Incident Summary: A structure fire has spread into the wildland interface on 1/21/2022 at 1719 hours PT, approx. 2 miles east of SR1 in Monterey County, CA. CHP units responded to a “Report of a Fire” call at 1926 hours in the 37800 block of Palo Colorado Rd. This is burning on the edge of the 2016 Soberanes Fire burn scar.
Credit: CALtrans District 5 PIO
This fire is named the COLORADO FIRE but is also being called BIG SUR FIRE, COLORADO IC according to Social Media.
Current Status: 1 structure has been damaged. CHP has been released from this incident and is reporting this is now closed. This morning, CHP was dispatched to the roadway in Palo Colorado to Bixby Bridge due to large boulders had blocked all lanes in various locations. CALtrans was dispatched.
Evacuations: Mandatory evacuations for all areas west of 3800 Palo Colorado Rd to Hwy1 and south to Bixby Creek were issued by Monterey Fire Officials.
Shelters: Red Cross Shelter at the Carmel Middle School, 4380 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel, CA 93923. The SPCA Monterey County is also onsite with an Animal Support Trailer and personnel to co-shelter.
Emergency Alerts: Receive Monterey County fire info text alerts. Text MCWILDFIRE to 888777.
Road Closures: Hwy 1 from Molera Park Entrance. From Coast Road to Granite Canyon Bridge per Caltrans. No estimated ETA is known.
Mapping: The fire location can be found here on this CAL Fire map.
CAL Fire: Unified Command San Benito-Monterey unit with Mid Coast FD.
Incident Summary: A structure fire has spread into the wildland interface on 1/21/2022 at 1719 hours PT, approx. 2 miles east of SR1 in Monterey County, CA. CHP units responded to a “Report of a Fire” call at 1926 hours in the 37800 block of Palo Colorado Rd. This is burning on the edge of the 2016 Soberanes Fire burn scar.
This fire is named the COLORADO FIRE but is also being called BIG SUR FIRE, COLORADO IC according to Social Media.
Current Status: 1,500 acres with a 5% containment status.
Fire Behavior Analysis: Active behavior overnight. Photos on Social Media indicate pretty surreal fire behavior given the wet October and December observed across the region. Per historical fire, data appears the fire is burning south of Palo Colorado and towards Bixby Creek along Long Ridge in an area with little or no fire history. It seems as though the recent rains and cold winter weather aren’t helping to keep fires from developing. It appears the fire started last evening during peak offshore winds and a very low RH. The strongest winds have ended in the vicinity of the Colorado Fire. As of 0300 hours on Saturday, the current weather is showing RH values of 42-52% with southerly winds around 5 mph. These light south winds will represent a possible change for residents and firefighters should be aware of today. (NWS Bay Area via https://twitter.com/NWSBayArea)
Resources: CAL Fire T73 (USDA FS FEPP), T86 (USDA FS FEPP) out of Hollister Tanker Base.
Photo Credit: Flight Radar 24 Flight Tracker
Evacuations: Mandatory evacuations for all areas west of 3800 Palo Colorado Rd to Hwy1 and south to Bixby Creek were issued by Monterey Fire Officials.
Shelters: Red Cross Shelter at the Carmel Middle School, 4380 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel, CA 93923. The SPCA Monterey County is also onsite with an Animal Support Trailer and personnel to co-shelter.
Emergency Alerts: Receive Monterey County fire info text alerts. Text MCWILDFIRE to 888777.
Road Closures: Hwy 1 from Molera Park Entrance. From Coast Road to Granite Canyon Bridge per Caltrans. No estimated ETA is known.
Mapping: The fire location can be found here on this CAL Fire map.
A brush fire is burning approximately two miles east of SR1, north of Point Sur and the Bixby Bridge; near the Palo Colorado section of Monterey County; near Carmel, California.
The fire initially was dispatched as a Report of a Fire in the 37800 block of Palo Colorado Road, just east of SR1 approximately two miles in Monterey County, California around 1926 hours PT on Friday, January 21, 2022. About 17 CHP units are either en route or assigned to this incident.
