SEATTLE, Wash. – Seattle Firefighters were dispatched to a fire in building call at 1316 hours on Saturday, October 6, 2018, located in the 2400 block of S. Norman Street.

The building was said to be a duplex approximately 60 x 40 in diameter with two stories.  Reports of black heavy smoke were visible and coming out of the first floor windows according to earlier details given by Seattle Fire dispatch during fire crews were responding.

Dispatched units to the fire were L4, L3, A5, AIR10, B4, DEP1, E13, E25, E5, L4, M1, M44, MAR5, R1, REHAB1, SAFT2, STAF10, B5, E30, E6, L10. (1316)

Photo Credit:  Seattle Fire

Firefighters immediately arrived on-scene reporting a working fire on the first floor of the two-story duplex. E30 arrived and was on the attack line while E6 was their back-up line.  A complete 360* of the building was in progress.  (1323)

E13 established a water supply on the hydrant on 24th Avenue South and South Norman Street, while team Bravo was setting up an exposure line.  Water was put on the fire. (1325)

Battalion 5 arrived and assumed “Norman Command”.  A 360* was completed.  Attack line was staffed by E30 and back-up line by E6. L4 was searching the building. This was a 2-story duplex. (1327)

Firefighters quickly gained control of the fire but heat and smoke were still present.  Water supply established.  (1328)

L10 reported no extension to floor 2 but smoke was still moderate. Floor 1 had a primary search completed with nothing found. E6 requested an additional truck company to assist with overhaul. (1329)

Photo Credit:  Seattle Fire

Floors 1 and 2 were searched (primary) and were completed with nothing found. Venting of the structure was in progress. (1330)

Floor 2 had a secondary search completed with nothing found. Both floors 1 and 2 had a secondary search completed. (1332)

Firefighters vented the roof by cutting a hole in it. The attic was clear of any fire or smoke. (1334)

An iguana pet was rescued from floor 1 and brought out by firefighters. (1337)

Photo Credit:  Seattle Fire

E16 team exited the building due to low air.  Marshal 5 (FIU) arrived on-scene. (1341)

Overhaul activities had been halted so that Marshal 5 could do his/her investigation on the fire. (1342)

Units started to get released from the fire incident:  E5, R1, A4 returning back in service. (1345)  Safety2 and Deputy1 (1353). REHAB1 (1400).

Seattle Fire reported that no injuries to civilians or firefighters was reported.

The cause of this fire and financial damage to the building and its contents is still being investigated by the Seattle Fire Marshal’s Office.

(c) 2018 NW Fire Blog

KLAMATH FALLS, Oregon —

On Monday, October 1, 2018, will be a day of remembrance and reflection of two men who died selflessly and doing what they loved every time they were deployed to a wildfire or, in some cases – a firestorm incident that required their experience and precise skills.

Twenty-six years tomorrow (1992), Pilot Charles Frost Sheridan, 54 and Co-Pilot Leonard Douglas Martin were killed while serving in the capacity of providing mutual aid from the skies down onto the firestorm below them.  Dropping retardant from their Douglas Commercial or more commonly known as a DC-7B was their primary focus and main fire suppression objective.

As Sheridan and Martin were preparing for a retardant drop on the Cleveland Fire on the El Dorado National Forest in the northern portion of the State of California – both were experiencing an on board mechanical malfunction.  Unexpectedly, the plane crashed at the time this was occurring.   Unfortunately, both brave men would perish in the Tanker 61 crash.

Crash site 2018.  Courtesy – Tanker 61 Memorial

Multiple Agencies including the FAA, NTSB, the USFS and our own research have concluded the following:

• Tanker 61 was a (Douglas Commercial) DC-7B owned by TMB of Tulare, California and operated by Butler Aircraft of Redmond, Oregon.
• The plane was stationed out of the Klamath Falls Airtanker Base (OR) from 1987-1992.
• The plane was under contract with the US Forest Service.
• The crash site is located near Kyburz, California on the southeastern edge of the fire on the Eldorado National Forest, about two miles from the intended retardant drop and one mile west of the upper dam on the Ice House reservoir.

Chuck Sheridan served with Tanker 61 through all six fire seasons and had a home in the Klamath Falls area.  Leonard Martin had recently joined the crew as co-pilot in 1991. Both loved to give tours of their aircraft and talking to visitors about aerial firefighting.

After their deaths, a memorial fund was created to help Chuck and Leonard’s families with any emergency needs they had or would incur.  Instead, these same gracious family members would instead ask that the funds be used for a higher purpose and that was to create a Memorial in their names.

Today, it is known as Tanker 61 Memorial, Wildfire Learning Center that is located at 6300 Summers Lane in Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603.  You can find out more by visiting their Facebook Page, Tanker 61 Memorial, Wildfire Learning Center or visiting their website at tanker61memorial.org.  Their contact information is phone #541-883-6853 or you can reach them by email at tankersixone@gmail.com.

The Memorial is located near the Klamath Falls Airtanker Base, which also where the Lakeview Interagency Fire Center is stationed.  You can also catch a “up, close and personal” front row seat to the National Guard jets flying around.

You can visit this great gem and honor these two great pilots in Oregon during the months of May through October from 0900 through 1800 hours PDT.  Not only can you learn about their lives and legacies but about how aerial firefighting is implemented today.  As a bonus, a P2V Airtanker 06 was donated by Neptune Aviation Inc. and is currently on static display at the Memorial.

The Director of the Memorial is Marcia Cavin who has put her heart and soul into this Memorial project with the aid of her Tanker Base Manager/Volunteer husband, Don Cavin and with countless volunteers along the way. They have put together an amazing Memorial to two Heroic pilots who served unconditionally to save lives, property and natural resources.

