Zico Quic-Bar Forcible Entry Tool - First Responder Products - Homeland Security, DHS, SEL/AEL, Emergency Rescue, Law Enforcement, Fire Rescue, Milita

Zico Quic-Bar Forcible Entry Tool - First Responder Products - Homeland Security, DHS, SEL/AEL, Emergency Rescue, Law Enforcement, Fire Rescue, Military, Homeland Security News:

"Zico Quic-Bar Forcible Entry Tool
$223.00
Zico Quic-Bar Forcible Entry Tool
Click to enlarge

Chrome-plated steel entry tools are available in three styles
Three-Piece Quic-Bar

Swedge-fit into ends and pinned through for maximum strength and dependability; with octagon handle.

·Ends are forged in high-alloy aircraft steel and tapered to a fine point to facilitate entry

·Hex bar is stress-proof steel

Available Options: 30", 36", 42"


Editor - This tactical Entry Halligan Tool looks like a nice tool to have around. And maybe firstresponderproducts.com will send me one to have err... I mean test since they enjoy the free advert/link...hint hint

Quick overview of Homeland Security Advisory System

Department of Homeland Security Advisory System

Homeland Security Advisory System Overview

The Homeland Security Advisory System shall be binding on the executive branch and suggested, although voluntary, to other levels of government and the private sector. There are five Threat Conditions, each identified by a description and corresponding color. From lowest to highest, the levels and colors are:

Low = Green; Guarded = Blue; Elevated = Yellow; High = Orange; Severe = Red.

The higher the Homeland Security Threat Condition, the greater the risk of a terrorist attack. Risk includes both the probability of an attack occurring and its potential gravity. Threat Conditions shall be assigned by the Attorney General in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. Except in exigent circumstances, the Attorney General shall seek the views of the appropriate Homeland Security Principals or their subordinates, and other parties as appropriate, on the Threat Condition to be assigned.

Threat Conditions may be assigned for the entire Nation, or they may be set for a particular geographic area or industrial sector. Assigned Threat Conditions shall be reviewed at regular intervals to determine whether adjustments are warranted. For facilities, personnel, and operations inside the territorial United States, all Federal departments, agencies, and offices other than military facilities shall conform their existing threat advisory systems to this system and henceforth administer their systems consistent with the determination of the Attorney General with regard to the homeland security Threat Condition in effect.

The assignment of a Threat Condition by the Det. of Homeland Security shall prompt the implementation of an appropriate set of Protective Measures. Protective Measures are the specific steps an organization shall take to reduce its vulnerability or increase its ability to respond during a period of heightened alert. The authority to craft and implement Protective Measures rests with the Federal departments and agencies. It is recognized that departments and agencies may have several preplanned sets of responses to a particular Threat Condition to facilitate a rapid, appropriate, and tailored response. Department and agency heads are respon-sible for developing their own Protective Measures and other antiterrorism or self-protection and continuity plans, and resourcing, rehearsing, documenting, and maintaining these plans.

Likewise, they retain the authority to respond, as necessary, to risks, threats, incidents, or events at facilities within the specific jurisdiction of their department or agency, and, as authorized by law, to direct agencies and industries to implement their own Protective Measures. They shall continue to be responsible for taking all appropriate proactive steps to reduce the vulnerability of their personnel and facilities to terrorist attack. Federal department and agency heads shall submit an annual written report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, describing the steps they have taken to develop and implement appropriate Protective Measures for each Threat Condition. Governors, mayors, and the leaders of other organizations are encouraged to conduct a similar review of their organizations= Protective Measures.

The decision whether to publicly announce homeland security Threat Conditions shall be made on a case-by- case basis by the Attorney General in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. Every effort shall be made to share as much information regarding the threat as possible, consistent with the safety of the Nation. The Attorney General shall ensure, consistent with the safety of the Nation, that State and local government officials and law enforcement authorities are provided the most relevant and timely information.

