There have been a lot of incidents that have occurred throughout the United States and this is a brief recap of what happened last week. (This excludes the Northwest region which is a separate post for these two states).

ALASKA

BLM ALASKA FIRE SERVICE

UNIVERSITY FIRE DEPARTMENT

B shift training on Rope Rescue skills. The college offers many opportunities but this school is not only a classroom full of great opportunities by skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced training instructors but they have a well-established reputation in the lower 48 for being the best of the best. They offer earned advanced EMS and Fire certifications along with opportunities for technical rescue courses. Students who are lucky enough to make it into the rigorous firefighting program, also go on real-life fire and EMS calls.

About 90% of UFD student firefighters have obtained successful emergency services positions with the career fire department. Current applications are being received for this very successful, challenging, and rewarding program until March 31, 2023. Website and details here –> https://www.uaf.edu/fire/ | Source / Photo Credits: UFD

ARIZONA

GOODYEAR FIRE DEPARTMENT

A truck rammed into cyclists in Goodyear, Arizona killing one and injuring 12 on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Police are investigating. | Source: Intel Point Alert

CALIFORNIA

FRESNO COUNTY

On February 25, 2023, around 1614 hours PT, CAL FIRE / Fresno County Firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire, a 4,500 square foot two-story residential building in the 1100 block of east Conejo near Caruthers. One firefighter suffered an injury while working to egress on the structure fire. It was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The cause was unknown and under investigation. | Source / Photo Credit: CAL FIRE / FCFD

LOS ANGELES

On February 22nd, local weather forecasters issued warnings for area residents due to a potential for strong winds and heavy snow, a blizzard warning being issued for the whole county and Ventura County mountains from 0400 hours PT Friday to 1600 hours on Saturday. Snow accumulation up to five feet (that’s correct) and wind gusts in excess of 55 mph were expected. || Source / Photo Credit: NWS Los Angeles

OAKLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT

Crazy Fire stats for February 25th: 250 total calls for service with 160 EMS-related, 18 fire-related, 29 miscellaneous fire responses, 42 were MACRO (large scale incidents), and one additional Emeryville response.

Their Fire Marshal, Felicia Wanzo-Bryant has been chosen to serve on the International Fire Service Training Association “Building Construction Related to the Fire Service, 5th Edition Validation Committee, as of February 25, 2023.

On February 23, 2023, the FD had 255 total calls for service with 155 EMS-related, 16 fire calls (two of them were encampment fires), 25 miscellaneous fire responses, and 59 MACRO responses.

February 22nd, the Oakland FD responded to 208 total calls for service which 157 of those were EMS related, 16 fire related with three of them as confirmed encampment fires, 35 as miscellaneous fire responses, and 65 were MACRO responses. | Source: Dr Reginald Freeman, Fire Chief

PETALUMA FIRE DEPARTMENT

Assistant Fire Chief Chad Costa made the official announcement on February 24, 2023, that their Fire Agency was awarded the 2021 (yes, that’s correct) FEMA Assistance for Firefighters Grant. This will allow them to purchase new wildland portable radios as well as new mobile radios for their Fire apparatus. | Source: Asst. Fire Chief Chad Costa

PLACER COUNTY

CAL FIRE / Placer County FD was in unified command with CHP on Friday, February 24, 2023, during a multiple-vehicle collision that occurred on I-80 near Drum Forebay. Snow had impacted the County, causing treacherous driving conditions. | Source / Photo Credit: CAL FIRE NEU

TRUCKEE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

On Saturday, February 25, 2023, around 0517 hours PT, Fire personnel and equipment were dispatched to a reported gas leak after a residential propane tank between houses was struck by a snow plow in Serene Lake. While units were en route to the fire call, they were updated by Dispatch that the tank was now on fire and power lines were down in the area. Residents were quickly evacuated from area homes and a perimeter was established.

While Fire units were waiting for the power and propane to be secured, a house located across the street had been involved in an explosion and was also ablaze. Fire Officials believe that the explosion occurred shortly after the propane tank was struck by the plow and the leaking Liquified Propane Gas (LPG) turned to vapor and traveled throughout the area eventually finding an ignition source inside the house.

A 360* assessment by firefighters determined there were two additional structures that also had been damaged by the explosion. Placer County Sheriff was on the scene and working with the County Environmental Health and the Office of Emergency Service (OES) to further the assessment and mitigation of the LPG spill. There were no additional threats to the area.