It was said to be burning at the edge of the 2016 Soberanes Fire burn scar.
INCIDENT DESIGNATOR
This is named the COLORADO FIRE also known as BIG SUR FIRE, COLORADO IC.
CAUSE
Reports from local residents and media reported this was a structure fire that began burning into the wildland interface and started to brew as a possible firestorm. Conditions are said to be high winds and dry fire fuels.
CURRENT WEATHER REPORTS
2315: Temps 55*F, clear with a 6% precipitation. Winds are 6 mph and there is a 19% RH.
2310: A Red Cross evacuation shelter will be open at 2330 hours at the Carmel Middle School, 4830 Carmel Valley Road. El Refugio de la Cruz Roja Americana estará disponible a partir de las 11:30 pm en la secundaria Carmel, en el 4380 del Camino Carmel Valley
Big Sur FD and Mid Coast FD: Volunteer FFs are on working on the fire ground.
NWS Bay Area
CHP
ESTIMATED SIZE
75-100 acres. 0% containment.
INCIDENT TIMELINE
1926-1934: Fire is burning near Bixby Bridge side, later reported as east of the bridge.
1937: reported as 2-3 acres with heavy wind and no structure threats.
2014: additional CHP resources being paged.
2024: Fire reported as starting in the area of Rocky Creek, Palo Colorado.
2024-2115: 9-1-1 calls coming in about the fire.
2124: Fire reported as getting near SR1, CHP units are requested to close the highway.
2130: Caltrans closes SR1 at the stoplight, north of Weston Ridge. CHP to stop southbound at the light, just north of Weston Ridge. Having a north unit to turn around all southbound traffic.
2132: At Rock Creek, the fire has jumped SR1 and is now burning on the westbound side. Poor visibility.
2134: All traffic being turned around at St Rio Raod.
2137: Law enforcement trying to get people to leave. Fire is now approaching Old Coast Road. CHP works with Carmel PD in Dispatch to start turning traffic around at Rio Road.
2140: IC Rocky Creek is in Palo Colorado.
2201: Parks close the south end. Evacuations were completed from the Fire Station to SR1.
2203: Road closed northbound SR1.
2204: Per FD: fire approximately 150 acres. Mandatory orders were issued on Palo and all other sides on SR1.
2207: Mandatory evacuations were ordered from the fire station westbound to SR1.
2214: Winds blowing from the southeast.
2215: 2nd fire reported at Boney Dune Road and Pine Flat Road between SR1 and Gate C17 in Santa Cruz. No other details on this.
2222: All areas west of 3800 Palo Colorado Road to Hwy 1 and south to Bixby Creek.
2233: All residents on the west side of the fire station have been evacuated.
2232: One wonders how firefighters will fight this fire as there is no level ground, no roads, aircraft not flying during the night.
2224: Fire started in Palo Colorado Canyon. GOES 17 satellite imagery showing the fire on the radar. Dry northeasterly winds are pushing the fire in a southwest direction towards Hwy 1. (weather news)
2103: Fire heading SW toward Rocky Creek and Bixby, which are under evacuation orders.
NEW HAMPSHIRE — Keene Firefighters and mutual aid from around the area and some about 30 minutes away responded around 2200 hours ET (1900 PT) to a Saturday late-night fire of a two-story mixed-use brick commercial structure in the 100 block of Main Street in the downtown Keene business corridor.
Incident Cooperators: Keene FD, Keene PD, Westminister FD, Keene City Public Works
First due units reported heavy fire on all three sides of the commercial structure. According to fire scanner feed from other sources, rescues were conducted and a Mayday was transmitted just before 2329. Then all of the crews were told to abandon the building with the evacuation tones being sounded. Command cleared the Mayday and all crews were deemed to be safely out of the fire building at 2329.
A collapse zone was established on the bravo side (2339) and charlie side (2340).
During the firefight, fire crews rescued an adult female from the second floor, who was transported by EMS for smoke inhalation. Two firefighters were also transported for minor burns and have since been released from the hospital.