The Attorney General shall be responsible for identifying any other information developed in the threat assessment process that would be useful to State and local officials and others and conveying it to them as permitted consistent with the constraints of classification. The Attorney General shall establish a process and a system for conveying relevant information to Federal, State, and local government official Homeland Security, law enforcement authorities, and the private sector expeditiously.

The Director of Central Intelligence and the Attorney General shall ensure that a continuous and timely flow of integrated threat assessments and reports is provided to the President, the Vice President, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Whenever possible and practicable, these integrated threat assessments and reports shall be reviewed and commented upon by the wider interagency community.

A decision on which homeland security Threat Condition to assign shall integrate a variety of considerations. This integration will rely on qualitative assessment, not quantitative calculation. Higher Threat Conditions indicate greater risk of a terrorist act, with risk including both probability and gravity. Despite best efforts, there can be no guarantee that, at any given Threat Condition, a terrorist attack will not occur. An initial and important factor is the quality of the threat information itself. The evaluation of this threat information shall include, but not be limited to, the following factors:

To what degree is the threat information credible? To what degree is the threat information corroborated? To what degree is the threat specific and/or imminent? How grave are the potential consequences of the threat?

Homeland Security Threat Conditions and Associated Protective Measures

The world has changed since September 11, 2001. We remain a Nation at risk to terrorist attacks and will remain at risk for the foreseeable future. At all Homeland Security Threat Conditions, we must remain vigilant, prepared, and ready to deter terrorist attacks. The following Threat Conditions each represent an increasing risk of terrorist attacks. Beneath each Threat Condition are some suggested Protective Measures, recognizing that the heads of Federal departments and agencies are responsible for developing and implementing appropriate agency-specific Protective Measures:

Homeland Security Advisory System - Low Condition (Green) This condition is declared when there is a low risk of terrorist attacks. Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures they develop and implement:

Refining and exercising as appropriate preplanned Protective Measures; Ensuring personnel receive proper training on the Homeland Security Advisory System and specific preplanned department or agency Protective Measures; and Institutionalizing a process to assure that all facilities and regulated sectors are regularly assessed for vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks, and all reasonable measures are taken to mitigate these vulnerabilities.

Homeland Security Advisory System - Guarded Condition(Blue) This condition is declared when there is a general risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Condition, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:

Checking communications with designated emergency response or command locations;

Reviewing and updating emergency response procedures; and

Providing the public with any information that would strengthen its ability to act appropriately.

Homeland Security Advisory System - Elevated Condition (Yellow) An Elevated Condition is declared when there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Homeland Security Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:

Increasing surveillance of critical locations;

Coordinating emergency plans as appropriate with nearby jurisdictions;

Assessing whether the precise characteristics of the threat require the further refinement of preplanned Protective Measures; and

Implementing, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.

Homeland Security Advisory System - High Condition (Orange) A High Condition is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:

Coordinating necessary security efforts with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies or any National Guard or other appropriate armed forces organizations; Taking additional precautions at public events and possibly considering alternative venues or even cancellation;

Preparing to execute contingency procedures, such as moving to an alternate site or dispersing their workforce; and

Restricting threatened facility access to essential personnel only.

Homeland Security Advisory System - Severe Condition (Red) A Severe Condition reflects a severe risk of terrorist attacks. Under most circumstances, the Protective Measures for a Severe Condition are not intended to be sustained for substantial periods of time. In addition to the Protective Measures in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies also should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:

Increasing or redirecting personnel to address critical emergency needs; Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning and mobilizing specially trained teams or resources;

Monitoring, redirecting, or constraining transportation systems; and Closing public and government facilities.

The United States Government will continue on a daily basis to monitor and analyze threat information and share that information, together with appropriate protective measures, with state, local and private sector authorities as well as the general public as part of the ongoing national effort to prevent terrorist attacks and protect the country.

