in the Big Bear Valley has been normal. In reality, it's been only few days, long days, but only a few.
As the Valley returns to life, residents return and businesses reopen their doors, the sleeping giant known as the Old Fire is 78 percent contained as of Nov. 3. The federal management team is heading up and moving out, being demobilized in the Big Bear Valley and moving to a new location. The team responsible for the Big Bear branch of the Old Fire will be taking over the suppression duties on the fire, moving the camp and incident command back to San Bernardino within a day or so.
Tuesday, Nov. 4, a community meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center. Big Bear's fire chiefs Dana Van Leuven of Big Bear City and Ken Hammond of Big Bear Lake, representatives from the federal fire management team, Forest Service District Ranger Allison Stewart and local elected officials will be on hand to provide information. They will tell the community what happened during the evacuation period, share the appreciation of all that the community was spared and answer questions. A Power Point presentation will show the progression of the fire, the local resources activated and the contingency bulldozer lines completed.
Schools are scheduled to reopen in the Bear Valley as of Nov. 4, and all students will resume a normal schedule.
The final briefing map for the Big Bear branch of the Old Fire was displayed at the Convention Center during the 6 a.m. briefing Nov. 3.
"That says it all."
From: SkiSent: Tuesday, November 4, 2003 11:09 AM
Hello my dear and faithful friends,
This is Ski from Jim's Auto in toptown. It was quite the experience remaining in my own home as the fire came just a few feet away from my back yard. If I were to describe it I would say that the devil just sneezed over my house. Embers were flying every which way and the smoke was as thick as the densest fog. My eyes burned and I tried to cough up what I inhaled. All was done in vain, so it seemed; until the hand of God wisped the fire right by my house. But it wasn't over. The fire was too great and too massive. Smoldering embers became fires once again. How, just how, do you man the whole mountain with firemen to watch for the flaring nostrils of our enemy? It was impossible, so it seemed, until I realized that my innate nature was to help my cherished community. I became an untrained fireman for the community of Teddy Bear, which is by the hangliders. Spotting fires and even fighting some. The heat was intense enough to melt the hairs off my head; well at least the hairs that I had.
I send my utmost apologies to all that have suffered loss in this firestorm from which the team of firefighters, who fought so long and so hard, could not save your possessions. My heart and prayers are with you all. A tragedy, so it seems; devastation is reflected off of many eyes or voices that I have seen or heard from this community. I once heard that death smiles at us all, but all a man can do is smile right back. I've had a week to reminisce, though loss is tangible, I pray that we all smile at death and "continue to strain forward to those things which lie ahead" and swim in "hope, which is never failing."
This event, one of the biggest in my life, has made me think how all is so temporal. My family is what I hold dearest to my heart. So please, mourn as need be, but remember that God catches every one of your tears in a bottle, labels it, and puts it on His shelf (PS 56:8). I have the privilege of a son that cares for his communities memories. So this week, spending more then forty hours cumulative, he has filmed and put together an edited video for all to see. I will have them available at Jim's Auto, number (909) 338-1946, soon. Please call, stop by and inquire about this. Though it may jerk some tears and bring back memories, I know that it is worth while to have in your heart's hands. Thank you firemen, police officers, volunteers, friends, and family for all your prayers. May God bless your journey to a new height in which you cannot explain.
They Call me Ski
Henry Szczypiorski
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/fires/audiovideo/031031mt_laguna.ram
Despite 93 percent containment of the Old Fire, some Cedar Glen residents were still prevented from going home Tuesday while thousands from neighboring mountain communities were allowed to return home.Some homes were without power, telephone service and gas, utility officials said.
Gil Alexander, a Southern California Edison spokesman, said power had been restored to 15,570 of Edison's 24,000 mountain customers by Tuesday afternoon.
"Crews have made substantial progress,' he said. "We're about two-thirds of the way there, and if weather permits, we should have service to virtually all of our customers within 24 hours.'
In all, 1,460 poles, 736 transformers and miles of power lines were damaged at 341 locations during the Old Fire, which charred 91,281 acres ... [snip]
Portions of Highway 18 and all of Highway 330 remained closed to residents Tuesday, and Highway 173 remained closed at Lake Arrowhead Road, said Caltrans spokeswoman Holly Kress ... [snip]
The number of those leading the effort to fight the fire has been reduced as the focus has turned away from structure protection to finishing up the containment line.... [snip]
Hundreds of people packed the Performing Arts Center in Big Bear Lake on Tuesday evening to hear a description of the efforts to save their community. No homes were lost in Big Bear Valley.
Emergency personnel praised community members for their cooperation during the evacuation.
"I thought I would lose my city forever,' Big Bear Lake City Manager Michael Perry told the crowd.
Sheriff's Department officials said jokingly that Oct. 29, the day most people evacuated, was "free speeding day.' Officials from outside the area praised local officials for their extensive planning in the past two years to prepare for such a fire.
Perry said he will present a four-point plan for keeping the community safe at Monday's City Council meeting.
The plan calls for:
- Completing the fire breaks that have been started.
- Maintaining the breaks.
- Removing dead and dying trees.
- Maintaining the forest at a density that lets trees survive drought or bark beetles.
"We should be able to live safely within this forest,' Perry said to a standing ovation.