Credit: City Councilor Philip Jones
Multiple people were said to be displaced.
The building has three storefronts including the Cobblestone Ale House, Dominos Pizza, Piazza Ice Cream on floor one, and seven apartments on floor two.
The Keene Police Department closed off area roadways from Marlboro Street to Eagle Court (northbound) and Emerald Street to Winchester Street (southbound) until Sunday morning.
Photo Credits: Keene FD
It was reported estimated property and contents loss was around $1,000,000.
About the Keene Fire Department
The Keene Fire Department HQ is located at 31 Vernon Street. The Fire Department has two stations, which are mainly staffed by career firefighters. The Department has no volunteers but does have about 45 full-time and 20 part-time paid firefighters.
SAN CLARITA, CALIFORNIA — LA County Firefighters are on the scene of a two-story strip mall fire on Saturday, in the block of 23200 West Lyons Avenue.
Upon arrival by E73 as the first due apparatus, reported the second floor of the mall was heavily involved with fire and the unit went initially going defensive. At 1702, Command advised Dispatch they were in defensive operations but transitioning back over to offensive operations but were still in the same mode
This is the LA LYONS IC as the Command designator.
Command requested a 2nd alarm at 1713 hours PT, bringing additional resources, and were instructed to check in with Medic 1 when they arrived at Staging which was located on Lyons and Valley.
At 1707 PT, Dispatch advised the LA Lyons IC it was 20 minutes on the timer, at which time, the IC stated they was heavy fire in the attic and all hands were working in the defensive operations mode.
The Fire was knocked at 1724 hours and Command advised Dispatch, to retain all 2nd alarm resources as manpower due to extensive overhaul. The Fire Investigator asked Command to hold off on overhaul until the cause could be determined.
A primary search of the building at 1725 hours was conducted but nothing was found.
Cause is still being determined at the time of this post. No preliminary cause had been disclosed and no word if any citizens or firefighters have been injured during this incident.
About the Fire Building
The fire building is a two-story-strip mall that is being used as mixed occupancy as offices and retail space, which was built in 1982 on 1.09 acres. The building is approximately 31,418 square footage and assessed per LA County tax records as $1,205,794.
Back in the day before we were officially the NW Fire Blog, we were former volunteer Fire REHAB members with the Seattle Fire Buff Society, which provides rehydration and replenishment sources back to fire personnel, which are on long duration incidents.
We shared this photo on our Facebook page in 2016, as a remembrance for some of the great days helping firefighters and personnel with firefighters REHAB during long incidents, including house and commercial structure fires, gas leak calls, HAZMAT scenes, Confined Spaces, and other types of calls.
We interfaced with Seattle, Northshore, Shoreline, Bothell, Bellevue and a few times with the Everett Fire Departments. We have met some really great people along the way and made lifelong friendships. Though we are no longer with the organization, it still continues to evolve even to this day providing the same services to the Seattle Fire Department.
As a member in 2008, we had the rare and amazing opportunity to visit the Fire Training Center in North Bend, Washington (WA), as the organization was host to the International Fire Buff Association conference being held in Seattle.
Watching fire crews train and watch their egress skills in action first, then being invited to do a ride-a-long in an Osh Kosh while responding to an aircraft fire drill, was the best day ever. Was the best day as a fire photographer who could wish for and one lifetime moment never to be forgotten.
More respect to firefighters on that day was given.
To those who were there that day to make this moment happen and to those who do this every day, THANK YOU, you are greatly appreciated.
EL CAJON, California — Four souls, as part of the Aeromedevac flight crew N88OZ were returning when home when their lear jet clipped some power lines about 1.4 miles away from the airport after transporting a patient from Arizona to the John Wayne airport.
The crash killed four souls on board, two nurses, and both pilots.
Credit: Unknown
We send our sincere prayers, thoughts, and sincere sympathies to their families, loved ones, colleagues, and to the communities where they served. We thank you for your service and dedication.We are sorry for your loss.