Recommended Activities

All Americans should continue to be vigilant, take notice of their surroundings, and report suspicions items or activities to local authorities immediately. Everybody should establish an emergency preparedness kit as well as a communications plan for themselves and their family, and stay informed about what to do during an emergency situation.

All Citizens should contact there local office of Emergency Management or Emergency Information Center for current information in their area.

About the Homeland Security Advisory System

The Homeland Security Advisory System is designed to target our protective measures when specific information to a specific sector or geographic region is received. It combines threat information with vulnerability assessments and provides communications to public safety officials and the public.

Homeland Security Threat Advisories contain actionable information about an incident involving, or a threat targeting, critical national networks or infrastructures or key assets. They could, for example, relay newly developed procedures that, when implemented, would significantly improve security or protection. They could also suggest a change in readiness posture, protective actions, or response. This category includes products formerly named alerts, advisories, and sector notifications. Advisories are targeted to Federal, state, and local governments, private sector organizations, and international partners.

Homeland Security Information Bulletins communicate information of interest to the nation�s critical infrastructures that do not meet the timeliness, specificity, or significance thresholds of warning messages. Such information may include statistical reports, periodic summaries, incident response or reporting guidelines, common vulnerabilities and patches, and configuration standards or tools. It also may include preliminary requests for information. Bulletins are targeted to Federal, state, and local governments, private sector organizations, and international partners.

Color-coded Threat Level System is used to communicate with public safety officials and the public at-large through a threat-based, color-coded system so that protective measures can be implemented to reduce the likelihood or impact of an attack. Raising the threat condition has economic, physical, and psychological effects on the nation; so, the Homeland Security Advisory System can place specific geographic regions or industry sectors on a higher alert status than other regions or industries, based on specific threat information.

Structure fire - high-rise building tools

Outfitting Firefighters

Meet Tom Carroll (left) and Ed Fales. Tom is a lieutenant and Ed is a firefighter and paramedic with Engine Company 1 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

You will see how Tom and Ed would suit up in response to a fire in a high-rise building and what assorted tools they would carry. By the time they are fully equipped, each of them will be carrying a staggering load of state-of-the-art gear weighing between 80 and 100 pounds and costing almost $4,500 per man.