Resources included: CAL FIRE, Olympic Valley FD, CHP, Placer County SO, PG&E, Liberty Utilities, and AmeriGas with mutual aid backfilling the Truckee Fire District stations.| Source / Photo Credit: TFPD

COLORADO

WEST METRO FIRE RESCUE

The West Metro Fire Rescue, a Fire Agency in the Denver, Colorado area saw one of their long-time members retire into a new Chapter of Life on Saturday, February 25, 2023. FF/PM Eric Herren has been with the Department for nearly 25 years. What a great way to end an amazing and successful career! | Source / Photo Credit: WMFR

FLORIDA

PINE HILLS

Several people were victims and were subjected to a news crew being ambushed during reporting in the area on February 22, 2023. Local news reported a 19-year-old gunman was responsible for killing a journalist, Dylan Colby Lyons with Spectrum 13 News, a nine-year-old, and a 20-year-old. | Source: Intel Point Alert

SEMINOLE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT

Firefighter / Paramedic Matt Helenthal (R) has retired from the Agency after a long and successful fire career with the SCFD, after a 20-year service to his community. He originally started with the Winter Springs FD in 2003 and continued serving his communities after this FD merged with the SCFD on October 2, 2008. He helped launch the County FD’s Community Paramedicine Program, as well as worked at many stations in Winter Springs and Oviedo. | Source / Photo Credit: Seminole County FD

MISSISSIPPI

USFS – NATIONAL FORESTS

A wildfire named the INDIAN CREEK FIRE broke out 10 miles northwest of Wiggins, MS in an area owned by the US Forest Service / in the National Forests. Fire was reported on Friday, February 23, 2023, with moderate fire behavior with flanking and backing threatening area residences. Fire fuels included: Southern rough. No word on today’s fire conditions. About 1,171 acres had been burned and was at an 80% containment status on Friday. 18 total personnel were on the scene along with one engine and one helicopter. At that time, there was $20,000 cost-to-date had been recorded. | Source: NIFC

NEW MEXICO

SANTA FE

A suspect was arrested after firing a gun inside the Walmart Supercenter in Santa Fe, New Mexico, causing a lockdown and Police rushing to the scene. No injuries were reported but it did cause a rush of shoppers to flee and mass panic. | Source: Intel Point Alert.

OKLAHOMA

OK DEPT. OF FORESTRY

A wildfire designated as the RED HILL 23 FIRE ignited from an unknown cause about six miles north of Keota, OK in grass and timber. On Friday, February 23, 2023, the fire behavior was said to be moderate with wind-driven runs and flanking. There had been 325 acres burned with a 76% containment status (on Friday) with two total personnel along with one engine. About $2,000 had been recorded for the cost-to-date expenses for fire suppression and containment efforts. No word on today’s current fire conditions or if it has been fully contained. No information on what caused the fire at the time of this post. | Source: NIFC

February 19, saw its fair share of wildfires and prescribed fire incidents on this day. | Source: wildcad.net

BLACKJACK FIRE broke out at 1255 hours in Creek County, OK. Kellyville FD along with State fire personnel was also on the scene of the wildfire. About 5.9 acres were burned. It was contained on the same day at 1530 hours.

BUFFALO DANNY, a prescribed fire in McCurtain was successful with a total of 1,235 acres burned.

KINGDOODLE REGENS, a prescribed fire occurred at 0808 hours and was successful with a burn of a total of 196 acres.

MUD BOG 2 FIRE,. a wildfire broke out in Bell, Oklahoma prompting the dispatch of fire personnel and equipment at 1646 hours. A total of 4.7 acres were scorched. The fire was contained and controlled on the same day at 2000 hours.

KITTY SCRATCH FIRE, a wildfire in which dispatchers sent fire personnel and equipment via the AR-OK Interagency Coordination Center to the fire ground located four miles east of Henryetta, OK. About 41 acres were burned. The fire was contained on February 20th at 1400 hours.

February 20th also saw alot of wildfire activity. | Source: wildcad.net

BRATTON FIRE, a wildfire located five miles northwest of Tulsa Osage Casino, OK broke out. Fire resources were dispatched at 1200 hours. About 251 acres were burned. No current status is noted. | Source: wildcad.net

ROLLING HILLS FIRE & RESCUE

The Rolling Hills Fire & Rescue is offering training, Firefighter I course on March 6, 2023 – April 30, 2023. Check out the details in the photo above. | Source: Oklahoma Firefighters

VIRGINIA

DOLPHIN VFD

Volunteer firefighters with the Dolphin Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) were dispatched on the eve of February 18, 2023, around 1740 hours PT for a heavily involved residential structure fire. They were assisted with mutual aid from Lawrenceville, Dinwiddie County, Brunswick EMS, and Alberta Fire Department which brought a total number of personnel and equipment (Engine 4, E42, tankers, and command unit).

No one was home at the time of the fire and no injuries to first responders were reported. | Source / Photo Credits: Dolphin VFD

WISCONSIN

GLENDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT

A local news agency reported on the parking garage collapse at the Bayshore Mall in Glendale, crushing multiple vehicles on February 23, 2023. . | Source: Intel Point Alert

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