What happened on this day in History? Check out some of these interesting events that occurred so long ago.

2022

Polk County, Florida (USA) – Fentanyl Crisis

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd gave a presser on this day in 2022, showing off his agency’s largest drug bust and seizure of fentanyl which consisted of about eleven (11) pounds, which can kill up to 2.7 Million people (no lie!). Three suspects were arrested who were involved were facilitating the trafficking of the drug from Mexico to Polk County, Florida. This was their largest bust ever.

Malheur National Forest, Oregon (USA) – Prescribed Burn

In an unusual step, law enforcement officials took it upon themselves to arrest a U.S. Forest Burn Boss for his actions in conducting an approved RX burn in the Malheur National Forest. Some nearby residents who say a spot fire moved out of the forest over a county road onto their cattle ranch, say the temps were too high and the conditions too dry to be running a wildfire-prescribed burn. Multiple calls about fire burning on this date constituted POlice to investigate and determine an arrest was warranted.

In my research, there was no mention of RED FLAG WARNING conditions issued. With years of experience and training from US Forest Service employees, it is determined they know the difference between the conditions that are feasible to conduct RX fires and when not to. This has caused a lot of tension among the folks who live in this area.

The employee would be later released and the USFS stated at that time they were unable to comment on the arrest of their employee.

United States – Nationally Speaking

Generally speaking, Fire Managers in several different regions across the United States report wildfire activity to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) located in Boise, Idaho mostly on a daily basis (generally in the summertime) and weekly when it calms down. Here is a recap of fire activity this day in 2022.

The NIFC reported there were five new large wildfires reported in the last 24 hours which are located in Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, and Tennessee with 30 total burning. There had been 534,352 acres in 10 states with a total of 30 fires burning. One Type 1 IMT and four Type 2 IMTs were all supporting these wildfire incidents mostly in the Northwest and Northern California regions.

Washington State had 14 wildfires actively burning at the same time with five in Idaho, three in Oregon, two in Montana, one in California, one in Oklahoma, one in Texas, one in Indiana, and one in Kentucky.

2018

Ylian County, Taiwan – Train Derailment

A train derailed in Yilan County, Taiwan on this day in 2018, killing 18 and injuring 178 people. There is no known reason for what caused the train to derail in the first place.

2011

Japan – Disaster Recovery

A large tsunami and quake hit the area in March of 2011, but on this day in 2011, the government requested an additional $157 Billion Dollars to fill the gap in their disaster recovery budget, due to cost overruns.

2010

Argentia – Tornado

A small town in Argentina had a tornado touch down and wipe out everything in its path through the area of Poza del Tigre, located in the northern area of the County. Six people were killed and 100 injured.

2007

Ramona, California (USA) – Witch Creek Fire

On the afternoon of this date, a small wildfire was ignited into brush from arcing power lines which were brought down by strong Santa Ana winds. The fire broke out in the Witch Creek area. At 0400 hours the next day, the fire had made its way up to the San Diego City limits. Another fire that started the following day called the Guejito Fire would merge at a later time in with the original Witch Creek Fire becoming one. Together, the fire would destroy a total of 197,990 acres of San Diego County lands; 9,250 acres within the City limits, along with 365 homes. Countywide, there were 1,141 homes lost and two deaths. More than 500,000 people lived in the area and 200,000 residents were evacuated. During the peak of the fire, the San Diego FD had 73 engines, seven trucks, and 420 personnel assigned to the incident. At this time, there were 21 total wildfires burning in Southern California. This was said to be the largest evacuation in all of their history books.

2001

Washington State (USA) – Anthrax Deaths

A ninth confirmed death was announced in Washington State, which was later identified to be a US Postal worker. Infected mail began showing up in the US in Florida, New York, and Washington State.

1991

Oakland, California (USA) – Fire

A fire killed 24 people.

1988

Nicaragua – Hurricane Joan

Hurricane Joan was the last hurricane of the season in 1988, which touched down near the coastline of Nicaragua whipping up 125 mph winds. It would claim a total of more than 200 lives as it moved over Central America and destroyed many homes and structures. Property loss was said to be an estimated $1.5 Billion Dollars. After it slowed down, it was downgraded to a Tropical Storm named TS Miriam and disappeared southwest of Mexico.

1975

Mexico City, Mexico – Subway Accident

Mexico’s first major subway accident occurred and killed a total of 26 people. The cause is not known at the time of this update.

1966

Aberfan, South Wales – Disaster

Unknown Photo Credit

A school was buried in Aberfan, where an avalanche of mud, rocks, and coal waste came down a steep hillside from the local Merthyr Vale Colliery after days of heavy fell over the area and entrapped victims under deep areas of sludge. 

With heavy water filling a nearby coal tip and starting to feel the pressure of blocked water rising up inside, it would soon collapse sending water flowing down the hillside and covering a school down below. The school would be encased in 700-foot-high coal waste, making it difficult for first responders to reach and save them. About 148 were killed most of them young children. Today, the site is a park.

1948

Maine (USA) – Mount Desert Island Fire

A wind-driven wildfire burned for three days, after breaking out on this day on Mount Desert Island in Maine. The firestorm burned more than 2,000 acres and destroyed 67 summer cottages on Millionaires Row, five hotels, and 170 permanent residences. It also destroyed the Jackson Lab. 400 people fled on boats before roadways were shut down due to being blocked by fire. It was not brought under control until October 27, 1948. Altogether, when everything was said and done, the fire burned a total of 17,188 acres which included 10,000 acres alone on Cadillac Mountain and in other areas inside of Acadia National Park. Property losses back were at $23 Million Dollars, which would be around $267 or more Million Dollars. No cause of the fire is known at this time.

1934

Washington State (USA) – Windstorm

A severe windstorm hit the northern Pacific Coast. In WA State, the storm claimed 22 lives and caused $1.7 Million in damage mostly to timber. Winds gusted to 87 mph at North Head, WA producing high waves 20’ high on the Puget Sound.

1910

Los Angeles, CA (USA) – LA Times Bombing

A bomb exploded in the LA Times building, killing 21 people and injuring an unknown number of others.

1868

Hayward, California (USA) – Earthquake

An unknown magnitude quake shook the Hayward area (epicenter) at 0700 hours this morning.

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