		Two-way radio Wherever a firefighter is, communication is essential. Firefighters wear two-way radios at all times, which they use to talk to each other and their dispatcher.
		Leather boots and rubber boots Leather boots (worn by Tom) are the traditional footwear of the firefighter. They are significantly lighter than rubber boots and offer more ankle support, reducing leg fatigue, which can be important when climbing stairs in a high-rise fire situation. Rubber boots (worn by Ed) have strong pull loops at the top of the boot, allowing firefighters to quickly pull them on. They have a heavy felt lining for comfort and protection, steel toes, and slip-resistant soles. When firefighters are at their station they keep the shank of their boots inside the cuff of their turnout pants and position them next to the fire trucks so they can don their boots and pants in one swift motion when responding to a call.
		Turnout pants Turnout pants, also called bunker pants, are made of many different layers of fire-resistant synthetic materials, such as Nomex, Dermoflex, neoprene, and Kevlar, which protect firefighters from extreme heat. A firefighter's turnout pants are held up by suspenders, which make them easy to get into and comfortable to wear.
		Hood Similar to a ski mask, the so-called "anti-flash" hood protects the firefighter's neck and head from extreme heat and flames with a single layer of fire-resistant Nomex material. The hood can also be used as a crude air filter in smoky environments.
		Helmet Following tradition, a firefighter's helmet is made out of leather, lined with a hard protective shell. The helmet is stitched to create vertical ribs across its top, which protect the head from blows to the side. A long bill on the back of the helmet keeps water and debris from dropping into the firefighter's coat. Inside the helmet are built-in flaps to protect the ears. Many helmets have flip-up face shields attached to the brim, which provide face and eye protection without inhibiting vision. On the front of a firefighter's helmet a shield denotes the wearer's rank and engine company number.
		Turnout coat Firefighters' heavy turnout coats, which weigh over 20 pounds, are made of a combination of fire-resistant synthetic materials, such as Nomex, Dermoflex, neoprene, and Kevlar. The coats are emblazoned with fluorescent stripes, reflectors, and the firefighter's last name, which make the wearer easy to see and identify. Turnout coats, also called bunker coats, have ample pocket space for storing small tools.
		SCBA tank and SCBA mask The self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, delivers clean, cool air to firefighters in atmospheres of hot, noxious gases and smoke. Weighing more than 30 pounds, the SCBA (seen here in yellow) adds significantly to a firefighter's load. The SCBA is similar to the SCUBA gear used by divers, but instead of delivering air on demand as with underwater breathing devices, the SCBA offers a constantly flowing stream of air (a so-called "open circuit") through the firefighter's face mask so he or she does not have to inhale to initiate airflow. Depending on the nature of the fire, a firefighter will carry a tank that holds between 30 minutes and one hour of air.
		PASS motion alarm All firefighters wear PASS ("Personal Alert Safety System") motion alarms, which are activated automatically when there is airflow from the SCBA. The PASS alarm sounds when its bearer does not move for at least 30 seconds, letting others know he may be unconscious or trapped and signaling his location. The alarm's high-pitched squeal gets increasingly louder until it is manually turned off. Some new model PASS devices also monitor ambient air temperature.
		Flashlight Firefighters carry flashlights or wear them on their helmets. Their flashlights are specially made so that they will not spark and ignite flammable gases.
		Gloves Firefighting gloves are made from pigskin. They are durable and shrink-resistant if they become wet.
		Rabbit tool The Rabbit tool, aka the Hurst hydraulic spreader, enables firefighters to quickly cut through or pull apart twisted wreckage and pry open doors. The Rabbit tool is similar to the Jaws of Life but is significantly lighter and therefore more portable. It also does not require a connection to a fire truck to operate, making it more likely to be used in a high-rise scenario.
		Rake Also known as the pike pole or plaster hook, the rake is a long-handled forcible entry tool useful for reaching up high or to other inaccessible locations in a building.
		Irons Firefighters fit their axe and Halligen tool together when they carry them and call both tools "irons." The axe (seen in red and yellow) is used to break through locked doors and scatter combustible material. The Halligen tool (seen in silver) is useful for prying doors and windows open to gain entrance to or ventilate buildings.
		Fire extinguisher In a high-rise fire, a firefighter would carry a fire extinguisher for putting out relatively small spot fires inside the building.
		Hose Hoses come in a variety of diameters, which are chosen according to the specific size and nature of the fire. In a high-rise situation, firefighters would carry a two-and-a-half-inch hose, like the one Ed is carrying, made of Kevlar with a rubber inner core. Most likely, a high-rise would have water spigots for hook-up at various locations within the building. The standard length of a hose is 50 feet.
		Thermal-imaging camera The most hi-tech tool in a firefighter's toolkit, the handheld thermal-imaging camera (a Bullard model is seen here) allows firefighters to locate a trapped person in a poor-visibility situation or detect a smouldering fire behind a wall. In the latter case, a building may sustain less structural damage, because the camera allows firefighters to pinpoint areas in need of targeted water or wall removal. The camera works by imaging the levels of heat in a room, from very dark (coolest) to very light (hottest). A firefighter searching for a victim in a fire would look for dark areas; when searching for a hot spot behind a wall, he would look for light areas.
		Safety Line Firefighters carry a Kevlar safety line, usually 200 feet in length, for use in finding their way out of a smoke-filled space. The line can be used between two or more firefighters in a building or between a firefighter and a victim.

Two-way radio | Boots | Turnout pants | Anti-flash hood | Helmet | Turnout coat | SCBA | PASS motion alarm | Flashlight | Gloves | Rabbit tool | Rake | Irons | Fire extinguisher | Hose | Thermal imaging camera | Safety line

Firetruck Gear

Equipment on a Firetruck video - A lot of shit on a Firetruck Huh?