Courtesy – Tanker 61 Memorial Association

ABOUT THE CLEVELAND FIRE

The Cleveland Fire started on September 29, 1992 that was deemed to most likely be human-caused but it has not fully been deemed to be so to this day.  The fire was said to have started near Cleveland Corral and is how the fire was named after, which is east of Sacramento. It was observed that the fire had burned about 20,000 acres of forest and rugged back country in a total of 30 hours.

Flames would eventually move northeast destroying a Forest Service lookout tower on Big Hill and down the south side of the highway near Whitehall. It then would race down the American River canyon and threatened to burn up a major communications station nearby and more than 10 popular campgrounds in the Crystal Basin area.

About 150 people who live along US 50 were evacuated. About 20 USFS structures and six homes were burned, most of them Forest Service summer cabins.

Though this was a mandatory evacuation for those in the communities of Whitehall, Riverton, Kyburz and Strawberry along Hwy 150, a group of 10 family and friends decided to stay in hopes of saving their homes.  They were found sheltering-in-place at the Ice House resort, a motel-restaurant-store and campground that was well inside the fire zone.  Those who decided not to heed to the evacuation notice found themselves well too close for comfort, as the fire came calling at their doors (about 1/4 mile) but ended sparing every single one of their homes.

Deer hunters were in the area but quickly self-evacuated from the fire zone.

More than 2,245 firefighters battled the firestorm in steep, rugged terrain as helicopters and air resources dropped retardant and water. Fire weather consisted of low humidity, high winds and prolonged drought conditions which is said to be a wildland firefighter’s worst nightmare, making it ripe for a firestorm.

Three firefighters were injured with two of them being slightly hurt by falling debris.  .

Then on October 1, 1992, during one of their preparations to drop retardant over the fire Tanker 61’s (heavy airtanker) aircraft unexpectedly crashed killing both pilots onboard. It was determined they were having some sort of mechanical malfuction at the time of the crash.

It would take until October 14, 1992, to contain and put the wildfire completely out.  The fire caused more than $245 million in damages, plus an additional $16 million in fire suppression and containment costs.  A total of 72 injuries and two deaths would eventually be reported.

#ClevelandFire #Tanker61 #ChuckSheridan #LeonardMartin #Tanker61Memorial #WildfireLearningCenter #USFS #Airtanker #KlamathFallsOR #KlamathFallsTankerBase #LakeviewInteragency

(c) 2018 NW Fire Blog

SPRING CREEK, Nevada —

Sunday, September 30th – A wildfire named the RANGE TWO FIRE started near Spring Creek in Nevada around 0900 hours today on private land.  It now has moved into the Ruby Mountains and on to the Mountains Jarbidge Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

Photo Credit – USFS – Humboldt Toiyable National Forest

Evacuations are now in effect for the Lamoille Canyon area.  The U.S. Forest Service is asking for all to divert around this area to  protect yours and their own Safety.

Fire fuels include grass, brush, pinyon and juniper.

Unconfirmed reports by media are now reporting that there has been 8,000 acres burned, along with structures burning and being threatened. (We are waiting for an official update from the USFS and to be reported to Inciweb.)

No injuries to civilians or fire personnel have been reported.

(c) 2018 NW Fire Blog

SELMA, Oregon —

INCIDENT SUMMARY

The lightning caused wildfire that began on July 15, 2018, continues to burn about nine miles from Selma in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.  The fire originated in the area of the Klondike Creek.

Fire Managers have broken this incident into three Zones:  Taylor Creek Fire, Klondike East and West Fires.

The Klondike West Fire is burning in the footprint of the 2002 Biscuit Fire and in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Portions of the wildfire has also touched areas of the 2017 Chetco Bar Fire of 2017 burn scar.

STAFFING

There are currently 589 total personnel still working on this wildfire, along with 10 crews, five helos and 22 engines.

Photo Credit – USFS

CLOSURES

The following are closed to keep the public safe and integrity of firefighter safety.

• Roads are open but may close briefly as firefighters may need to do burnout operations for Forest Rd. 23 (Bear Camp Rd.) and South of 23 Road and east of the 2308 (Burnt Ridge) Roads.

EVACUATIONS

• Agness area has been reduced to a Level 1 Evacuation (Be Ready).

FIRE STATUS

Fire behavior was reported as moderate with flanking, backing and group torching.

It has burned about 154,663 acres of timber, grass and brush, as well as fallen dead material from a previous wildfire in the area.  Crews have reached a 72% containment status.

Expected containment date is October 31, 2018.

HASHTAGS

#KlondikeEastFire #KlondikeWestFire

(c) 2018 NW Fire Blog

UPDATE 1 – SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 – SATURDAY

The CABBAGE FIRE is located about six miles southeast of Pendleton, near Interstate 84 in Oregon. The wildfire started on September 20, 2018, from a human caused and unknown ignition.

The fire has burned approximately 50 acres of timber stands and grass.  Fire behavior states is active and is wind-driven.  However, crews have successfully 100% lined the fire and has reached a 50% containment status.

There are 79 personnel along with one crew, two helicopters and 10 engines remaining on the incident but during the Initial Air Attack there were an additional of four SEATs (single engine air tankers), one air attack and three dozers that had responded.  Personnel and equipment responded from Confederate Tribes of the Umatilla FD, E Umatilla Rural Fire District, Pendleton FD, USFS, BIA and ODF.

At the time of this post, fire personnel were busy with mop up.

No structures were reportedly damaged or destroyed. No injuries to civilians and/or firefighters were reported.

(c) 2018 NW Fire Blog