This story was originally published on the day the crash occurred on December 27, 2021.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, California — A lear jet has been reported to have clipped some powerlines as it descended, which caused a large fireball after it crashed in the intersection of Pepper Drive and North Mollison Avenue in Lakeside, California.
Originally dispatched as a plane into a house was updated to show it crashed behind a house.
Multiple powerlines were brought down and the area has been hit by a power outage.
The Fire Command is PEPPER IC.
Units dispatched were Lakeside Fire District’s E4101, 4601, 4103, B2, CM49, E19, E8, E9, M5, OE418, and T4. San Diego City HAZMAT unit, along with mutual fire aid from San Miguel E19 (Fire Attack), Santee, Heartland-El Cajon and San Diego FD.
The Sheriff’s released a statement on their Social Media channels stating, “It will take time to process the scene, but the FAA and NTSB have been notified and will handle the investigation of a plane crash.” They are asking for any photos and videos of the plane crash, for those who may have media inquiries to send them to witness@ntsb.gov.
A request to the general public and to citizens who live in the areas near the Cities of El Cajon, Lakeside, and Santee to avoid the area due to a developing situation, which they were investigating and handling traffic control.
Incident Cooperators include law enforcement from the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, SDSO Lakeside, CHP of El Cajon and El Cajon PD, as well as Lakeside FD.
A fire buff tweeted out saying how close this crash was to the Lakeside Fire Department’s Station 1, is only 2,400 feet from their building. Firefighters had a challenging time accessing the fire ground due to downed powerlines.
About Airplane Crashes in California of 2021
Auburn | A plane crashed into a home while the homeowners were inside the building. They were uninjured. | 12/23/2021
Santee | A small twin-engine plane crashed into several homes, a UPS truck and caused a fire causing severe damage to homes. Two were killed. | 10/11/2021.
LUDLOW, Yonkers (NY) — A 4-alarm structure fire is burning in three buildings located at 81 Elliott Avenue (Fire building) with three exposures on Elliott and Hamilton in Yonkers, New York. The fire ignited on the night of Christmas on December 25, 2021.
At 2111 hours, a progress report was given to Dispatch from Command: The fire building is 81 Elliott Avenue is fully engulfed and all fire personnel have been evacuated from the structure. Exposure 1 is the street side and there are 2 other Exposures with one to the rear on Hamilton. Two aerial master streams are operating along with seven hose lines.
The fire building is said to be a four-story brick building. At 2047 hours PT, it was listed as a 3-Alarm incident with fire through the roof and having exposure issues.
Credit: Westchester County Tax Assessor
A progress report was given at 2134 PT with two ladder pipes on the fire bldg and one master stream on Elliott. Two lines from Exposure Bravo and one line on Charlie exposure. Delta building is safe. All hands are working.
The fire building (81 Elliott Avenue) is said to be a 13,924 square feet multi-family home on a 4,764-square-foot lot. It is currently off the market and was last sold on November 16, 1994, for $245,000. The brick building was constructed in 1915 and has five units. This is an apartment building with rents reported as $2,100 per month. There is a 1,200 square basement that is a crawl space. (Sources: Zillow, Redfin, BING) The estimated value of the building is $794,393 (2020 assessment). The fire building is owned by the 81 Elliott Ave Housing Development Fund Corporation located at 81-83 Elliott Avenue, Yonkers, NY. (Source: Westchester County Tax Assessor)
A new progress report was given at 2210 PT by Elliott Command. They are shutting down all lines to allow the structure to drain, then they will reassess the situation.
Current weather conditions as of 2213 PT in Yonkers, NewYork are cloudy skies with temps of 48*F degrees, precip is 73%, and humidity at 89%. Winds are blowing at 11 mph.