Piercing Nozzles - How often do you need them?

AUGUSTUS Fire Tool® introduces its new Series 2000 "Bayonet Style" Piercing Applicators Designed to Safely combat Compartmentalized Fires Using the Indirect Method of Attack. The Series 2000 "Bayonet" Piercing Applicators are designed with a striking plate on their back end allowing them to be driven with a sledgehammer, maul or ax. They also come equipped with a 6.5 ft. 1-1/2" flat hose "WHIP" which has a 1-1/2" NST swivel for connection to a controlling nozzle/bale for ease and flexibility of operation. These high quality tools were designed with the primary objective of SAFETY for FIRE SERVICES PERSONNEL. They are precision machined to .003"from corrosion and rust resistant heavy-duty (Schedule 160) aluminum tubing and 416 stainless steel. The hardened, novel stainless steel piercing tip is easily removed for cleaning, sharpening, or if it ever requires replacement. All AUGUSTUS Fire Tool® products are manufactured in the USA. These tools' novel design will:

PROVIDE Firefighters with a Safe, Quick and Efficient means of knocking down and extinguishing fires in confined and hard to reach spaces such as: Balloon Walls, Storage Facilities, Frame Construction Voids, Attics, Trailer and Mobile Homes, Hay & Cotton Bales, Stacks of: Waste Paper, Cardboard, Wood Chips, & Peat, Crawl Spaces, Basements, etc. PENETRATE exterior surfaces such as: sheet metals, plywood, sheet rock, cinder blocks, etc. ELIMINATE the need to attempt immediate time consuming, sometimes risky, forcible entry operations while fire burns uncontrolled in a compartmentalized area REDUCE Firefighter's direct exposure to flames, smoke, hazards and harmful gases DISCHARGE extinguishing agents directly into enclosed areas within seconds COMPATIBLE with Foam and other Wetting Agent applications CONNECT to Attack Line Shutoffs by use of a 6.5 ft. 1-1/2" flat hose "WHIP" (supplied with each applicator) with a 1-1/2" NST swivel DELIVER between 120 and 150 GPM at realistic and safe PDP's of 125 to 160 PSI in an effective 40-foot diameter umbrella shaped spray/fogging pattern with minimal nozzle reaction using the novel AUGUSTUS Fire Tool® Piercing Tip design MAXIMIZE the effectiveness and MINIMIZE the amount of extinguishing agent required

Stock Code Introductory Retail Prices AGT 2003 Three (3) Foot "Bayonet" Piercing Applicator with 6.5 ft. "WHIP" $565.00

Fire Blanket--Rapid Response EMS PyroBlanket

Now You Can Fight Fire...
With Fabric.
PyroBlanket

Anywhere fire threatens to destroy property, lives, or dreams - PyroBlanket™ has you covered. In the kitchen or in harm's way, the foe that is fire has met its match. Now, at last, a patented high tech fabric that will not burn...that blocks extreme heat and flame...and that provides potential burn victims a new chance for safe rescue or escape.

Next-generation fire blanket keeps body heat in, searing heat out! The Rapid Response fire blanket is designed for professional rescue teams and first responders. Soft and lightweight enough for a baby to sleep under, tough enough to snuff out a flame. Perfect for police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, and life flight helicopters.

$104.99 - 144.99

Editors note: Maybe a little pricey to toss in the truck then again not!
When you need it priceless!