Meanwhile, the evacuation center at San Bernardino International Airport fell Tuesday from a peak population of about 2,000 to about 650 as evacuees have been allowed back into most mountain communities.
American Red Cross officials said the airport shelter may be closed in the next day or two and consolidated with the shelter at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino.
One woman asked officials if she could come back to the shelter if she went up to her house and found out couldn't stay because there still was no power. She was assured the Red Cross would have a place for her.
"These shelters will remain open until the people have or are placed in temporary housing,' said Bob Howard, a spokesman for Red Cross Disaster Relief. "And as long as the power is still out at some homes, we will continue to have the shelters open.'
About 100 Red Cross case workers are helping the displaced in their search for new living arrangements. The Red Cross is also offering to pay their first month's rent, Howard said.
People lined up at a table inside the hangar Tuesday to get orange passes that will allow them through the remaining roadblocks to go back into the mountains check out their homes.
With fewer people in the shelter, many of those remaining have taken the now unused cots and stacked them sideways to form little green canvas walls to provide a little privacy and a little insulation from the cold air inside the open hangar.
"See that big door? It doesn't close,' said Red Cross volunteer Abel Chapa. "See that big bay window? It doesn't close.'
Media are now allowed in only during certain hours so those at the center can have some privacy in mid afternoon.
In a warehouse at the airport, the Salvation Army was letting evacuees select donated clothes, jackets, food, shoes, cosmetics and toiletries.
Capt. Beau Perez, an administrator and pastor for the San Bernardino Salvation Army, said the local organization will continue to operate a cash-less thrift store.
People who lost their property and have received vouchers can shop for items at the store.
"We are also moving food out to people in need,' he said.
Staff Writer Angelica Martinez contributed to this report.
Despite statements from public officials suggesting the contrary, weather conditions would've allowed firefighting helicopters into the air during the first full day of last week's firestorms, the San Diego Fire Department's aerial coordinator said Tuesday."Certainly, had we had water-dropping helicopters, they would have been able to fly in those conditions," said Capt. Brian Fennessy, air operations coordinator for the San Diego Fire Department.
Agencies in San Diego County temporarily contracted a regional firefighting helicopter this year for a second straight summer, but the funding expired on Oct. 22, only days before the October fires devastated the area.
Responding to questions last week about the absence of a local firefighting helicopter, San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy said wind and smoke probably would've grounded helicopters even if the city owned one. Likewise, Gov. Gray Davis said high winds and the marine layer would've barred the use of military aircraft if federal and state policies hadn't prevented resources from being used.
The wildfires charred more than 300,000 acres and toppled at least 2,000 homes and businesses across the county. At least 16 deaths have been blamed on the fires.
"I venture to say maybe 50 helicopters wouldn't have stopped this fire, but certainly you would have had some victories and certainly structures would've been saved," Fennessy said.
According to the Western Region Climate Center in Reno, Nev., high winds at airports around the county on Oct. 26, the day of greatest damage last week, were around 20 mph. The strongest gust was recorded at 28 mph in Ramona.
Firefighting helicopters such as the Bell 212 formerly leased by the region can operate in winds up to 50 mph and gusts of up to 65 mph, according to the Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide used by local agencies. Three Sheriff's Department helicopters also flew Sunday.
"I was running air operations all day (Sunday) in San Bernardino in worse conditions," Fennessy said.
Murphy didn't return calls for comment Tuesday. Davis attributed his remarks to San Diego Fire Chief Jeff Bowman, and Bowman also couldn't be reached for comment. Fennessy said it's possible the officials were given bad information.
The Bell 212 helicopter, named Copter One, carries 375 gallons of water and is also used for emergency medical transportation and search and rescue missions. The temporary program was funded by private donations, the county and freeway call-box funds.
Pilots would've had to avoid large plumes of smoke during the firefight, but could've made drops regardless, Fennessy said.
Navy firefighting helicopters had been kept from the firefight because of a number of safety policies, including training, communication and maintenance concerns.
When the Navy helicopters joined Copter One on Wednesday, Fennessy said the fleet was able to save ground crews three to four days of work putting out a hotspot in Scripps Ranch not easily accessible by roads.
The city of Los Angeles maintains four firefighting helicopters and two additional helicopters that are used for observation and provide aerial light at night. Los Angeles County maintains four helicopters that carry 350 gallons of water and two that carry 1,000 gallons of water. Orange County keeps two Vietnam War helicopters outfitted with firefighting capabilities.
Some local officials had been working behind the scenes to turn San Diego County's temporary helicopter into a permanent fixture.
"There are financial issues that have prohibited the discussion from moving forward at a quick pace because it all comes down to cost and priorities," said Mitch Mitchell, vice president of public policy for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
A report from the San Diego City Manager's Office in January estimated it would cost $5 million to purchase the two regional helicopters and another $1 million to $1.5 million annually for operations.
"We are fiscally conservative, but it hurt us," said Steve Erie, a political science professor at the University of California, San Diego.
Mitchell had been working closely with Supervisor Ron Roberts to extend the program.
Roberts will revisit the issue Wednesday when the Board of Supervisors addresses his plan to bring five or six helicopters to the region.
Murphy had been criticized by Peter Q. Davis, his opponent in next year's mayoral race, for failing to further fund the helicopter program the week before the fires. Murphy signaled his support for a year-round program during Monday's City Council hearing.
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