(c) 2021 NW Fire Blog – Published 12/25/2021 2210 PT
Published Sunday, December 19, 2021, 1600 hours PT
Credit: SFD
KING COUNTY, Washington — City of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, Councilmember Herbold, SFD Fire Chief Scoggins, Seattle Fire Fighters Union Local 27, Kenny Stuart, and the Human Services Department Director, Tanya Kim announced the 3rd Health One unit to join the Seattle Fire Department in early 2022, which is slated to serve the citizens primarily in the portion of the City.
Health One units are staffed with two Seattle Fire Department Firefighter/EMTs and a Human Services Department Aging and Disability Services Division social worker, which helps those with mental/behavioral health or substance abuse illnesses, as well as those with non-emergency medical issues.
According to the City of Seattle website, the demand for these types of services has dramatically grown since the year 2020, when 50% of those served by Health One were reported to be homeless and 95% of all clients listed on public insurance or uninsured. Additionally, in 2020, 37% of all of SFD’s medical calls were determined to be “low acuity” calls, which were said to be related to social service needs, such as homelessness, mental health crises, drug and alcohol use, and chronic medical issues.
From (L): IAFF Local 27, President Kenny Stuart. (Center) SFD’s Low Acuity Program Manager, Jon Ehrenfeld. (R) SFD Fire Chief Harold Scoggins. | Credit: SFD
These units are dispatched through the SFD FAC (Fire Alarm Center/9-11 Center) by calling 9-1-1 and cannot be contacted by the general public directly.
Before the program was created, about 42% of the 96,000 calls received by Seattle’s 9-1-1 dispatch center in 2018, were not life-threatening and included some calls deemed behavioral health and addiction issues that firefighters and medics were not equipped to deal with or have the ability to treat.
The Health One program was launched on September 11, 2019.
The second Health One unit was announced on April 13, 2021, which was assigned to serve underserved individuals in the University District and Ballard communities.
“The Health One program has proven to safely and effectively provide services to those who need it most, including our unhoused population and those suffering from behavioral/mental health disorders and substance abuse. Firefighter/EMTs and case managers staffing these units have received specialized training and always respond with patience and compassion when interacting with clients. We look forward to launching our third unit into service next year, and expanding our emphasis service area to South Seattle,” said Fire Chief Harold Scoggins.
To learn more about this great program, you can visit the Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Line (published online blog) at https://fireline.seattle.gov.
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, WASHINGTON — Firefighters from SCFD21 and North County took part in joint training over the weekend to conduct a water training drill simulating rural firefighting tactics.
Credit: SCFD21
“Here at District 21, we firmly believe in the importance of training and honing your craft to the best of your ability.” – SCFD21
About Snohomish County Fire District 21
SCFD21 provides fire, rescue, and EMS services to the citizens living in the City of Arlington, a 70-square mile area, and about 9,000 people.
The District operates out of one Fire Station (49) in the Arlington Heights area and the construction of another station (50) is due to be completed in late 2022 or early 2023.
The Fire District has three Fire Commissioners and is under management by Fire Chief Chad Schmidt and Assistant Chief Joel Smith. This is a combination department with seven full-time and 25 part-paid firefighters. Additionally, there are 10 volunteer firefighters.
According to their website,
E49 – 2007 HME Chassis, Boise Mobile Body with Pump-1500 gpm, Tank-1000 gal.
TE49 – Tender Engine, a 2003 HME Chassis, Boise Mobile Body with a pump-1000 gpm and a 3,000 gallon tank.
A49 – 2015 Braun Northwest BLS Ambulance.
U49 (Utility 49) – 2012 Ford F250. Their water rescue vehicle.
HC49 (Hovercraft 49) – 2008 Neoteric Hovercraft.
T49 (Tender 49) – 2003 Kenworth Chassis, 4-Guys Body with 500 gpm pumper with a 3,000 gallon tanker.
Tender 94 – 1987 GMC Chassis, 4-Guys Body with 500 gpm pumper and a 1,800- gallon tank. This is on loan from the Fire District #19 in Silvana.
CH49 (Chief 49) – 2008 Ford Escape. This is their Staff/Command vehicle.
(c) 2021 NW Fire Blog, Published 12/16/2021 2015 PT
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