Full Product Info
Features and Specifications:

* The PyroBlanket is essential equipment for crash, extrication, fire and other incidents
* PyroBlankets provide true flame resistance, heat-blocking burn protection and superior tear resistance based on N.F.P.A. test methods used in certifying firemen's turnout gear
* Wrapped around a trapped victim's head and torso, PyroBlankets offer a totally new level of protection against open flame, shattered glass particles, sharp metal edges, and even incidental extrication tool contact
* In a fire emergency, the PyroBlanket provides thermal and shock/trauma protection by keeping victim's body heat in and searing heat out
* Made from a special patented blend of high-performance fibers
* Thoroughly tested to N.F.P.A. standards
* Lab testing and field use have proven that the PyroBlanket can be counted on to protect victims facing open flame or high-heat environments
* Soft and light, yet durable and tear-resistant
* Grommeted for use as a stretcher in emergency situations
* Bloodborne pathogen-resistant
* Machine washable
* Reusable
* Shake off or vaccuum away glass or debris – they won't snag on PyroBlanket's unique surface
* Fabric blend will not emit toxic fumes when exposed to flames
* Extinguishes flames by depriving them of oxygen
* Allows hot vapors to escape through the breathable fabric
* Fire may discolor the fabric, but the PyroBlanket will not burn
* Blanket measures 75"L x 57"W
* Weight: 2 lbs.
* Available with or without storage bag

View the videos that tell its incredible story. It's truly a product whose time has come.

PyroBlanket™-Waubridge Specialty Fabrics product.

Nice Spanner wrench with holder.

Spanner and Wrench Holder

$84.99

Item# K453

Spanner and Wrench Holder, includes (1) Style Hydrant Wrench and (2) Spanner Wrenches with Holder.

Kocheck Spanner and Wrench Holder w/ 1 Style Hydrant Wrench and 2 Spanner Wrenches w/ Holder

Looks to be a very nice set!

ROBOPAKS - Power when you need it

Tired of running out of power at critical times? Frustrated with constantly purchasing different types of batteries that quickly fail and need replaced? Would you like a single battery system that will run all your DC tools, lights and equipment with more reliability and longer run times?



Lightweight and easy to transport, Robopaks® are heavy-duty all weather systems that provide stable and reliable DC power – WITH EXTREME RUN TIMES. With advanced battery technology, providing multiple voltage capabilities, a single Robopaks® can power an infinite number of different brand and voltage tools, lights and equipment. Robopaks® also solve charging problems associated with other types of batteries. Charge friendly, Robopaks® do not have memory problems, allowing recharge at any point of discharge and they can be left on charge when not in use. Additional features include cost saving refurbish battery replacement programs.




XL 9210
Cat. No. 3482

Able to power hundreds of DC powered tools, lights and equipment with voltage requirements of 6-to-28v (Milwaukee, DeWalt, Hilti, Bosch, Makita, Greenlee, Huskie etc.), this very popular Robopak is encased in a heavy-duty all weather high impact plastic casing and includes durable "O" rings with a shoulder strap. The 6-7/8" base supports a quick-connect side mount lighting system for the "SuperBrite" light (allowing you to run your tool and light separately or at the same time). Charge friendly, the XL 9210 can be recharged at any point of discharge without memory problems and can be left on charge when not in use. Additional features include a cost savings refurbish / battery replacement program and AC or DC charging.

Increase the run times of your tools 6 - 10 times!

Amp Hr @ 24-28v---------12
Amp Hr @ 18v--------------12
Amp Hr @ 14.4 & 12v---24
Amp Hr @ 6v-----------------48


10-5/8"L x 9-11/16"W x 6-7/8"D
Weight: 22 lbs.
Build your own kit with a charger and tool adapter or see our many cost saving combo kits.

Price: $399.00

Designed for RAPID INTERVENTION, EXTRICATION, CONFINED SPACE, SHORING, STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE and numerous other needs, Robopaks®, Robotools® and Robolights® will provide long lasting portable power that will save you money and - FINISH THE JOB!

Largest California wildfires at a glance

Photo by Bob O'Connor Del Puerto Canyon Fire
Five largest wildfires in modern California history:

Cedar Fire, San Diego County, October 2003, 273,247 acres, 427
square miles.
Matilija Fire, Ventura County, September 1932, 220,000 acres,
343 square miles.
Marble Cone Fire, Monterey County, July 1977, 177,866 acres, 278
square miles.
Laguna Fire, San Diego County, September 1970, 175,425 acres,
274 square miles.
Day Fire, Ventura County, September 2006, 162,702 acres, 254
square miles.
---
Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The CDF does not list fires prior to 1932 because records are
unreliable.

GeoMac - Real time wildfire information and maps

Get real-time forest and wildfire information from GeoMAC, part of the US National Interagency Fire Center.

The Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group or GeoMAC, is an internet-based mapping application originally designed for fire managers to access online maps of current fire locations and perimeters in the conterminous 48 States and Alaska. Using a standard web browser, fire personnel can view this information to pinpoint the affected areas. With the growing concern of western wildland fires in the summer of 2000, this application has also become available to the public.

Via the interactive map, you can see which fires are closest to you, identify fires, even view past fire history. This is especially timely during prime forest fire season here in the Northern hemisphere.

Scientists are predicting a continuing cycle of severe forest fire seasons for the foreseeable future, The year 2002 saw three huge fires that stretched firefighting resources to the breaking point: Biscuit burned 500,000 acres in southwestern Oregon, Rodeo-Chedeski burned 462,000 acres in Arizona, and the Hayman fire burned 136,000 acres in Colorado.

In 2006, 89,000 fires burned across 9.5 million acres. The U.S. Forest Service spent $1.5 billion fighting those fires - about $100 million over budget.

Study Links Wildfires to Ocean Temperatures

By JEFF BARNARD
Associated Press Writer

Using fire scars on nearly 5,000 tree stumps dating back 450 years, scientists have found that extended periods of major wildfires in the West occurred when the North Atlantic Ocean was going through periodic warming.

With the North Atlantic at the start of a recurring warming period that typically lasts 20 to 60 years, the West could be in for an extended period of multiple fires on the scale of those seen in 2002 and 2006, said Thomas W. Swetnam. He's the director of the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research at the University of Arizona and a co-author of the study published in the Dec. 26 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"This study and others have demonstrated that there is an underlying climatic influence on fuels and then on the weather conditions that promote fires," said Dan Cayan, climate researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who did not take part in the study.

Ron Neilson, a U.S. Forest Service scientist who has developed models that predict wildfire danger based on climate models, agreed with the study's conclusions, and noted all the oceans are affected by global warming. And that in turn could exacerbate the wildfire cycle.

Scientists have long seen a relationship between weather in the United States and El Nino, a warming of water in the South Pacific.

When El Nino is strong, the Northwest typically has drought and severe fire seasons, and the Southwest has rain. When the cycle reverses, known as La Nina, the South Pacific cools, the Northwest has more rain, and the Southwest has drought and fires.

Less well understood are two other climate drivers, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, known as the PDO, centered in the North Pacific, which typically changes every 10 to 20 years, and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, or AMO, which is marked by warming and cooling periods of 20 to 60 years in the North Atlantic.

El Nino-La Nina is thought to be the most influential cycle, but the Atlantic and Pacific oscillations can magnify or diminish those effects when strong phases of the three cycles come together, Swetnam said.

"Over the last 400-plus years in our fire history study, when the AMO was positive (producing warm temperatures in the North Atlantic), then you would get big fires breaking out synchronously across the West," Swetnam said. "That's what we saw in 2002 and 2006."

The year 2002 saw three huge fires that stretched firefighting resources to the breaking point: Biscuit burned 500,000 acres in southwestern Oregon, Rodeo-Chedeski burned 462,000 acres in Arizona, and the Hayman fire burned 136,000 acres in Colorado.

In 2006, 89,000 fires burned across 9.5 million acres. The U.S. Forest Service spent $1.5 billion fighting those fires - about $100 million over budget.

Another factor in the larger fires, said Swetnam, is that after a century of fighting wildfires, fuel is building up in the nation's forests.

The study gathered data from 241 logging sites around the West, compiling the dates of 33,795 fire scars on 4,700 stumps to develop a history of fires in the West dating to 1550.

The fire history was compared to a reconstruction of the Atlantic Decadal Oscillation, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and El Nino.

The most severe fire seasons fell between 1660 and 1710, when the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation was at its warmest, the study found. The least severe fire seasons happened from 1787 to 1849, when North Atlantic temperatures were at their coolest.

The study comes after another published this year in the journal Science found that a sudden and dramatic increase in western wildfires in the late 1980s was related to a pattern of earlier springs and warmer summers. Swetnam and Cayan both took part in that study.

Greg McCabe, a climatologist for the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, said his research has been showing a connection between North Atlantic Ocean temperatures and the drought that is gripping much of the West, which creates conditions for major fires.

"I think what Tom has written is really good," McCabe said. "More and more people are starting to see there is something there. We do know the tropical Pacific (home to the ocean warming condition known as El Nino) is a key player in global climate. But on longer time scales it looks like the Atlantic also has some influence."

Got to love the Technical/Tactical rescue rigs

Nice article on new rescue rig for the The Kingman Fire Department

This article is reprinted from: kingmandailyminer.com

KINGMAN - The Kingman Fire Department has added a new $198,000 rescue truck to its life-saving fleet this month.

The truck, the first of its kind in the area, was designed and built from the ground up to provide a single vehicle that would hold all the department's more than $33,000 in specific rescue equipment.

"The concept isn't unique to the fire industry," Kingman Fire Battalion Chief Patrick Moore said. "Kingman just got to the size for it."

The funds for the truck were budgeted by the KFD. It took a year to design and build the vehicle.

"It was kind of interesting doing the design because we've never done anything like this before," Kingman Fire Capt. Roger Dixon said. "We pretty much went into the process wide open."

The fire department now has five fire engines, one ladder truck, two brush engines, one hazardous materials engine, one water tender, one utility vehicle and the rescue truck. The department is planning to add another standard response fire engine next year around December with budgeted funds.

In 1997, the KFD started a technical rescue program.

It was responsible for rope, swift water, confined spaces, trench and building rescues, as well as vehicle extraction.

With the launch of the program, the department started budgeting and obtaining the equipment and training necessary to accomplish technical rescues. The equipment was spread out at each station.

The fire department had a standard-size truck with some equipment before. The new truck lacks a hose, pump and water tank, which allows it to have larger compartments to carry equipment such as basket stretchers that are too large to fit on a regular fire engine.

"It gives us just so many more abilities to have positive outcomes," Moore said. "We're definitely excited to have it."

The truck has a five-person cab with each seat having a breathable air tank hook up. It also has its own air supply on board, which can be used to refill firefighters' air tanks.

The KFD has placed extraction equipment, commonly known as the Jaws of Life, on every truck and the new rescue truck has the Jaws of Life - only bigger. The electric power equipment on the truck can be turned on by a flip of a switch, as opposed to the gas-powered equipment on the other trucks that have to be cranked to start.

The truck also has a 25-kilowatt built-in generators, with is at least five times larger than the generators on the standard fire trucks. Floodlights, outlets and cord reels insure the KFD will be prepared to respond to calls in pitch-black locations.

Dixon is currently a part of the technical rescue program and explained they receive less calls than normal fire trucks.

"It's not like there's a high volume," Dixon said. "But, it's usually of significant impact."

Dixon estimates the truck will conservatively get 20 years of use due to the lack of frequent calls.

Right now the truck located at Station No. 3 is not staffed due to the low volume of calls. When a special call comes in for the rescue, a driver from the station will take it out to the scene while a trained cross staff of off-duty firefighters will be called in to meet the truck at the scene.


Tags: "Kingman Fire Department", "rescue truck", "technical rescue program", rope, "swift water", "confined spaces", trench, "building rescues", "vehicle extraction"